Re: Life - Business & Technology

Chapter 90 - Reconnecting

(Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)

(3D character designs updated with Rick and Sarah Meyers! Check it out in aux chapter)

The young and talented actor excitedly showed the newly received message to her caring friend.

"He didn't forget about me, Alice! Look here." Hailee said with a joyous expression.

[I was so close to assuming Vince didn't remember the fun times we shared on The Longhorn.] She pondered with a clearer mind.

"What are you still doing here, sis?! Go home, and video call him! Thanks for shopping with me today. Let's do this again soon." Alice replied happily.

"Thanks for cheering me up when I was down earlier," Hailee stated sincerely.

"Don't mention it but don't forget to keep me updated!" Alice declared before leaving towards the car parking area.

Fortunately, Wonder Alice's Twitch channel had been doing so well lately that she purchased a sweet ride using her contract and donation profits. She was already popular in the variety gaming scene but was propelled to the top of the viewer charts because of her livestreams featuring Vince Dalton and his crew on The Longhorn.

Hailee and her two dutiful security operators went their way to Rodeo Drive's recently built AV parking lot for accommodating their wealthiest patrons, who were rich enough to own one.

The LA Future Tech branch dispatched a corporate CAV for her daily commute, courtesy of Elon, the branch director, at Vince's behest.

While flying over downtown LA, She couldn't wait until arriving home and decided to give Vince a NetServ video call.

After about an hour of apologies and catching up, Hailee asked, "When can we meet each other?"

"As I told you before, you're always welcome to visit us here in Austin. It's just difficult to find time away from my office." Vince replied honestly.

"It didn't feel that way after you ghosted me for almost a month." Hailee jabbed in reply.

"Fair, yet you could have at least messaged or called me first before assuming I'd forgotten about you. I don't want to argue again, Hailee. I'll be in LA next weekend, but you can take a jet and spend some time with me here before I accompany you back." Vince offered to defuse the situation.

"Are you just saying that to make up for your ghosting?" she asked cynically.

"I miss you too. But, please don't play hard to get right now. I've had a terrible week already." Vince replied sincerely.

[Two of my employees' heads literally exploded. An open-casket funeral wasn't even an option.] Vince thought.

"Alright, I'll cut you some slack for now. You better be ready when I arrive." Hailee declared with an alluring expression.

[Roger, roger.] So Vince thought before saying his farewells.

Soon after the call, Hailee asked her parents to let her travel to Austin, accompanied by an FS escort. It took a few puppy dog pouts and persuasive dialogue before they agreed.

She started to pack her things, getting ready to reunite with her boyfriend and escape the monotony of waiting for her agent to find a movie role. The only thing that kept her sane was the few times she joined Wonder Alice on her livestreams.

A CAV picked her up the next day and flew towards Future Tech's private hangar with a Boeing Luxury 787, ready to depart.

She was expecting a private jet similar to ones most celebrities owned, not ones as big as a 787.

"We're happy to serve you today, Ms. Steinfeld. Please take a seat wherever you want. We also reserved a stateroom for you in case you wanted to sleep during the flight." the stewardess said politely.

"Thank you, ma'am. So are we waiting on more people?" Hailee inquired.

Before the stewardess could answer, a dozen SpaceX and Tesla engineers boarded the plane, followed by a familiar face.

"Young Hailee, how have you been since you visited SpaceX?" Elon asked as he took a seat adjacent to her.

"Well, thank you for the concern. I'm guessing all of you are traveling to Austin for business." Hailee replied.

"Your guess is indeed correct. We'll be performing on-site testing of the power grid update. I can't avoid the legwork, unfortunately. How about you?" Elon inquired amiably.

"Visiting Vince and exploring Austin for the most part," Hailee replied.

"That young man takes work too seriously, especially for his age. Vince deserves a bit of leisure at least once in a while." Elon said honestly.

"He told me once that his life was just a bonus now, so why is he still working so hard?" Hailee asked curiously.

"You'll understand when you see Austin," Elon answered plainly.

A few hours later, the jet prepared for the landing while lowering altitude.

Hailee took the opportunity to look out a window and see for herself what Elon meant.

She observed the newly installed massive solar arrays that Future Tech initially tested in Kandahar. Next, she saw the Tech Campus located outside the city.

She was amazed how much had changed since she last visited Austin a few years prior with her family.

"That's why Vince takes his work too seriously. More than one hundred thousand people rely on Future Tech for their livelihood, and that number keeps expanding." Elon explained.

[Maybe I was too hard on him.] Hailee pondered.

They landed a few minutes later. Vince Dalton was waiting alongside a Koenigsegg Flyga and Stingray for the engineers traveling to power grid stations amongst the hilly Austin countryside.

"My team and I will start the trials and testing immediately. We had enough rest in the jet." Elon declared before leading his team towards the Stingray.

Elon didn't even greet Vince, which cracked up Hailee, and both started laughing.

"Elon and I speak to each other almost every day. We skipped through standard niceties a long time ago. But you, on the other hand." Vince said as he wrapped his arm around her and went for a quick kiss on the lips.

Hailee embraced him in return for a few seconds, and Vince said, "Get in the Flyga. We'll go wherever you decide until I return to work after lunch."

Koenigsegg's latest model CAV-variant was currently the pinnacle of commercial AVs, costing $20 million before taxes. It featured a completely autonomous flight system facilitated by NetServ GPS tracking and performed much better than any Ford or Toyota AV in the market.

Like all Vince's vehicles, the Flyga wasn't his personal property but Future Tech's property. As the owner and CEO, he had the privilege of purchasing anything legal for his use and having Future Tech pay for any upkeep costs. 

It didn't matter to him much because he reinvested all net profits back into the business. As a result, Vince financially supported his lifestyle as a business expense clearly defined in the corporation bylaws Marcia Kemp herself wrote.

Most executive officers in Future Tech earned much more money than Vince because his annual salary was the bare minimum, but with plenty more privileges.

"I've been meaning to visit Zilker Park but didn't get the chance my last time here," Hailee replied while taking a seat in the luxurious Flyga.

"It's settled then. I'll have food delivered to us for a little picnic in nature." Vince said in agreement. Four turbofan engines spooled up a few seconds later and took the Flyga towards the sky while a FAV-1 escort followed.

After landing, the group walked around to look for a beautiful and secluded area for the picnic.

The park was located reasonably close to downtown Austin, and practically in the middle of the city, so many people could be seen enjoying the scenery and fresh air.

It was challenging to avoid attention when three fully armed operators and Dragonflies were escorting the young couple.

"Hey, look! It's a Future Tech executive going for a stroll." a local man said to his companion.

"Is your eyesight that bad? It's not just any executive but Vince Dalton himself. You know I have a cousin who works at the Tech Campus and talks about Vince like he's Jesus or something." the woman companion stated.

"This is Austin. It's no surprise everyone loves Vince Dalton here. But my eyesight isn't bad enough that I couldn't recognize Hailee Steinfeld. Maddie Ross, baby!" the man replied.

The bystanders were gossiping about Future Tech, but none were brave enough to approach the couple to ask for autographs.

Vince and Hailee kept up their conversation while walking through the park, oblivious to everyone around them.

It was the perfect day for outdoor activities, and they both took full advantage by doing a lap around the park before eating lunch under a tree.

Stats last time checked: 

Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion 

15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000) 

$16 Billion cash in Future Tech 

105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg) 

20,000+ operators under Future Security 

Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga

Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E) 

Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)