Chapter 193: Assistant to the President

The old godfather had made it clear: Tom was to support Hardy no matter what decisions were made. Therefore, Tom was the first to stand up and agree to Hardy's terms.

The patriarch of the Lucesse family also stood up. "Mr. Hardy, I am willing to purchase 5% of the shares."

He had a clear strategy. His economists had analyzed Hardy's operations and were impressed by the potential for significant profits. They saw Hardy's methods as a masterstroke, capable of generating hundreds of millions of dollars in just two years. This belief in Hardy's investment acumen led to his prompt agreement.

Soon after, several other family heads expressed their willingness to invest. However, more than ten families chose to deliberate further, assessing how much they could afford to invest. After all, not every family had ample cash on hand.

Hardy was patient, taking these individuals to dinner. By the afternoon, several patriarchs returned to finalize their decisions. Some families bought 4% or 3%, while one family purchased only 2%, revealing their financial constraints.

One family, however, did not make contact with Hardy. It was unclear whether their hesitation was due to financial concerns or if they were assessing the situation on behalf of the Basini family.

Hardy remained unperturbed.

In the end, the new casino's shares were distributed as follows: 56% had been sold. Hardy retained 34% of the shares, giving him the necessary veto power. With a management agreement in place, he was well-positioned to maintain control, even with a minority share.

The deal was finalized with the mafia patriarchs at the hotel, marking the beginning of a major investment project. The remaining investment funds would be collected over the next one or two months, with shareholders responsible for overseeing the construction and reporting on fund usage.

The patriarchs were reassured by Hardy's approach. They were wary of potential mismanagement, as seen with Siegel's overspending. Hardy's assurance of regular updates and oversight helped ease their concerns.

After the meetings, Hardy returned to Los Angeles, eager to prepare for a speech.

As part of his agreement with Meyer, Hardy was to run for chairman of the actors' union. With the election approaching, Hardy was among the candidates, though his campaign had been relatively quiet.

The actors' union boasted around 40,000 members, including actors, reporters, radio personalities, recording artists, singers, and voice actors. The union's influence was significant, with stars often swaying presidential elections through their endorsements. Thus, becoming the chairman would mean wielding substantial power.

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Hardy received a call from Meyer. "Hadi, I heard you and others are investing $100 million in a new casino. What's going on?"

"That's correct."

"Didn't you mention a new casino project with us?" Meyer asked, concerned.

"Indeed, but our new casino doesn't conflict with our plans together. I'm awaiting your update," Hardy responded.

"Doesn't it conflict? Investing $100 million in a large casino could lead to competition once it's finished," Meyer said.

"Mr. Meyer, Las Vegas is a massive gold mine. One person cannot fully exploit it. The more we develop this gold mine, the more tourists we attract," Hardy explained. 

"Think of the cluster effect: building more casinos will make Las Vegas the first choice for tourists. Even if ten casinos like this one are built, it won't saturate the market. The key is to attract visitors, much like promoting a movie before its release."

"And there's another reason for this new casino. The mafia families I'm working with, which make up over half of the Mafia committee, have been hurt by the success of Hardy Hotel. They've developed a grudge. If I build another casino, they might not sit idly by."

Meyer quickly grasped the situation. If the mafia families were pushed into a corner and united, they could potentially undermine Hardy's casino.

"Building a new luxury casino alongside them will not only reduce the risk but also boost Las Vegas's appeal. Does this decision seem wrong to you?" Hardy asked.

"No, it seems right. The mafia's power is considerable, and your strategy makes sense," Meyer agreed.

"Then we continue with our investment?" Meyer asked.

"Absolutely. I've already secured the land," Hardy replied.

Hardy had acquired over 20,000 acres of land in Las Vegas over several months. The land he was using for the Venetian Hotel was among the most valuable in the area.

"For the hotel, the land will come from my own holdings. It won't be cheap," Hardy said.

"For the joint project, I had initially suggested $20 million, but given the circumstances, we might need to increase it," Meyer suggested.

"Set it at $50 million," Hardy proposed.

"I'll discuss it with my partners," Meyer said.

"I'll wait for your update."

After ending the call, Hardy picked up his speech for the next evening's "Elaine Tonight Show," where he would campaign for the chairman position of the Screen Actors Guild. This appearance marked his first major public engagement.

At the studio the following evening, Hardy was greeted by numerous Hollywood stars, directors, screenwriters, and producers. As the owner of a major Hollywood studio and a top broadcasting company, Hardy was here to seek their support for his candidacy.

Among the crowd, Hardy spotted Li Gen, who had recently joined Hardy's brokerage and was working on post-production for a film. Hardy approached Li Gen, who was now his contracted actor.

"How's the film going?" Hardy asked.

"Everything's fine," Li Gen replied.

"Are you interested in a role with the actors' union? If I become chairman, you could be my assistant," Hardy offered.

Li Gen was thrilled. "Of course, Mr. Hardy."

"Great. You're officially my assistant for the union election," Hardy confirmed.

Li Gen's future trajectory—from union assistant to president—demonstrated his capability and was a testament to Hardy's strategic planning.