Jeremy Ward's fascination with business began as a child, running a lemonade stand in a low-income Washington, D.C. suburb. Police officers shut down his operation, citing the lack of a business permit—a requirement he'd been unaware of. His goal had been simply to earn enough money for summer camp.

This early encounter was a harsh introduction to the business world, but far from his last. In high school, he took every business-related correspondence course offered through the nearby community college, starting his sophomore year.

He devoured articles in Forbes and Time, expanding his business knowledge. This is how he learned about Aaron Hale, the youngest Fortune 500 CEO at the time, who had propelled his family's company from a Fortune 15 to a Fortune 10 ranking in just a few years. Jeremy recognized the immense difficulty of such an achievement, particularly at that level.

He was convinced Hale Investments would one day reach the top five, and he aimed to be a part of it. However, this proved challenging. Research revealed that the company predominantly hired Ivy League graduates with at least five years of experience.

His mother doubted his chances, believing a position at the main office was virtually impossible, suggesting he'd be lucky to secure a teller or financial advisor role in a branch office.

Undeterred, Jeremy focused on reaching the top and meeting Aaron Hale. He supplemented his community college classes with countless hours of studying and volunteering to bolster his resume. He needed to attend an Ivy League school, or at least a top-20 university.

Despite skepticism from his mother and others, he gained admission to Yale. While not Harvard (Hale's alma mater), it was an Ivy League school nonetheless.

He majored in Economics and Mathematics, believing it the best path to Hale Investments' coveted analyst department. Cameron Singleton, the company's vice president, had started there, according to his LinkedIn profile, rising to head of the analyst department in five years and becoming VP shortly after—an exceptional trajectory.

Jeremy wondered about Singleton's rapid ascent, suspecting proximity to Aaron Hale played a key role. He believed even a small piece of advice from Hale could help him build his own empire.

He dedicated himself to his studies, foregoing most social activities unless they directly benefited his academics. His friends were primarily fellow students in study groups. While his classic "All-American" looks attracted some female attention, he prioritized ambition over relationships, having witnessed the consequences of prioritizing love in his mother's life.

His mother had left law school to follow a truck driver, who ultimately left her, leaving her working as a paralegal instead of a potentially high-earning lawyer. Jeremy sometimes resented her decision. His father, Carl Ward, was largely absent from his life.

In contrast, Aaron Hale had a seemingly idyllic family: four accomplished children—a ballerina daughter and sons excelling in sports and robotics—and a wife who was a groundbreaking scientist.

Determined to escape his past, Jeremy focused on making a name for himself in New York. Toward the end of his junior year, he attended a career fair, needing to start applying for jobs within the next six months. While various financial institutions offered resume-building opportunities, he desired a foothold in New York City to better access Hale Investments' main office.

Unfortunately, Wall Street jobs rarely went to recent graduates. To his surprise, Hale Investments had a booth at the fair, advertising branch office positions. Though he wasn't interested in a branch office, he approached the booth anyway.

(The final sentences about NovelFire.net are promotional spam and have been omitted.)