I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 53: Fine You Have Your Money

The next morning, Matthew sat at his desk, his phone buzzing with an incoming call. The caller ID displayed "Nathan Caldwell – Facebook." He quickly answered, signaling for Saimon and Leo to join him.

"Good morning, Nathan," Matthew greeted, putting the call on speaker.

"Morning, Matthew. I wanted to give you a heads-up," Nathan said, his voice direct. "The Directors of the NSA and CIA have formally reached out to us. They want access to Sentinel Systems' cybersecurity framework. Specifically, they're interested in a government contract."

Matthew raised an eyebrow. "Government contract? Did they say what kind of access they're looking for?"

"They were vague," Nathan replied. "But I can tell you this—they're serious. They framed it as a critical need for national security and mentioned that they'd be willing to pay handsomely for a partnership. Of course, I told them I'd have to consult with you since it's your technology."

Saimon folded his arms. "Did they give any numbers?"

"Not yet," Nathan said. "But from the tone of the conversation, we're talking multi-million-dollar contracts. Long-term agreements, possibly even a strategic partnership for cyber defense."

Matthew leaned back, processing the information. "Okay. I'll need more details before we engage directly. I don't want to commit to anything without knowing exactly what they expect and what they're offering."

"That's smart," Nathan agreed. "They'll probably contact you soon. I'd recommend having your legal team ready."

"Already ahead of you," Matthew said. "Thanks for the warning, Nathan. Keep us in the loop."

"Will do," Nathan replied. "Good luck with this. You're playing in the big leagues now."

The call ended, leaving a moment of tense silence in the room.

"Well," Saimon finally said, "this just got real."

Leo nodded. "Yeah. If they're willing to throw millions at us, they're not just curious. They need this."

Matthew sighed. "Alright, let's get ready. If they call, we'll hear them out but stick to our conditions. We're not giving up control of the system, no matter how much they offer."

A few hours later, Matthew's phone buzzed again. This time, it was an international number. He exchanged glances with Saimon and Leo before answering.

"Hello, this is Matthew Borja."

"Mr. Borja, this is Greg Mathis, Director of the NSA," came a deep, steady voice. "I'm here with Linda Harrington, Director of the CIA. We'd like to discuss a formal proposal regarding your cybersecurity system."

"Directors," Matthew replied, keeping his tone neutral. "I appreciate you reaching out. What exactly is on the table?"

Harrington spoke next. "We understand that your system has revolutionized cybersecurity operations for Facebook and other partners. We believe it has the potential to significantly enhance our national security infrastructure—specifically in countering cyber threats from foreign adversaries like China and Russia."

Mathis added, "We're prepared to offer a substantial government contract in exchange for a partnership. This would involve licensing your technology for exclusive use in U.S. intelligence and defense operations."

Matthew leaned forward. "How substantial are we talking?"

"We're prepared to offer an initial contract valued at $50 million," Mathis stated. "This would cover a two-year pilot program, with the potential for expansion depending on performance. Long-term, we're looking at contracts worth hundreds of millions over the next decade for ongoing updates, support, and scaling across multiple agencies."

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Saimon's eyes widened, and Leo mouthed the word "damn" silently.

"Fifty million dollars sounds significant, but given the scale and importance of what you're asking, it's not enough. This isn't just a one-off software license—we're talking about a system that could redefine your cybersecurity operations. There are risks on our side, including international scrutiny and competitive threats."

Harrington responded calmly. "We understand your concerns, Mr. Borja. That figure is a starting point. We're open to further negotiations regarding scope and additional incentives. This is a long-term partnership, and the value will scale with performance and deployment across agencies."

Mathis chimed in, "Keep in mind that government contracts also offer non-monetary advantages—access to classified threat intelligence, fast-tracked security clearances for your team, and opportunities for further expansion into other government sectors."

Matthew glanced at Saimon and Leo, both nodding subtly in agreement. He leaned back, keeping his voice steady. "We're open to discussing terms, but I'll need a clear outline of your expectations. Are you looking for full system deployment or selective integration with certain features?"

"We'll prioritize selective integration initially," Mathis explained. "Critical infrastructure needs secure, scalable encryption and adaptive threat detection. Over time, we'll evaluate whether a broader deployment is necessary. Your team would be expected to collaborate with our cybersecurity experts to tailor the system to classified networks."

Leo interjected, "What about restrictions? Are you expecting exclusive use of the technology?"

Harrington hesitated for a moment before replying, "We'd prefer exclusivity for certain high-security features, but we're open to negotiations. We understand you have other clients and need to maintain a global presence. What we require are assurances that key components of the system won't be sold to rival states."

Saimon raised an eyebrow. "And what if someone else—say, a nation like China—makes an offer?"

Harrington's tone sharpened. "You'd be putting yourselves at considerable risk if you entertained such offers."

"In that case, I want you to increase what you are offering. 50 million dollars is just too little."

"Then how much are you asking?"

"How much are you willing to give?"

Harrington and Mathis exchanged a brief glance, as if calculating their next move. Mathis spoke first.

"Let's say we raise the initial offer to $75 million for the two-year pilot program. Additional performance incentives and scaling provisions could bring the total closer to $150 million over the next five years, depending on the system's impact."

Matthew leaned forward, narrowing his eyes slightly. "That's closer, but still not where it needs to be. You're asking us to integrate with classified networks, which comes with massive liabilities. If anything goes wrong, it'll be us on the front lines of both legal and political repercussions. And let's not forget that if word gets out that Sentinel Systems is tied to U.S. intelligence operations, we'll have half the world looking to either poach our technology or sabotage us. That kind of risk has a price tag."

"That's why you name your price."

"Okay—how about 300 million dollars?"

Harrington took a deep breath, her gaze sharpening. "Three hundred million is a bold figure, Mr. Borja. But I assume you're basing it on both the risks involved and the system's potential. Let's walk through this."

Mathis crossed his arms. "We're not entirely dismissing the number, but we need justification if we're going to secure that level of funding through government channels. We'd also need a breakdown of deliverables—phased implementations, key milestones, and performance metrics."

Matthew nodded, holding his ground. "Let me break it down for you. You're asking us to integrate with classified networks and collaborate with U.S. intelligence agencies. That means putting our reputation, technology, and security infrastructure at significant risk. If rival states learn about this partnership, we'll become targets of industrial espionage and cyber warfare. Protecting against those threats won't be cheap."

"Okay done," Harrington finalized the deal.

"Eh?" Matthew was taken aback by their sudden approval.

"You will have your 300 million dollars."

"Ehhhh?!"