Chapter 14: Christmas Day
December 25, 2023.
Mark woke up to the gentle light of the morning filtering through the thin curtains of his dorm room. It wasn't the most festive place, but it had been his home for the last few years, and it was familiar. The world outside was quiet, and the streets below were almost deserted—an unusual stillness for a campus that was usually bustling with activity. Mark sat up in bed, reached for his phone, and typed a quick message to his family: "Merry Christmas, love you all. I'll see you later today!"
His body felt stiff from the lack of sleep. Last night, he'd been up late, finalizing a few details for the meeting with Jessica about the Culver City office and the logistics for tomorrow's handover. It was hard to believe how much had happened in the last few weeks. NextGen Innovation was no longer just a shell—it was becoming real, and today, amidst the holiday celebrations, he would take another crucial step toward its future.
Before the festivities kicked off, Mark knew he needed to clear his head. The gym was always his sanctuary, a place where he could think, plan, and burn off the stress that came with his circumstances.He quickly changed into workout clothes, grabbed his water bottle, and headed out into the crisp morning air.
The campus gym was practically deserted when he arrived, save for a few other early risers who, like him, were squeezing in a workout before the holiday celebrations began. Mark felt the familiar rush of energy as he started his warm-up, the rhythmic movements pulling him into a state of focus.
As he moved from one exercise to the next, his mind wandered to the meeting with Jessica later that morning. Jessica was one of the first people he had brought on board when NextGen was still in its infancy. She had a sharp eye for talent and a knack for understanding the technology side of things, which made her invaluable. Today, they would be discussing a potential new hire—Lisa—someone he had hired yesterday.
Lisa had a background in HR and operations, skills that were desperately needed as the company expanded. But beyond her technical qualifications, And Mark needed people like that—people who could thrive in an environment where things changed on a daily basis.
As Mark finished his last set, he felt a sense of calm wash over him. The gym always had that effect. He grabbed his bag, waved a quick goodbye to the few others working out, and made his way back to his dorm to shower and change for the meeting.
---
Later that morning, Mark arrived at the café where he and Jessica had agreed to meet. It was a small, cozy spot not far from the campus, and they'd had more than a few meetings here over the past few year. Jessica was already sitting at a corner table, a cup of coffee in front of her and her tablet open as she reviewed the documents for her thesis.
Mark smiled as he approached, and Jessica looked up, returning the smile. "Merry Christmas," she said, gesturing for him to sit. "I didn't expect you to want to meet today, but I guess you're as relentless as ever."
"Merry Christmas," Mark replied, sliding into the chair across from her. "Yeah, I figured we could get some things squared away before tomorrow."
Jessica nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "So, Culver City—it's finalized?"
Mark leaned back in his chair, feeling a mixture of relief and excitement. "Yeah, it's done. The handover is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The warehouse is perfect for what we need, and I'm going to start moving the servers in over the weekend. The office space is small, but it's scalable. We'll have room to grow, and that's what matters."
Jessica smiled, clearly pleased with the news. "That's a huge step. I'm glad we went with Culver. It's a strategic location, close enough to LAX and central enough to attract the talent we'll need as we scale."
Mark nodded, happy for Jessica's constant support. She always had a way of seeing the big picture, of understanding the long-term vision for the company even when he got bogged down in the details.
"And Lisa?" Mark asked, raising an eyebrow. "Have you had a chance to look over her profile?"
Jessica leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "I have. I think she could be a great fit. Her experience with HR is exactly what we need right now, especially as we start getting the servers set up and scaling operations. But I want to hear more about what you think."
Jessica glanced at her tablet, scrolling through Lisa's resume.
"She's sharp. I've already spoken to her, and she's eager to join a company where she can really make an impact. She's been working for a larger firm, but she's frustrated with the lack of agility. You know how it is—bureaucracy stifles innovation. She's looking for a challenge, and I think we can give her that."
Mark thought for a moment, letting the words sink in. "Let's bring her on board. We'll need her as we ramp up, and she's quite adaptable, so she'll fit right in."
Jessica smiled, satisfied with the decision. "I'll handle the paperwork. She can start after the New Year. I think this is going to be a good move for us."
They spent the next hour discussing the logistics for the server handover, the timeline for moving into the new office, and the potential challenges they might face as they continued to expand. Jessica was, as always, organized and thoughtful, anticipating the hurdles they would need to clear and offering solutions before Mark even had a chance to worry about them.
By the time they wrapped up, Mark felt a sense of clarity. Things were moving quickly, but for the first time in a while, he felt like they were moving in the right direction.
---
Later that afternoon, Mark returned home to his parents' house. It was a modest home, filled with warmth and the unmistakable scent of Christmas dinner being prepared. His mom greeted him at the door with a tight hug and a bright smile.
"Merry Christmas, sweetie," she said, stepping back to look at him. "You look exhausted. Have you been working all day?"
Mark laughed, hugging her back. "Only a little. But everything's going well. I'll fill you and Dad in after dinner."
They spent the next few hours in the cozy glow of the Christmas tree, exchanging small gifts and catching up. His mom, always the thoughtful one, had baked his favorite cookies, and his dad, as usual, was more than happy to offer a glass of wine to go with them.
After dinner, when they were all sitting around the living room, Mark pulled out a folder from his bag. "I've got something to show you guys," he said, handing the documents to his mom.
She took them, her brow furrowing in curiosity. "What's this?"
"It's the investment paperwork from Eryx Investment you asked. We finalized it yesterday, and they're officially backing NextGen Innovation."
His mom's eyes widened as she skimmed through the documents, and his dad leaned in to get a closer look. "This is, Mark, I am so proud of you," his mom said, looking up at him with pride.
Mark felt a swell of emotion as he watched his parents react to the news. They had always supported him, even when he had decided to leave the stability of a traditional job to pursue his dream of building a tech company from the ground up. Seeing their pride now made all the late nights and hard decisions worth it.
His dad, ever the cautious one, cleared his throat. "I did some research on Eryx Investment, by the way," he said, his tone measured but reassuring. "They have a solid reputation. I checked their history, their past investments, and everything looks above board. I think you've made a good decision partnering with them."
Mark exhaled, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. Looks like his Dad didn't find any abnormalities in Eryx, so hearing his dad's validation eased any lingering doubts. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot."
They spent the rest of the evening reminiscing about past Christmases, laughing over old stories, and exchanging small gifts. His mom had given him a framed picture of the family from last year's holiday, and his dad had surprised him with a small leather notebook—"for when you need to jot down ideas away from the computer," he'd said with a wink.
As the night drew to a close, Mark felt a deep sense of gratitude. His family had always been his anchor, and their support meant everything, especially now as he embarked on the next phase of his company's journey.
---
Later that night, after saying his goodbyes, Mark made the taxi back to his dorm. The streets were quiet again, and the city felt peaceful in the late-night stillness. As he walked up to his room, he found himself reflecting on the day.
It had been a good day—a mix of progress and celebration, of business and family. Everything was moving forward. The Culver City office was set, the team was expanding, and Atlas was backing him. Tomorrow would bring more challenges, but for the first time in a long time, Mark felt ready for them.
As he climbed into bed, his mind still buzzing with the events of the day, he allowed himself a moment of peace. Christmas had always been about family for him, and today had been a reminder of how lucky he was to have their support.
Tomorrow, the real work would begin again. But for now, in the quiet of his dorm room, Mark closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift into sleep, his heart full and his mind at ease.
Tomorrow would be another day, but tonight, it was still Christmas.