I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 88: Creating Destiny

December 24, 2020.

The streets of Bonifacio Global City were alive with the glow of holiday lights. Christmas decorations lined every street, and the cool December air carried the scent of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked pastries from nearby cafés. Even with the ongoing pandemic, people found ways to celebrate—families walking through parks, couples taking pictures in front of enormous Christmas trees, and small groups gathering in socially distanced outdoor setups.

Matthew sat inside a private dining room at Cipriani Manila, a high-end Italian restaurant. The interior was decorated with warm golden lights, wreaths, and garlands, giving it a festive yet elegant atmosphere. He had arranged this gathering—one final meeting with Leo and Saimon before the year ended.

It felt symbolic.

The three of them had started out as college students with nothing but ambition. Now, they were all filthy rich, but this year had changed everything between them. The dilution. The realization that they weren't really part of Sentinel's growth. Their decision to sell off their remaining shares and go their own way.

Matthew leaned back in his chair, exhaling. It was bittersweet.

The door opened, and Saimon walked in, wearing a sharp blazer over a black turtleneck, his N95 mask still looped around his ears. He pulled it down slightly as he greeted Matthew.

"Yo," he said with a smirk. "Merry Christmas, CEO Borja."

Matthew chuckled, standing up to shake his hand. "Merry Christmas, future CEO Saimon."

Saimon grinned. "Damn right."

Before they could sit down, the door opened again, and Leo walked in, dressed more casually in a dark hoodie and jeans, but still rocking his usual confidence. He pulled off his mask and tossed it onto the table.

"You guys started without me?" he said, sliding into a chair.

Matthew smirked. "Just small talk."

Leo scoffed. "Yeah, right."

The three of them sat there for a moment, letting the weight of the moment settle in. This wasn't just another night out. It was the end of an era.

The waiter came in, pouring them each a glass of red wine. They raised their glasses.

"To the past," Matthew said.

"To the future," Saimon added.

Leo grinned. "To making so much money we forget what numbers look like."

They laughed as they clinked glasses.

Halfway through their meal, there was a knock at the door.

Matthew looked up as the restaurant manager entered. "Sir, there's a woman outside asking if she can speak with you. She says her name is Samantha Ortega."

Matthew blinked. Samantha?

He hadn't heard that name in a long time.

Back in college, she was part of their group when they designed their electric vehicle for their capstone project. She was brilliant—one of the best mechanical engineers he knew. But unlike him, Leo, and Saimon, she didn't take the entrepreneurial route. She chose stability.

She chose a career over risk.

"Let her in," Matthew said.

A few moments later, Samantha walked in.

She looked different. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her long brown hair was tied up in a simple ponytail. She was still beautiful, still carried herself with confidence, but there was tension in the way she stood.

"Samantha," Matthew greeted with a small smile. "It's been a while."

She smiled back, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, Leo invited me."

Matthew raised an eyebrow, glancing at Leo.

"You invited her?"

Leo smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Thought it'd be nice to see an old friend. It's Christmas, after all."

Samantha chuckled, though there was an uneasy edge to it. "Yeah, well… I wasn't sure if I should come, but here I am."

Matthew nodded toward the empty chair. "Sit down. We're just catching up."

She hesitated for only a second before taking a seat. The waiter came in, setting down another glass of wine in front of her. She glanced at it, then at Matthew.

"Still picking the expensive stuff, I see."

Matthew smirked. "What's the point of being rich if you don't drink good wine?"

Saimon chuckled. "That's his way of saying 'welcome back.'"

Samantha took a sip, savoring the taste. "I didn't realize how much I missed this."

The conversation started light—old memories, college stories, the ridiculous struggles of their capstone project. But eventually, as the plates were cleared and the second bottle of wine was poured, the mood shifted.

"So," Samantha said, swirling her drink, "you guys really made it, huh?"

Leo smirked. "Yeah, you could say that."

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She exhaled softly. "It's funny. Back in college, I thought I was making the smart choice by playing it safe. You guys took the risk, and now look at you."

Matthew leaned forward slightly. "You don't regret it, do you?"

Samantha hesitated. "Not regret, exactly. Just… sometimes I wonder."

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

Saimon sighed, placing his glass down. "We got lucky, Samantha. Right place, right time, and the right guy leading us." He nodded toward Matthew. "We were just along for the ride."

Samantha shook her head. "No, you guys made something out of nothing. That's not just luck."

Matthew studied her carefully. He could see it in her eyes—the quiet frustration, the weight of unfulfilled potential.

"Where are you working now?" he asked.

Samantha exhaled. "A local manufacturing plant. It's stable, but…" She paused, searching for the right words. "The pay is terrible. And I was too picky in the beginning, waiting for something better. Now? With this economy, I take what I can get."

Leo frowned. "Damn. That sucks."

Saimon leaned back. "That's messed up. A talent like you should be running an engineering team, not barely scraping by."

Samantha let out a humorless chuckle. "Yeah, well… the job market doesn't care about talent. And mechanical engineers here? We get paid like crap."

Matthew felt something twist in his chest.

She was one of the smartest people he knew.

He took a deep breath. "We're hiring mechanical engineers at Sentinel."

Samantha blinked. "What?"

Matthew leaned forward. "Sentinel needs good engineers. The pay is insanely better than whatever you're making now. The benefits are top-tier. You'd actually get to build something meaningful."

Samantha stared at him, caught off guard.

"You're offering me a job?"

Matthew nodded.

She looked down at the table, processing. She didn't answer right away.

Leo nudged her. "You'd be stupid to say no."

Saimon grinned. "For once, I agree with Leo."

Samantha let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head. "This is crazy."

Matthew smirked. "Say yes."

She bit her lip. "I'll… think about it."

Matthew nodded. "Take your time."

But deep down, he already knew her answer.

The conversation eventually shifted again, and finally, Leo and Saimon brought up their final decision.

They were selling their remaining shares.

Matthew had seen it coming.

"We're forming our own venture capital firm," Saimon explained. "Helping other entrepreneurs build their businesses. Guiding them, investing in them, making sure they don't get screwed over by sharks."

Leo smirked. "Basically, we're doing what you did, but we're the investors now."

Matthew exhaled. "So this is really it, huh?"

Saimon nodded. "Yeah."

Matthew looked between them. "Do you guys… hate me for everything?"

Leo shook his head. "Nah, man. We get it."

Saimon chuckled. "You did what you had to do. And honestly? It made us realize we need to stand on our own feet, not just ride on yours."

Matthew smirked, feeling something stir in his chest—pride.

He stood up first.

Leo and Saimon followed.

And then, without another word, they pulled each other into a group hug.

A final moment between brothers.

A silent promise.

They were going their own ways.

But they would always be family.

As they pulled away, Matthew turned to Samantha. "Think about my offer. Seriously."

Samantha smiled, her eyes softer now. "I will."

And with that, the night ended—not with sorrow, but with the quiet acceptance that things had changed.

But that didn't mean the bond was broken.

Not even close.

"You know what, why are we making this as if it's a farewell. We still can reach out to one another right?" Matthew said.

"Yeah…you are right about that," Leo chuckled.