Early on Monday morning, Grace Li walked into the Nova Capital office in the glass-walled building in Midtown Manhattan. As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed Drew Owens' desk was already tidied up, with just a few pens and a sticky note left on the surface, faint coffee stains still visible on the paper, as if telling the story of busy days now past.
The news quickly spread throughout the office that Drew had resigned, supposedly due to his mistake with The Moonlit Sip project, which led to the investment failure. In the fast-paced world of New York's corporate environment, these things happened, but they still made a ripple when they did.
People also noticed that Drew had quietly left the office work group chat. In today's digital workplace, leaving a group chat was like a silent farewell, signaling the end of a chapter in his career.
Ryan messaged him asking what happened, and Drew simply replied that he'd messed up with The Moonlit Sip project, causing the company to misjudge the investment, and he didn't feel he could stay at the company anymore. The whole "taking the fall" scenario was well understood in the office, and this time, it was Drew Owens who took the heat.
Everyone assumed Drew resigned in shame, but Grace Li knew better. He wasn't just resigning; he was being made the scapegoat. Benjamin Harris had tried to convince her to take responsibility for the project's failure, but when that didn't work, he went for the softer option. This allowed him to protect Scarlett Harris's image in front of the employees and LPs, while still offering an explanation to everyone. In American corporate culture, it wasn't unusual for higher-ups to sacrifice lower-level employees in order to protect their own image. Though people were frustrated, they had little choice but to accept it.
However, Drew Owens had quietly taken all the blame, and that clearly meant Benjamin Harris had offered him something in return—perhaps a nice severance package or some future career opportunities. In the world of business, everything is negotiable.
When Grace Li heard the news, she felt a pang of sadness. Drew might have worked closely with Scarlett Harris, but they'd shared an office for over two months, and bonds do form, even in competitive New York offices. In a place like this, relationships are built on shared work, but also on time spent together.
In the afternoon, Grace Li messaged Aiden Thompson.
Grace Li: I don't have much work today. I'm leaving at 6:30, then I'll cook dinner.
Aiden Thompson: I'll head out with you.
It was Monday, and Grace Li rarely left work so early unless she had a meeting or something outside the office. In a city like New York, where people are constantly working, staying late is the norm, and leaving at a reasonable hour feels like an exception.
After returning to their apartment on the Upper East Side, Grace Li made two meat dishes and one vegetable. As they sat down to eat, she said, "It feels so good to be able to leave work on time and cook at home during the week." In a city where takeout and fast food are common, cooking a meal at home and enjoying a quiet dinner felt like a luxury.
"We can make this a habit. You've been working so hard, Grace." Seeing her tiredness, Aiden Thompson couldn't help but feel concerned. He knew how hard she'd been pushing herself.
"Yeah, it's really tiring. Even though I love my job, I'm exhausted from how little time I have for my personal life. I'm getting tired of it." There was a trace of sadness in her voice. In New York's competitive finance industry, the pressure to succeed often comes at the cost of personal life.
Aiden Thompson could sense she had more to say, so he asked, "So, is there something on your mind?"
They had a deep understanding of each other, picking up on subtle emotional shifts.
She smiled faintly, "Let's finish dinner first. I'll tell you later."
After dinner, Aiden Thompson volunteered to do the dishes, while Grace Li stayed in the kitchen, cutting up some fruit for dessert.
After everything was set up, the two of them sat on the balcony chairs of their apartment, eating the fruit they had sliced and sipping sparkling water while chatting. The New York night was breathtaking, with the city lights shining brightly. From the balcony, they could see the Empire State Building lit up in the distance. The atmosphere was peaceful and refreshing.
Grace Li leaned back in her chair, feeling content. "I've been thinking a lot lately, Aiden Thompson. I think I need to make a big decision."
Aiden Thompson focused on her, giving her his full attention. "What's on your mind?"
"I'm thinking about leaving Nova Capital and starting my own business." In a city like New York, full of opportunities and challenges, the idea of starting a business was hardly unusual. Every day, people from all walks of life started their own ventures here.
Aiden Thompson probably guessed what she was about to say, so he asked, "Do you have a specific plan in mind?"
"I do," Grace Li replied thoughtfully. She never acted impulsively; her approach to business and life was always deliberate and calculated. She explained, "I've been working on a project that's about to exit, and I'm in the process of transferring the shares. I expect to complete the deal by the beginning of next month, and I should be getting the performance-based carry—probably around $200,000. Once I have that, I'll officially resign. During this time, I'm preparing to start my own business. My first priority is to set aside enough to cover three years of mortgage payments and living expenses, just in case I don't have any income for a while. In the U.S., missing a mortgage payment can lead to serious consequences, so I want to make sure I'm secure. After that, I'll use the rest of the funds from my stock accounts—probably about $1 million—for my startup capital. But even with that amount, I know I'll need more to fund my venture. Fortunately, I've built some strong relationships over the years, and a few people I trust might be interested in becoming my limited partners (LPs). I'd say there's about a 50% chance of success. In New York's startup scene, personal connections are often the key to raising capital, especially in the early stages. If I succeed, I'll launch a venture capital firm. If not, I'll try angel investing with one or two startups, helping them grow. And if that doesn't work, I'll go back to a full-time job."
After listening intently, Aiden Thompson nodded. "That sounds like a solid plan, but I think you might be missing something important."
"What's that?"
"Me," Aiden Thompson said, smiling as he lifted his hand and gently tapped her nose. "You've forgotten about me."
Their bond was strong, and when it came to big decisions in life, they both wanted to be involved.
Grace Li smiled. "So, how do you plan to get involved?"
Aiden Thompson thought for a moment before answering. "I don't have a huge amount of personal assets. My savings and stock profits add up to around a few hundred thousand dollars, but I can also borrow $1 million from the bank to help fund the startup. That way, we'd both contribute 50%. As for LPs, I may not have been in the workforce for long, but I do have two or three friends here in New York who would likely be interested in investing. Raising a multi-million-dollar fund shouldn't be too difficult."
Aiden Thompson came from a privileged background, and it wasn't surprising that he knew some wealthy friends. In New York's social and business circles, wealthy individuals often exchanged ideas about investments and startups, creating a strong network of potential partners.
Grace Li could see that he was confident, so she asked, "Have you already spoken to them about this?"
"I mentioned it a while ago at a get-together. One of them has expressed interest in investing in a project I was involved with. At the time, I didn't want to bring him into the mix since I was already planning to leave Nova Capital." In New York, casual social interactions often led to new business opportunities.
Grace Li nodded. "Sounds like he trusts you a lot."
"Yeah, he's the type who's easygoing and has plenty of resources," Aiden Thompson said with a grin.
Grace Li couldn't help but laugh. "How can you say that about someone who trusts you so much?"
"It's the truth."
Grace Li teased him, "I've noticed something about you..."
Aiden Thompson raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"You can be really sarcastic sometimes."
Aiden Thompson shrugged casually. "I only say that kind of stuff to people I'm close to. When he's our LP, I'll definitely smooth things over and say all the right things."
Grace Li nodded, then began to imagine their future working together on their venture.
"Aiden, do you ever get anxious?"
"About what?"
"Like, worried about the business failing?"
"Nope," Aiden Thompson said confidently, taking her hand. "I'm sure we'll make it work." His eyes were full of trust and conviction, giving Grace Li all the reassurance she needed.
Grace Li asked, "What if we disagree about something during the startup process?"
"Then I'll do my best to listen to you."
Grace Li thought for a moment. "We should always go with the best idea, no matter who it comes from." In a startup, rational decision-making and good communication are crucial.
She raised her glass of sparkling water. "Here's to our startup being smooth and successful!"
Aiden Thompson raised his glass to meet hers, his lips curling into a confident smile.