The Secret Life of a Billionaire

The wailing sound of sirens grew louder as a police car pulled up nearby. Two officers quickly got out and ran toward the scene. The older officer was broad-shouldered, his uniform stretched taut over his muscular frame. His belt was loaded with various equipment, and his polished boots hit the pavement with a steady, authoritative rhythm. His partner, a younger officer, was holding an energy bar in one hand—clearly a rushed snack he'd stuffed into his pocket.

The older officer spoke in a low voice to his partner, "You handle the crowd. I'll try to talk to her." The younger officer nodded and turned to the onlookers, asking them to step back and stop filming, emphasizing the importance of protecting the girl's privacy.

Keeping a safe distance, the older officer called out in a calm, steady tone, "Ma'am, I know you're going through a tough time right now, but please believe me—we can help. Don't hurt yourself. Let's talk, okay?"

The girl stood by the railing, her body trembling slightly. The older officer stayed where he was, his voice warm and reassuring. "I've already called for a counselor. They'll be here soon. Whatever's happened, there's a way to work through it. Please, step back from the edge, and we'll figure it out together."

Grace Li, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward and spoke gently, "I understand how overwhelming things can feel. Everyone faces challenges, but nothing is worth giving up your life for. Please, come down and let us help."

After several moments of coaxing, the girl finally nodded and slowly stepped away from the railing. The officers moved in carefully, escorting her to a safe spot. She sank to the ground, leaning against the barrier, and broke into sobs. The older officer knelt beside her, patting her shoulder lightly. "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't be too hard on yourself. There are free counseling hotlines and professional support groups in the community. We'll give you their contact info. If you ever feel this way again, don't hesitate to reach out."

Grace Li crouched down next to her and added softly, "Life can be tough, but it's yours to live. If it's workplace discrimination, you can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—they'll help you. Family pressure? That's hard, but sometimes, communication helps. If it doesn't, focus on yourself and your happiness."

The girl lifted her tear-streaked face and murmured, "Thank you."

Grace smiled gently. "You're welcome. The world's changing, and so are we. Take charge of your life. Don't let outside voices drown out your own."

The girl nodded, her breathing evening out as her emotions settled. The older officer turned to his partner and said, "Get in touch with her family. Let them know they need to ease up on her. If necessary, we can help arrange more counseling."

With the situation under control, Grace Li and Aiden Thompson prepared to leave. Aiden gestured toward their car and asked the officer, "Hey, we parked in the emergency lane earlier. Any chance we won't get a ticket?"

The officer chuckled. "Don't worry about it. We've got it noted—no ticket this time." 

Grace glanced at Aiden, appreciating how smoothly he'd handled everything. Once they were back in the car, Aiden started the engine and casually asked, "How about a coffee before calling it a night?"

Grace smiled. "Thanks, but I think I'll head home early tonight."

Aiden nodded, and the car pulled away, leaving behind a street slowly returning to its usual calm.

Aiden Thompson parked his car in the underground garage of Grace Li's apartment complex.He took the elevator up to the lobby. As soon as he stepped out, Aiden pulled out his phone and opened the Slack work group. A flood of unread messages popped up like popcorn. 

Under Olivia's hiking proposal, replies were pouring in. Some colleagues spammed the chat with enthusiastic emojis—rows of hiking boots and mountain caps filled the screen. Others shared breathtaking photos from past trips to the Rockies, showcasing snow-capped peaks glowing under the sun. The photos quickly racked up likes and comments, with people clamoring to know the exact locations. The vibe was easygoing and full of camaraderie. 

Grace Li, now lounging on her living room couch, scrolled through the messages. A few unread finance magazines lay scattered at her feet, their covers featuring Wall Street big shots. Above her, a framed photo from a company outing hung on the wall, showing the team in matching baseball jerseys, laughing and swinging bats at a local field—a snapshot of the energy and unity that defined their group. 

Thanksgiving had just passed, and the relaxed holiday mood lingered. Olivia had proposed a weekend hike in the Rockies and reminded everyone in the #team-fun Slack channel: 

"Hey folks, don't forget to grab the weekend outdoor pass! It covers light rail, buses, and even some discounts at the park. Way better than buying separate tickets!" 

Responses rolled in fast. Grace quickly typed, "Count me in!" 

Olivia replied, "@Aiden Thompson, you in?" 

Aiden's reply was short and to the point: "I'm in." 

"Great!" Olivia typed back. "Let's meet at the light rail station near Brook Village at 9:30 a.m. sharp on Saturday. Don't be late!" She thoughtfully attached the station location and a screenshot of the bus schedule. 

Later that night, Aiden stepped out of the shower, glancing at the clock. It was already 11:30 p.m. His phone lit up with a private message from Grace on Slack. 

Grace Li: "I just Googled 'Giant's Causeway.' [Goodbye emoji]" 

Grace Li: "Now I can't unsee those images. If I have nightmares or can't sleep tonight, you're 100% to blame." 

Aiden chuckled, shaking his head as he typed back: 

Aiden Thompson: "You actually looked it up? Brave move." 

Grace Li: "I don't like having blind spots. But now I think a little ignorance might've been bliss. I know way too much now. [Smile emoji]" 

Aiden laughed again, picturing her usual composed demeanor cracking just enough to let this playful side show. He replied: 

Aiden Thompson: "So, you're kind of a scaredy-cat, huh?" 

Grace Li: "Yeah, I don't do horror movies, zombie flicks, or anything remotely scary. Not my vibe." 

Aiden Thompson: "Definitely a scaredy-cat." 

Grace Li: "[Exhausted but still smiling.jpg]" 

Aiden smiled at the message, her humor catching him off guard as always. His mind wandered back to earlier that day, to the words Grace had spoken to the girl at the railing. Her advice wasn't just for the girl—it was a reminder for everyone. 

"You've got to live for yourself," she had said. "Take responsibility for your choices." 

Aiden agreed wholeheartedly. Life wasn't perfect, but it was worth owning. 

As he set his phone down and climbed into bed, he found himself looking forward to Saturday's hike.

On Saturday, Aiden Thompson arrived at the light rail station on time. From a distance, he spotted Grace Li and Ryan standing outside the café by the station, each holding a paper cup of coffee, warming their hands while chatting and laughing. Grace was dressed in a light hiking outfit, and Ryan wore a pair of cool sunglasses.

"Hey, good morning!" Aiden waved.

After meeting up, the three of them boarded the light rail to the Rockies. The car smelled strongly of coffee, with almost everyone holding a Starbucks cup. Some passengers were reading the New York Times, while others were listening to the latest hip-hop hits, swaying to the beat. A few stops later, a couple of street musicians boarded, guitars in hand, and played some upbeat folk tunes, earning applause from the crowd.

When they arrived at the shuttle bus station, Aiden frowned. "This line gets super crowded on the weekends. Not sure we'll get a seat." Sure enough, when they got on the bus, there were only a few empty spots left, and the aisles were crowded with people carrying hiking packs.

When they reached the base of the mountain, the rest of their colleagues had arrived, and a group of seven set off on their hike. The scenery along the way was stunning—wildflowers in every color imaginable, blooming across the hills like a Van Gogh painting. They passed families on the trail, kids carrying mini backpacks, walking their dogs—some even in custom outdoor vests—while the families laughed and stopped to pour ice-cold lemonade from thermoses to stay refreshed, enjoying the perfect outdoor vibe.

Once they reached the summit, the view was breathtaking. The distant mountains stretched out as far as the eye could see, and a few white clouds drifted lazily across the bright blue sky. On the open area at the top, several groups were taking turns snapping photos. They joined in, taking some group pictures before preparing to head back down.

On the way down, they passed a small church with a charming little garden beside it. In one corner of the garden was a "Wish Wall," set up by the community to encourage people to express hope and support for others. Olivia excitedly called them over. "This spot is all about writing down your wishes or blessings. The church volunteers have cards and markers, and you can write whatever you want. The donations go to help support the community's food programs for those in need or for church repairs."

Olivia ran to grab some cards and handed them out. "You can write anything—whether it's a wish for your own future or a blessing for someone else."

The group gathered around a table outside and started writing. Grace Li took out a pen from her bag but realized it wasn't working. Luckily, the volunteers provided colorful markers that wrote smoothly. Aiden wasn't too interested in the activity, so he casually handed his card to Ryan. Ryan eagerly wrote down his wish, and Aiden glanced over, teasing, "That's quite the bold wish."

Ryan grinned. "You don't get it, man. If it works out, life would be way easier."

He looked over at the metal flower rack where people were hanging their cards. The lower levels were filled, but there was still room up top. He cleared his throat, laughing, and said, "Hey, little Aiden, help me out. Put it up high!"

Aiden took the card and nodded. "Alright." Just then, Ryan's phone rang. It was a call from a relative, talking about Thanksgiving plans and family updates. Ryan walked off a little ways to take the call.

Aiden walked over to the flower rack with Ryan's card in hand. After waiting for a few people to move, he stepped up and placed the card at the top. Grace Li, having just finished writing her card, happened to be standing right behind him. She glanced over instinctively, but couldn't quite make out what was written on it.

"Need help putting yours up?" Aiden asked.

Grace snapped out of it and hesitated for a second before replying, "No, it's fine." She tried to stand on tiptoe, but her fingers barely reached the second-to-last row.

Aiden reached out his hand with a smile. "Let me do it."

Grace hesitated for a moment but finally handed him her card. Aiden took it and smoothly tied it to the top row of the rack. It was then that Grace noticed Ryan's wish: "I hope to meet a partner who can help me achieve my dreams."

The words caught her off guard, and a complicated mix of emotions bubbled up inside her. She knew Aiden Thompson's family had fallen on hard times—he spent Thanksgiving alone, living out in the less desirable part of town in Brooklyn, struggling a bit financially. She had always thought he had the brains and the skills to pull himself up by his bootstraps and rebuild his family's business, but it seemed like maybe he had other plans.

Her mind wandered back to the dinner with Evelyn Garcia a few days ago. Aiden had been such a gentleman, pulling out Evelyn's chair for her, and when she asked him to drive her home, Aiden had agreed without hesitation, even staying a lot longer than expected. Grace now found herself questioning whether she had misunderstood him all this time. Maybe he wasn't as innocent as she thought. She had originally just wanted to help him, but now she wondered if she had been blind to something else, something she hadn't seen before. Maybe she had no business meddling in his life or making assumptions about his choices. The more she thought about it, the more complicated things seemed, and the more conflicted she felt.