Ryan had a clear goal and got straight to the point: "Ethan, I'm very interested in the general manager position at Beacon Media."
His words were full of confidence, clearly confident in his resume and abilities.
Ethan understood in his head: that position was reserved for Summer and couldn't be reassigned.
"Ryan's abilities are beyond doubt, but we already have a specific candidate in mind for the general manager position." He tried to guide him toward considering other senior roles: "We're building out a core team. Someone like you, as COO or heading up a key business area, could bring tremendous value too."
However, Ryan remained firm, shaking his head slightly and saying, "Ethan, thank you for considering me. But at this stage, my professional goal is to find a platform where I can fully steer things myself. If your company can't offer me general manager, then I can only express my regret."
His tone was polite, but there was an air of non-negotiability.
Seeing this, Ethan said no more. He knew well that forced fruit isn't sweet, especially with elites like Ryan — pushing wouldn't help.
Though it was a loss of talent, there was no point forcing it.
Ethan could only see him out.
By contrast, Tyler's expectations were much more pragmatic.
When Ethan expressed hope that he'd serve as deputy general manager and actually handle the responsibilities of a general manager, Tyler fell into a brief moment of deep thought.
He tapped his fingers lightly on his knee, weighing the pros and cons.
Ethan seized the moment to present a more attractive picture: "Tyler, Beacon Media is still in its early stages. Actually running operations here is a great opportunity to build your track record and prove yourself. If you do well, whether that means moving into a top leadership role at another company under me, or getting a bigger platform with more resources and support down the line — none of that would be empty talk."
He looked at Tyler sincerely, "And of course, it's not just about future prospects — the compensation we're offering will match the responsibility and effort involved too."
He only thought for a moment before choosing to join.
He clearly sensed the sincerity and weight behind Ethan's words, and more than that, he wanted the chance to prove himself: "Ethan, I'm willing to take on this challenge."
Ethan asked, "When can you start?"
Tyler replied, "Anytime."
"Very good!" Ethan nodded in satisfaction and gestured to Mia, "Bring over the deputy general manager contract."
Mia quickly prepared the contract.
Tyler carefully reviewed the terms, confirmed everything checked out, and solemnly signed his name in the signature section. Mia, on behalf of the company and Ethan, stamped the company seal on the client's side.
After signing the contract, Ethan stood up, walked over to Tyler, and patted him on the shoulder: "Tyler, even though your title is deputy general manager, the responsibilities on your shoulders are those of a general manager. That future development I mentioned earlier might sound like empty talk to a lot of people."
He changed his tone, his voice unusually sincere: "But I don't like to shortchange people who actually get things done. I know your annual salary at Microsoft was around $180,000. Here, your base annual salary starts at $400,000."
Tyler's body visibly trembled upon hearing this, his pupils dilating slightly. Even though he was usually composed, this number far exceeded his expectations.
He'd figured a decent bump would be nice, but he hadn't expected Ethan to be this generous.
Ethan continued, "As for bonuses and equity down the line, that depends on what you're able to build leading Beacon Media. Reward follows performance — that's the principle here."
Tyler took a deep breath, a long-lost warmth and a strong sense of being valued welling up in his chest.
He stood up, took Ethan's hand, his tone firm and tinged with excitement: "Ethan, don't worry! I'll give everything I've got and live up to your trust in me!"
How was this just empty talk? The boss had clearly served him something real and warm right there on the spot! That kind of genuine respect and encouragement carries more weight than any empty promise.
"I believe you." Ethan smiled and said, "There's an important task for you right now. You've got one week to build the company's core team and get people in place. Once the company's up and running, that's when you really get to show what you can do. I'll have Mia send you the shortlist of candidates for entry-level positions from the search firm."
"Alright! Ethan, I'll get started right away!" Tyler naturally had no objections to this.
...
Around 11:30.
Jake also arrived at the company.
He, too, was young and sharp, and went straight for the general manager position at Beacon Media.
Ethan felt a bit worn out and had to repeat his earlier pitch, offering the same alternative of a business unit lead role.
However, Jake's attitude mirrored Ryan's exactly, showing no interest in anything short of general manager.
Ethan could only end the interview politely, regretfully sending off this equally outstanding candidate who didn't fit his plan.
Jake had barely disappeared out the office door.
Diana also happened to arrive at the Meridian Tower and took the elevator up to the 82nd floor.
A slightly urgent yet steady clack of heels came from the corridor. Mia guided Diana into Ethan's office.
Diana walked in.
She wore a sharply tailored dark gray suit that made her presence look even more capable, but a trace of fatigue was hard to hide in her eyes. She'd just finished dealing with a mess back at Redwood Capital headquarters and rushed straight over.
When Ethan saw Diana enter, a smile appeared on his face as he said, "You made it!"
"Mm-hmm!" Diana smiled and nodded.
"Thanks for your hard work." Ethan's sharp eyes caught her state, and without any extra small talk, he got straight to the point.
He said to Marcus, "This is Diana, president of Redwood Capital."
Marcus immediately stood up and reached out to Diana: "Great to meet you, Diana. I've heard a lot about you. Looking forward to working together!"
Her gaze swept quickly and professionally over Marcus, scrutinizing yet sincere. She graciously extended her hand, her face showing a polite welcoming smile: "Hello, Marcus, I'm Diana, president of Redwood Capital. Welcome aboard!"
Marcus and Diana gripped tightly, each sensing the battle-hardened calm radiating off the other.
Ethan didn't bother with pleasantries and said, "Did you bring the contract?"
"Yes, everything's ready."
Diana responded promptly, skillfully taking out two beautifully bound contracts from her briefcase and handing them directly to Marcus: "Marcus, these are the appointment contract and supplementary agreement for the general manager role at Redwood Capital, especially covering compensation structure and responsibilities. Please review them carefully."
Marcus took the heavy documents, thanked her, and then sat in a corner of the sofa, intently flipping through them.
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