Siegel poured Hardy a glass of red wine and paced slowly through the hall, holding his own glass.
"I have a complete plan and a clear vision. I'm confident that I can succeed. The only mistake I made was teaming up with a bunch of incompetent people."
Siegel's frustration grew as he spoke.
"They doubt my integrity. Damn it, I'm not corrupt. What I want to build is a palace, a city, a future."
"These idiots keep pressuring me to speed up. I still have so much to do, but they're just eager to profit."
Siegel looked at Hardy with a mix of anger and determination.
"Flamingo is set to open next month. As you know, running a casino requires substantial capital. I asked for funds, but they refused to contribute. They said I've spent enough and that I should figure out the rest myself."
"I still have assets. Don't think I'm out of options, Hardy. I heard your film company has been doing quite well?"
"Yes," Hardy replied. "The word-of-mouth and box office for 'Red Dead Redemption' have been excellent. Meyer expects it to hit around 7 million, which means our company stands to make about 2 million."
Siegel nodded, impressed.
"You've done better than I have in that respect. My film company isn't making money; I'm actually putting more into it every year. Hardy, would you be interested in taking over Noah's Ark Film Company?"
Hardy was surprised by Siegel's offer.
"So, you're prepared to sell the film company? And even the house?"
"Yes," Siegel said, "I'm ready to part with both. I'm asking 1 million for both—the film company and the house."
Hardy considered this. "Mr. Siegel, I can arrange a loan from the bank to lend you the money."
Siegel chuckled, "Thank you, Hardy. You're the first person who has proactively offered to help me with a loan. I appreciate it."
"There's no need for that. Once the casino opens, I'll be based in Las Vegas and won't be able to manage the film company. It makes sense to sell it, and this house as well. I'll be living in Las Vegas from now on."
Hardy agreed to the terms, and the deal was set. Siegel returned to Las Vegas with the funds and continued his ambitious project.
Hardy, now the owner of Noah's Ark Film Company and a mansion in Beverly Hills, prepared for the next steps. Despite the acquisition, he faced a significant cash shortage, compounded by his many ongoing ventures.
The following day, Hardy convened a meeting at Noah's Ark Film Company. The senior executives were taken aback to see Hardy leading the meeting instead of Cohen, the company's general manager.
Cohen expressed his surprise. "Assistant Hardy, why was I not informed of this meeting?"
Edward, standing beside Hardy, opened a folder and announced, "It's official: Mr. Siegel has sold Noah's Ark Film Company to Mr. Hardy. As of today, Mr. Hardy is the new owner."
The executives were shocked by the sudden change in leadership. However, considering Hardy's successes and his role in "Red Dead Redemption," the news was received with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Hardy addressed the room. "I've been familiar with Noah's operations for some time, and I believe it's time for some changes."
"I'm announcing that Noah's Ark Film Company will merge with HD Pictures to form a new entity: HD Pictures. Edward will be the general manager of the new company. There will be adjustments in various departments, including a potential split of the agency and music departments into separate entities. Edward will provide more details in the upcoming meeting."
Hardy's vision was clear: to transform HD Pictures into a major Hollywood studio with high-quality films and a robust distribution network.
Cohen, recognizing the shift, decided to resign. Hardy accepted his resignation with little hesitation, marking the end of Cohen's era at Noah's Ark.
The transition began with the relocation of HD Pictures to Noah's facilities. Despite the solid foundation of Noah's Ark—complete with office space, buildings, and qualifications—implementing Hardy's vision required substantial investment.
Lack of money was a persistent issue. Hardy met with Andy, expressing concern over the shortage of funds.
Andy responded with a smile, "It's normal for investors to run short on cash. No one holds onto piles of money; it's all about debt and investment."
"That's true," Hardy said. "But we need a quick influx of cash. What are our options?"
Andy suggested an unconventional strategy. "We could target junk stocks—companies with low value and poor prospects. By manipulating or repackaging them, we could potentially make a profit."
"How does this approach compare to our previous stock ventures?" Hardy asked.
Andy explained, "While Walsh Mining was a high-quality investment, junk stocks offer a different opportunity. Manipulating stock prices or repackaging these companies can yield significant returns, though it involves risks."
Hardy was intrigued. "Let's proceed with this plan. We'll use the 2 million from 'Red Dead Redemption' and start with one million."
Andy agreed and began preparations, including selecting suitable junk companies for investment and recruitment of a financial team.
As Hardy focused on merging Noah's Ark with HD Pictures and managing his various investments, he remained optimistic about navigating the challenges ahead.