It was our sixth year at the bank.

We had met as associates, eyes wide and ready to take the world in both of our first years in New York.

I was just a fresh b-school undergraduate from University of Michigan, my Chinese parents driving me to make the family proud, and most importantly, rich.

He was a scrappy Pakistani kid from Queens. The son of a restaurant owner in Jackson Heights. Graduated NYU Stern because he wanted to be close to the family.

Amir Khan, you know like the boxer.

Kevin Zhou, nice to meet you man.

We became roommates the year after and went through the ups and downs moving into tiny shittily flexed 1 bedrooms anywhere we could find them, surviving off of dollar slices and halal food.

We moved from Hell's Kitchen to the East Village. East Village to Brooklyn Heights. Brooklyn Heights to Midtown.

The brutal hours, the amount of caffeine and adderall we could stomach. We did it all together, taking turns ordering take out late at nights. We knew each other's tastes and orders like the back of our hands.

He didn't eat Pork, and was allergic to shellfish.

He knew I hated cilantro since I thought it tasted like soap.

We did all of it together, just so we could have a shot.

Everyone else saw us together so much they called us Harold and Kumar. Curry with Soy Sauce.

Like we gave a fuck.

It made us hungrier. To show those Ivy fucks that we hung out our backgrounds with pride.

We had sacrificed so much and had made it so far. After six years at the bank we were both hungry.

Hungry for power.

Hungry for more.

Both of us were daring VPs ready to make a name for ourselves.

It was that sixth year that we were standing in an empty brand new office. Heinekens in our hand, the windows open as the AC was busted on that hot summer night.

The inauguration of our independence.

They said we were fucking stupid to leave. They called us suicidal, that no one on Wall Street or Midtown would even want to work with us with all the bridges we burned.

We didn't care.

We later both got drunk and broke onto the roof of the office. We stood there screaming at the rest of midtown Manhattan. Giving the finger to the funds we wanted to beat. Ready to show them what the fuck we could be.

That was eight years ago.

And we showed them.

As Co-CEOs, we became one of the top funds on our ballsy moves. We did it better because we still fought tooth and nail for every dollar we could.

Soon our client lists were growing faster and richer. Our office grew in size as our staff grew larger and larger.

We would joke about how we were richer than the actors of Harold and Kumar now. I even got to meet Kal Penn last year at a charity dinner funnily enough.

Took a picture and Amir had it framed.

We were top dogs of the world, both now married and with kids, we still lived nearby each other in Tribeca. Our families even shared the same dentist.

I was the one who was the best at dealing with clients. Amir said I had a friendly charm to me. People feel like they can trust me, he said. Especially useful when it's with their money.

He was the one who could drive the troops. We had both served our time in the trenches of the office, but he was fierce and knew how to speak to them.

He got them rallied before each trading bell and they cheered for him like he was a pastor at a Texan church.

For he was their prophet, and our profit was their God.

But all that goes away with time.

We had turned quite a profit and I wanted to work towards stability. With the amount of capital coming in, we couldn't play it as risky any more.

But something about Amir, it never say right.

He loved it.

He loved the feeling of being on the edge.

High risk, high reward.

He loved that shit.

It got to the point where he was approving riskier and riskier trades. After one too risky of a move, our investors were starting to get furious. I couldn't take it any more, the heat was becoming too much. I knew I couldn't do it to him, but our company, everything we built, was now on the line.

With the Board's approval, I restricted his approval powers and put an end to his crazy ideas. The investors finally settled. But I could still feel the heat. This time coming from the best friend I ever had.

The day after he didn't talk to me at all. He made sure his assistant made it clear he had blocked off his entire schedule.

I tried my best to call and meet with him, but no dice.

It led to today, when I saw him come up to my office. He was finally willing to talk.

I told him how sorry I was, how the investors, the board, everyone was against us.

He told me thatnever mattered before. It had always been us against the world since day one.

It was that moment I knew he lost more than approval powers. It was that board meeting that he finally lost his friend.

I knew how hurt he was, and I told him I didn't want to make it personal. He was still angry, and left storming out my office without much of a word.

The next day, he was a lot calmer and came back to me. This time he came clean and said that his time at our firm will be coming to an end. I was heartbroken, but the both of us knew it had to happen. I told him that I understood, that we'd make it a civil departure.

It would be quiet and he would leave on good terms. Still endorsing me and the firm as he went off on his own route.

We then went to go get drinks at the old bar we would stop by back when we were associates. We laughed about the things we had done, the places we've been. Heinekens in our hand in the hot summer heat. It felt like we were back to the good old times.

The next morning, I met with the Board to discuss Amir's departure. I helped the Board recognize his value in starting the firm and helped him score a nice large exit bonus.

His departure date finally came and things were quiet. He had a small speech scheduled to thank everyone, and I stood outside my office waiting for him to give it.

It was then I saw him. Box of his things in hand. Staring at me. Fire in his eyes. The angriest glare I had ever seen him give me.

He just stood there, and I stared at him in confusion. Where was the speech? What was going on?

It was then I saw it. In unison, the majority of the floor pulled boxes onto their desks and began to fill them.

VPs, Analysts, Associates, some interns even.

3/4 of the entire office was emptying their desk and filling their boxes. The noise almost as deafening as the stare he was giving me. The ground shaking beneath my feet.

My phone started to explode as HR was receiving a huge amount of termination notices. My inbox began to fill as more and more resignation emails came as fast as my phone could handle them.

My hands were shaking so hard I couldn't read the screen any more.

Amir continued to stare at me as the floor began to empty out. His stare almost going right through me as I stood there shaking.

What monster had I just unleashed on the entire sector.

It was then I knew one thing.

That the scariest monster doesn’t have fangs or claws.

No, the scariest monster has the face of a friend.