The Billionaire's Secret

Chapter 10

At Nova Capital's investment committee meeting, Grace Li, the Investment Director, stood at the front, presenting a project she had been following closely for two months. Wearing a light beige professional suit with her hair neatly tied in a low ponytail, she confidently held the remote and began speaking:

"With the U.S. consumer market heating up, new trends are emerging one after another, and especially among younger generations, consumer preferences are becoming more diverse and selective. Nowadays, every industry needs to keep up with these changes. Take baked goods, for example. Today's youth aren't just concerned about taste—they care a lot about appearance too. Products need to look as good as they taste, and they need to meet the demand for i********:-worthy photos. The project I'm introducing today—‘N Perspective Bakery'—is a bakery that precisely caters to these preferences. Its founder is a young man with a background in the arts. He's passionate about both art and baking, and his cakes are truly works of art. Let me show you some of their creations. The bakery has been open for less than a year, but currently, orders must be booked at least two weeks in advance…"

After 30 minutes of presenting, Grace Li wrapped up and waited for questions from the committee members.

Benjamin Harris, the Managing Partner of Nova Capital, asked first: "Grace, there are a ton of viral spots popping up everywhere, but only a few manage to stay popular long-term. How long do you think the hype around this project will last?"

Grace Li responded, "You're absolutely right. Most viral businesses are short-lived. I've done extensive research and found that many of these places fail to maintain their reputation when their popularity peaks. They rely on traffic, but when that dies down, so does the business. I've spoken to the owner of this bakery, and we both agree that the key to sustaining long-term success is continuous innovation and maintaining a strong reputation. So, as part of their expansion plan, they're increasing investment in research and development, improving training for their bakers, and have introduced an innovation incentive program for designers to ensure quality and customer satisfaction."

Other committee members followed up with their questions, and Grace Li answered each one with ease.

Today's meeting was unusually smooth. In the past, when there were significant disagreements, heated debates would erupt. But this time, five out of the six members voted in favor, meaning the ‘N Perspective Bakery' project could move forward without any major roadblocks.

After the meeting, Benjamin called Grace into his office. "Grace, about the project you just presented—contact Evelyn from Vanguard Capital and see if she's interested in getting involved."

Grace Li knew Evelyn Garcia from Vanguard Capital. They had worked together a few times, but the last collaboration had ended on a sour note. Early last year, a project in the neighboring team had asked for her help, but things went south quickly, resulting in an awkward fallout. Evelyn had been extremely upset, and after that, the two companies had kept their distance.

Grace Li hesitated. "Evelyn hasn't exactly been happy with us in the past. I'm not sure how to approach her."

"Give it a shot," Benjamin said, taking a sip from his coffee. "Vanguard Capital is an important partner, and there will be plenty of future opportunities to collaborate. We can't just ignore them. There are a lot of projects waiting for funding, and we can't shoulder all the risks ourselves. I think this project fits her investment style, so try your best to persuade her."

Grace Li understood the stakes. Without new investment, the ‘N Perspective Bakery' project might get delayed. "Okay, I sent Evelyn an email the other day, outlining the project details. I was thinking of inviting her for dinner this week to talk more. I'll call her later to confirm the time."

Evelyn Garcia was one of the few female leaders in New York's venture capital scene. After working at PwC and going through a divorce that left her with a substantial settlement, she went on to found her own firm. Over the years, she had made a name for herself with impressive investments, particularly in the consumer sector. Her recent success, ‘Cloud Top Coffee,' had made her a key player in viral projects, and she was highly likely to be interested in ‘N Perspective Bakery.'

Reluctantly, Grace Li dialed Evelyn's number. After taking a deep breath and a sip of water, she put on her best smile as the call connected. "Hey Evelyn! How are you? I sent you an email the other day about this amazing viral bakery project we're working on. Did you get a chance to look at it? I'd love to grab dinner and go over it in more detail. Are you free in the next few days?"

Evelyn's voice was sharp: "Last time, your team was a mess. I've got some serious reservations about your company now."

Grace Li quickly responded, "I totally understand. Last time, we made some mistakes, and we've learned from them. I can assure you that won't happen again…"

While Grace Li was on the phone, her colleagues were watching her from the office, exchanging knowing glances. George sent a message in the group chat.

George: "No way, is that Evelyn Garcia?" Olivia: "Looks like it." Ryan: "Seriously, even if we messed up, why is the boss the one apologizing?" Mike: "She's a tough cookie. Can't figure out why Grace would want to go back to her." Olivia: "Probably because of that bakery project. Evelyn loves viral businesses." Aiden Thompson: "What's her deal?" Olivia: "You're new, so let me fill you in. Evelyn's the boss at Vanguard Capital. We've worked with her before, but the last time, a project went sideways, and she lost her temper. She actually came to the office, and Benjamin had to hold a meeting to calm her down. After that, she said she wouldn't work with us anymore."

After finishing the call, Grace Li looked at the group chat and feigned annoyance: "You guys think I'm invisible, huh?"

Ryan grinned: "Boss, you're really going to ask her to invest?"

Grace Li shrugged: "Benjamin's orders."

Mike grumbled: "That woman's a tough nut to crack."

Grace Li firmly responded: "I get it. But we did mess up last time, and by now, you should all know how meticulous projects are. If we do things right, Evelyn won't be able to nitpick. I'm meeting her for dinner tomorrow, and Mike, you're coming with me."

Mike paled: "I've got a post-investment meeting with George at Shenghong tomorrow."

Ryan quickly jumped in: "I'm heading to ‘Grill & Glory' for some field research tomorrow—no time to join you guys." He pointed at Aiden Thompson. "Take Aiden with you."

Grace Li turned to Aiden Thompson: "Are you up for it?"

Aiden nodded: "Sure."

The rest of the group let out a sigh of relief.