"Do you want something to eat, Mr. Mendoza?" Timothy asked, handing him the menu. "Let's celebrate your acceptance of our offer."

"I already ate Mr. Guerrero thank you," Mendoza politely declined the offer. "Are you going to look for more C-executives that will help me run your subsidiary?"

"Yes, from Robert Walters," Timothy confirmed. "Why do you ask?"

"I was hoping that I can come and help you choose the right people," Mendoza finished, resting his elbows on the edge of the table. "Resumes can look impressive, but sometimes the reality is different. I've seen executives who looked perfect on paper but collapsed the moment they were faced with real problems. If I'm to run TG Motors Philippines effectively, I'd like a say in who joins the team."

Timothy and Hana looked at one another. Hana nodded, believing it was a good idea.

"That's reasonable. After all, they'll be reporting directly to you once operations begin."

"Not to overstep, but because I know the industry here. I know who has the skill and who's just been coasting off their title. If we want TG Motors to succeed, we can't afford dead weight."

Timothy leaned back against the booth, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Good. That's the kind of initiative I want from a CEO. You'll have a seat at the table when we decide. In fact, tomorrow we're scheduled for a follow-up with Robert Walters. Consider yourself invited."

Mendoza gave a satisfied nod. "Then it's settled."

"Once all the executives have been chosen, they will attend the presentation that will be presented by my executives in Singapore. It's online so don't worry. There we will talk about the gigafactory, who we are going to contract to construct it, the suppliers, the numbers, and the lineup of the cars. After that, we will approach the Philippine government to help us speed up the process for PEZA accreditation and all the necessary permits."

Timothy finished. "The sooner we secure PEZA status, the faster we can lock in tax incentives and import privileges. That alone will shave millions off operational costs."

Mendoza's eyes sharpened with interest. "That's a smart move. Subic is already a freeport zone, but PEZA accreditation will make us untouchable compared to other manufacturers trying to get a foothold here. And if we get government backing, the perception of TG Motors will change overnight—from some ambitious startup to a national project."

"That's the plan."

***

Two hours later. It was nine o'clock in the evening and Timothy and Hana were walking along the high street. Some of the stores were already closing and the number of people around was diminishing.

"This place looked like Singapore," Hana said as she looked around the skyscrapers around them.

"Is it the first time you noticed it?" Timothy asked.

"It's because I am so focused on the work, which is why I haven't noticed my surroundings."

Timothy chuckled and then pointed his finger at one of the buildings. "You see that building over there?"

Hana looked to where he was pointing, it was a building, and written on top of it was.

"Shangri-la?" Hana read.

Timothy nodded. "Yeah, Shangri-La at the Fort. For now, that's where you'll stay. I've already arranged for a temporary suite so you don't have to worry about anything tonight."

Hana blinked in surprise, clutching her handbag a little tighter. "A hotel? That's too much. I could've just managed with something simpler."

"You're my secretary," Timothy said firmly, his tone leaving no room for debate. "You'll be meeting executives, attending high-level discussions, and representing me at times. Image matters. You can't exactly show up from a rundown apartment."

She looked at him, about to protest, but his gaze was unwavering. After a moment, she sighed softly. "Alright. But only because it's temporary."

"Exactly," Timothy agreed with a nod. "While you stay here, I'll look for a proper condo unit you can rent long-term. Somewhere close to BGC or Makati. That way you'll have your own space while in the Philippines, but still be within reach of the offices. Speaking of offices, I'm planning on leasing an office space so that's where we can work but we also have to be on the site when the construction starts…"

Timothy paused as he realized something for the moment.

"Hana. How many trips abroad will I make when we finalize the contractors, supplies, et cetera to build the gigafactory?"

Hana hummed in thought, calculating. Seconds later, she answered. "It's hard to determine but it's going to be a lot. You'll be signing contracts from different countries within five to seven days."

"I see…it's going to be a hassle if we use commercial airlines for it. And the transportation system here in the Philippines sucks. The distance between Subic and the BGC office is quite far too."

"What are you thinking?" Hana looked up to him, though she already had a general idea on what might that be.

In his free time, Timothy was watching Youtube reels and then he encountered a video talking about private jets. Like how important it is for a businessman who is always abroad because of their business. And hearing from Hana that he'll make a lot of flights this coming year, a private plane might be a good investment for him.

"What do you think about private jets or helicopters?" Timothy asked, looking at her, watching her expression.

She simply smiled cutely and replied. "Honestly? I was wondering when you'd bring that up. I knew you'd come to that conclusion sooner or later."

Timothy raised a brow. "So you're saying it's not a bad idea?"

"It's not just not bad—it's practical," Hana said, her voice shifting into her professional tone. "If you're going to be flying to Japan, Korea, Singapore, or even Europe for contracts, wasting hours on commercial schedules is inefficient. A private jet isn't just luxury, it's a tool. You control the timetable, the routes, and the convenience. As for helicopters, that would solve your domestic problem."

"So you agree we should consider it?"

"Well, you have billions of dollars of money so you can own one easily," Hana answered.

"Then in that case, I'll browse for a private jet, and I know just the person to contact," Timothy grinned.

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