Chapter 29: Have You Ever Thought of Being the Boss Yourself?

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"Tomorrow, I have something to take care of, so I won't be around. Keep things running smoothly," Hardy said as he prepared to leave.

Just as he reached the door, Nick came out.

"Boss, I need to tell you something," Nick said.

"What is it?" Hardy asked.

Nick pulled out a small, elegant box from his pocket with the Rolex label engraved on it. "Boss, you sold your watch to help pay for my wife's treatment. Today, I passed by a Rolex store, saw a new model, and decided to buy one for you."

Hardy opened the box, pleasantly surprised. Inside was a delicate gold watch, slightly different from the one he had sold but even more beautiful.

"I wanted to get one just like your previous model, but the clerk said it was out of stock. This is a newly launched second-generation gold watch, so I picked this one," Nick explained.

Hardy looked at the watch for a moment, then smiled at Nick. "Thank you, Nick. I appreciate this. How's your wife doing?"

Nick grinned. "She's doing much better. The doctor prescribed penicillin and other medications. She hardly coughs at night now and is almost back to normal. Dr. Murphy said another month of treatment should be enough."

"That's great news," Hardy said with genuine relief.

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The next day, Hardy visited Bill in the hospital. Bill was recovering well and could get out of bed. Seeing Hardy, he whispered, "I saw in the papers that the Spanish gang's casino got robbed. They say the loss was over $200,000. Do you know who did it, Jon?"

"We did," Hardy replied.

Bill's jaw dropped, and a look of regret crossed his face.

"If I weren't stuck in here, I could have made a lot of money with you. What a shame."

"Then get better soon. And don't spend all your time thinking about women—you've put on weight in the last two months!" Hardy teased.

"Hehehe," Bill chuckled sheepishly. "But honestly, these last two months haven't been too bad."

Leaving Bill's room, Hardy stopped by to visit Nick's wife, bringing her a bouquet of flowers. Jenny was incredibly grateful. After all, Hardy was the one who had brought them to Los Angeles, giving them a fresh start and saving Jenny's life.

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That afternoon, Hardy put on his new clothes: a suit, shirt, tie, belt, leather shoes, and finally, a coat. He looked at himself in the mirror, feeling confident and imposing.

As dusk fell, he drove his new car to Marisa's house and honked the horn twice.

"Jon, I'll be right down," Marisa called out from her window.

When she emerged in her evening gown, Hardy's eyes lit up. "Marisa, you look stunning tonight."

She smiled sweetly. "I've been getting ready since the morning."

The two of them drove to Siegel's Beverly Manor. On the way, Marisa looked at Hardy. "Jon, I'm a little nervous."

Hardy reached over and gently stroked her hair. "No need to be nervous. You'll be the most beautiful woman at the party."

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The manor was bathed in light, with luxury cars parked in the courtyard and guests dressed in their finest attire. Marisa stepped out of the car and nervously adjusted her dress. The confidence Hardy had instilled in her during the drive seemed to vanish.

Hardy patted her hand reassuringly and smiled. "You'll be fine."

The manor's interior was just as impressive, with a marble pool in the center reflecting the sapphire-blue sky. "Jon, this place is incredible," Marisa said, awe in her voice.

As they walked into the hall, Hardy noticed the opulent decorations, clearly done up for the party. The room was filled with people, some chatting in small groups, others dancing to the music. Everyone seemed relaxed and happy.

The scene reminded Hardy of a movie he had seen, "The Great Gatsby." Siegel's party was reminiscent of the lavish gatherings thrown by Gatsby, complete with Hollywood's elite.

In the corner of the hall, Hardy finally spotted Siegel.

Siegel noticed Hardy as well and excused himself from his group to greet him. "Jon, welcome to my party."

"Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Siegel," Hardy replied.

Siegel turned to Marisa. "And this must be your companion. May I ask your name?"

"Marisa," she said with a polite nod.

"Miss Marisa, you look lovely tonight," Siegel complimented her before turning back to Hardy. "There are a lot of Hollywood stars here tonight. Mingle, make some friends. I'll find you later for a private chat."

Hardy nodded. He had a feeling Siegel had more in mind than just a simple party invitation.

Taking Marisa to the table, he handed her a glass of wine. She suddenly grabbed his arm, her voice filled with excitement. "Jon, guess who I just saw?"

"Who?" Hardy asked, amused by her enthusiasm.

"Clark Gable! The star of 'Gone with the Wind'! He's my idol," she whispered excitedly, her eyes wide with admiration.

Hardy followed her gaze and spotted the handsome middle-aged man with the signature mustache. Clark Gable, now in his forties, still exuded the charm and confidence that had made him a Hollywood icon.

Marisa's excitement continued as she spotted more stars. "Jon, look! It's Gloria Garson! She won Best Actress for 'The Valorous House.' She's so beautiful."

"Wow, there's Cary Grant! He was nominated for an Oscar."

"And over there, that's Olivia de Havilland! She played Melanie in 'Gone with the Wind.'"

Everywhere she looked, Marisa saw stars she had only ever dreamed of meeting. For a young woman with Hollywood aspirations, this was a night to remember.

After mingling for a while and dancing a few times, a young man in a waiter's suit approached Hardy. "Mr. Hardy, Mr. Siegel requests your presence on the second-floor balcony."

Hardy nodded and turned to Marisa. "Enjoy yourself. I'll be back soon."

"Don't worry about me," Marisa assured him.

Hardy made his way to the balcony, where Siegel stood by the marble railing, looking out over the estate.

"Jon, what do you think of this place?" Siegel asked, handing Hardy a cigar.

"It's very luxurious," Hardy replied as he lit the cigar.

"Do you like this kind of life?" Siegel asked, his tone serious.

Hardy paused before answering. "Yes, I do."

Siegel laughed. "Good, because no one dislikes this kind of life. But it takes money and power to sustain it. Tell me, Jon, have you ever thought of being the boss yourself?"

Hardy looked out over the estate, contemplating the question. Then, he turned to Siegel and gave a firm answer. "Yes, I have."

Siegel grinned. "I like a man with ambition. But I'm not just asking for small talk. I'm looking for someone to take charge of certain things for me. I think you might be the right man for the job."

Hardy met Siegel's gaze, understanding the gravity of what was being offered. "I'm interested. Tell me more."

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