Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Meanwhile, Michael wasn\'t enthusiastic about the news like Joshua. After all, Alexander Tan is Michael\'s father, the figure he hated for leaving him and his mother in their times of need, throwing them away as if they were trash. Who would be so enthusiastic to meet the man who had caused so much pain and hardship in his life?

Michael\'s mood shifted perceptibly; his initial discomfort at the party was now compounded by the looming encounter with his estranged father.

Joshua, picking up on Michael\'s sudden change in demeanor couldn\'t help but frown.

"What\'s the matter with you?"

Michael snapped back to reality as Joshua threw that question. "Nothing that concerns you."

He looked at his wristwatch and saw the time. Although it is too early to leave, he is not in the mood to stay at the party any longer due to the unwanted arrival of his father at the party.

"I think I\'m going to excuse myself now, Mrs. Estolas. Thank you for inviting me," Michael said, but before he could leave, Antoinette blocked his way, a look of concern etching her features.

"Michael, wait. What\'s the problem? A second ago, you seemed fine, and now this?" she pressed, her intuition telling her that Michael\'s sudden desire to leave was more than just a simple discomfort.

Michael, caught off guard by Antoneitte\'s perceptiveness, hesitated. He had always been adept at concealing his emotions, a skill honed out of necessity to navigate the complexities of both his personal and professional lives.

"It\'s nothing, Mrs. Estolas. Just remembered an urgent matter I need to attend to," he lied, hoping his excuse would suffice.

But Antoneitte wasn\'t convinced. "Michael, you know you can talk to me. We\'ve been through a lot in this business, and I\'ve always considered you more than just a business associate. You\'re like, how do I say this, my son," she insisted, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Michael felt a pang of guilt for lying to Antoneitte, someone who had shown him nothing but kindness and support. Even though she was the first to turn down his prototype, that was because she thought his product was fake.

"I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Estolas, really. But I assure you, it\'s nothing I can\'t handle," Michael managed to say, his voice steadier than he felt.

"Please, enjoy the rest of the evening. And once again, thank you for the invitation."

Antoneitte studied him for a moment longer, searching his eyes for any sign that would give away the true nature of his distress. Eventually, she stepped aside, albeit reluctantly.

"Alright, Michael. But remember, my door is always open if you need someone to talk to," she said, giving him a warm, reassuring smile.

"Thank you, Mrs. Estolas. That means a lot," Michael replied, offering a small smile in return before turning to leave.

As Michael navigated through the clusters of guests, his mind raced with thoughts of how to swiftly exit without drawing too much attention. The last thing he wanted was to have a confrontation with his father in the middle of a party, a scenario he had hoped to avoid at all costs.

He quickened his pace, his gaze fixed on the entrance that represented his escape from this increasingly uncomfortable situation.

However, fate had other plans. Just as he was about to reach the safety of the exit, a figure rounded the corner abruptly, colliding with him. Michael stumbled backward, caught off guard by the sudden impact. It took him a moment to regain his composure and look up at the person he had bumped into.

The world seemed to slow down as Michael\'s eyes met those of the man in front of him. Alexander Tan, in the flesh, stood there, a look of surprise etched on his face. For a moment, there was a palpable silence between them, a tension that spoke volumes of their estranged relationship.

"Michael?" Alexander\'s voice broke the silence, a mix of disbelief and something that vaguely resembled joy in his tone. It was clear he had not expected this encounter any more than Michael had.

Michael, still reeling from the shock, struggled to find his voice. The presence of his father, the man he had spent years trying to erase from his memory, threatened to unravel him.

"Mr. Tan," Michael managed to say, opting for formality rather than acknowledging their blood relation.

Alexander\'s expression shifted, a hint of pain flickering across his features at Michael\'s choice of address. It was evident that the distance between them was more than just physical.

"I didn\'t realize you would be here," Alexander said after a moment.

"Nor did I expect you," Michael replied curtly, his voice betraying none of the turmoil he felt inside. He wanted nothing more than to turn away and leave, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot as if demanding he confront him.

"I am invited by my business partner, Mrs. Estolas for her daughter\'s birthday," Alexander said.

"So am I," Michael replied, his tone flat, maintaining the distance he had emotionally and physically built over the years.

Alexander seemed to search for something more to say, a way to bridge the chasm of years of silence and neglect.

"Michael, I... We need to talk," he finally said, his voice betraying a hint of desperation.

"We\'ve already met in my office, Mr. Tan. And I had wished that would be our last contact," Michael stated, his words sharp, a clear dismissal. The meeting he referred to had been cold, clinical, and devoid of the familial warmth one might expect. It had solidified Michael\'s resolve to keep Alexander at arm\'s length.

Alexander\'s face fell, the rejection clear and unwelcome. "Michael, please. I understand I\'ve made mistakes, but—"

"There\'s nothing left to discuss," Michael interrupted the finality in his voice cutting off any further attempts at reconciliation. "Please, enjoy the party—"

Just then, Antoinette\'s voice interrupted the tense moment between them.

"I see that you two have already met," she remarked.

Both men turned towards her, the awkwardness of the encounter intensifying. Antoinette, ever the observant hostess, sensed the undercurrents of tension but chose to address the situation with grace.

"Mr Tan, the person you just bumped into is Mr. Reyes. The CEO of the SolaraTech Corporation, the photovoltaic company that is making waves in this country and in Europe," Antoneitte introduced.

"We have already met," Michael said and continued. "But I\'m not in the mood to stay here any longer."

"Not in the mood?" Antoinette said, tilting her to the side, starting to get suspicious of Michael\'s behavior.

Michael realized that it just slipped off. There\'s no choice, he must tell something to Mrs. Antoinette.

"Can we three move to something more private? I\'d like to tell you something."