The plush interiors of Villar's boardroom were quieter than usual, with the familiar faces of the country's most powerful business tycoons gathered once again. The atmosphere was different from their last meeting; it was more focused, more intense. Today, instead of discussing strategies or upcoming projects, they were watching a live broadcast of the Senate hearing where Michael Reyes was being questioned.
On the wide screen, Michael sat confidently, answering the senators' probing questions one after another. The tycoons had been waiting for this moment, hoping the Senate hearing would be the platform that would expose cracks in Reyes Corporation's meteoric rise. Yet, as they watched him skillfully deflect each question, it became clear that Michael was not just surviving the scrutiny—he was thriving.
"He's handling himself well," Jaime Zobel de Ayala admitted, his arms crossed as he observed Michael's calm demeanor. "Better than we expected."