Deafening accompaniment music echoed in the private room.
Ms. Claire was holding the microphone and singing a classic rock song "Don't Stop Believin'" with passion.
Her voice was actually very nice, with an intellectual quality, but at this moment she was completely letting go, with a hearty feeling that was almost cathartic.
She closed her eyes and swayed her body to the rhythm, as if she wanted to shout out all the grievances, unwillingness, and confusion of the past few months through her singing.
"Don't stop believin'... Hold on to that feelin'..."
She sang with dedication, even with a hint of emotion choking her voice, but more of a pleasure in breaking through the cage.
Ethan leaned on the soft sofa, holding a cold Coke in his hand, and looked at her with a smile.
He understood her release. He didn't order songs, just being the best listener, occasionally nodding and applauding gently to the rhythm.
At the end of the song, Ms. Claire put down the microphone panting, her face flushed with excitement and exertion, and her forehead even oozed fine beads of sweat, but her eyes were amazingly bright and full of vitality like rebirth. She grabbed the ice water on the coffee table and took a few sips.
"That felt amazing! Never been so relaxing!" She laughed and sat back on the sofa, looking at Ethan. "Ethan, why don't you sing? Just listen to me wailing?"
"Listening to Ms. Claire sing is a pleasure." Ethan smiled and handed her a piece of watermelon. "Especially the feeling of listening to you sing about 'freedom.'"
Ms. Claire took the watermelon and bit into it, and the sweet juice relieved her thirst.
She looked at Ethan, her eyes complicated—grateful, curious, and faintly looking forward to the future:
"Ethan, to be honest, I still feel like I'm dreaming. In one afternoon, I lost my status as a 'wife,' got divorced, and then... joined a student-founded company? This plot—novels don't dare to write like this."
"Reality is often more exciting and less logical than fiction."
Ethan picked up another microphone and selected a melodic song "Hall of Fame," and the music prelude sounded. "Ms. Claire, the stage of our Red Bean Capital has just been set up. Are you ready to perform a great show with me?"
He stood up and walked to the small stage in the center of the room, where neon light fell on his young but tall figure. When the first lyrics sounded, his voice was clear and powerful:
"You can be a master, don't wait for luck... Dedicate yourself and you gon' find yourself standing in the hall of fame..."
The voice wasn't loud, but the words were clear, with a firmness that penetrated hearts and infinite longing for the future.
He didn't have Ms. Claire's cathartic explosive power, but he had a calm and confident attitude that controlled the rhythm with determination to win.
Ms. Claire looked at the figure that seemed to be glowing under the light, listening to his powerful singing, and the last trace of doubt and uncertainty in her heart completely dissipated.
She picked up her microphone, walked to Ethan, and joined the chorus:
"Yeah, you can be the greatest... You can be the best... You can be the King Kong bangin' on your chest..."
Her voice and Ethan's voice were intertwined, one with the clarity after release, and the other with the calmness that led the future. The two looked at each other and smiled, and their tacit understanding flowed in the singing.
"You can go the distance... You can run the mile..." They sang in chorus, their voices full of power, as if announcing a new beginning to the whole world.
On the coffee table, several bottles of beer had been opened, and most of the fruit plates had been consumed.
Ms. Claire's handbag sat on the side, and the divorce document that she'd rubbed and that belonged to the past seemed so insignificant under the changing neon light.
And on her face, what bloomed at this moment was a confident and bright smile that belonged to the future and belonged to Claire Martinez, the third employee of "Red Bean Capital."
After Ethan finished singing the last line, he put down the microphone, looked at Ms. Claire who was in high spirits beside him, and raised the Coke can in his hand.
Ms. Claire boldly picked up a can of beer and clinked it hard with Ethan's Coke can, making a crisp sound.
The cold liquid slid down her throat with slight sweetness and the stimulation of bubbles bursting.
In the room, the end of the music was still echoing. Outside the window, the neon lights of the city were still flashing.
But in this small space, two hearts that had experienced twists and turns were closely connected because of a common goal, a dream called "Red Bean Capital."
....
The neon sign of the karaoke bar was fading away behind them.
The breeze of the summer night caressed their hot cheeks.
Ms. Claire suddenly stopped, and her white dress drew an elegant arc as she turned around.
"Ethan, thank you!"
Her voice was softer than the night wind, but the words were clear.
The moonlight traced the outline of her delicate profile, and her eyes, which always had a gentle smile, were amazingly bright at the moment.
She walked backwards with her hands behind her back, her high heels stepping out a cheerful rhythm, as if she was about to dance at any moment. The night wind lifted the loose hair at her temples, revealing the fading bruises.
"I'm very happy today. Really... I was very happy and in a good mood!"
In front of Ethan, there was one less invisible barrier, and many more subtle feelings!
Ethan grinned:
"Ms. Claire, since you're so happy, let's take a picture!"
"Mm! Okay!"
She trotted closer, the faint jasmine fragrance on her body mixed with a hint of wine.
Ethan held up his iPhone 5s, and the smiling faces of the two were reflected on the screen—one full of youth and the other relieved.
....
On the way home.
Ethan walked slowly with his hands in his pockets, sorting out the company's development blueprint in his mind.
The company had been registered, and Diana had also gone to New York on purpose. The office location was to rent an office building first!
After all, he would have to take root in New York for the next four years, so why bother with cumbersome cross-state relocation procedures.
"Diana is efficient." The corners of Ethan's mouth raised slightly.
This decision was very correct. Although Diana made a special trip to New York, it saved countless troubles in the future.
When he returned from San Francisco to discuss investments, Red Bean Capital would be able to operate directly in that office.
Now the average price of new commercial real estate in Manhattan was about $800 per square foot, and the higher-end properties reached $1,200-1,500 per square foot.
It would more than triple in five years!
The price of prime commercial office space would increase even more outrageously—at least 3 times!
Especially in Midtown Manhattan. But Midtown was positioned as a traditional commercial center. What Ethan was considering was the Hudson Yards area.
Hudson Yards was the modern, international central business district being developed in recent years! It integrated finance, economics, exhibitions, culture, and commerce, and was known as "Manhattan's newest CBD."
It was attracting a large number of Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and multinational companies to settle in!
So!
Ethan wanted to buy a place over there and purchase office space!
There are 50 advance chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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