The Secret Life of a Billionaire

As Aiden Thompson stepped into the company entrance, he subconsciously glanced at Grace Li's skirt and noticed a small snag in the fabric. It wasn't obvious, but upon closer inspection, it was there. He didn't mention it, though, and instead asked, "Do I need to wait for HR to come back?"

Grace Li checked her watch. "They'll probably show up right on time. Let me take you to the office first."

"Alright," Aiden replied.

Aiden followed Grace Li into the office. The rectangular room had six workstations, each separated by half-height dividers. At the far end, there was a single wooden desk, twice the size of the others—that was Grace Li's spot.

Grace pointed to an empty desk next to Ryan's. "This will be your workstation from now on. Take a seat for now, and once HR gets back, you can complete your onboarding."

"Got it." Aiden nodded and sat down, picking up a folder left behind by the previous occupant to skim through.

Before long, Olivia walked in with a coffee cup in hand. Her eyes lit up when she saw the new colleague. She set her coffee down and walked over to Aiden.

"Hey, new guy!" Olivia greeted him with a warm smile, her dimples showing as her eyes crinkled with excitement. "I'm Olivia!"

"Hi," Aiden replied, his tone calm and measured.

"What's your name?" Olivia's enthusiasm didn't waver.

Aiden pulled out his phone, typed his name into the notes app—Aiden Thompson—and showed it to her.

Olivia nodded approvingly. "Nice name. Very classy."

In contrast to Olivia's bubbly energy, Aiden remained reserved. Olivia had more to say but, noticing his lack of interest, decided to back off. "We're on the same team. I've been with Nova Capital for two years. If you have any questions, just ask."

"Thanks," Aiden replied with a slight smile.

"No problem!" Olivia waved cheerfully and returned to her desk.

Once Aiden finished the onboarding process, Grace Li gave him a tour of the office, explaining the company's structure. Nova Capital had four partners. Benjamin Harris held a 60% stake and was the managing partner with the final say on decisions. Of the other three partners, one was a founding partner who mainly provided funding and stayed overseas, while the remaining two oversaw daily operations and sat on the investment committee.

The company had 40 employees in total. Excluding the administrative, HR, finance, and legal teams, the investment department consisted of 26 people divided into three teams, each led by an investment director. Grace Li was one of them, specializing in consumer sector projects.

After the tour, Grace handed Aiden a file for a new project—a chain of trendy restaurants in the planning stages. She intended to mentor him personally so he could quickly get up to speed.

In the afternoon, Grace and Ryan were scheduled to attend a meeting at a client's office. Grace decided to bring Aiden along to observe. As they walked to the elevator, Ryan, carrying his briefcase, suddenly realized he was a full head shorter than Aiden.

"Man, Aiden, you're not two meters tall, are you?" Ryan asked, craning his neck.

"Six foot two," Aiden replied.

"Doesn't seem like it. Are you wearing lifts?" Ryan joked, glancing at Aiden's shoes.

"No," Aiden said flatly.

"Definitely are!" Ryan teased.

Grace turned back with a smirk. "Ryan, maybe you're just short."

"Hey, I'm five foot eight!" Ryan protested.

Grace pressed the elevator button and shot him a look. "I'm five-seven in heels, and we're about the same height. You sure about that five-eight?"

Ryan sheepishly made a zipping motion across his lips. "Alright, alright, let's change the subject." Grace chuckled softly.

Aiden glanced at Grace, surprised at how approachable she was despite being a team leader.

In the elevator, Grace stood near the buttons, while Ryan stood beside Aiden, sneaking another look at his shoes. They were flat-soled leather shoes, no lifts. Ryan noticed their unique, vintage style and asked, "Hey, Aiden, where'd you get those shoes? They're pretty cool."

Aiden smiled faintly. "Picked them up at a thrift store. Thought they looked interesting and didn't cost much."

Ryan touched the fabric of Aiden's suit jacket, noting its smooth texture. "This suit thrifted too?"

"Yeah. I like finding vintage stuff—it's comfortable and has character," Aiden explained.

Ryan chuckled. "In this line of work, dressing too quirky might get you some side-eye. Old-school clients like their suits plain and proper."

Grace cut in. "Ignore him. As long as you look sharp and professional, you're fine."

Ryan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. But I'm serious—Olivia wore something flashy to a pitch meeting once, and people couldn't stop staring."

"That's their problem," Grace said firmly. "Aiden, just wear what feels appropriate. Don't overthink it."

"Got it," Aiden said with a small nod.

When the elevator doors opened, Ryan trailed after Aiden like a sidekick, muttering, "Wait, you went to Oxford for your MBA, right? Why're you into thrift shopping?"

Aiden replied, "My family had some money, but now I'm paying off student loans. Oxford MBA tuition isn't cheap."

"Ah, makes sense," Ryan said, crafting a mental story about a wealthy heir turned self-made man. "Happens to the best of us. Don't let it get you down."

Grace rolled her eyes. "Ryan, you're terrible at pep talks."

"What? I'm just being supportive!" Ryan said, clapping Aiden on the shoulder. "Aiden, keep your head up!"

Aiden glanced at him, unimpressed, and chose not to respond.

For the meeting, they took Grace's BMW 3 Series. She unlocked the car with a click of her key fob.

"I'll drive," Ryan offered. Grace handed him the keys and got into the backseat, opening her laptop to review some documents.

Grace glanced at Aiden in the passenger seat. "You have a driver's license, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good. For long trips or client visits, we'll take turns driving. Makes it less tiring."

"Sure," Aiden agreed.

Ryan started the car and, as they pulled out, said, "Aiden, you're so reserved. You don't talk much."

"Am I?" Aiden asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Totally," Ryan said earnestly. "But I get it—student loans, stress, it can make anyone a bit moody. But life's long. You've gotta learn to—"

"Ryan," Grace interrupted, not looking up from her laptop, "shut up and let me work."

Ryan sighed dramatically. "Why're you so nice to Aiden but so mean to me?"

Without missing a beat, Grace replied, "Because you don't deserve it."

"Harsh!" Ryan exclaimed, feigning hurt.

Aiden's lips twitched in the faintest smile. He hadn't expected a private equity firm to be this relaxed. His first day had left a good impression—an approachable boss and quirky, well-meaning colleagues. Not a bad start at all.

Today, Grace Li and her team were scheduled to visit a client who owned a chain of BBQ restaurants. The client's stores were located in a neighboring city, meaning they had a one-and-a-half-hour drive ahead of them. In the U.S., traveling across cities to discuss business or expand a company's footprint is pretty common. Many entrepreneurs seek investment from different regions to fuel their growth. By 3 PM, the group finally arrived at their destination and spent the next three hours in a meeting. Afterward, the founder warmly invited them to dine at one of his BBQ joints.

The restaurant, named "Grill & Glory", had been founded by Jack Bennett three years ago. Jack had successfully expanded to six locations and was now seeking funding to open more. In the U.S. restaurant industry, stories of entrepreneurs starting with small street food stalls, building a reputation, and gradually expanding into multi-location chains are quite common.

When Grace Li's group arrived at the BBQ restaurant, a small crowd of customers was already seated on benches outside, waiting for their turn. Jack beamed with pride as he explained, "Our stores are always this busy. During peak hours, it's pretty normal to have lines. To keep customers happy, we offer perks like waiving seating fees or handing out complimentary appetizers. It helps make the wait less frustrating."

Grace walked into the restaurant alongside Jack, taking in the bustling atmosphere. Without wasting time, she asked, "With business booming like this, I'd imagine your cash flow must be pretty healthy, right?"

Jack chuckled. "Honestly? Business is great, but opening a new location is no joke. Costs pile up—equipment, renovations, rent, staff wages—you name it. That's why I'm hoping you guys can help us out. With your capital, we can take Grill & Glory to the next level."

Jack led the group to a private dining room and gestured for Grace to sit. To showcase the restaurant's signature dishes, he had a server dedicated to grilling at their table. The spread was nothing short of impressive: pork belly, marbled beef, tender brisket, lamb, chicken thighs, wings, scallops, squid, sausages, and an array of vegetables that filled the table.

Ryan, ever the food enthusiast, couldn't stop raving as he devoured bite after bite. "Oh man, this is amazing! No wonder your business is killing it."

Jack laughed heartily. "Appreciate the compliment, Ryan."

Between mouthfuls, Ryan asked, "What made you want to start a BBQ restaurant in the first place?"

"Well," Jack began, "I used to run a food stand at a night market. Business was fantastic, and I built up a loyal customer base. After saving enough money, I figured it was time to open an actual restaurant—no more worrying about bad weather. The first Grill & Glory location wasn't anything fancy, just a small 1,000-square-foot space. But we made it work."

As Ryan kept wolfing down food and peppering Jack with questions, Aiden sat quietly, eating in a composed and elegant manner. His demeanor reminded Grace of someone dining at a high-end steakhouse rather than a lively BBQ joint. She thought back to a conversation from earlier in the day between Ryan and Aiden. Aiden had grown up in privilege, and although his family's fortune had diminished, the polished manners he'd acquired during his upbringing still shone through.

After chatting for a while, Grace asked, "What's the average check per customer?"

Jack thought for a moment. "Around $70 to $80 per person. We also offer a two-person combo for $158, which is a great deal."

"Can I see a menu?" Grace asked.

"Of course!" Jack nodded to a server, who quickly brought over a menu. Grace skimmed through it, noting that the pricing was indeed reasonable, with well-thought-out combo options.

"How much profit do you make on one of those combos?" she asked.

Jack hesitated briefly, running numbers in his head. "After factoring in all costs, we're looking at around a 20-30% margin."

Grace nodded, clearly impressed.

By the time dinner wrapped up, it was 8:30 PM. Ryan was stuffed and had also indulged in a few too many drinks, leaving the driving duties to Aiden. As soon as they got in the car, Ryan slumped in the backseat and fell asleep almost instantly.

Aiden handled the car like a pro, his driving smooth and relaxed. With his seat pushed all the way back, his long legs bent slightly as his deft hands gripped the steering wheel. The car, while a mid-tier luxury brand, seemed to transform into a top-tier ride under his control. Grace couldn't help but admire how effortlessly composed he looked behind the wheel.

Breaking the silence, Grace asked, "So, what did you think of the BBQ?"

"It was pretty good," Aiden replied simply.

"First day on the job. How're you feeling so far?"

"It's been fine," he said with a faint smile.

"Half of this job is being out in the field, just like today."

"I like it," he replied, his lips curving slightly upward again.

Grace chuckled. "If you get tired, let me take over."

"One hundred kilometers? That's nothing," Aiden said with an easy tone, clearly unbothered.

Grace glanced back at Ryan, still fast asleep, and punched an address into the GPS. "He lives in Green Garden. Let's drop him off first."

"Got it."

After dropping Ryan off at his apartment complex, Grace turned to Aiden. "Now put your address into the GPS, and I'll take you home."

"No need," Aiden replied. "I live pretty far out."

"Where?"

"Brook Village."

Grace raised her eyebrows, surprised. "Brook Village, huh? I used to live there after graduation. It's a good spot for someone starting out. Rent's affordable, which is exactly what I needed back then. I paid $600 a month for a tiny room and stayed there for two years."

She knew Aiden had grown up wealthy and was likely used to far more luxurious accommodations. Moving to a modest neighborhood like Brook Village must have been a significant adjustment. Still, in America, it's not unusual for young professionals to scale back and adapt to their financial reality. Grace glanced at Aiden as he drove on, his profile calm and composed, as though nothing could faze him.