Chapter 457: Manuel's Challenge

Hannah awoke to find her husband gone, as expected. A note lay on her bedside table: "Take care and wait for me. With love, Oscar." She cherished the message, repeating the words to herself, finding solace in the promise of his return in two months. Two months until the dreadful days would finally end.

Leaving her duvet, she freshened up and went downstairs. Max had prepared a surprisingly abundant breakfast, a stark contrast to the meager meals of recent days. It was almost too much; she worried about gaining weight before her pregnancy. Lost in thought over her substantial breakfast, she browsed the news on her phone. A headline caught her eye: Susan and Manuel's divorce. The news seemed strangely prominent, given their attempts at keeping it quiet.

After breakfast, Hannah called Manuel.

"Morning, this is Hannah. I read the news about your divorce online. Have you seen it?"

"Good morning, Hannah. Yes, I just saw it," Manuel replied calmly. "Sooner or later, everyone finds out."

"But this isn't ideal timing," Hannah countered. "I'm concerned about the impact on you. At Phillips Bank, your position was secure as Edward's son-in-law. Now, things have changed. Be prepared for skepticism."

"Don't worry," Manuel assured her. "I can handle it."

"Just a reminder," Hannah said.

"Got it," Manuel confirmed, and they ended the call.

Manuel arrived at his office half an hour early, as usual, mindful of his disability. Using his cane, he reached his desk and began reading the news report. It was factual, avoiding sensationalism.

After reading, his secretary knocked.

"Morning, Mr. Johnson."

"Morning."

"The board meeting starts in ten minutes."

"Got it," Manuel nodded, and proceeded to the boardroom using his cane. All senior managers were present, including Susan, who attended all important meetings despite not holding a formal management position.

Edward sat at the head of the table. The weekly meeting covered the previous week's activities and upcoming plans. Manuel began his Inbound Marketing Department report: "This week, we have thirteen projects underway; seven show significant progress, four are facing temporary setbacks, and two are proving particularly challenging. I will detail each one."

His presentation was humble yet effective. Susan, who had previously considered him introverted and perhaps lacking in public speaking skills, was impressed by his concise and confident delivery. He was neither arrogant nor timid, offering constructive and practical solutions, and readily admitting limitations while suggesting alternative approaches. His pragmatism impressed most executives.

After his report, a board member interrupted. "Mr. Chairman, I've heard about the divorce of your daughter and Mr. Johnson."

The comment, clearly intended to stir trouble, felt intrusive. Manuel sensed hostility.

Edward responded, "Divorce is common. This is a business meeting, not a personal matter. Let's stay on topic."

"I disagree," the board member persisted. "Assigning such a high-level position seems inappropriate now. It was acceptable when he was your son-in-law; Phillips Bank is family-oriented. But that's changed."

Edward retorted, "His ability, not his familial connection, earned him this position."

"Mr. Johnson is new to the sector," another board member interjected. "Edward, how can you be sure of his qualifications?"

Before Edward could respond, Manuel interrupted.

"My future performance will demonstrate my qualifications. Now is not the time to question my suitability. Judgement without sufficient evidence is unfair; my work will prove my competence."

His unexpected rebuttal surprised the board. Usually quiet and concise, his sharp refutation stunned the challenger, leaving him slightly embarrassed. Manuel pressed on, ironically adding, "That's merely a suggestion. If the Chairman feels otherwise, I have nothing more to add; my performance will speak for itself."

Edward's face darkened, but Manuel remained calm. "Give me six months. If my performance is unsatisfactory, I'll resign."

The board was shocked by his bold promise. They expected a perfunctory effort.

"And by satisfactory performance," Manuel continued, "I mean a fifty percent increase in the group's financial loan rate. Failure means resignation."

"Are you serious?" the board member doubted.

"Absolutely."

"Consider Phillips Bank's market share – sixty percent among the top five banks. A fifty percent increase would be a monopoly. Are you serious?"

"Mr. Torres, let's revisit this in six months," Manuel stated dismissively.

Torres, shamed into silence by Manuel's unwavering confidence, could only reply, "Fine, time will tell."

The meeting resumed its normal course. Afterward, Edward summoned Manuel to his office.

"Manuel, your goal is ambitious."

"Not at all," Manuel replied. "Besides increasing market share, my strategy involves launching new financial services. Increased market growth means increased capital flow. A fifty percent increase is achievable."

Ultimately, he had one last recourse – his personal assets. If necessary, he could transfer them to the bank.