The Billionaire's Secret

Chapter 04

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.