The Senate hearing room felt designed to intimidate—high ceilings, austere wood paneling, and rows of senators seated above where Brandon sat at a simple table with a microphone. Cameras lined the walls, broadcasting the proceedings to millions watching around the world.
Senator Helen Marcus leaned into her microphone, her voice carrying practiced concern. "Mr. Carter, your company controls the majority market share in streaming entertainment, social media, online commerce, digital payments, and cybersecurity. By any reasonable definition, isn't that a monopoly?"
Brandon had been expecting this line of questioning. Two years ago, when his companies started dominating their respective markets, the threats had begun pouring in from every direction. Government agencies wanting access to his systems. Rival companies sending corporate spies. Criminal organizations trying to infiltrate his networks. Foreign intelligence services attempting to steal his technology.
He'd responded by acquiring a private intelligence and security firm, transforming it into one of the most sophisticated counter-intelligence operations in the private sector. Through systematic vetting and surveillance, they'd identified dozens of plants within his organization—government operatives, corporate spies, even a few operatives from hostile nations. All of them had been quietly removed and their sponsoring organizations notified that their activities were known.
"Senator Marcus," Brandon replied calmly, "having significant market share doesn't automatically constitute a monopoly. We compete in every market we serve. Consumers choose our products because they're better, not because alternatives don't exist."
Senator James Burton jumped in, his tone more aggressive. "But when one company controls so much of the infrastructure that modern life depends on, doesn't that create dangerous concentration of power?"
"With respect, Senator, if you forced me to break up my companies, I couldn't guarantee they'd maintain the same quality standards. The reason we've been successful is integrated leadership and shared resources. Split that up, change ownership structures, and you risk degrading the very services people depend on."
Senator Marcus wasn't satisfied. "Surely capable executives could be found to run independent companies—"
"Could they?" Brandon interrupted, his tone sharpening. "Name one CEO who has the technical expertise to run a major technology company while actually understanding the underlying systems. Most tech executives can barely write a line of code, yet they're making decisions about products they don't comprehend."
The room went quiet. Brandon had just called out nearly every tech executive in Silicon Valley.
"Furthermore," Brandon continued, "this government has benefited enormously from my so-called monopoly. Crime rates have dropped by thirty percent nationally because of our predictive security systems. International communication and commerce flow smoothly through our platforms. We've helped prevent three potential military conflicts through diplomatic channels that our communication networks made possible."
He paused, letting that sink in before delivering his strongest argument. "Our pharmaceutical divisions have developed cures for cancers, genetic diseases, and conditions that killed millions. Our clean energy systems are reducing carbon emissions globally. We're the largest employer in the world, providing jobs for over five million people directly and supporting millions more indirectly."
Senator Burton tried to interject, but Brandon kept going.
"And let's talk about economic impact. My companies generate approximately forty percent of US GDP growth. Forty percent. If you break us up and cause degradation in service quality or innovation capacity, you're not just hurting my business—you're risking a significant portion of American economic prosperity."
Brandon leaned into his microphone, his voice carrying absolute confidence. "The simple truth, Senators, is that you need me and my companies far more than we need you. That might be uncomfortable to acknowledge, but it's the reality we're working with."
The senators exchanged uncomfortable glances. Brandon had just made it clear that he understood the balance of power in the room, and it wasn't tilted in their favor.
---
The drive back to headquarters felt tense despite Brandon's strong performance. Elena sat in the passenger seat of the BMW, reviewing news coverage of the hearing on her tablet.
"They're persistent, I'll give them that," she said, scrolling through reactions from various political commentators.
"They're greedy," Brandon replied, navigating through DC traffic. "The government wants access to our systems, our data, our technology. They dress it up as concern about monopolies, but what they really want is control."
Elena set down her tablet. "They fear you, Brandon. You wield more power than most elected officials. You do more for the country than they do—better infrastructure, better security, better economic growth. They're terrified that people will start asking why we need politicians when someone like you can deliver actual results."
"I don't want to get into politics. That never ends well."
"You should at least consider it," Elena pressed. "You could make a real difference. Not just through your companies, but by actually dismantling the corrupt systems that hold everything back."
"And make enemies of every entrenched interest in Washington," Brandon finished. "I already have too many enemies, Elena. The Carter family, rival tech companies, foreign intelligence services, and now apparently half the Senate. Adding the entire political establishment to that list doesn't sound appealing."
Elena was quiet for a moment. "You're probably right. But it's frustrating watching people who've accomplished nothing criticize someone who's actually changed the world for the better."
Brandon smiled slightly. "Welcome to the price of success. The higher you climb, the more people want to pull you down."
As they drove through the city where laws were made and power was contested, Brandon reflected on how strange it was that he now had to defend his right to continue building the future. He'd gone from powerless victim to someone so powerful that governments felt threatened by his existence.
The game had changed completely. Now he wasn't just fighting to survive or succeed—he was fighting to maintain his freedom to keep creating, innovating, and pushing humanity forward.
And unlike his battles with the Carter family or corporate rivals, this war would never really end. There would always be another hearing, another investigation, another attempt to bring him under control.
But Brandon had learned long ago that freedom was worth fighting for, no matter how many times you had to defend it.