Chapter 145: Wait the Price?!
Chapter 145: Wait the Price?!
Juliet quickly formulated her response, recognizing the importance of establishing a direct line of communication with Brian Chow to discuss the intricate details of SolaraTech's new headquarters project. She wanted to ensure that their first interaction would lay a strong foundation for their potential partnership.
[Subject: Re: Commission for New SolaraTech Corporation Headquarters
Dear Mr. Chow,
Thank you for your prompt and positive response. We are delighted to hear of your interest and enthusiasm in collaborating with us on this groundbreaking project. Given the significance of this venture for SolaraTech Corporation, we are eager to initiate detailed discussions and align our visions to create a landmark that reflects our company's innovative and sustainable ethos.
To facilitate a more dynamic and personal exchange of ideas, we propose to meet via Zoom. This will allow us to have an in-depth conversation about the project's scope, objectives, and creative process. We believe that a video conference will provide the ideal platform for us to explore the possibilities and nuances of this exciting endeavor.
Could you please provide your availability for next week so we can schedule a Zoom meeting at a time that is convenient for you? We are flexible and will do our utmost to accommodate your schedule.
We are looking forward to this opportunity to work closely with you and to foster a partnership that will bring our vision for SolaraTech's headquarters to life.
Best regards,
Juliet Schmidt
Chief of Staff to Michael Reyes
SolaraTech Corporation and Reyes Transportation Company. ]
After sending the email, Juliet returned to her work again and waited patiently for Brian Chow's response. Her mind, while occupied with other tasks, remained partially focused on the upcoming project, understanding its potential impact on SolaraTech's future. She reviewed her schedule, ensuring she had allocated enough time for the extensive planning and coordination that the project would require.
Juliet also started to organize her thoughts and materials for the meeting, contemplating the various aspects of the new headquarters that needed to be discussed, such as sustainability features, technological integration, and the representation of SolaraTech's corporate identity.
She aimed to compile a brief yet comprehensive overview of SolaraTech's vision, current operations, and future aspirations to provide Brian with the context necessary for a productive discussion.
In the meantime, Juliet continued to oversee her other responsibilities at SolaraTech, ensuring that the daily operations ran smoothly and efficiently. And two hours later, Brian Chow made a reply to Juliet's email. The notification popped up on her computer screen, pulling her focus back to the computer.
Opening the email, Juliet saw Brian's enthusiastic reply:
[Subject: Re: Commission for New SolaraTech Corporation Headquarters
Dear Juliet Schmidt,
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful message. I am very excited about the prospect of working with SolaraTech Corporation and appreciate the opportunity to discuss the potential of this project further.
I am available for a Zoom meeting next Tuesday at 10:00 AM. If this time works for you and Mr. Reyes, please let me know so we can lock it in my schedule. I am looking forward to discussing our collaboration in more detail and starting what I believe will be a fruitful and innovative partnership.
Please send over any preliminary information or ideas you have for the headquarters so I can prepare accordingly for our meeting. This will help in making our discussion as productive and meaningful as possible.
Thank you once again for considering me for this project. I am eager to contribute to SolaraTech's journey and help realize the vision of an office that not only serves as a workspace but also as a beacon of innovation and sustainability.
Best regards,
Brian Chow]
Juliet quickly responded to confirm the meeting time and expressed her gratitude for his promptness and willingness to engage in the project. She then proceeded to gather all the necessary documents and ideas that would be essential for their discussion, making sure that everything would be ready for their scheduled meeting.
After that, she picked up her phone and called Michael.
"Mr. Reyes, it's confirmed. Next week, Tuesday, at ten o'clock in the morning, we will have a video conference with Brian Chow."
"Understood," Michael replied succinctly, before hanging up the phone.
***
The week passed swiftly, and soon it was Tuesday morning. Michael and Juliet were in the conference room, sitting in front of a large projector screen where Brian Chow's face was about to appear. The room was set up to facilitate a productive meeting, with architectural sketches, digital tablets, and notes arrayed neatly on the table.
At precisely 10:00 AM, Brian Chow's face lit up the screen. He has the look of a middle-aged man, his eyes sharp and attentive, like what you would expect from rich Asians.
"Good morning, Mr. Chow," Juliet greeted. "It's a pleasure to meet you virtually. I'm Juliet Schmidt, Chief of Staff for Michael Reyes, and this is Mr. Reyes himself."
Michael leaned forward, offering a nod of acknowledgment. "Mr. Chow, we've been looking forward to this meeting. Your work on the Golden Topper was impressive, and we're excited about the potential of bringing your expertise to our new headquarters."
Brian Chow smiled, his demeanor friendly yet composed. "Thank you, Mr. Reyes, Ms. Schmidt. It's an honor to be considered for this project. I've been following SolaraTech's growth and innovations in the tech industry, and I'm thrilled at the possibility of contributing to your journey."
"Now, we want your skyscraper design to be our main office," Michael continued, getting straight to the point. "I like the design and I'm wondering how much it would cost us?"
Chow cleared his throat, not expecting a direct-to-the-point query from Michael.
"Well…Mr. Reyes, I want to give you an insight into the specifications of the Golden Topper. The Golden Topper is designed as a mixed-use skyscraper with cutting-edge features. It stands at 450 meters tall, encompassing 102 floors above ground and 4 basement levels. The building provides approximately 240,000 square meters of floor space.
It includes office spaces, luxury residences, and retail areas along with green spaces that are integrated into the structure for environmental sustainability and aesthetic appeal."
He paused for a moment, ensuring Michael and Juliet were following. "The design incorporates photovoltaic glass, which not only contributes to the building's energy efficiency but also gives it a sleek, modern look. We've also included a state-of-the-art rainwater harvesting system and the entire building is managed by a smart automation system to optimize energy usage."
Juliet took diligent notes, while Michael listened intently, already visualizing their company logo at the top of such a structure.
"As for the cost," Brian continued, his tone becoming more business-like, "a project of this magnitude, with the specifications you're interested in, and considering the current costs for materials and labor, you're looking at an investment of around 500 million dollars.
This estimate includes high-end finishes suitable for a world-class corporate headquarters, along with all the sustainable technology features we discussed."
Michael's expression remained unreadable, but Juliet could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing the cost against the potential value such a building would bring to SolaraTech's image and operations.
Brian concluded, "Of course, this is a preliminary estimate. We can work out a more detailed cost breakdown as we refine the design to suit your exact needs."
Michael finally spoke, "Thank you, Mr. Chow. That gives us a clear starting point. We'll discuss this internally and get back to you with our decision on how to proceed."
As he was preparing to leave the meeting, Michael repeated the cost of building that skyscraper in his head.
"Five hundred million dollars?!"