As soon as Grace Li sat down at her desk, her coworkers gathered around, chatting excitedly. She smiled and took out a handful of small keychains decorated with Chinese knots and tiny golden "Fu" charms.
"These are little gifts for Lunar New Year," she explained warmly, handing them out. "It's a tradition in China—meant to bring good luck. Hope it gives everyone a great start to the year!"
Her coworkers accepted them with curiosity and appreciation, turning them over in their hands.
"This is awesome, Grace!" Ryan grinned. "I'm hanging this on my car keys—could use all the good luck I can get!"
"Does this mean I'll finally land that big deal?" Olivia joked, inspecting the charm.
"Maybe!" Grace laughed.
Aiden Thompson hadn't come over to grab one, so she walked to his desk and held one out to him. "Here—good luck for the new year."
Aiden took it with a smile. "Thanks. That's really thoughtful of you. Cool way to share your culture."
The first day back was packed with meetings. By the time the clock hit 6:00 PM, everyone was eager to head out for the company dinner.
Aiden volunteered to drive, dropping his coworkers off in front of the restaurant before heading to the underground parking lot.
The lot was packed, and he had to wait a few minutes just to get in. When he finally found a spot and stepped out of his car, another vehicle parked across from him caught his attention.
A familiar voice called out, "Yo, Aiden! What are the odds?"
Aiden looked up to see Anthony Miller stepping out of a black GMC Yukon, wearing a leather jacket and a pair of worn-in combat boots. He had the same effortlessly cool vibe he always did.
"Yeah, no kidding!" Aiden chuckled.
Anthony walked over. "Man, I've been trying to get you to hoop with me forever, but you keep ghosting me. That hurts, bro."
"I told you—I was drowning in work."
"Yeah, yeah, last year was nuts, but you're not slammed now, right?" Anthony clapped him on the back. "A bunch of us are grabbing dinner and playing ball after. Leo Wright is in town—remember him?"
"Of course."
They had all attended a private high school,where a lot of kids from wealthy families went.
"Then you gotta come. He'd love to catch up."
Aiden shook his head. "Can't tonight. Company dinner."
Anthony smirked. "How late are you stuck there?"
"Probably around 8:30."
"We'll be at the penthouse club. If you wrap up early, swing by."
"We'll see."
By the time Aiden arrived at the restaurant, his coworkers were deep in conversation about what to order.
"Should we start with some wings? I heard they're amazing here," Ryan suggested.
"I'm getting the steak," Scarlett Harris said. "Olivia, what about you?"
Olivia frowned at her menu. "Torn between the pasta and the salad. Had a big lunch, though, so maybe salad."
With the food mostly decided, the conversation shifted to vacations.
"Grace, I saw your Instagram post," Olivia said. "That town you went to looked amazing. Was it as good as it looked?"
"Yeah, it was a great trip—scenery was beautiful, and the food was on point. Only downside? Way too many tourists."
Scarlett leaned in. "Who'd you go with? Your pics looked professionally taken—your photographer must be pretty talented."
Grace had posted a nine-photo Instagram carousel the day before, including a couple of shots of herself. Keeping her expression casual, she replied, "Went with a good friend."
Scarlett smirked. "A guy or a girl? I'm betting a guy."
Grace didn't dare look at Aiden, worried they'd give something away. She shrugged. "A girl."
Olivia sighed dreamily. "Man, I need a trip too. We should do a team-building getaway sometime."
"That'd be sick," Ryan agreed.
"A two-day, one-night weekend trip would be perfect," Mike added.
As the group tossed around ideas, Grace finally risked a glance at Aiden. He wasn't looking at her, but the corner of her lips twitched as she suppressed a smile.
When the food arrived, everyone's focus turned to eating.
Olivia pulled out a few bottles of light wine. "Check this out—these were sent over by the project team from 'Blooming Moon Sips.' It's got an amazing fresh fruit aroma and goes down super smooth. Anyone wanna try?"
"I'm driving, so I'll pass," Mike said.
"I'm not, so count me in!" Ryan reached for a bottle.
Scarlett took the opportunity to turn to Aiden. "Aiden, I'd love a drink. Can you drive my car later?"
Aiden shook his head. "Sorry, got something after this."
Scarlett's smile faded slightly. "Something? With who?"
"Just a friend."
Olivia passed bottles around. "Grace, you wanna try some?"
Grace shook her head. "I'm driving too."
Olivia blinked. "Wasn't Aiden gonna drive?"
"He's got plans."
"Ah, got it."
She moved on, handing Aiden a bottle. "How about you?"
"Sure, why not?"
Scarlett, looking deflated, mumbled, "I'll pass. I'm driving."
Grace's phone screen lit up with a message from Aiden.
Aiden Thompson: Some old high school friends are hanging out nearby. I'll stop by after dinner. Let me know when you get home.
Grace Li: Got it.
The club Anthony Miller mentioned was on the top floor of a sleek skyscraper. It wasn't just a bar—it was a high-end social lounge, blending luxury dining with top-tier entertainment. The dining area offered a curated selection of global cuisine, from gourmet French dishes to classic American burgers, authentic Mexican tacos, and wood-fired Italian pizzas. Meanwhile, the entertainment section featured a stylish billiards lounge, complete with tournament-grade pool tables, neon-lit décor, and framed posters of legendary players. There was also a modern bowling alley with high-tech scoring systems and an exclusive fitness area where members could train with top-tier equipment.
Anthony and his friends were hanging out in the billiards lounge. Along with him were Leo Wright, an old classmate, and Aiden Thompson, who also knew Leo from back in the day.
Leo was carefully chalking his cue when he spotted Aiden walking in. His eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa! No way. Anthony said you might show up, but I figured he was full of it."
Aiden smiled. "Was grabbing dinner nearby, figured I'd drop in."
Back in school, the three of them had been inseparable. Leo shook his head with a smirk. "Man, you've been in New York for how long and didn't hit us up? Weak, bro."
"Work's been killing me," Aiden said, shrugging. "Corporate grind. Nine-to-nine, barely got time to sleep."
Leo grinned. "What, got tired of the rich-kid life and decided to suffer with the rest of us?"
Anthony walked over, tossing Aiden a cue. "Enough talk. Been a minute since we played—let's see if you're still any good."
Aiden raised a brow, smirking. "Hope you're not expecting an easy win."
"Man, please." Anthony scoffed. "I ain't the scrub you used to school back in the day."
Aiden leaned on his cue, wiping the tip with his fingers. "Guess we'll find out."
A waiter, dressed in a sharp uniform, expertly racked the balls. Anthony grabbed the chalk, gave his cue a final swipe, then grinned. "Break's yours, Aiden."
Anthony smirked. "You might regret that. One shot, and I might clean this table up."
"Less talk, more action."
Anthony lined up his shot, took a deep breath, and struck. The white ball shot forward, cracking into the tight cluster. Colors scattered across the table, and the 9-ball rolled smoothly into the corner pocket.
"Stripes are mine," he said with a grin.
Aiden nodded. "Alright. Keep going."
Anthony took his second shot, sinking two more balls in quick succession.
Leo clapped. "Damn, man! You've actually been practicing?"
Anthony grinned. "Took a few lessons. Figured it was time to level up."
Lining up his third shot, he focused on the 10-ball. The ball rolled toward the pocket—then stopped right at the edge.
"Ugh, come on," Anthony groaned.
"Guess it's my turn," Aiden said casually.
He stepped up, his movements smooth and controlled. With an effortless strike, he sank the 5-ball.
Then the 3-ball.
Then the 7.
One after another, his shots were precise, unshakable.
Anthony watched, his grin fading. His balls were either blocked, stuck against rails, or awkwardly placed. "No way," he muttered. "I bet you miss this one."
Aiden's smirk deepened. He lined up, gave a small tap, and the cue ball bounced perfectly off the rail, slipping past Anthony's stripes to knock his own solid straight into the pocket.
Leo let out a low whistle. "Dude. That was nasty."
Aiden didn't slow down. Within minutes, every solid—including the 8-ball—was down.
Anthony groaned dramatically. "This is so unfair. How the hell am I supposed to win?!"
Aiden leaned on the table. "You should be grateful I let you break. Otherwise, you wouldn't have even touched the cue."
"Man, screw that! Run it back!"
Round two started. This time, Aiden didn't give Anthony any shots. By the time the last ball sank, Anthony just gawked at the table.
"Hell no!" He threw his hands up. "This is rigged. I refuse to believe you haven't been practicing."
Aiden just chuckled and grabbed his drink. "Believe what you want."
Anthony flopped onto the lounge sofa next to him, still fuming. "Seriously, though. What's your secret?"
Aiden took a sip of his soda. "Natural talent, I guess."
Anthony groaned. "God, you've been this insufferable since high school."
Leo laughed. "Some things never change."
Anthony kicked back, crossing his ankle over his knee. "Alright, enough pool. Tell me something—why the hell didn't you come out with us over New Year's?"
Aiden shrugged. "Had other plans."
Anthony narrowed his eyes. "You got a girl, don't you?"
Aiden didn't even hesitate. "Yeah. So what?"
Anthony clapped his hands together. "I knew it! Dude disappears for months? Obvious."
Leo smirked. "Man, you really ditched us for a girl?"
Aiden stretched, looking completely unbothered. "Not gonna lie—yeah."
"Wow." Anthony exaggerated a sniff. "The stench of romance is overwhelming."
Leo chuckled. "So, when do we meet her?"
Aiden sipped his drink. "That's up to her."
Anthony wiggled his eyebrows. "Oof. She wears the pants in this relationship, huh?"
Aiden's relaxed demeanor shifted slightly. "Careful what you say about her."
Anthony put his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. Noted."
After a brief pause, Anthony leaned in, lowering his voice. "Yo, you won't believe who I ran into the other day."
Aiden raised a brow. "Who?"
"Mia Wen."
Aiden's expression didn't change. "Oh?"
Anthony nodded. "Yeah. She actually asked about you—why you're in New York, if you're seeing someone."
Aiden glanced at him. "And what did you say?"
Anthony grinned. "Nothing. But, man… she seemed real curious. Almost like she still cares."
Aiden scoffed lightly. "Doubt it."
Leo cut in. "Yo, forget exes—did you see the Warriors game last night? Curry was on fire."
That was all it took to shift the conversation to basketball, then football, then a heated debate over which team was making the playoffs. They kept talking, laughing, and playing until almost midnight before finally heading out, saying their goodbyes with plans to catch up again soon.