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 onught 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 sr panel''s unprecedented efficiency, what are your ns 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''mmitted 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?" @@novelbin@@


    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 sr panels. Transparency and open dialogue are key."


    "How do you feel about the answers Mr. Peralta of the Sr Dynamics Corporation made to our questions?" "About that…" Michael chuckled nervously, shifting slightly as he prepared to tackle the delicate topic. "I think it highlights a broader issue in the renewable energy sector and innovation atrge. It''s not just about onepany or individual; it''s about how we, as a society, respond to new ideas and technologies that challenge the status quo."


    He paused, considering his next words carefully. "I believe inpetition and the free market''s ability to drive innovation. However, what happened with Sr Dynamics underscores the need for integrity and transparency in how we assess and embrace new technologies. It''s a lesson for all of us in the industry."


    Another journalist, catching on to the thread of ountability and ethics in business practices, asked.


    "Do you think this incident will change how startups and innovations are treated in the energy sector?"


    Michael nodded emphatically. "I certainly hope so. It''s a wake-up call for the industry to foster an environment where innovation can thrive without the fear of being unjustly discredited. We need more coboration and less gatekeeping. Ultimately, it''s the consumers and the that will benefit from a more open and honest approach to renewable energy development."


    As the questions from the journalists began to dwindle, Michael offered a final thought. "This entire journey, from concept to today''s validation, has been about more than just proving a point or defending my invention. It''s about contributing to a sustainable future. I''m ready to work with anyone who shares that vision, including Sr Dynamics, should they choose to approach innovation with the respect and openness it deserves."


    The journalists who were listening to his answer, especially those women, smiled warmly at him. Michael didn''t realize that he was rizzing them up.


    "Last question…can you introduce yourself to our audience?" the journalist requested.


    "Ah…yes. Well," Michael looked directly at the camera and waved a hand. "Hello, good day to you all. My name is Michael Reyes, and I''m the inventor of the high-efficiency sr panel which I will name The LX-Quantum Sol Panel. And I''m also one of the winners of the PSMEpetition that was held on December 17th, 2023. Of course, if you are following this story, you know where all of this started." "Thank you for answering our questions, Mr. Reyes. Good luck with your future endeavors, and we''re excited to see where your innovation takes you," concluded the journalist, wrapping up the impromptu interview. The reporters gradually dispersed, leaving Michael with a moment to reflect on the surreal experience of the day.


    Momentster, Bridget approached Michael.


    "What did I tell you, Bridget?" Michael said with a grin across his face.


    "I must admit, you are not just talking, you actually proved your worth. I thought of you as a man who only knows how to take risks in the finance world, but you are also an inventor. For that, I''ll have to uphold the promise of investing in yourpany. For ten percent of yourpany, you will name your price." "As much as I am delighted and excited to have you as my partner, I still have topute the value of thepany. I''m sure after this, it''s going to skyrocket."


    "Yeah…you have your business ns? And you already patented your technology?"


    Michael shook his head. "For the patenting, I n on working on it after this evaluation. With its legitimacy and effectiveness proven, I will start working on it tomorrow. As for the business n, I already have one prepared."


    "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 disy 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 apliment, then," he replied with a chuckle, pleased to see this other side of her.


    Changing the subject, Bridget quickly regained herposure. "Let''s focus on the next steps for yourpany and the technology. There''s much to be done." "Of course." ***


    December 27th, 2023.


    After the evaluation event, Sr Dynamics Corporation faced significant negative consequences. News about their attempt to discredit Michael Reyes''s sr panel spread quickly, causing their stock prices to plummet. Investors and the public criticized thepany for trying to block a potentially revolutionary technology.


    At the same time, Michael''s sr panel invention received a lot of positive attention. Inside his country, people praised the technology for its high efficiency. Around the world,panies, 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.


    Sr 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 thepany.


    On Michael''s side, things were looking up. With financial backing from Bridget von Reimann and support from others, he started nning to bring his sr panel to the market.


    However as he was about to dive into that, there was a message from Catherine.