Once the retrieval and inspection were done, Thomas Greene spoke to Michael on a private channel.
"So, Mr. Reyes, everything seems to have gone smoothly. No one suspects anything, thanks to your foresight," Greene said in relief.
"Good to hear, Mr. President," Michael replied, leaning back in his chair. "The erasure system worked as intended. The satellite is now just a piece of scrap metal in their eyes."
Greene exhaled deeply. "We dodged a bullet there. The joint operation was a diplomatic tightrope, but we managed to pull it off. Now, we need to focus on the next steps."
"Indeed," Michael said, swiveling his chair to look out the window. "What's your plan moving forward?"
"Well...in order for this thing to not happen again in our future operations, we'd like to go forward with buying your satellites and everything in it."
"So you have decided to purchase my satellite for 50 billion dollars," Michael reiterated the deal, making sure that the President understood.
The President simply nodded his head in confirmation. "It was not me who decided it, it was the Congress."
"Okay...but I'm not flying over to the United States and finishing the deal. Come on, I'm tired of long-distance flights. How about you send over a representative here to the Philippines and sign every necessary document?" Michael suggested.
Greene chuckled. "Fair enough, Michael. We'll arrange for a high-level representative to meet you there. Expect someone within the next few days."
"Perfect. I'll make sure everything is ready on my end," Michael replied, leaning back in his chair. "Anything else, Mr. President?"
"No, that will be all for now. Thank you, Michael. We'll be in touch soon," Greene said before ending the call.
Mitchell and his team carefully reviewed each phase, ensuring all details were meticulously documented. The structure ensured mutual satisfaction and accountability, mitigating risks and keeping the project on track.
Once all terms were agreed upon, the video link was activated, and President Greene, along with other key officials in Washington, appeared on the screen.
"Mr. Reyes, Mr. Mitchell, I understand everything has been finalized?" President Greene asked, looking pleased.
"Yes, Mr. President. We have reviewed all the details and are ready to proceed with the signing," Michael confirmed.
"Excellent. Let's make it official," Greene said.
Michael and Mitchell took their seats at the conference table. Juliet handed them the final contract documents. As they signed each page, the video feed provided a real-time view to the officials in Washington, ensuring full transparency.
Once the last signature was in place, Michael extended his hand to Mitchell. "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Mitchell. I look forward to a successful partnership."
"The pleasure is mine, Mr. Reyes. We're confident this collaboration will be beneficial for both parties," Mitchell replied, shaking Michael's hand firmly.
President Greene smiled through the video link. "Thank you, gentlemen. This is a significant step forward. Let's ensure this project sets a benchmark for future collaborations."
With the contract signed and the deal sealed, Juliet brought over a bottle of champagne and several glasses. She quickly and efficiently filled each glass, preparing for a celebratory toast.
"Congratulations to everyone involved in making this deal happen," Juliet said. She handed a glass to Michael, then to Mitchell, and finally raised her own glass. "To a successful partnership and many more milestones ahead."
Michael raised his glass, smiling at his team and the American representatives. "To innovation, collaboration, and a future where we can achieve great things together. Cheers!"
"Cheers!" echoed around the room as everyone clinked glasses.