Grace Li didn't bring up the conversation with Lily Lin in the group chat. She didn't want her personal feelings to add pressure to anyone in the team. If Mike or anyone else agreed to Lily Lin's request, then it would just be another normal workplace shift.
It was probably because Scarlett Harris's project had been successfully approved, and Scarlett wasn't too keen on handling the details herself, leaving a lot of things that needed attention. That's why Lily Lin was in such a rush. Soon enough, she approached Mike and Aiden Thompson for discussions.
Things moved quicker than expected. Mike agreed to help Scarlett Harris, while Aiden Thompson refused. Grace Li didn't feel the need to comment on it. Everyone had the right to make their own decisions, and she couldn't decide for others.
Aiden Thompson noticed that Grace Li seemed a little off in the afternoon, and even without asking, he could guess why. After work, he went out of his way to buy beer and late-night snacks. The snacks were from the Hong Kong-style dessert shop near Gold Street, a place Grace Li had taken him to a few times, and he remembered it.
The two of them sat on the balcony of his apartment, enjoying their snacks and chatting. The New York night was alive with lights, the skyscrapers flashing in neon colors, the sound of jazz music mixed with the buzz of traffic, and occasional street performers playing their tunes.
"Yo, Lily talked to me today," Aiden Thompson suddenly said.
Grace Li, still wearing her gloves and nibbling on chicken feet, responded, "I know, she gave me a heads-up."
"Don't you have any thoughts about their arrangement? Not gonna vent a little? Come on, this is totally unfair."
Grace Li gave a wry smile and shook her head, "What's there to say? The company's theirs, not mine. What I can do is either suck it up or just walk away. Finding a good job in New York isn't easy; I can't take that risk."
Lately, Aiden Thompson had noticed how Benjamin Harris and Scarlett Harris had been running things. He felt it wasn't fair to Grace Li. "With your skills, you could easily jump to a bigger, better, and fairer financial institution. In New York, places like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan would be fighting to hire you. You're too good to stay somewhere that doesn't value you."
Grace Li finished her chicken feet, took off her gloves, and took a sip of beer before replying slowly, "Aiden, it's not that simple. In the New York finance world, people like me are a dime a dozen. There are so many people more talented and capable than me. Plus, jumping to another company might not necessarily make things better. You might face new problems and challenges. You know how cutthroat the finance job market is in New York. It's like a battlefield, and you never know if you'll be able to adapt to a new company's culture or team dynamics."
Grace Li turned her head and looked at Aiden Thompson. "Do you know what my first job after graduation was?"
"What was it?"
"I worked as a bank teller. The job market was super competitive back then, and landing a job at a bank was already considered a pretty good opportunity for someone like me, from a non-Ivy League school. I thought it was a great job at first, but once I got in, I realized it was incredibly boring. It wasn't what I wanted. After six months of internal struggle, I quit and joined a small startup. The boss kept talking big, and I, being young and naïve, actually believed him. I was making just a few thousand dollars a month and working my butt off. The company had only about 15 or 20 people, and half of them were the boss's relatives. Can you imagine that kind of suffocating work environment? That company wanted to raise funds, and I was the one putting together the business plan. I thought I did a good job, but when the investors came in, they picked it apart. They didn't get the investment, and I ended up leaving. It was at that startup where I first got involved in venture capital, and I became really passionate about it. But the venture capital world is super competitive. Most decent VC and PE firms only hire Ivy League grads, and many of them are PhDs or masters. It wasn't easy to break into. Eventually, I got into a boutique financial advisory firm, and that's where I met Mr. Harris. We worked together on a project, and after it ended, he asked if I wanted to join his firm, so I came aboard. I started as his assistant, but I was passionate about the industry and the work, and I went all in. After two years of feeling lost and uncertain after graduation, I finally found a place where I felt like I belonged. Mr. Harris was a great mentor—he's always willing to teach and guide, and under his guidance, I improved quickly. When the company expanded, I became the investment director and led my own team. Honestly, I've been really grateful for Mr. Harris all these years."
Aiden Thompson was deeply moved after hearing Grace Li's story. She was so smart and had a clear understanding of the workplace struggles. Even when she faced unfair treatment, she chose to silently endure, all because of Benjamin Harris's mentorship.
"You've created so much value for the company, and it's a mutually beneficial relationship. You shouldn't feel guilty. You're totally qualified to pursue something better. There are opportunities everywhere in New York," Aiden Thompson said sincerely.
Grace Li leaned back in her chair and stared at the glowing neon lights in the distance. After a long pause, she said thoughtfully, "I understand. Honestly, I do sometimes think about changing jobs, but the risks are just too high. I came from a regular family, and in New York, I don't have connections or a background. I've made it this far on my own, step by step, and I've finally built the life I want. I'm afraid to lose it. Also, after jumping around to a few jobs, I've realized that every job has its downsides. There's always going to be something that frustrates you. If I quit just because of a little frustration, I'd be job-hunting forever and never reach my goals. As I've gotten older, I've come to understand the rules of the world more. Everyone starts at a different point. Look at Scarlett Harris. She doesn't have to worry about finding a job, buying a house, or a car. She's had all that since birth. So if she feels wronged, she can fix it right away. But I'm different. When I first came to New York, I had nothing. If I wanted to get what I wanted, I had to work hard and make money. That's my goal—money. To achieve that goal, I have to overcome all kinds of challenges and put up with various frustrations. I can't be too sensitive. The more experience I gain, the more I understand that you can't just give up on a job because of a few things you don't like. You have to weigh everything—the salary, the work environment, the leadership style, the job content, even the location. Look at me at Nova Capital. I have a great team, and the projects I've invested in are starting to show results. If I left, someone else would take over, and all my efforts would go to waste. And you know, in New York, we're always attending industry events and social parties to expand our networks. That's a part of the job too. If I switched companies, I'd have to start all over again."
Aiden Thompson reached out and gently wrapped his arm around Grace Li. He'd had a smooth life up to this point, and the things she'd been through were both unfamiliar and eye-opening. She had shown him a whole new world.
"Listening to you, it's like I've had a crash course in survival in the workplace. I get it now. Making it in New York's job market is no joke."
Grace Li smiled, "Well, I'm not the kind of person who'll sacrifice everything just for money or neglect my health. I'm not planning to stay at Nova Capital forever. I can endure some frustration, but I do have my limits. If they cross that line, I'll definitely leave. New York is big, and there are other places that can take me in."
Aiden Thompson took Grace Li's hand and gently stroked her fingers. "Have you thought about starting your own business? The entrepreneurial scene here is booming, and there are so many opportunities. There are incubators, startup competitions, and plenty of venture capitalists willing to back promising projects."
"I've thought about it, but right now, the conditions aren't right. Starting a business needs capital, connections, and resources—each one of them is crucial. And in New York, the competition is fierce. Without enough preparation, it's easy to fail."
"How about adding me to the mix? I want to try my hand at entrepreneurship too. I think we can build something together. With our skills, we can definitely make a mark in New York's startup scene."
Grace Li looked at Aiden Thompson, her eyes sparkling, yet she hesitated to speak.
"I know I'm not fully ready yet, and I still need more experience," Aiden Thompson said with a smile. "But that's okay. I'll work on improving myself. I'll attend more startup workshops, expand my network, and learn more about the industry. When the time's right, we can go for it together. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll have our own spot on New York's startup avenue."
"Mm."