Bab 30: Chapter 30: Assistant Manager
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"Mr. Siegel, what do you need me to do?" Hardy asked.
Siegel smiled. "I want you to help me make money. The income from your work won't go through the Jewish Gang's accounts. We'll split it 30/70—30% for me, and 70% for your team."
The Jewish Gang isn't strictly Siegel's; it's a branch of the Italian Mafia. Most of the money made by the Jewish Gang is handed over to the Mafia, and Siegel only gets a portion. However, if the money Hardy earns goes directly to Siegel, as with the share from the Spanish casino robbery, Siegel would have full control over it, effectively bypassing the Mafia. This arrangement, however, doesn't concern Hardy.
"Secondly," Siegel continued, "you'll assist with my film company and handle some tasks for me. I'm investing in Las Vegas. I've already purchased 30 acres of land and plan to build a multi-functional, ultra-luxury casino. This project will consume most of my energy, and I won't be able to manage the film company in Los Angeles. You'll be my assistant and help supervise the company."
Siegel added, "Of course, the company has its own managers and department heads for day-to-day operations. Your job will be to oversee them. You don't need to be an expert in film; I just don't want anyone to take advantage of me."
Siegel's involvement in the film company is minimal—he bought it mainly to gain a respectable position in high society. Owning a film company is perfect for that.
"Thirdly, the construction of the casino will take about a year and a half to two years. Once it's completed, we'll need people to maintain order. I plan to take you to Las Vegas, along with your team, to establish a new gang there. You'll become the boss of Las Vegas' underground."
This third point was a significant offer—a beautiful vision. As Hardy listened, countless thoughts raced through his mind. Siegel's proposal had no downsides for him and clearly showed that Siegel recognized his talents. Being Siegel's direct subordinate would elevate Hardy's status significantly.
Chicago's underground emperor, Al Capone, started as an assistant. When Johnny Torrio retired, Capone took over and became the ruler of Chicago. Hardy quickly made up his mind.
He looked up at Siegel and said firmly, "Mr. Siegel, I'm willing to work for you."
Siegel burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Very good, Hardy. I guarantee this is a very wise decision." He was clearly pleased with Hardy's answer.
"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the film company to meet the person in charge there. But for now, let me introduce you to some people—friends of mine who you might need to connect with for the film company in the future."
Siegel led Hardy back to the lobby, where a lively party was in full swing. The atmosphere was like that of a high-end nightclub, with people chatting, laughing, and enjoying themselves. Siegel approached a group of middle-aged men in sharp suits and said, "I'd like to introduce you to my new assistant, Jon Hardy. He's a fine young man."
Hardy was slightly surprised when Siegel introduced him to Louis Meyer, the big boss of MGM. Hardy knew MGM well—one of the eight major Hollywood studios, known for its iconic roaring lion logo, "Gone with the Wind," the 007 series, and "Tom and Jerry." Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Elizabeth Taylor were all under contract with MGM. Later, when Las Vegas became a major destination, MGM invested heavily there, building the MGM Grand Casino, one of the top ten casinos in the city.
"Jon, this is my old friend Louis Meyer," Siegel said.
"This is also my good friend Jack Warner, one of the heads of Warner Bros. Pictures, in charge of film production and distribution," Siegel continued.
Hardy was impressed. Warner Bros. was also one of the eight major film companies, and Jack Warner was one of its key figures. Hardy knew Warner Bros. well, as it was another powerhouse in Hollywood.
Louis Meyer and Jack Warner, both Jewish, were naturally good friends of Siegel. Siegel then introduced Hardy to several other prominent figures in Hollywood, including studio owners and agency presidents. Hardy respectfully shook hands with these industry giants and collected a stack of business cards.
"Alright, Jon, have fun tonight. I'll see you tomorrow," Siegel said to Hardy.
Hardy left to find Marisa, who was chatting with a group of well-dressed men and women. Marisa, having worked in a nightclub for so long, was skilled at handling social situations. She had only been flustered earlier because she was surprised by the number of celebrities she had seen.
Hardy approached Marisa and smiled. "Marisa, I'm back. Did you meet any new friends? What were you talking about?"
Marisa, though outwardly calm, was still nervous. It was her first time at such a high-end party, and she was relieved to see Hardy. She took his arm as if seeking reassurance.
One of the handsome men in the group noticed this and, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, smiled and said to Hardy, "We were just discussing how Ms. Marisa's radiant appearance would be perfect for certain roles. She mentioned that she's studying acting. Have you studied acting as well? Have you ever played any roles?"
"I've never played a role, nor have I studied acting," Hardy replied with a smile.
The men in the group exchanged glances, a hint of triumph in their eyes. They assumed Hardy was an inexperienced actor or perhaps just a wealthy playboy with little to offer in terms of career prospects.
"So, what do you do? I don't think we've asked for your name," the tall man inquired.
"I'm Jon Hardy, Mr. Siegel's assistant," Hardy replied.
The men were taken aback. They knew the influence Siegel wielded—he owned a film company and had strong connections with the heads of Hollywood's major studios and agencies. Suddenly, Hardy's status in their eyes rose considerably.
They quickly adjusted their attitudes, putting on bright smiles and eagerly introducing themselves to Hardy.
After chatting for a while, Hardy said goodbye to the group and walked away with Marisa.
Once they were alone, Marisa cautiously whispered, "Hardy, this is Mr. Siegel's house. Aren't you worried about getting caught if you're lying?"
Hardy chuckled. "Who said I was lying? I am indeed Mr. Siegel's business assistant. Now, let's go meet some big stars."
Hardy led Marisa towards Clark Gable's group.
Marisa became nervous. "Are you sure we should go over there? I'm worried I might embarrass myself."
"Don't you want to say a few words to your idol?" Hardy asked.
"Of course I do."
"Then stand tall and follow me. It's no big deal."
Throughout the party, Hardy introduced Marisa to many celebrities. Whether he knew them or not, he approached them, saying, "Hello, Mr. So-and-so. I'm a fan of yours and loved your performance in such-and-such a movie."
In reality, Hardy had never seen most of those movies and had never heard of many of the stars. Marisa had briefed him on who each star was, what films they had starred in, and what awards they had won. Hardy quickly memorized the information and used it to his advantage.
After the initial pleasantries, Hardy would introduce himself as Mr. Siegel's assistant and express a desire to work together in the future. The celebrities, recognizing Siegel's name, immediately warmed up to Hardy. In this way, Hardy networked with dozens of Hollywood stars.
Whether or not these connections would prove useful later, Hardy was content to have made them.
When the party ended, Hardy and Marisa said their goodbyes to Siegel.
On the drive back, Marisa was still buzzing with excitement, thrilled to have met so many Hollywood stars. The evening had fulfilled countless fantasies for her.
When they arrived at Marisa's place, she invited Hardy upstairs.
As the door closed behind them, Marisa wrapped her arms around Hardy and whispered seductively in his ear, "Hardy, be gentle when you tear my clothes."
With that, she pulled him into a passionate embrace.
Bab 31: Chapter 31: The Hollywood Dream
Hardy and Marisa's relationship was unconventional, to say the least. They weren't exactly lovers, and though they shared intimate moments, it wasn't love that brought them together. They were more like friends who occasionally found comfort in each other's company.
Early the next morning, Hardy prepared to leave. Marisa, wearing a camisole, helped him get his clothes together. As she handed him his shirt, Hardy smiled and said, "I'm meeting with Mr. Siegel today. I'm going to be an assistant at his film company. I'll see if there are any acting roles that might suit you."
Marisa's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? That's amazing!" She hugged Hardy tightly and gave him a kiss.
After Hardy left, Marisa couldn't stop thinking about the possibility of acting in a movie. The excitement of what could be filled her with hope. But then, her joy was overshadowed by another thought, one that brought a wave of sadness over her.
She walked over to a drawer and pulled out a paper passbook. She opened it and stared at the numbers.
$8,500.
It had taken her a long time to save up that money. Nightclubs paid well, but expenses like acting and vocal classes quickly drained her savings.
Putting on her clothes and grabbing her bag, Marisa tucked the passbook inside. She stepped outside and hailed a taxi.
"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked.
"79 Maple Avenue," Marisa replied, giving the address.
...
At the entrance of an old two-story building, a sign read, "Persian Cat Talent Agency." Marisa stood at the door, hesitating. She felt a mixture of reluctance and fear because she despised the man she was about to meet. But for the sake of her future, she had no choice.
She walked up to the second floor, took a deep breath, and knocked on the office door.
"Come in," said a familiar, detestable voice.
Marisa entered, finding a man in his thirties sitting at a desk, sorting through a thick stack of papers. He was thin, with shrewd eyes that appraised her as she walked in.
"Well, well, well, look who it is," the man said with a sly grin. "It's the lovely Miss Marisa."
He stood up and walked around Marisa, eyeing her up and down. "You're looking more beautiful than ever. Stick with me, and I'll make you a Hollywood star."
He reached out to touch Marisa's hair, but she recoiled, pulling away in disgust.
"Mr. Sanders," Marisa began, her voice steady, "I'm here to talk business."
Sanders shrugged, unfazed, and leaned back against his desk, lighting a cigarette. "Sure, go ahead."
"I want my contract back," Marisa said firmly.
Sanders chuckled softly and spread his hands. "No problem. You can have it back as soon as you pay the penalty."
Marisa took the passbook from her bag, opened it, and placed it on the table. "The penalty in the contract is $10,000. I have $8,500 here. I'll get the remaining $1,500 to you as soon as I can."
Marisa had come to Los Angeles with dreams of making it big, but she had been naive. Brad Sanders, the man in front of her, had lured her into signing a contract with promises of fame and success. The contract bound her to his agency for ten years, with a split that heavily favored him—ninety percent for Sanders, ten percent for her.
Marisa had initially objected to the terms, but Sanders had assured her that the contract would change once she became successful. He had said she would eventually earn much more, and that the split would be adjusted to reflect her status as a star.
But things hadn't gone as Marisa had hoped. She was sent to a modeling agency for a week of classes, only to be thrust into degrading "modeling" gigs—underwear shows where she and other girls paraded in front of lecherous men. Marisa soon realized that Sanders was using her and the other girls, offering them up to sleazy men under the guise of introducing them to "directors."
One day, Sanders called Marisa to meet a "director" for an interview. When she arrived at the hotel and saw a man in his sixties, she fled in terror. She didn't return to Sanders' office but instead sought refuge with a friend who had come to Los Angeles with her. Her friend had chosen a more stable path, working in a restaurant, and Marisa stayed with her for a while.
Needing money to survive, Marisa eventually found work at a nightclub. She was offered a position as a nightclub hostess, which paid significantly more than being a waitress, and she accepted it to make ends meet.
But Marisa never gave up on her dreams. She continued saving money, enrolling in acting and vocal classes whenever she could afford it. She knew she had to get out of her contract with Sanders if she ever wanted to be free to pursue her career.
Now, standing in Sanders' office, she was determined to buy her freedom.
Sanders looked at the passbook and then back at Marisa. His expression was unreadable, but Marisa could tell he was calculating something.
"Fine," he said after a long pause, "Get me the remaining $1,500, and you can have your contract back."
Marisa felt a glimmer of hope, but she knew this wasn't over yet. She would need to find a way to come up with the rest of the money, and she would have to be careful dealing with Sanders until then.
She nodded, picking up her passbook and leaving the office, determined to reclaim her future.
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