The Bytebull private jet, sleek and modern with a subtle bullhorn logo, taxied to a VIP section of Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The Manila heat hit Richard like a wave as he stepped out, Feliciano "Ciano" Dela Cruz right behind him. Waiting on the tarmac was a polished black government sedan and Mr. Alejandro Reyes, a mid-level official from the Department of Trade and Industry, dressed in a crisp barong tagalog. Beside him, the driver stood at attention.
Mr. Reyes had seen photos of Richard, but the real thing was something else. Richard was taller, more imposing, his posture perfect, his movements precise. And his eyes—those striking cyan blue eyes—were unlike anything Reyes had ever seen. They seemed to pierce right through you. The driver, usually stoic, couldn't help but stare a second too long.
Dios mio, he's… striking. Those photos do him no justice. He looks less like a tech nerd and more like… something else entirely. A movie star? No, more intense.
