I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World

The new year had begun, and while the world celebrated fresh starts, the Philippines was fully engulfed in election season. Every street corner, every television channel, every social media feed was flooded with campaign ads, slogans, and political debates. The country was preparing to decide its future, and the stakes had never been higher.

Inside Sentinel Systems HQ, the air was as sharp as ever. The company was growing at an unstoppable rate, with Sentinel OS continuing to dominate the tech industry. But one factor remained uncertain—the future political landscape of the country.

And that was something Matthew Borja couldn't ignore.

The massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Matthew's private office offered a stunning view of Metro Manila's skyline, but he wasn't looking at it. Instead, he was reviewing market projections on a holographic display, analyzing economic forecasts for 2023 and beyond.

Angel walked in, holding a tablet. She glanced at him before speaking.

"Matthew, do you care about the election happening here?"

Matthew didn't look away from the display. "Of course I do."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "I thought you didn't like getting involved in politics."

Matthew finally turned to face her. "It's not about politics, Angel. It's about the economy. Whoever wins will set policies that directly affect business, trade, and investment. The wrong leader could slow down innovation, overregulate industries, or worse—destabilize the economy. That's not something I can afford to ignore."

Angel nodded, tapping her tablet. "That's true. If the new administration favors protectionist policies, it could disrupt supply chains. If they're too pro-oligarchy, it might create barriers to competition. And if they're too unstable, investor confidence could drop."

"Exactly," Matthew said. "Sentinel Systems is at a critical stage of expansion. If we make the wrong call, we'll have to adjust our long-term strategy."

Angel set the tablet down on his desk. "Then why don't we support a candidate? You've built a tech empire. You have influence. If there's someone who aligns with the company's values, endorsing them would ensure that the next administration won't be hostile to businesses like ours."

Matthew leaned back in his chair, considering her words.

"Do we have any viable options?"

Angel pulled up two candidate profiles on the holographic display.

The first profile was of Senator Emilio Vargas, a well-known figure in Philippine politics.

"A strong contender," Angel began. "He's the son of a former dictator. His family is powerful, and he's running on a platform of 'strong leadership' and 'restoring national pride.'"

Matthew's expression darkened. "So, he's banking on nostalgia?"

"Pretty much," Angel said. "He's promising economic growth, but his policies are vague. There's concern that he might favor big business monopolies and suppress competition—which would be bad for us."

Matthew's jaw tightened. "I don't trust people who rely on their family name instead of their own merit."

Angel smirked. "I figured you'd say that."

She swiped left, bringing up the second candidate's profile.

Vice President Regina Velasco.

"She's currently the VP," Angel explained. "Former human rights lawyer, known for anti-corruption advocacy, transparency, and progressive economic policies. She wants to increase investments in science and technology, build a stronger innovation sector, and support small and medium enterprises instead of just benefiting billionaires and oligarchs."

Matthew studied the data on the display, scrolling through her policy proposals.

"She's pro-innovation," he noted. "She wants to expand tech infrastructure and increase R&D funding. That aligns with us."

Angel nodded. "She's also the only candidate with a clear economic plan. She's focused on long-term sustainability, not just short-term gains."

Matthew was silent for a moment before speaking.

"She's the better choice."

Angel smirked. "So, do we endorse her?"

Matthew exhaled. "No official endorsement—not yet. I want to meet her first."

Angel raised an eyebrow. "You want to meet the Vice President?"

Matthew nodded. "If we're going to support someone, I need to hear her vision firsthand. I want to know if she actually believes in what she's saying or if it's just campaign rhetoric."

Angel tapped her tablet. "I can arrange a private meeting. Since she's the VP, I'll go through her official office first. Her schedule will be tight, though—campaign season is brutal."

Matthew smirked. "I'm sure she can spare time for a potential ally."

Angel chuckled. "Alright. I'll contact her chief of staff and see if we can set something up."

She turned to leave, but paused. "One more thing, Matthew."

"What?"

"If this meeting happens, it's going to make headlines. The media will speculate why the CEO of Sentinel Systems is meeting with a presidential candidate. Are you ready for that?"

Matthew leaned back in his chair, a small smirk playing at his lips.

"I've been in the spotlight for a while now, Angel. What's one more headline?"

Angel shook her head with a chuckle. "I'll make the call."

As she left the office, Matthew turned back to the holographic display, his eyes scanning Regina Velasco's policy plans.

This wasn't just about business.

This was about ensuring that the future of technology in the Philippines was led by someone who actually understood its importance.

And if Velasco was that person, then she wouldn't just have his support—she'd have a powerful ally.

Angel left the office, closing the glass door behind her, but Matthew remained seated, his fingers tapping lightly against the polished desk. The weight of his decision lingered in his mind. This wasn't just about policy alignment—it was about the future landscape of the country's economy and technology sector.

He turned his chair slightly, gazing at the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Even from this high up, he could see billboards and digital screens flashing campaign slogans, each candidate promising a better future, a stronger nation, and progress for all.

Matthew knew better. Words were easy—execution was the real challenge.

A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. His holographic interface displayed an incoming message from Angel.

"Just spoke with VP Velasco's team. They're open to a meeting. We should have a schedule by the end of the week."

Matthew smirked. Fast response. That was a good sign.

He sent a brief reply:

"Good. Let's see if she's the leader we need."

With that, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.

The game had officially begun.