"Yes, that's fine." Ethan naturally had no objections.
The Meridian Tower, the peak of the city skyline.
The absolute height of just over 1,470 feet symbolizes the city's silhouette.
Working at the top and overlooking the whole city is itself a silent declaration of strength and ambition.
It naturally felt unusual.
"Alright." Erin pressed the "82" button.
The elevator climbed smoothly and swiftly, accompanied by a slight sense of weightlessness.
The interior walls of the elevator car were smooth as mirrors, reflecting the figures of several people.
The air fell silent for a moment.
Ethan remembered that in his previous life, the 82nd floor had housed one of the city's most exclusive private clubs, and now the 82nd floor hadn't been leased out yet.
Erin spoke at just the right moment, breaking the silence with just the right amount of professional enthusiasm: "Ethan, thank you very much for your interest in the Meridian Tower. Allow me to give you a brief introduction."
Ethan nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
Erin spoke steadily and clearly: "The Meridian Tower sits at the heart of the Hudson Yards business district, enjoying a unique geographical advantage. To the east, you've got the shimmering reservoir and green stretch of Central Park, with the Midtown skyline rising beyond it. To the west, the Hudson River flows past with the New Jersey shoreline lit up at night. To the south lies the energy of Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, all the way down toward Lower Manhattan. To the north, the Upper West Side rounds things out."
She paused, her tone full of pride: "It's one of the tallest towers in the city. The main building has 4 basement levels and 89 floors above ground, with a total height of just over 1,470 feet. The 82nd floor, which we're about to go see, is currently the highest office space available for lease."
Erin continued: "The building's interior meets top-tier fit-out standards and is equipped with fixtures from leading international brands. The lobby offers professional reception services, and the building includes multiple high-end, multifunctional conference rooms, a staff pantry, lounges, and phone booths of various sizes. The surrounding transit network is excellent, with several subway lines and bus routes running right by, making the commute very convenient for employees."
She concluded, "We believe choosing the Meridian Tower will give you and your company an unmatched business experience and a real boost to your brand image."
Ethan listened, his gaze calm.
Erin's description wasn't exaggerated; the Meridian Tower's setting and amenities really were top-of-the-line in the city.
He already had a plan in mind: Redwood Capital and its tech divisions would all be housed in their own building in Midtown, forming a proper tech headquarters cluster.
And for this soon-to-be-established entertainment company, as a window into the entertainment industry and the influencer economy, its storefront was its lifeline.
A shabby office would be tantamount to announcing to potential talent, influencers, and partners: we're not capable.
In an industry where "clothes make the man, the saddle makes the horse," a top-tier landmark building is the best endorsement, silently telling the story of financial strength and control over resources.
"As for the specifics, let's check out the space first." Ethan's tone was calm, revealing no inclination either way.
"Ding—" With a soft sound, the elevator stopped steadily on the 82nd floor.
"Alright, Ethan, this way please." Erin was the first to step out of the elevator, swiping her card to unlock the heavy glass door to the leasing area.
The moment the door opened, a sense of openness and visual impact hit instantly!
Before them was an extremely spacious, undivided office space, astonishing in size.
The most stunning feature was the massive floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall surrounding the space, offering an almost 270-degree panoramic view!
Ethan was the first to step into this empty space.
The gray high-end carpet beneath his feet absorbed the footsteps.
He walked straight toward the east-facing glass wall with the widest view.
Everything suddenly opened up before him!
Central Park's reservoir shimmered like a piece of jade set into the middle of the city, its surface catching the light. Beyond it, the Midtown skyline rose in a hazy outline, sketching the most striking line of the city's silhouette.
The heart of Manhattan sprawled below — towers, winding avenues, and patches of green, all laid out like an intricate scale model, taking in the whole view!
Standing at this height, a sense of grandeur rising above the city and taking in the whole picture naturally arose.
Sunlight poured freely into the entire space, bright and clear.
Working here, just the view outside the window would bring endless peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment.
Ethan's gaze swept across the spacious area, and he'd already made up his mind.
He turned to ask Erin, "What's the square footage on this whole floor?"
Erin immediately replied, her tone carrying a hint of barely noticeable expectation: "Ethan, the entire floor is a little over 16,000 square feet. It's currently the largest single-floor space available for lease in the Meridian Tower, with the best views and light in the building."
Ethan nodded, his gaze once again fixed on the stunning cityscape outside the window.
Sixteen thousand square feet was more than enough for the headquarters of a startup, but a high-end one, for an entertainment and media company.
More importantly, the height and the view represented exactly what Ethan hoped for in the future of the company he wanted to build.
Standing well over a thousand feet above the ground, overlooking the city unfolding beneath him like a painting, Ethan's gaze was calm and thoughtful.
Before deciding to set up "Beacon Media," he'd already worked out some of the plan in his head.
Summer.
This name, which should have stepped into the corporate ladder and climbed it rung by rung in her previous life's trajectory, had already been reshaped by his plan in this life.
From the moment she fought for the class president position, her path had quietly been redirected.
She was extremely capable and ambitious; it wouldn't be easy to get her to truly stand by his side with real conviction.
That was also part of why he'd deliberately chosen the name "Beacon Media" — something that calls people in, draws talent toward the light.
He planned to lay out his plans step by step, firmly binding the person the name pointed to, to this fast-moving venture.
That meaning was like the city beneath his feet right now — clearly visible, yet quietly held close.
Ethan pulled his gaze back from the park and turned to Erin, speaking calmly and directly: "So, how exactly is the rent structured?"
Erin's face immediately brightened with an even more enthusiastic and professional smile: "Ethan, you're not only a good friend of Brandon's, but also a highly valued, high-quality tenant for the Meridian Tower. As for pricing, we'll absolutely offer you our best rate."
She spoke fluently, clearly well-prepared: "The Meridian Tower was completed and opened in 2010. We've always been focused on attracting well-known companies to lease here, and we've put together competitive terms with that in mind."
She quickly got to the core numbers: "Based on our standard listed rate, rent on the 82nd floor runs about $62.50 per square foot per year, plus a property management fee of roughly $2.60 per square foot per year. At a little over 16,000 square feet, on a one-year minimum term, that comes out to a base annual rent of just over $1,010,000, with the management fee adding about $41,500 a year. Combined, you're looking at roughly $1,051,500 a year."
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