Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 79  A Long Day and an Unknown Caller

"Good afternoon, everyone," Michael began, his voice carrying across the lobby. "First, I want to thank each of you for your patience and for the interest you\'ve shown in joining SolaraTech. We\'ve met many outstanding candidates today, and we\'re impressed by the talent and passion for renewable energy that we\'ve seen."

A murmur of hopeful whispers spread through the crowd, applicants exchanging glances filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement.

"However," Michael continued, and the room fell silent, "due to the overwhelming response, we\'ve not been able to interview all of you today. We want to give each applicant the attention and consideration you deserve, which means we\'ll need to extend the interview process to tomorrow."

A collective sigh resonated in the lobby, a mix of relief and disappointment coloring the atmosphere. Some applicants nodded in understanding, while others looked visibly disheartened, likely due to scheduling conflicts or the logistical challenges of returning the next day.

"To those of you who haven\'t been interviewed yet, please return tomorrow at 9:00 AM. We promise to accommodate each of you," Michael assured, noticing the varied reactions among the crowd. "We understand this may cause some inconvenience, and we truly appreciate your understanding and flexibility. SolaraTech is committed to finding the best talents, and we believe in giving every candidate a fair chance."

One applicant raised her hand, a hint of concern in her voice. "Will our place in line be honored tomorrow, or do we have to come early to queue again?"

Michael nodded, addressing her question. "Great question. We will hand out numbers corresponding to your current place in line. When you return tomorrow, please bring this number with you to retain your position in the queue."

Staff members began distributing numbered tickets to the applicants, a system that brought a semblance of order and fairness to the process. The mood lightened slightly, the promise of a second chance easing the initial disappointment.

"Thank you for your patience and for believing in SolaraTech\'s mission. We look forward to meeting more of you tomorrow. Have a good evening, and please, stay safe," Michael concluded, stepping down from the platform.

As the crowd began to disperse, some applicants formed small groups, discussing their thoughts and speculations about the interviews. Others collected their numbered tickets and left the building.

Michael heaved a sigh.

"Want a drink?" An unexpected yet familiar voice sounded behind him. He turned around and saw Bridget, in her hand was a plastic cola bottle. "Thanks," Michael said, accepting the cola with a grateful smile. He opened the lid with force and took a long, refreshing sip. The cool liquid was a small reprieve from the day\'s stress and heat.

Bridget observed him for a moment, then asked, "How are you holding up? You\'ve been on your feet all day."

Michael sighed again, this time with a hint of exhaustion in his breath. "It\'s been a day, Bridget. But seeing so many talented individuals excited about what we\'re doing here... it\'s motivating. Still, I didn\'t anticipate the sheer number of applicants. It\'s overwhelming but in a good way. How about you? How was your end? Did you find promising applicants in the administrative side?"

Bridget nodded enthusiastically, her energy seemingly undiminished by the long day. "Absolutely, Michael. In fact, I was quite amazed by some of the talent we saw today. For instance, we interviewed a candidate for the Chief Financial Officer position, Elena Santos, who has over a decade of experience at a multinational tech company. Her understanding of financial strategies and her vision for growth aligns perfectly with where we see SolaraTech heading."

Michael\'s interest was piqued. "That sounds promising. What about the operations side?"

"We met Marco Liu for the Chief Operating Officer role. He\'s coming from one of the leading renewable energy companies in Europe. His expertise in operational efficiency and sustainable practices could really elevate our manufacturing processes," Bridget explained, her eyes bright with excitement.

"And the tech department?" Michael asked.

Bridget\'s smile widened. "Ah, for the Chief Technology Officer, we interviewed Raj Patel. He\'s an AI specialist with a strong background in solar energy innovations. His previous work on integrating AI with solar panel production could revolutionize our product line."

Michael nodded, impressed. "Marketing? HR?"

"For the Chief Marketing Officer, we found Sophia Zhang. She\'s worked with several startups and helped them build their brands from the ground up. Her creative approach and understanding of digital marketing could really help us stand out," Bridget shared. Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

"And for Human Resources, we interviewed Alex Johnson, who has a remarkable track record in talent management and organizational culture at a tech giant." "It seems like you already selected those people…Well, you have a good eye on people so I won\'t question your choices," Michael remarked with a smile, genuinely pleased with Bridget\'s contributions.

Bridget nodded, her expression serious yet optimistic. "I believe so too. Though I didn\'t expect that I\'ll be onboard on this. Usually, I would let my secretary do all of this but I found myself doing all the work." "Maybe because you like to work with me," Michael teased. "Yeah…probably. Oh about the shorting of the cryptocurrency? How is it going?" "Well, things are looking as I predicted, the crypto market is slowly deteriorating, and I\'m convinced it\'s going to crash by late 2024," Michael explained, adopting a more serious tone. "The indicators are all there—the volatility index is off the charts, and the hash rate\'s inconsistency points towards a massive sell-off on the horizon. Plus, with governments worldwide pushing for stricter regulations on crypto transactions and the energy consumption debate heating up, investor confidence is shaking."

Bridget raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the analysis. "Hoh…that\'s smart."

Michael continued. "I\'ve been monitoring the blockchain transaction volumes and the inflow and outflow of major exchanges. The liquidity crunch is apparent, and once the \'whales\' start to exit, we\'ll see a domino effect. It\'s only going to be a matter of time before the banks where we acquired CDS will start contacting us and purchasing our positions at a premium." "And what are you going to do with the money once you receive it?" Bridget asked.

"Well I\'m going to expand on another industry," Michael replied.

"The food industry? Like the water spinach chip?" Bridget said, recalling Michael\'s words during his encounter with Joshua.

Michael shook his head. "No, it\'s going to be in transportation, military, and information technology." Upon saying that, Michael\'s phone vibrated. He fished out his phone and then checked the name of the caller, it was unknown. "Who the heck is this?" Michael tilted his head to the side before answering it. "Hello?" "Mr. Reyes, thank you for accepting my call, can I borrow a moment of your time, I have something important to tell."