I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 85: Business Before Brotherhood

Two days later.

Matthew sat in his penthouse office, the skyline of Makati stretching endlessly before him. The city was alive, but his mind was on one thing—Sentinel Systems.

The company had grown beyond what he initially envisioned. Billions in valuation. A stake in major industries. Dominance in cybersecurity. But if he wanted to take it global, he needed investors who knew what they were doing. Business-minded investors with real experience—not friends who happened to be there in the beginning.

Saimon and Leo each owned 10% of Sentinel Systems. It had been a gesture of goodwill—a reward for their loyalty. But the truth?

They didn't build Sentinel.

He did.

And if Sentinel was going to reach even greater heights, their shares had to be diluted.

The private dining room in Shangri-La at the Fort was dimly lit, the soft glow of chandeliers reflecting off the dark wood interior. A bottle of Macallan 25 sat on the table, untouched.

Matthew sat across from Saimon and Leo, both dressed sharply—expensive watches, designer jackets, exuding wealth.

But tonight wasn't about luxury.

It was business.

Saimon leaned back in his chair, smirking. "So, what's the big deal? You said it was important."

Matthew exhaled, his fingers tapping against the table. He had to handle this carefully.

"I'll get straight to the point," Matthew said, his voice even, unreadable. "Sentinel is expanding. Investors want in—big investors. If we're going to scale properly, we need capital, connections, and leadership that understands this space."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Matthew's gaze was sharp. "Your shares need to be diluted."

Silence.

Saimon's smirk faded. "Wait… what?"

Matthew leaned forward, calm but firm. "You both own 10% of Sentinel, but let's be honest—you don't contribute much. You've made millions just from holding those shares while I built this company."

Leo shifted in his seat, arms crossing. "So you're saying you're cutting us out?"

Matthew shook his head. "Not cutting you out. Diluting your shares. New investors are coming in—people who bring more than just capital. They bring experience, industry knowledge, and connections that we don't have. If Sentinel is going to compete globally, it needs real leadership."

Saimon frowned. "We've been with you since the start, man. And now you're telling us we're just… placeholders?"

Matthew sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew this was coming.

"I'm not saying you didn't matter. But let's be real—Sentinel didn't grow because of you. It grew because of me. You both rode the wave while I was making the deals, negotiating contracts, and handling the pressure. And now that we're playing with the big leagues, we can't afford dead weight."

Leo's jaw clenched. "Dead weight?"

Matthew met his gaze without flinching. "In business, yes."

Saimon exhaled sharply, leaning forward. "Alright. Fine. Say we go along with this. What does 'dilution' mean for us exactly?"

Matthew leaned back, calculating his next words carefully. "It means that when the new investors come in, they'll be buying a stake—your stake will shrink proportionally. Your shares will still be worth a lot, but you won't have as much influence."

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Leo scoffed. "So we're getting screwed."

Matthew's gaze hardened. "You've already made hundreds of millions of pesos off of this company while doing nothing. You've got your cars, your condos, your lavish lifestyle—all because of me. This isn't about screwing you over. It's about making Sentinel bigger than any of us."

Saimon looked down at the table, swirling his whiskey glass. Conflicted.

Leo, however, wasn't taking it as well. "So that's it, huh? You make it big, and suddenly we're disposable?"

Matthew exhaled. "It's not personal. It's business."

Leo let out a bitter laugh. "Right. 'It's not personal, it's business.' The classic billionaire line."

Matthew's expression didn't change. "You knew this would happen eventually."

Saimon finally spoke, voice calmer but still uneasy. "And if we say no?"

Matthew's eyes sharpened. "You can't. The board has already approved the dilution. It's happening, whether you like it or not. I'm only telling you out of respect."

Leo's fists tightened, but he said nothing.

Saimon sighed. "How much are we losing?"

Matthew glanced at Angel, who was sitting beside him. She tapped her tablet before speaking.

"You'll each go from 10% to 4.5% after the first round of dilution."

Saimon flinched. "Damn."

Leo exhaled harshly. "That's over half our shares gone."

Matthew nodded. "And yet, those 4.5% stakes are still worth more than what you started with."

Saimon ran a hand through his hair. "Who are these new investors?"

Matthew smirked slightly. "People who know what they're doing. A few international venture capital firms. A Singaporean tech mogul. A former cybersecurity executive from the U.S. If we bring them in, Sentinel isn't just going to dominate the Philippines—it's going global."

Leo shook his head. "Damn, man. You really are cutthroat."

Matthew's voice was steady, unwavering. "That's why Sentinel is where it is."

Another long silence.

Saimon leaned back, processing. "So… we don't really have a choice, huh?"

Matthew exhaled. "No. But you'll still be rich, you'll still have a stake, and you'll still benefit from Sentinel's growth. This is about scaling up, not shutting you out."

Leo stood up abruptly, downing the rest of his whiskey. "I need some air."

He walked out to the balcony, gripping the railing, staring out at the city.

Saimon just sat there, lost in thought.

Matthew didn't push them. He had expected resistance, but in the end, they knew the truth.

They were here because of him.

And now? It was time to move forward—whether they liked it or not.

Two days had passed since the conversation.

Leo and Saimon were still processing it, but they hadn't fought back. They knew there was no point. The paperwork had been signed. The dilution was happening.

Angel walked into Matthew's office, placing a folder on his desk.

"It's done," she said. "The first round of investors is locked in. We're now valued at ₱58 billion."

Matthew leaned back, satisfied. "Good."

Angel hesitated. "Leo and Saimon… are they okay?"

Matthew smirked slightly. "They'll get over it."

Angel sighed. "You're cold sometimes, you know that?"

Matthew chuckled. "That's why I'm in charge."

Angel shook her head, but she couldn't argue.

Sentinel was bigger than ever, and Matthew wasn't slowing down.

He had built this empire.

And he wasn't letting anyone—friend or not—hold it back.