Chapter 120: The Opening of the Flamingo

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The convoy sped along the highway towards Las Vegas. Richard was seated in the front passenger seat, while Hardy and Ava relaxed in the back. Behind them, four elite security personnel from Hardy's company followed closely in another vehicle.

It was December 23rd, the day before Christmas Eve, and the Flamingo Casino was set to open the next day. Siegel had planned a grand party to mark the casino's opening, using Christmas Eve as the perfect occasion to attract guests and kick off the gambling festivities.

Given his close relationship with Siegel, Hardy decided to arrive in Las Vegas a day early.

As they approached the city, the convoy turned into the Flamingo Hotel's parking lot. From a distance, Hardy could see a towering neon sign next to the more-than-ten-story building, glowing brightly in the night.

A staff member greeted them as they stepped out of the car. "Where is Mr. Siegel?" Hardy asked.

"Mr. Siegel is in the lobby, receiving guests," the staff member replied.

Leaving the others behind, Hardy entered the lobby with Ava and Richard. The lobby was vast and lavishly decorated—no wonder Siegel had spent so much money.

The room was already bustling with people, and Hardy, with his sharp memory, recognized several familiar faces. These were individuals from the five major families whom he had met at the old godfather's house. They had invested in the Flamingo Casino and were now here as shareholders.

Among them was a young man in his twenties, sitting in a prominent position. As he glanced at Hardy, his gaze quickly shifted to Ava, lingering on her face with a brazen lack of restraint.

Seeing Hardy, Siegel stood up with a smile. He walked over, gave Hardy a hug, and then turned his attention to Ava.

"Miss Ava, you look stunning. Your singing is equally mesmerizing. I'm a big fan of your 'Scarborough Fair.' I can't wait for your next release," Siegel said warmly.

"The company is already recording an album for me. It won't be long before it's out," Ava responded with a smile.

"That's fantastic! I'll be sure to listen," Siegel said, before leading them towards the crowd. He gestured to the family bosses and introduced them with a grin, "Hardy, let me introduce you to Kolob, the head of the Stalach family, and Tommy Galliano, the second-in-command of the Basini family."

Then, pointing to the young man, he added, "And this is Bruno, the son of Philip, the head of the Tatakilia family."

Turning to the others, Siegel said, "You've all been asking who the other shareholder is. Allow me to formally introduce him—Jon Hardy. He now owns 18% of the Flamingo Casino."

The expressions of the gathered men shifted as they looked at Hardy. He appeared to be in his twenties, quite young, yet he was already so wealthy. Each of them had invested $800,000, securing just 13% of the shares, but Hardy's stake was even larger. They wondered how much he had invested and whether he understood the risks of venturing into the gambling business, which was firmly within the gang's domain.

Tommy Galliano suddenly remembered something and asked, "Mr. Hardy, is HD Security your company?"

Hardy, smiling, nodded, "Yes, I founded HD Security."

HD Security had grown rapidly, now employing over a thousand people and extending its business to San Francisco. It was the largest security company on the West Coast, with the legal right to carry firearms. The realization that Hardy owned a security company made the others more cautious; they could no longer dismiss him.

However, Bruno, his gaze now somewhat hostile, asked, "Mr. Hardy, do you also own HD Pictures?"

Hardy looked at Bruno, noticing his provocative tone. "Yes, HD Pictures is mine," he replied.

Bruno sneered, "MGM was filming a movie in New York, and they hurt some of my men. Later, the Corleone family got involved. I had wondered how Meyer at MGM managed it, but then I discovered HD Pictures was involved, and that you, Mr. Hardy, were working with Mike Corleone. You even opened a TV factory together. So it was you who contacted the Corleone family?"

Bruno's tone revealed his displeasure. A phone call from the Corleone family had stopped him from further extorting MGM, costing him tens of thousands of dollars, and he resented Hardy for it—especially as Hardy seemed to be more successful and had a more beautiful woman by his side.

Hardy met Bruno's gaze and replied calmly, "So you're the one behind that film company. Yes, it was I who reached out to Mr. Vito. I appreciate your cooperation."

Bruno detected the sarcasm in Hardy's words and grew even more resentful.

The other family leaders, however, didn't dwell on Bruno's grudge. Tommy Galliano, with a smile, asked, "Mr. Hardy, I've heard the TV factory is expanding, with an investment of tens of millions, aiming to produce 400,000 TVs annually. I was wondering if we could invest? We'd like to buy some shares in the TV company."

For gangsters, the primary goal was always to make money. They were willing to get involved in any profitable venture.

This was the first time Siegel had heard of Hardy and Mike investing tens of millions to build a factory, and it took him by surprise. He had been optimistic about Hardy from the beginning, but he hadn't expected him to develop so quickly, creating such a large industry in such a short time.

"The bank loan is sufficient for now, so we're not accepting any additional investment," Hardy said, still smiling. "But when the TVs are ready, Mr. Tommy, you can buy one to support our business."

Tommy's expression darkened. Being turned down so bluntly made him a bit unhappy.

Hardy observed Tommy's reaction but remained unfazed. If it were anyone else, they might have been concerned about refusing the mafia. But Hardy was not just any businessman; he was deeply involved in the underworld himself. His partner was Mike Corleone, a member of the powerful Corleone family. He had no reason to fear them.

In the legal world, Hardy was clean. In the underworld, he was darker than any of them.

Uninterested in further conversation with these shady mafiosos, Hardy excused himself from Siegel and took Ava on a tour of the Flamingo. As a major shareholder, he wanted to understand the business thoroughly.

The casino was grandly set up. Hundreds of slot machines created an impressive sight, and the gaming tables stretched across the floor in various configurations. Staff were still cleaning in preparation for tomorrow's guests.

The lounge, bar, and restaurant were also ready to welcome people. When they reached the hotel, Hardy noticed the luxurious decor, easily meeting the standards of a five-star establishment.

But apart from these basic facilities, many of the other entertainment projects Siegel had envisioned were still incomplete. In other words, people coming to the Flamingo could only gamble.

Hardy sighed. The project had been too rushed. If the mafia families had supported Siegel fully, the casino would have had a greater chance of success.

The next day, Christmas Eve, the sky over Las Vegas was overcast. The temperature had dropped to around five or six degrees Celsius.

Siegel, looking worried, remarked to Virginia, the woman by his side, "I've arranged for a plane to pick up guests from Los Angeles. I hope the weather won't cause any problems."

By noon, guests began to arrive, most of them traveling by car since Los Angeles was just a four-hour drive away.

Among the arrivals were lawyers, accountants, and several celebrities. Hardy recognized many of them, including MGM boss Meyer and the head of Warner Bros. Hardy greeted them and chatted with them briefly.

By now, Hardy's status in the industry was on par with Meyer and Warner Bros. Though HD Pictures was still smaller than the major studios, Hardy's overall financial strength was formidable.

Meyer and Hardy stood beneath a tree, holding wine glasses as they discussed the movie industry.

"I'm planning to have George Cukor direct *The World*," Meyer said. "He directed *Gaslight* four years ago, which won the Oscar for Best Picture. His style is well-suited for *The World*."

"And for *Singin' in the Rain,* I intend to hire Stanley Donen. He's directed musicals before and has plenty of experience. Hardy, do you have any objections to these choices?"

Hardy was momentarily surprised. Stanley Donen, if he recalled correctly, was indeed the director of *Singin' in the Rain* in another world.

"I have no objections. I trust MGM's expertise," Hardy replied with a smile.

Meyer smiled back. "I bought a copy of *Playboy,* Hardy. I must say, you have a keen eye. This magazine is going to be a hit. It's a brilliant business venture."

"Just a small business," Hardy said modestly.

"Small business? The stock price of *Playboy* has already risen to $6, and you own all the shares. You're looking at a profit of over $5 million," Meyer said, full of envy. Even MGM, with all its might, couldn't make that kind of money in a year.

They then discussed *Red Dead Redemption.* The film's box office had settled at $7.86 million, securing the top spot for the year. However, the money wouldn't be fully distributed until next year, and it might take one or two years to collect

 all the earnings.

Hardy also had another source of income—the documentary *Los Angeles Bank Robbery,* which had grossed over $2 million at the box office.

"Mr. Meyer, how do you think *Red Dead Redemption* will fare in the Golden Globes and the Oscars?" Hardy asked.

Meyer smiled. "There's been a lot of competition this year, but I think *Red Dead Redemption* has a strong chance in the Golden Globe Awards for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Song."

"And the Oscars?" Hardy pressed.

"Haven't you heard? The Golden Globes are often a good indicator of the Oscars."

By late afternoon, three to four hundred guests had arrived, most of them influential figures. But the turnout was still short of Siegel's expectations. He was particularly anxious about the flights he had arranged. Among those passengers were high-profile guests, including California lawmakers and officials, who were to be the stars of his opening ceremony.

Siegel had an extensive network and knew many prominent people, but the weather wasn't on his side. At around 3 or 4 PM, heavy rain began to fall over Las Vegas—a rare occurrence in the arid desert region.

Dark clouds loomed overhead, occasionally illuminated by flashes of lightning. Siegel stood by the window, his face dark with worry.

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