Back to Work

January 26th, 2019. At the Luxent Hotel, Matthew's unit. It was twelve-thirty in the afternoon and a doorbell chimed in his room.

Matthew walked over to the door and opened it. It was a Grab delivery rider, carrying a plastic container containing a bucket of chicken from KFC, drinks, fries, and mashed potato.

"That would be 1,200 pesos," said the delivery driver.

Matthew handed him 1,500 pesos. 

"Keep the change."

"Thank you sir! This is huge for me…" the deliver driver said earnestly.

Matthew gave the delivery rider a polite nod as he closed the door, carrying the food into the room. He placed the container on the dining table, its enticing aroma filling the air. Just as he finished setting up the plates and drinks, his phone buzzed with a message in their group chat.

Saimon: "On our way up. Elevator's taking forever."

Matthew smirked at the text and replied.

Matthew: "Blame Saturday crowds. I'll leave the door unlocked."

True to their word, Saimon, Leo, and Samantha arrived ten minutes later, the faint sound of their chatter audible before they pushed the door open.

"Smells amazing in here," Leo announced, immediately heading toward the table. "Please tell me you got extra gravy."

"Priorities, Leo," Saimon teased, shutting the door behind him. "We've got a car to build, and all you care about is gravy?"

Samantha walked in last, carrying a laptop bag over her shoulder, her expression as composed as ever. 

"Let's eat first. We'll need the energy for what's coming."

Matthew gestured to the table with a grin. "Everything's ready. Help yourselves. But once we're done eating, it's down to business."

The group sat around the table, the tension of the previous week replaced with a growing sense of purpose. Between bites of chicken and fries, they exchanged lighthearted banter, but it wasn't long before Matthew steered the conversation toward their project.

With the food cleared away, Matthew pulled out a whiteboard and uncapped a marker. "Alright, team, let's talk procurement. We've got one month to gather all the materials we need. This is our timeline, and I've already listed everything we discussed last time."

He wrote the key items on the board, speaking as he went:

Electric Motor: "I've finalized a deal with the supplier I mentioned. They'll refurbish the permanent magnet synchronous motor to our specifications. I'll handle the pickup next week."

Controller: "We're ordering an off-the-shelf model compatible with the motor. Delivery should take two weeks."

Battery Cells: "The lithium-ion cells are from that surplus electronics shop. They've agreed to let us test each cell before purchasing. Saimon, you're in charge of this. Your dad's shop has the equipment we need for testing, right?"

Saimon nodded. "Yeah, we've got battery testers and all that. I'll coordinate with them."

Chassis Materials: "Leo, your dad's connections will come in handy here. We need aluminum sheets and high-strength steel tubing for the frame. Think you can manage?"

Leo scratched his head but grinned. "It'll take some convincing, but I'll get it done."

Interior Components: "We'll salvage seats, dashboards, and other interior elements from junkyards. Samantha, since you wanted to help, this will be your task."

"Why junkyards? Can't we just make our own?" Samantha asked.

"We could but it's going to be expensive," Matthew replied.

"It is expensive but this is our prototype. It must be presentable and all parts should be new, not old or damaged."

Matthew paused, surprised by Samantha's suggestion. He raised an eyebrow, placing the marker down. 

"You're suggesting we go for all-new parts? You realize that's going to blow up our budget, right?"

Samantha, sitting upright with her hands clasped in her lap, met his gaze evenly. "I understand. But this isn't just about functionality. We need to impress—not just the panel for Capstone 2, but anyone else who might see this project. If that means paying a premium, I'm willing to cover the difference."

Saimon and Leo exchanged wide-eyed glances, Leo nearly choking on his drink. "Wait, you're going to pay for all that? You do know how much these parts cost, right?"

Samantha shrugged lightly, her demeanor calm. "I'm not saying I'll fund everything. I'll cover the difference between refurbished or salvaged parts and premium ones for the interior. If the chassis and motor need to be economical, fine. But the presentation matters, and I'd prefer to invest in quality where it counts."

Matthew crossed his arms, studying her carefully. "That's generous, Samantha, but I'm not sure it's necessary. The salvaged parts will still look good once we recondition them."

Samantha tilted her head slightly, her cool tone unwavering. "Maybe. But there's a difference between 'good enough' and 'excellent.' If we're going to showcase this prototype, I want it to reflect the level of effort we've put into it."

Leo let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "Man, you're like the group's secret weapon. First the defense, now this."

Saimon chimed in, nodding. "Seriously. I thought I was contributing with battery testing, but you're out here playing angel investor."

Samantha ignored their remarks, her attention fixed on Matthew. "So, what's it going to be?"

Matthew tapped the marker against his chin thoughtfully. "Alright, if you're sure about this, we'll prioritize premium interior components. I'll revise the list to include new seats, a custom dashboard, and maybe even a more modern infotainment setup. But we'll still need to stick to our original plan for the structural and electrical components. Deal?"

"Deal," Samantha nodded firmly.

"Perfect," Matthew said, writing down the adjustments on the whiteboard. "I'll add the suppliers for the premium components to your task list. Since you're covering the cost, I'll leave the sourcing and purchasing in your hands. Just let me know if you need help vetting vendors."

Samantha nodded again, this time more thoughtfully. "Send me the list by tonight. I'll start reaching out tomorrow."

Saimon leaned over to Leo, muttering under his breath, "And here I thought she was just the ice queen. Turns out she's also our financial backer."

Leo snickered but quickly fell silent when Samantha shot him a pointed glance.

Matthew finished updating the timeline on the board and turned back to the group. "Alright, let's stay on track. One month to gather everything. No delays, no excuses. If we pull this off, we're not just passing Capstone 2—we're setting a new standard."

"Yes boss!"