Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 149: Paid by Competitor?

At Manila International Airport, Brian Chow stepped into the bustling arrival terminal, his eyes scanning the crowd for a sign with his name. Instead, he was immediately surrounded by eager taxi drivers, each one vying for his attention.

"Sir, taxi? Very good price for you!" one driver called out, stepping directly in front of Brian, and holding up a laminated card with rates.

"No, sir, come with me, my car is very comfortable," another insisted, trying to grab Brian's luggage from his hand.

Brian, feeling overwhelmed, tried to navigate through the swarm of drivers, "No, thank you, I have a ride arranged," he said, attempting to move forward.

"Sir, don't pay more, I give you the best deal," another driver interjected, waving his hand emphatically, trying to usher Brian towards a well-worn vehicle parked haphazardly at the curb.

The drivers were persistent, each one speaking louder than the last, their words blending into a cacophony of offers and promises of the best service in town.

Brian, accustomed to the orderly and reserved nature of business interactions back home, found the aggressive marketing tactics disorienting. "I'm fine, thank you," he repeated, more firmly this time, his polite smile fading as he navigated his way through the crowd.

One driver, sensing an opportunity, tried a different approach, "Sir, you look tired. Let me take you quickly, no hassle, very fast to your hotel."

Meanwhile, a Toyota Alphard was parked nearby. Inside of it was Michael and Juliet, looking out of the window, and observing Brian.

"Look at him, he is being surrounded by taxi drivers who would want to rip him off. Typical," Michael said with a scoff.

"Should we go out and take him, Mr. Reyes?" Juliet asked, already reaching for the door handle.

"No, let's give him a moment; I want to see how he handles this," Michael responded, his eyes still fixed on Brian, who was now firmly declining another driver's insistent offer.

Brian, maintaining his composure, finally spotted the sleek black Toyota Alphard with tinted windows. Recognizing the SolaraTech logo discreetly placed on the vehicle, his expression relaxed. He made his way through the last of the taxi drivers, who gradually backed off as they realized he had a pre-arranged ride.

As he approached, Juliet stepped out of the vehicle, greeted him with a professional smile, and said,

"Mr. Chow, welcome to Manila. I'm Juliet Schmidt, Mr. Reyes' assistant. Let me help you with your luggage."

"You could have picked me up sooner before they could gang me up," Chow joked, handing over his suitcase to Juliet.

"Apologies for the warm welcome, Manila style," Juliet replied with a light chuck, taking his luggage.

Michael then exited the vehicle and approached, extending his hand warmly. "Mr. Chow, it's great to finally meet you. We've got a lot planned for your stay."

Brian shook Michael's hand firmly, "Thanks, Mr. Reyes. I'm looking forward to getting started. And this," he gestured towards the dispersing taxi drivers, "was an interesting first impression of Manila."

"Well, you weren't the first. It was quite a sight to see my fellow Filipinos trying to rip off a foreigner. Not the best image, but it's part of the chaos of Manila," Michael said with a hint of humor and a bit of apology in his tone.

They all got into the car, and as it pulled away from the curb, Michael continued, "But don't worry, the rest of your visit will be much smoother. We've got everything arranged to make sure your stay and work on the Golden Topper project are as productive and comfortable as possible."

Brian settled into the comfortable seat of the Alphard, looking relieved. "I appreciate that, Michael. I'm really excited about this project. From what I've seen so far, it's going to be a remarkable addition to your city's skyline."

"I couldn't say it any better."

As the vehicle merged into the traffic, Brian, curious about the immediate plan, asked, "Where are we heading now?"

Michael glanced at him, "How was your flight, Mr. Chow? I hope it wasn't too tiring."

Brian stretched his legs a bit, "It was a long flight, but I managed to get some rest. I still have some energy left, thankfully."

Michael nodded, pleased with the response. "That's good to hear because I thought we could make a quick stop at the site where we're planning to build the Golden Topper. It's not far from here, and it'll give you a real feel for the project and the space we're working with."

Brian's eyes lit up with interest, "That sounds like a great idea, Michael. I'd love to see the site firsthand and get a sense of the environment where the building will stand."

"Perfect," Michael said, signaling Juliet to communicate the change of plans to the driver.

"Let's head straight to the site then," Juliet conveyed to the driver, and the car smoothly navigated through the bustling streets of Manila.

After a drive through the energetic streets of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), they arrived at the designated site for the Golden Topper. The area was cordoned off, but even from a distance, Brian could appreciate the potential of the location. It was in the heart of BGC, surrounded by gleaming office towers, luxury condos, and expansive green spaces.

"This is where we plan to build the Golden Topper," Michael said, gesturing towards the vast open space. "It's strategically located to become a landmark in this thriving business district."

Brian stepped out of the car, taking in the view. The site was impressive, with a panoramic view of the city skyline. He could already visualize the towering skyscraper that looked down over the bustling streets and serene parks, integrating with the urban landscape yet standing out as a symbol of modernity and innovation.

"It's a prime location, no doubt about it," Brian remarked, his gaze tracing the horizon where the skyscraper would eventually rise. "The potential for a landmark building here is enormous. It will change the skyline of Manila."

Michael smiled, nodding in agreement. "That's the vision, Mr. Chow. Once it is built, it's going to be the center of innovation for all futuristic products."

"I see…anyways…Mr. Reyes, do you know Mr. Wei?"

Michael glanced at him, his eyes furrowing. "The CEO of the JinkoSolar? Well, I know him because he is our competitor, what about him?"

"Nothing," Mr. Chow replied.

Now that he had brought up Mr. Wei, Michael realized a crucial piece of information that he had overlooked. And that is the settlement agreement between him and Mr. Wei. 1 billion dollars to be exact. Building their headquarters cost 600 million dollars.

That means it will be their competitor paying to construct their headquarters.

Looks like Bridget and Antoneitte don't have to churn out huge amounts of money from their banks. Because he got it covered.