For a moment, the only sound left in the office was the rustling of papers.
Ethan picked up his cup and walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the distant outline of the city; Diana quietly sat on the single sofa on the other side, closed her eyes to rest for a moment, and gently pressed her temples with her fingertips.
Marcus read quickly, confirming all the core clauses were correct, especially the clear and definite performance-based structure that reflected his determination. He picked up his pen and solemnly signed his name at the signing section.
Diana opened her eyes, stood up, walked to the coffee table, and, as the legal representative of Redwood Capital, signed her name on the company's side. Then, she took out a bright red company seal from her folder and, with a click, stamped it clearly on the contract.
At this moment, Marcus officially became the general manager of Redwood Capital.
Ethan put down his cup and walked back, patting Marcus on the shoulder. The pressure wasn't strong but carried a sense of entrusting him with a heavy responsibility. His tone was sincere and powerful: "Marcus, even though you volunteered to take a zero base salary tied purely to performance, I'm going to make sure there's a real guarantee in place for you. Base annual salary, tentatively set at $150,000. This amount isn't much; it's recognition of your standing and basic security for your day-to-day."
He shifted his tone, his gaze sharp and encouraging: "As for the real upside behind this — dividends, bonuses, and future equity based on company performance... whether you get it, how much you get, and how high the ceiling goes — all depends on you. I've set up the stage for you, the lights are on. What happens next, whether you soar or fall flat, is entirely up to your own ability, Marcus!"
Ethan could have just gone along with exactly what Marcus proposed during the earlier negotiation — no salary needed — but Ethan felt that if he wasn't generous with the people working for him, the company was destined not to go far.
A strong sense of warmth and responsibility surged in Marcus's chest.
In a world where capital reigns supreme, having witnessed plenty of cold calculation and transactional exchanges, Ethan still insisting on offering a respectable base salary even after Marcus had volunteered to go without one — this kind of loyalty and respect far exceeded his expectations.
This wasn't just a sign of trust in his abilities, it was a genuine warmth of character.
"Don't worry, Ethan, Diana, rest assured!" Marcus's voice was steady and resolute, carrying an all-in promise, "I, Marcus, will give it everything I've got and live up to your trust!"
Ethan nodded in satisfaction: "Alright! For lunch, find somewhere nearby to eat well and get some rest. This afternoon, head straight to the Redwood Capital building in Midtown to get checked in."
He turned to Diana: "Diana, Marcus will arrive this afternoon. Personally walk him through the group's setup, then introduce him to Sarah, the HR manager."
"Understood, Ethan." Diana immediately replied, her eyes regaining their usual sharp and capable look. "I'll give Sarah a heads-up ahead of time and give Marcus my full support."
Ethan finally gave Marcus a core assignment: "Beyond basic administrative support, Redwood Capital's core investment team is basically starting from scratch. This is your top priority: quickly build a strong, trustworthy team. You've got full say over what kind of talent you need, at what level, and within what budget. Just coordinate directly with Sarah to lock it in. Diana will give you full authorization and support."
He paused, thinking about the rapidly expanding operation. Laura's "Vibe" was picking up momentum, causing a staffing crunch. But with Laura around, Ethan felt reassured.
"Understood, Ethan!" Marcus didn't hesitate for a moment; instead, his eyes lit up with excitement and a sense of challenge.
Building his own core team from scratch was exactly the opportunity he'd dreamed of, a chance to prove himself, and the real starting point for finally realizing his investment ambitions.
He picked up the heavy, personal copy of the contract, clearly feeling the weight of the responsibility and the endless possibilities it held.
A new journey begins at this moment.
Diana came and went just as fast. Ethan shook his head — she'd really been putting in the work lately.
...
It wasn't until after ten o'clock at night.
The office fell silent for a moment. Just as Ethan picked up his water cup, ready to scroll on his phone for a while, the sound of heels tapping on the marble floor came from outside, approaching from a distance, accompanied by Mia's lowered voice asking a question.
The door was pushed open, and Mia stepped in with a woman.
Her carefully styled wavy long hair cascaded over her shoulders, its deep auburn sheen catching the ceiling lights, radiating a lazy yet passionate charm. Her standard oval face was made up exquisitely, with a hint of hurriedness in her brows and eyes, yet it didn't diminish her radiance.
She was tall and slender, estimated at nearly 5'7", wearing a pair of red heels that made her already perfect figure look even more upright and elegant.
A perfectly tailored classic dark blazer outlined smooth, feminine curves, exuding an undeniable charm within a professional look.
Absolutely striking!
Mia introduced her, "Ethan, this is Daania."
Ethan's gaze lingered on her for a moment, carrying a subtle admiration that was barely noticeable.
Daania had long since shed any youthful awkwardness from her student days, and every gesture revealed the confidence and just the right amount of mature polish that came with real-world experience.
"Ethan, I'm so sorry to keep you waiting! I'm Daania." She walked in quickly, speaking clearly and with genuine apology, while proactively reaching out her hand to Ethan.
Her voice was clear and pleasant, her gaze swiftly sweeping across the spacious office, finally landing precisely on Ethan, carrying a hint of apology and professional curiosity.
"It's nothing." Ethan stood up, gently squeezed her hand and let go, the touch cool yet firm. "I totally understand. I just finished interviewing a few people, so it wasn't a long wait."
Of course, Ethan wasn't about to act like plenty of companies did in his previous life, arrogantly telling a late candidate: "People like you, showing up late to an interview, with no sense of time — our company doesn't want you."
Ethan thought companies like that were just plain foolish.
A bright smile bloomed on Daania's face as she proactively suggested, "How about this — it's about lunchtime, why don't I treat you to a meal? There's a place nearby I know that's actually pretty good. We could chat over food. Consider it my way of making up for being late."
Ethan glanced at his watch; it was indeed getting late.
"Alright." He thought about it for a moment and didn't refuse.
Lunch needed to happen anyway, so a change of scenery wouldn't hurt. It was a good chance to wrap up the interview while eating.
Besides, Daania was already the last interview of the day.
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