章節 28: Chapter 28: Tearing It Up
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As Hardy stepped out of Siegel's house, Fred gave him a pat on the shoulder. "I can see Mr. Siegel really likes you. Keep up the good work, Hardy."
"Yes, boss," Hardy replied.
He got back into the Ford, thinking about the upcoming party. He needed a suitable suit, and perhaps a better car.
Siegel mentioned he could bring a date, but who could he take? Marisa came to mind. Maybe she'd be interested.
With Marisa on his mind, Hardy steered the car towards her place, only to find her door locked. She must be at her performance class. Knowing where she'd be, he headed over.
After class, Marisa walked out with two of her classmates, chatting about the lecture. As she stepped outside, she noticed a tall, handsome figure standing by the street.
"Jon, what are you doing here?" Marisa asked, running over to him excitedly.
"I need a suit for a party, but you know how men are with clothes. Could you help me out?" Hardy asked with a smile.
"I have some free time this afternoon. I'd be happy to help," Marisa replied with a grin.
She turned to her friends. "Cheryl, Evie, I'll skip lunch with you today."
The two women waved her off, but as Marisa got into the car, Cheryl shook her head. "He's good-looking, but with those clothes and that car, he can't have much money. What's Marisa thinking?"
"Maybe she's just blinded by love," Evie laughed.
Hardy was oblivious to their judgment as he drove off with Marisa.
"What price range are we looking at for the suit?" Marisa asked.
"Something upscale. Tomorrow night's party will be pretty high-end."
"High-end suits aren't cheap," she warned.
"That's fine. Let's take a look."
Marisa eyed Hardy, thinking that if he couldn't afford the suit, she might chip in.
They arrived at the most luxurious shopping district in Los Angeles, filled with high-end stores. They entered the Brooks Brothers store. Hardy had heard of the brand, founded in 1818 and favored by many U.S. presidents.
Marisa helped him pick out a suit. It fit perfectly, accentuating his tall frame.
"Looks great, Jon," Marisa said affectionately.
Hardy was pleased. "This is the one. Marisa, help me pick out a coat, two shirts, two ties, a belt, and a pair of shoes."
He decided to go all out, sparing no expense.
Fully dressed, Hardy looked sharp, the suit highlighting his natural good looks.
After settling the bill, which totaled over seven hundred dollars, Hardy paid without hesitation. If Marisa's friends saw him now, they'd definitely change their opinion. Clothes do make the man.
"Let's go buy a car," Hardy said next.
"You're buying a car too?" Marisa asked, surprised. Even the cheapest cars started at a thousand dollars, and luxury models were in the thousands. Some even reached tens of thousands, a hefty sum.
They arrived at a car dealership. Hardy bypassed the cheaper Fords, heading straight for the luxury models. One car caught his eye.
A dark blue Packard with a white roof. A symbol of American luxury, Packard was known for its quality, though the company would eventually go bankrupt in 1958.
"How much for this one?" Hardy asked the salesperson.
"$7,850," the salesperson replied with a smile.
"Alright, I'll take it."
The salesperson was thrilled. As Hardy completed the purchase, Marisa wondered how he'd suddenly become so wealthy, but then remembered his connections. In the world of organized crime, fortunes could be made overnight.
"Please have my Ford delivered to XX Street, XX," Hardy instructed.
"Of course, sir," the salesperson replied, taking the Ford's keys.
Hardy drove Marisa away in the luxury car. As they drove, Marisa looked over at Hardy. "You must really care about tomorrow night's party."
"Yes, there will be many Hollywood stars there. I can't let the host down," Hardy said.
"A Hollywood party?" Marisa asked, intrigued.
"Would you like to come as my date?" Hardy asked, smiling.
"Are you serious? You're taking me?!" Marisa gasped.
"Do you want to go?"
"Of course! I'd love to!" Marisa exclaimed, nodding excitedly. Then she grew anxious. "I'll need to prepare. I'm not sure if I have anything suitable to wear."
Hardy chuckled. "You helped me pick out my outfit. As a thank you, I'll buy you an evening gown."
"Really? Wow, you're so sweet, Hardy!" Marisa hugged him and kissed him excitedly.
They headed to a Chanel store. Marisa selected a black lace evening gown with a small plaid skirt, giving her a look that was both dignified and alluring. The dress cost over six hundred dollars—equivalent to three months' salary for most people at the time.
It was no wonder that many lesser-known or struggling stars opted to rent dresses for events.
After shopping, Hardy dropped Marisa off at home.
As she got out of the car, she leaned in and whispered, "Want to come up and help me check if the dress fits?"
Hardy grinned. "I might not be able to resist tearing it off you."
"Don't you dare! It's too beautiful," Marisa teased, kissing him on the cheek before running upstairs with her new dress.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow evening," Hardy called out.
"Okay!" Marisa replied with a wave.
Hardy drove his new car to Bill's house and parked in the garage. Bill's old Ford had already been delivered and was parked by the curb. Hardy left the keys in the mailbox and headed to the meeting place in the lower city. Henry and Neil were chatting in the lobby and stood up as Hardy entered.
"Everything's sorted with the gang," Hardy reported.
Everyone visibly relaxed. If there were no issues with the gang, it meant their share of the profits was safe.
"How's the situation with the Spanish gang?" Hardy asked.
That morning, Hardy had instructed them to gather information.
"We checked around and just got back. The Spanish gang leader, Dani, is furious. He's vowing to find the casino robbers at all costs," Henry said.
Hardy smirked. "So they don't know who did it."
"The police have opened a case and are publicly stating they'll investigate thoroughly, but internally, there's not much going on," Neil added.
"The police are the least of our worries," Hardy said confidently.
After gathering all the information, Hardy addressed the group. "Keep a low profile for the next few days and don't say anything to anyone outside the group."
"Starting tomorrow, Sean, Ryder, Richard, and Neil, you'll continue your regular deliveries to the bar."
"Henry, Matthew, Leo, Kerry—you four keep tabs on the Spanish gang. See if you can find any valuable information."
"Boss, are you planning another hit on the Spanish gang?" Matthew asked, his excitement barely contained.
"Nothing's off the table," Hardy replied with a grin.
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