章節 223: Chapter 223: Stunner in the Room
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"Alright, I agree to join this venture, but I have a condition. From now on, Miami should be the top priority for the Cuban casinos, and the Luccese family must receive a larger share, including in the management unit," Luccese demanded.
A flash of anger crossed Basini's eyes. He despised greedy people, especially those trying to take advantage of him.
"No problem, Luccese. These details can be worked out once we invest," Basini replied with a smile.
For Basini, having Patriarch Luccese on board was a significant victory. Luccese had previously sided entirely with Hardy, but now he was easily swayed to join Basini.
This was a major win for Basini.
Basini proceeded to contact other families. Many agreed immediately, while others said they'd consider it. In a short period, Basini managed to gather the support of more than 20 families.
"Ha! Hardy never imagined that his brilliant money-making idea would ultimately benefit me, and even divide the families he was trying to rally. He'll be furious when he finds out," Basini thought, feeling pleased with himself.
Finally, Basini called the old godfather.
"Vito, establishing a casino in Cuba is indeed a great idea, but not everyone can pull it off. It requires strong connections. Prime Minister Batista has made it clear to me that he won't approve a second casino. So, Hardy's plan is doomed to fail, hahahaha," Basini laughed triumphantly, his tone dripping with arrogance.
"I've already contacted many families. Would you like to invest as well?" Basini asked, smiling.
The old godfather was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "No, I think I'll pass. Good luck, Basini."
"That's a shame," Basini said, hanging up the phone.
Hardy received a call from the old godfather. "Hardy, Basini has taken your plan and run with it. He has connections with Cuban Prime Minister Batista, who has agreed to build a casino with him. He's made it clear that if you try to invest, your efforts will be blocked. What's your next move?"
Hardy sighed, "I had someone reach out to a minister over there, but it seems we'll have to put this plan on hold for now."
The old godfather, sensing Hardy's disappointment, offered some comfort. "Hardy, business is never a smooth ride. In the decades I've led the family, I've encountered countless challenges, big and small."
"When problems arise, we do our best to solve them. But sometimes, we find that we're unable to change certain situations. When that happens, it's best to let go and focus on other opportunities. There's always more business to be done, and success will come in other areas."
"Thank you, Mr. Vito. I won't dwell on this," Hardy replied.
After hanging up, Hardy smiled to himself.
There was no reason for him to be upset.
This was the trap he had set for Basini all along. Now, Basini had walked right into it, dragging more than 20 gangster families with him. When the Cuban civil war breaks out and their investment is lost, Hardy knew those families would tear Basini apart.
Just as they had done to Siegel.
Within a few days, over 20 families agreed to join Basini in the Cuban casino venture, including some who had invested in the Venetian casino. As Hardy had predicted, these people only cared about profit.
Basini was planning to make a grand move, intending to invest $100 million to build a massive casino complex on the coast, more than 100 kilometers from Havana, creating his own gambling empire.
Now that everything was in motion, Hardy just needed to wait.
In no more than two years, civil unrest would likely break out in Cuba, and their investment would be lost. When that happens, Hardy would be ready to seize the opportunity amid the family turmoil.
Andy came to report on Coca-Cola's situation. Due to the bottle cap redemption issue, Coca-Cola's stock price had plummeted. Andy had shorted the stock beforehand, and after more than a month of strategic trading, the stock price stabilized. Andy then decided to sell.
Andy presented a detailed report to Hardy, who waved it off.
"Just tell me how much we made."
"We earned a total of $5.88 million."
Hardy was pleased with the figure. This is the allure of finance, he thought. Earning the annual profit of a large corporation in such a short time. It's no wonder the Wall Street moguls can control the global economy—they have the financial sector at their fingertips.
In the two months since the group was established, all the companies had made significant progress. Andy provided Hardy with updates on each one: the construction of the two casinos and the headquarters was progressing steadily, and the group had sent supervisors to ensure project quality.
Hardy was confident they wouldn't dare deceive him, knowing that the funds were under his control and that any dishonesty would have severe consequences.
"Boss, here's an update on the Hong Kong situation. The pharmaceutical factory partnership with Mersey Pharmaceuticals is advancing. Victor purchased a local pharmaceutical factory in Kowloon, covering more than 100 acres. It was previously focused on traditional Chinese medicine preparations, but now it's being renovated."
"The Global Times has also established a branch in Hong Kong, having acquired a newspaper in Central with its own office building. Operations have already begun."
"Wells Fargo has sent representatives to Hong Kong and Japan, searching for suitable locations to set up branches. It will take some time, but things are moving forward."
Hardy nodded.
Progress, even if slow, is still progress.
The 'Super Idol' audition show was in full swing, attracting people from all over to Los Angeles.
After more than a month, eight rounds of auditions had taken place, with several contestants selected in each round. It was estimated that the auditions would span 20 rounds, with over 200 contestants.
ABC TV broadcasted the audition show nightly, consistently achieving high ratings, outpacing the competition and becoming the most popular program of the year.
High ratings naturally led to high advertising revenues.
ABC TV secured several high-paying advertisers, including General Motors, Wrigley's gum, Nescafé, and Johnson & Johnson's baby powder, each contributing millions in advertising fees.
The biggest deal came from Marlboro cigarettes. Philip Morris spent $3 million to secure the naming rights for this year's event.
In this era, cigarette advertising was still allowed—it wasn't banned until the 1970s. The tobacco industry was immensely profitable, with massive annual consumption enabling tobacco companies to earn substantial profits.
The 'Super Idol' talent show alone generated tens of millions in advertising revenue, which also boosted ABC TV's overall influence. This increase in ratings also led to higher advertising rates in other time slots. Overall, ABC TV was now earning $30 million annually from advertising.
Even at the audition stage, a few contestants had already gained fame, such as the handsome dreamer Elvis Presley, the everywoman representative and mother contestant Percy Klein, and the sultry siren Marilyn Monroe, who was keeping countless men awake at night.
The company had begun fully packaging Monroe, adopting a pure yet sensual style. She was being taught how to better express her femininity, how to dress, and how to sing.
Originally a dark blonde, Monroe's hair was dyed a light blonde, and her long hair was cut into a short, wavy style. A mole on her face, initially considered a flaw, was embraced by the stylist as a unique feature.
Monroe's new look was stunning—she seemed like a completely different person, more alluring and captivating than ever before. Dressed in beautiful clothes, she exuded an irresistible charm from head to toe.
Edward, who had been keeping a close eye on Monroe, was taken aback by her transformation. He couldn't help but admire Hardy's sharp eye for talent. Monroe, who was an 85 before, was now a solid 95.
She was truly the ultimate seductress.
The kind of woman any man would want to keep in his home.
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