50 The Recognition
After Francis stormed out of the conference room, overwhelmed by the barrage of questions from the journalists, the focus of the media swiftly shifted to Michael Reyes. Their previously aggressive demeanor softened as they moved towards him, eager for his reaction to the day's events.
"Mr. Reyes! Mr. Reyes!" shouted one of the journalists, trying to capture his attention among the cacophony of voices vying for a statement.
Michael, somewhat taken aback by the sudden spotlight, hesitated for a moment. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the onslaught of questions. Standing up, he turned to face the eager reporters, a mixture of anticipation and resolve visible in his eyes.
"Mr. Reyes, how are you feeling right now?" the journalist asked.
"What am I feeling right now?" he repeated the journalist's question, buying himself a moment to gather his thoughts. "It's a whirlwind of emotions. Relief, vindication, and excitement for the future... but mostly, I'm grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to prove the merit of my work."
Another journalist, pushing through the crowd to get closer, followed up with a question that seemed to be on everyone's minds.
"Given the results of the evaluation, proving your solar panel's unprecedented efficiency, what are your plans moving forward?"
Michael's eyes sparkled with determination as he responded, "The first step is to get my technology out there. I've always believed in the potential of renewable energy to change the world, and now, more than ever, I'm committed to making that a reality. We'll be looking into partnerships, possibly expanding into new markets, and of course, continuing research and development."
A reporter from a tech news outlet quickly jumped in, asking.
"What do you say to potential investors and the public who may still be skeptical about your technology?"
Michael nodded thoughtfully before answering.
"Skepticism is part of any groundbreaking venture. To them, I say, look at the data, look at the results of today's independent evaluation. I am more than willing to address any concerns and demonstrate the capabilities of our solar panels. Transparency and open dialogue are key."
"I like you now," Bridget said.
"You say that all the time...do you mean it romantically?"
After Michael's light-hearted tease, Bridget found herself momentarily at a loss for words. A slight blush crept onto her cheeks, an uncharacteristic display of bashfulness from someone known for her assertiveness in the business world. She took a moment, seemingly gathering her thoughts, before responding with a smile that hinted at both amusement and embarrassment.
"Well, Michael," Bridget finally said, her voice carrying a mix of professionalism and a hint of something more personal, "let's just say I admire people who can turn their visions into reality. It's a rare quality, and yes, it's admirable." Her attempt to steer the conversation back to a more professional tone didn't quite mask the warmth in her voice.
Michael, noticing her blush and the slight change in her demeanor, couldn't help but feel a bit triumphant at having elicited such a response from Bridget.
"I'll take that as a compliment, then," he replied with a chuckle, pleased to see this other side of her.
Changing the subject, Bridget quickly regained her composure. "Let's focus on the next steps for your company and the technology. There's much to be done." "Of course." ***
December 27th, 2023.
After the evaluation event, Solar Dynamics Corporation faced significant negative consequences. News about their attempt to discredit Michael Reyes's solar panel spread quickly, causing their stock prices to plummet. Investors and the public criticized the company for trying to block a potentially revolutionary technology.
At the same time, Michael's solar panel invention received a lot of positive attention. Inside his country, people praised the technology for its high efficiency. Around the world, companies, investors, and researchers noticed Michael's work, seeing it as a big step forward for renewable energy. He got many offers for partnerships and opportunities to share his invention.
Solar Dynamics tried to fix its damaged reputation by releasing statements about what happened. They promised to make sure something like this wouldn't happen again. However, these efforts didn't do much to stop the criticism or improve how people saw the company.
On Michael's side, things were looking up. With financial backing from Bridget von Reimann and support from others, he started planning to bring his solar panel to the market.
However as he was about to dive into that, there was a message from Catherine.