Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

September 15th, 2028.

Bridget invited Michael to a talk yesterday the moment she landed at the airport, and she still couldn't get over how he replied to her invitation.

"Fine? What do you mean fine? You don't even bother asking where we should meet?" Bridget grumbled as she stared at the message on her phone.

She paced around her living room, the frustration evident on her face. Michael's one-word response gnawed at her, leaving her feeling unimportant and unheard. Despite her resolve to have a meaningful conversation, his casual reply made her doubt his seriousness.

Determined to address this, Bridget picked up her phone and called Michael. After a few rings, he answered.

"Hello, Bridget," Michael's voice came through, calm and composed.

"We are going to meet today right?" Bridget asked.

"Yes…I was waiting for you to tell me where we should meet," Michael replied.

Bridget sighed, her frustration simmering. "How about the cafe there in High Street BGC? We can talk there without interruptions," Bridget suggested, trying to keep her tone steady.

"Sure, I'll be there at 2 PM," Michael agreed without hesitation.

"Alright. See you then," Bridget said before ending the call. She put down her phone and took a deep breath, hoping that this conversation would bring some clarity to their relationship.

At 1:45 PM, Bridget arrived at the café and chose a quiet table in the corner. The familiar ambiance of the café brought back memories of their past meetings, but she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the present.

Michael walked in promptly at 2 PM, scanning the room until he saw Bridget. He made his way over to her, a determined expression on his face. "Hi, Bridget," he greeted her as he took a seat opposite her.

"Hi, Michael. Thanks for coming," Bridget replied, trying to keep her emotions in check.

"So…you are back from Germany. You didn't even tell me beforehand. I could have picked you up from the airport," Michael said.

Bridget looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "I could have done that."

"So why didn't you?" Michael asked.

"Let's forget about that," Bridget said dismissively. "I want to know how you are holding up."

"I'm holding up just fine," Michael said, though inwardly, he wasn't feeling any better. Despite his attempts to appear composed, the emotional turmoil was still very much present.

"Are you being honest to yourself?"

"To be honest…I have felt a pain that I have never experienced in my life. It was hard," Michael said, his voice faltering slightly. "I missed you, Bridget. And I realized how much I need you in my life."

Bridget looked at him, her eyes softening but still guarded. "Michael, I missed you too."

"Are you being honest?" Michael looked her in the eye and Bridget nodded genuinely.

"I am, Michael…"

"Should we order now? I haven't had any drinks yet," Michael suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

Bridget nodded, signaling the waiter. "Yes, let's order. I could use a coffee."

They placed their orders, and as they waited, a silence settled between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was filled with unspoken words and emotions. Finally, Bridget broke the silence.

"Michael, I appreciate that you missed me and that you're feeling this way. But I need to understand how things are going to change. I can't go through the same cycle again."

Michael leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Bridget, I've had a lot of time to think while you were away. And I have made some progress in changing myself for the better

too. I've already started delegating more at work so I can have more time for us."

Bridget took a sip of her coffee, considering his words. "That's a start, Michael. You always do the work all by yourself, leaving yourself no time with other things or people that matter."

"I understand," Michael said. "I want to be there for you, not just physically but emotionally too. I'm committed to making us a priority."

"I believe you will, Michael…I believe you will," Bridget reiterated.

"So…I'm thinking of starting right now," Michael said, stretching his arms. "How about dinner later in the evening? We missed that, right? Perhaps we can do it tonight."

"A dinner would be lovely," Bridget agreed with a soft smile. "But let's make it a casual one, something low-key where we can just be ourselves and talk."

Michael nodded, relieved that she was open to the idea. "I know a great little place not too far from here. It's cozy and quiet. We can really talk without any distractions."

"That sounds perfect," Bridget said, her smile growing a bit more relaxed. "What time should we meet?"

"How about 7 PM?" Michael suggested. "I can pick you up, or we can meet there if you prefer."

"Pick me up at 7 then," Bridget decided. "It'll give us a chance to talk on the way."

"Alright, it's a date," Michael said, feeling a renewed sense of hope. "I'm looking forward to it."

They finished their coffees, the atmosphere between them considerably lighter than when they first sat down. Michael felt a flicker of optimism that things might actually work out between them. Bridget seemed more at ease too, the guarded look in her eyes softening as they chatted about lighter topics and caught up on each other's lives.

As they left the café, Michael walked Bridget to her car. "I'll see you at 7," he said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"See you then, Michael," Bridget replied, getting into her car.

Michael watched her drive away, a sense of determination settling over him. He was committed to making things right and showing Bridget how much she meant to him.

Later that evening, Michael arrived at Bridget's place promptly at 7 PM. He had put on a casual yet neat outfit, hoping to strike the right balance for their dinner. He rang the doorbell.

Bridget opened the door, looking effortlessly beautiful in a simple dress. "Hi, Michael. Right on time," she greeted him with a warm smile.

"Hi, Bridget. You look great," Michael said, returning her smile. "Ready to go?"

"Yes, let's go," Bridget replied, locking the door behind her as they made their way to Michael's car.

"I got to be honest, Michael. I was thinking you could pick me up into something more luxurious since you are capable of it."

"You don't like my RAM TRX?" Michael asked, a hint of teasing in his voice as he opened the passenger door for her.

Bridget chuckled, shaking her head. "It's not that. I just thought you might want to impress me with one of your more luxurious cars."

Michael smiled, closing the door after she got in and then walking around to the driver's side. "Well, I don't have anything luxurious in my collection yet. But for you, I'll get one."