Michael Reyes sat in his corner office, the early morning light streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Golden Topper. He sipped his coffee while scrolling through the latest reports Juliet had sent over. It had only been a few weeks since they began targeting Gokongwei, and already, the impact was becoming evident. Cebu Pacific's market share was in free fall, Globe Telecom was scrambling to keep up with Reyes Corporation's rapid 5G deployment, and the whispers of instability within JG Summit were growing louder.
"Juliet," Michael called out as she stepped into his office, tablet in hand. "What's the status update on Gokongwei's response?"
Juliet's expression was a mix of satisfaction and determination. "Their countermeasures are becoming more desperate. Cebu Pacific just launched another round of heavy discounts, but it's cutting into their margins. It won't be sustainable for long. As for Globe, they're trying to accelerate their 5G expansion, but they're hitting supply chain delays."
Michael set down his coffee, his mind already working through the next steps. "Good. But I don't want them to stabilize. We need to keep up the pressure. What's our next move?"
Juliet swiped through her notes. "We've already locked down their key suppliers. But there's a new opportunity—an infrastructure project Globe was counting on for their 5G rollout. If we can acquire it through one of our subsidiaries, it'll delay their expansion by months."
Michael's eyes narrowed. "Do it. And let's make sure the deal goes through quietly. I don't want them realizing it's us until it's too late."
As Juliet left the room, Bridget entered with another set of updates. "Michael, we've confirmed that Cebu Pacific is looking for emergency funding to stabilize their operations. Their stock prices have been fluctuating as investors grow more nervous."
Michael nodded. "Perfect. Let's use that to our advantage. Start shorting their stocks discreetly. The moment news leaks about their funding issues, we'll profit from it."
Bridget smiled, appreciating the ruthlessness of Michael's approach. "Understood. I'll have our financial team execute it immediately."
Across the city, Lance Gokongwei was sitting in his own boardroom, surrounded by his top executives. The reports were grim. Cebu Pacific's profits were dwindling, Globe was months behind on their 5G project, and even their food manufacturing division was seeing disruptions due to Reyes Corporation's aggressive moves.
"On it," Bridget said. "Our PR team will handle the leaks anonymously."
The impact was swift. Within days, news outlets began picking up stories about Cebu Pacific's financial troubles. Investors panicked, leading to a sharp drop in their stock prices. Globe, meanwhile, struggled to explain the delays in their 5G rollout as consumers flocked to Reyes Corporation's superior network.
Lance Gokongwei was now facing a full-blown crisis. Every move he made was met with a counter from Michael, leaving him with fewer and fewer options. In a desperate bid to save face, Gokongwei called for an emergency board meeting.
"We need new strategies," he demanded. "If we don't act now, Reyes will crush us."
But deep down, Gokongwei knew he was losing ground. Michael Reyes was relentless, and the cracks were already beginning to show.
Back at Reyes Corporation, Michael watched the news reports with a sense of satisfaction. Juliet and Bridget stood by his side, ready for whatever came next.
"This is only the beginning," Michael said. "We're not stopping until we've secured our dominance."
Juliet nodded. "What's our next move?"
Michael's eyes narrowed. "We're going after their most loyal clients next. If we can pull them over to our side, Gokongwei will have nothing left. This is the price he is going to pay for messing up on the wrong person."
The war was far from over, but one thing was clear: Michael Reyes was no longer playing defense. And as the city's most powerful conglomerates were about to learn, he was just getting started.