I'm The King of Business & Technology in the Modern World-Chapter 216: Headlines and Heartbeats

"Just some murmurs about succession planning. Stockholder chatter. Some conservative blogs going, 'Can a pregnant CEO still lead infrastructure?' You know the usual sexist noise."

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

Matthew nodded. "We expected that."

Karla smirked. "Already got a draft rebuttal ready if you want to post it. Title: She Can Build a Train, She Can Carry a Baby."

He barked a laugh. "Remind me to give you a raise."

Then his phone buzzed.

Amber Manzano — ANC

Interview request. One-on-one. She says it's your call—but it'll give you the chance to get ahead of the narrative.

Matthew stared at the message, then sighed.

Time to step out of the nursery blueprints and into the media fire again.

—

January 15, 2025 — 2:30 PMANC Studio, Mandaluyong

Bright lights. Matte black furniture. Subtle background music.

Amber Manzano greeted Matthew with a handshake and her signature press-ready smile. "Congratulations. You've broken the internet and haven't even posted a baby bump selfie yet."

Matthew chuckled and sat down, calm and composed. "We figured bridges first, bump later."

The cameras rolled.

"Let's start with the obvious," Amber began. "Angel Cruz—your wife, and one of the most influential infrastructure figures in the country—is expecting. What's that like?"

Matthew smiled. "Unreal. And real. All at once. She's handling it the way she handles everything—organized, steady, unshakable."

Amber leaned forward. "And what about Sentinel? There's curiosity. Concerns. Even admiration. But people are asking—can she lead while expecting?"

He didn't hesitate.

"Angel didn't lead Sentinel with her feet on a construction site every day. She led it with her mind, her plans, her team. None of that changes."

"And her upcoming maternity leave?"

"Already planned. Delegation has been in motion since Q4 last year. She's building this phase like every other—brick by brick. The company isn't slowing down. But it's also adapting. We're not just building systems. We're building a future where work-life balance isn't a myth."

Amber nodded slowly, clearly impressed.

"Any name reveals?" she teased.

Matthew smirked. "Still debating. Let's just say the shortlist has both train names and celestial bodies."

—

January 16, 2025 — 11:00 AMRockwell, Their Apartment — Living Room

Angel sat curled on the couch, tablet in her lap, watching the interview replay.

She had to admit it—he handled it well.

Graceful. Smart. Calm under fire.

He always had a way of shifting public narratives just by being honest.

The comments poured in:

"This is the leadership we want. Competence AND compassion."

"If Angel Cruz can blueprint a train network and a maternity plan, what's my excuse for not doing laundry?"

"Sentinel's redefining corporate culture. Respect."

Of course, there were the usual trolls, but she barely glanced at them.

Instead, she opened her inbox and smiled.

A message from one of her old college professors had arrived:

"I remember you sketching platforms in your notebook instead of taking notes. Look at you now. Building nations and families. I'm proud of you."

She closed the tablet slowly.

Then rested her hand over her stomach again.

It still didn't feel entirely real.

But it was beginning to.

—

January 18, 2025 — 9:00 AMSentinel HQ — Open Forum: Future Leadership Session

They had scheduled this forum months ago, part of the company's long-term evolution plans. But it felt perfectly timed.

Angel stood at the center of the auditorium, now five days after the public found out. Her bump wasn't visible yet—but everyone knew. And the atmosphere had shifted from curiosity to a kind of reverence.

"This company was never built on just one person," she began. "Not on me. Not on Matthew. Sentinel was always meant to outlast the people who started it."

The room was silent.

"I'm going on maternity leave later this year. I will be stepping back for a while. Not because I'm stepping down, but because I trust you. All of you."

She paced slowly across the floor.

"There will be a new executive rotation. Assistant directors will shadow leadership roles starting next quarter. I'll personally brief every project head on my departure plan. But most importantly—I want all of you to know that building a family doesn't mean abandoning your ambition."

A quiet stir. Then nods.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm just adding a new kind of blueprint to my list."

Someone stood from the back.

It was Daniel from Infrastructure Operations. "Ma'am. When your child's old enough to ride the Aurora Line, what do you want them to see?"

Angel paused, then smiled.

"I want them to see a city that works. A system that cares. And a future built by people who weren't afraid to live fully, even while they built something bigger than themselves."

—

January 21, 2025 — 10:30 PMRockwell Balcony

The city twinkled beneath them again. Same view. Different future.

Angel leaned back into Matthew's chest, blanket wrapped around them both.

"I'm scared sometimes," she admitted softly.

"So am I."

"But then I remember…" she trailed off.

"What?"

"That we built a whole country's backbone out of steel, fiber optics, and late nights. If we can do that…"

"We can raise a kid."

She nodded.

Matthew kissed the top of her head.

And somewhere in the distance, a train rumbled through the night—on schedule, unwavering, unstoppable.

Just like them.

Together.