Grace Li's projects were ones Mike had been involved with, so the handover wasn't complicated. She and Benjamin Harris had agreed on a 15-day transition period, and August 15th would be Grace Li's last day at the company.
In the afternoon, she sent a message in the group chat: "Hey everyone, I'm treating for dinner tonight. Any restaurant suggestions?"
Peter replied immediately: "Let's go for Japanese! I'm craving sushi!"
Olivia quickly joined in: "Hehe, Japanese sounds great. I'm really in the mood for some salmon."
Ryan joked: "Olivia, watch out for parasites!"
Olivia shot back: "I don't care. I want it. Boss, let's do Japanese."
Grace Li replied: "Okay, let's pick a place."
Ryan couldn't resist: "Hehe, boss, did you just get a huge bonus?"
Grace Li explained: "I'm actually leaving the company tomorrow, so I wanted to have a meal with all of you."
Ryan typed: "Hahaha, you're kidding, right? Hahaha!"
At that moment, everyone in the office turned their attention to Grace Li. Seeing their surprised faces, Grace Li suddenly felt a wave of emotion. She said, "It's true. Today's my last day at Nova Capital. I really appreciate all your support during my time here."
Ryan's smile quickly faded, and his face turned pale. "Wait, you're serious?"
"Yep, serious," Grace Li replied.
Ryan stood up, "Wait, why are you leaving? What happened?"
Grace Li smiled gently, "I've got some other career plans."
"What kind of plans?" Ryan asked.
Grace Li didn't intend to speak negatively about Nova Capital. She gestured to indicate they should talk about it later, "We can't get into this here. If you have questions, let's chat later at dinner."
Ryan couldn't believe it. He turned to Aiden Thompson, "Aiden, the boss is joking, right?"
Aiden Thompson said, "Let's not discuss it here. We'll talk about it later."
The office fell into a quiet buzz. Everyone was processing the news, trying to figure out what it meant. As they reflected, they realized Grace Li hadn't been working late much in the last couple of months, and she had been handing over a lot of her work to Mike. They thought Mike was just getting a promotion, but now they realized it was all part of the handover process.
After a moment, the sound of soft sobbing was heard.
Ryan turned and saw Olivia bent over her desk, shoulders shaking.
He walked over and asked gently, "What's going on, Olivia?"
"I'm fine," Olivia replied, standing up and walking out of the office.
Everyone watched her leave. She'd been so excited about the dinner, and now she was visibly upset.
Grace Li got up and followed her, heading toward the restroom.
Olivia had shut herself in a stall. Grace Li knocked softly, "Olivia, are you okay?"
Olivia's voice came through, thick with tears, "I'm fine."
Grace Li asked, "If you're fine, why are you crying?"
Olivia had started crying when she heard about Grace Li leaving. She had been with Nova Capital for over two years, and Grace Li had been her mentor. She'd always felt fortunate to have a leader who was willing to teach and guide her. Olivia truly appreciated their relationship and wasn't prepared to lose it.
Grace Li waited for a moment and knocked again, "Olivia, come on out."
Olivia opened the door. Her eyes were red, and her makeup had smudged a bit, making her look like a sad puppy.
Grace Li gently pushed a strand of hair from her face, "Why are you crying? Your makeup's all smudged."
Olivia looked at Grace Li, her voice shaky, "Boss, is what you said really true?"
"It's true. But I'll still be around in New York. We might not be colleagues anymore, but we can still stay friends. We can always grab dinner together," Grace Li said warmly.
Olivia felt a little guilty. She didn't want to seem like she was holding Grace Li back, but she couldn't help feeling devastated by the idea of losing such a great mentor.
Olivia nodded, "Okay."
Grace Li's eyes welled up a little too. She was touched by Olivia's reaction and felt just as reluctant to leave. But sometimes, even the best things have to come to an end.
"We'll go get Japanese food later, and we'll have all the sashimi you want," Grace Li said, trying to cheer her up.
Olivia sniffed and managed a small smile, "Okay."
Normally, during team dinners, everyone would chat endlessly, and even while waiting for the food, they'd play games. But tonight, the atmosphere was surprisingly quiet.
Even Ryan, who usually couldn't stop talking, was silent.
Grace Li had reserved a private room. Everyone sat around a long table. After sitting down, Grace Li glanced at the menu for a moment. Noticing that no one was making a move, she said, "Order whatever you want, guys."
Aiden Thompson picked up another menu and handed it to Ryan, "So polite today?"
Ryan grabbed the menu, "Oh please, I'm not being polite. Watch out, boss. I'm going to make sure we order $500 worth of food per person."
Grace Li smiled, "Alright, go ahead."
Olivia laughed, "Ryan, you really have no shame!"
"Well, this is the last time the boss is treating us. We've gotta go all out!" Ryan joked.
When he mentioned "the last time," the table fell silent. Everyone felt the weight of the moment. The team had always been close—going on business trips, working together on projects, and having a great time as a group. Grace Li had always been a warm and thoughtful leader, and now that she was leaving, everyone felt a bit down.
Aiden Thompson spoke up, "Guys, just order what you want. This dinner's on Grace Li and me."
Ryan gave him a puzzled look, "Wait, Aiden, why are you and the boss splitting the bill?"
Aiden Thompson casually replied, "Because today's my last day at Nova Capital too."
The table fell silent again. Ryan nearly dropped the menu. "Aiden, you're quitting too? What's going on?"
Aiden Thompson simply nodded, "Yeah."
Peter, still confused, asked, "Why? Nova Capital is a great place. We've had a blast working together. What's going on?"
Aiden Thompson shrugged, "Grace Li and I have some new plans lined up."
Ryan, picking up on the unexpected twist, asked, "Aiden, why are you and the boss the only ones with these new plans? What's really going on?"
Aiden Thompson glanced at Grace Li. For the first time, he looked at her openly with affection. "Is it okay if I tell them?"
Grace Li met his gaze and smiled. "Okay, what's up?"
Ryan suddenly jumped out of his seat, raising his hand. "Hold up, I can't take it anymore! I have to spill the beans!"
Olivia, startled by Ryan's outburst, said, "Ryan, are you okay?"
Ryan stood up, his face flushed with excitement. "Yes, I am! I've been holding onto this secret for 156 days! It's time to let it out!"
Olivia looked at him, "What secret? Just say it already!"
Ryan pointed at Aiden Thompson and Grace Li, his finger trembling slightly. "Them! They…"
Grace Li's ears turned red. Aiden Thompson looked at her, then slowly smiled, finding Ryan's antics a bit much. "Well, go on."
Ryan blurted out, "They're together!"
Aiden Thompson's forehead twitched, realizing that Ryan was being a bit dramatic. He shot Ryan a look, his tone annoyed but calm, "Seriously? That's not how you say it."
"Then what do you call it?" Ryan shot back.
Aiden Thompson sighed, "We're dating. It's that simple."
Everyone stared at them, shocked. Grace Li, feeling a little shy under their curious gazes, smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, guys. We didn't mean to keep it a secret for so long."
Mike, who had known Grace Li was leaving but had no idea about her and Aiden Thompson, was equally stunned. "So, you two… are a couple?"
Aiden Thompson nodded confidently. "Yeah, Grace Li and I are dating. We've been together since the end of last year."
Another wave of shock swept through the table. Ava, who had been flirting with Aiden Thompson, felt a rush of embarrassment. She had thought there was a chance, since he wasn't married, but now she realized how wrong she had been.
Grace Li quickly added, "We just didn't want to make things awkward at work, so we kept it quiet while we were colleagues."
Olivia, still processing the news, asked, "But why does Ryan know?"
Ryan, puffing out his chest, casually draped an arm around Aiden Thompson. "Aiden's my bro. Of course I knew."
Aiden Thompson shrugged him off. "He figured it out by accident. We weren't exactly broadcasting it."
Ryan grinned, "Yeah, I figured it out. You two were all lovey-dovey on our business trips. I was basically the third wheel!"
Olivia nodded, recalling how Aiden Thompson had often mentioned his girlfriend at work. "So, the girlfriend Aiden was always talking about was actually the boss. Wow, we totally missed that."
Ryan laughed, "No kidding. All the PDA, and I had no clue."
Grace Li cleared her throat, "Okay, enough about that. Let's focus on the food. You guys haven't even ordered yet. What are you in the mood for?"
After this revelation, the mood lightened, and everyone eagerly started chatting about the menu.
Once the orders were placed, Olivia turned to Grace Li. "Boss, what's next for you and Aiden?"
Grace Li took a sip of her genmaicha tea. "We're going to start our own business. It's a big step, but we're excited for the challenge."
Olivia nodded. "You two are so talented. I know you'll do great."
Ryan added, "I was thinking, when you both quit, I thought you were running off to elope or something. Starting a business sounds way more exciting."
Mike grinned. "If you two get married, you've gotta invite us to the wedding. We'll definitely be there."
Aiden Thompson smiled. "Of course. You guys are like family to us."
Ryan raised his hand. "Count me in as the best man! I'll make sure your wedding is unforgettable."
Olivia joined in, "And I'll be one of the bridesmaids. I'll definitely give the groomsmen a run for their money."
Grace Li laughed, enjoying their banter. She let them dream about the wedding, imagining all the fun and chaos that would come with it.
The dishes started arriving—sashimi, sushi, yakitori, and ramen. The table was soon filled with the delicious aromas of Japanese food.
Throughout the meal, conversation flowed easily, with everyone laughing and sharing stories. It was a bittersweet moment—filled with both the sadness of saying goodbye and the joy of good company.
The dinner lasted until 9 p.m. As they said their goodbyes at the restaurant entrance, Olivia stepped forward and gave Grace Li a tight hug. Her eyes were glistening with tears. "Boss, thank you for everything. You've been an amazing mentor and friend these past two years."
Grace Li hugged her back, patting her gently on the back. "It's been a two-way street. You've grown so much, and I'm really proud of you."
"Wish you all the success in your new venture."
"Same to you, Olivia. Keep in touch."
Ryan, seeing the hug, opened his arms wide, ready to embrace Grace Li. But Aiden Thompson grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. Ryan protested, "Aiden, come on! What's wrong with a simple goodbye hug?"
Aiden Thompson glared at him. "Not happening. Keep your hands to yourself."
Ryan, still with his arms outstretched, turned to Aiden Thompson. "Fine, then you give me a hug."
Aiden Thompson made a face. "No way. You're pushing it, Ryan."
"Ugh, you're such a buzzkill," Ryan muttered.
Everyone chuckled at their antics.
Grace Li looked around at the group. "It's getting late. We should all head home. Let's make sure to stay in touch and hang out again soon."
"Definitely. We'll miss you guys," someone called out.
Aiden Thompson took Grace Li's hand in his. "Well, we'll be off then. Take care, everyone."
"Good night!" came the chorus of replies.
As Aiden Thompson and Grace Li walked toward the parking lot, Grace Li turned back and waved. Everyone watched them go.
Olivia, watching their retreating figures, sighed. "They're really perfect for each other. I'm so happy for them."
Ava, who had been quiet for most of the evening, finally spoke up. "There are plenty of great people out there. Just because they're a couple doesn't mean they're the only ones."
Olivia shot her a look, sensing the bitterness in her tone. "True, but you can't deny the chemistry between them. Aiden is head over heels for the boss."
Ava didn't respond. She just watched as the couple disappeared into the night, then turned and walked away, lost in her own thoughts.