Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 193: Prelude to the Senate Hearing

"Wait…I'm sorry, what did you just say?" Michael said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"The senate hearing? It's on the news. Why does it sound like you haven't heard of it?" Franklin replied, furrowing his brows.

"That's because I didn't think it would be told in public," Michael composed himself. "The Senate hearing, well it's going to be answering a question from politicians. Though I don't have any idea what they might ask."

"But it's safe to assume they'll ask about your recent inventions and maybe your business practices," Franklin said, leaning forward. "Does that worry you?"

"Not really," Michael replied. "I'm transparent about my work. If they have questions, I'll answer them. It's just part of being in this line of business."

"Oh please…get me out of this interview," Michael thought to himself. Why is he always subject to interviews? It felt like every step he took required an explanation, whether to the press or now, to a vlogger. He understood that visibility came with the territory, but sometimes, it was all a bit much.

Franklin continued, "Given your recent success and impact on healthcare, do you think this hearing could lead to more scrutiny from regulators or other government bodies?"

Thankfully, Franklin knew how to ask the right questions. If he had asked a useless

question, Michael might have given him an equally useless answer. He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Scrutiny is inevitable when you're at this level. It's part of the business, and as long as I'm following the rules, I've got nothing to worry about. If it leads to more questions, I'll just have to answer them as best I can."

Franklin nodded, satisfied with that response. "That's a solid approach. Still, I can't believe you are the same age as me, and yet you already contributed a lot to the world. Energy, healthcare, transportation, would there be anything else you'd want to work on?"

Michael considered the question. He had already accomplished a lot, but there was always more to do.

"It's best for me not to reveal what will be my next enterprise until it's fully developed," Michael replied. "I've got some ideas, but I prefer to work on them quietly and unveil them when they're ready."

Franklin nodded. "Makes sense. You don't want to give away too much before it's time. Keeps the suspense high."

"Exactly," Michael agreed. "Plus, it keeps me focused. If I start talking about too many things, I might lose track of what's most important."

Franklin leaned back, looking satisfied with the answers. "I understand. Well, thanks for joining us today. It's been a pleasure having you on the podcast. I'm sure our listeners are going to be thrilled with everything you've shared."

Michael nodded. "Thanks for having me. I hope it's useful to your audience."

"Any words for the viewers?" Franklin asked, wrapping up the interview.

Michael paused, thinking about what to say. He knew he had to be careful with his words, given his visibility and the upcoming Senate hearing.

"Just keep pushing forward. Success doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work. If you have a dream, keep at it, and don't let setbacks deter you. You can make things happen if you stay focused."

Franklin nodded, pleased with the response. "Thank you for your insights, Mr. Reyes. It's been great having you on the show. Good luck with your Senate hearing, and we look forward to seeing more of your incredible work."

Michael stood, removing his headphones. "Thanks, Franklin. I appreciate it. Take care."

"And we are cut," said the producer, signaling the end of the recording. Franklin stood and reached into his pocket, pulling out a check for 1 million pesos. He handed it to Michael with a firm handshake and a friendly smile.

"Here's your appearance fee," Franklin said. "Thanks again for joining us. It was great having you on the show."

"Thanks, Franklin. It was a pleasure. Though I didn't expect you'd pay me 1 million pesos for an appearance. Would you still get it back by releasing the podcast to the public?" Michael asked, curious about the economics of the deal.

Franklin laughed. "Oh, definitely. With your popularity, the views alone will more than cover it. Plus, we have sponsors eager to support any content featuring you. It's a win-win."

Michael nodded, understanding the business behind it. "Got it. Well, I hope it lives up to expectations."

"It will," Franklin assured him. "We have a strong following, and your story is exactly what our listeners want to hear."

Michael shrugged, feeling a little less reluctant about the whole podcast thing. "As long as it brings value, I'm good with it."

Franklin patted him on the shoulder. "It definitely does. Thanks again for your time, and good luck with the Senate hearing. I'm sure you'll do great."

With that, Michael exited the stage and went into his private room where Juliet was waiting.

"Here, have some water," Juliet offered, handing him a bottle. "You did great out there. They loved your responses."

Michael took a sip, feeling the coolness of the water. "Thanks. But man, these interviews... they're exhausting. I feel like I'm repeating myself all the time."

"Well, you're kind of a big deal now," Juliet said with a grin. "Now, want to hear another report?"

"What is it?"

"Well, the date for the Senate committee hearing has been confirmed. It will be held on January 25th, 2027," Juliet replied.

"The date has been pushed back, huh? I thought it would be two weeks after New Year," Michael said, sounding a little annoyed.

"Yeah, I think they had some scheduling conflicts," Juliet explained. "But it gives you more time to prepare. It could be a good thing, considering how much you have on your plate right now."

Michael sighed, rubbing his temples. "I guess. I just want to get it over with and move on to more interesting things."

Juliet nodded in agreement. "I get it. But with the hearing date set, at least you can start planning for it. We can focus on what questions they might ask and how to respond."

Michael gave a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, let's just hope they don't drag it out longer than necessary. I'd hate to spend an entire day in a hearing answering pointless questions."

Juliet laughed. "I'm sure you'll handle it just fine. Besides, you've got a great team backing you up. We'll get through this."

Michael nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Juliet. Let's go back now."