What is Monroe doing?
She was attending an acting class, aware of her lack of acting skills. To improve, Monroe sought help from the company and received a certificate of attendance from the Performance Department at Southern California University.
The professor lectured earnestly, and Monroe took notes just as seriously. Originally a country girl, she had long yearned for such a university experience. Now that her dream had come true, she was thrilled.
Monroe was a model student, but her presence attracted a lot of attention, particularly from male students. As the champion of "Super Idol" and America's sweetheart, she was admired by many. Her appearance in the classroom was a significant event for the students.
As class ended, Monroe packed up her things and left the classroom. The moment she stepped outside, she was surrounded by a crowd of admirers.
"Miss Monroe, could you please sign this for me?"
"Hello Miss Monroe, my name is Johnny. We've formed a small campus performance team. Would you be interested in joining us?"
"Miss Monroe…"
The crowd continued to chatter around her. Monroe smiled politely but didn't say much. Suddenly, she noticed a few cars parked on the road. The window of the middle car rolled down, and she saw someone she missed.
"Excuse me."
Monroe quickly descended the steps, her high heels clicking as she hurried over to the convoy. She got into the car, threw herself into the arms of a man, and the vehicle slowly drove away.
Many men watching felt a pang of envy. Monroe seemed unattainable, being the partner of Hardy, the big boss of the Hardy Group. They felt a vast gap between themselves and Hardy.
That evening, Monroe and Hardy returned to her apartment. Unlike Hardy Manor, where the women of Hardy typically resided, Monroe had her own place. Hardy had planned to buy her a small villa in Beverly Hills, but the right property wasn't available yet. For now, Monroe lived in a luxurious, 200-square-meter apartment in the heart of Hollywood.
As they entered the apartment, Monroe noticed a large box by the door and looked at Hardy with curiosity.
"It's a present for you."
"What is it?"
"Just open it and see."
Inside the box was a large Barbie doll, about 60 centimeters tall, with white blonde hair and dressed in a red, shiny gown—just like the one Monroe wore when she won "Super Idol."
"Is this... me?"
Monroe was delighted.
"Soon, there will be a 'Princess Monroe' Barbie. Do you like it?" Hardy asked.
"I love it! I love it so much!"
Monroe hugged the doll and gave Hardy a passionate kiss. Then she nestled in his arms, playing with the Barbie doll. Few girls could resist the allure of Barbie dolls.
The company had developed larger dolls over the past two years, with the biggest ones being over 60 centimeters tall. Made with a steel frame and soft rubber, their limbs were movable and more realistic than previous models. Naturally, these luxury dolls came with a hefty price tag, costing over a hundred dollars each.
Since Monroe was Hardy's woman, having a custom Barbie doll made sense. Hardy had arranged for the sample to be prepared and sent to him before his trip to the UK.
"You wait here."
Monroe dashed into the room and soon emerged wearing a red evening gown—the same dress she wore on "Super Idol." She looked like a living version of her Barbie doll.
With crystal high heels on, Monroe approached Hardy and whispered softly into his ear.
"Mr. Hardy, I am your Barbie tonight."
As her fingers traced down his chest, Hardy was clearly captivated.
The following day, Hardy arrived at the group headquarters to meet with Andy. Andy reported that the group's development was progressing well, with each company's president performing their duties effectively. Hardy had no reason to worry.
Henry and Lanster's recommended staff had been located. Hardy reviewed the files, which included color photos of the individuals.
- Brian Mills, the head of Hong Kong HD Security Company recommended by Lanster, appeared calm in his thirties.
- John Wick, the director of Hong Kong's intelligence department recommended by Henry, was a tall, thin man with a melancholy demeanor.
- Duncan Vizra, the director of the Japanese intelligence department, was in his forties with a cold gaze. His understanding of Japanese was a key factor in Henry's recommendation.
Upon reviewing their profiles, Hardy chuckled at the coincidence of collecting three "untouchable" figures.
"Alright, they're the ones. Have them bring their teams and come to Hong Kong with me," Hardy instructed.
On January 27, Hardy prepared to depart for Hong Kong. He met with Brian Mills, John Wick, and Duncan Vizra, who each brought five team members.
Hardy addressed Brian and John: "In Hong Kong, you'll need to establish a security branch and intelligence organization. There's a lot of work ahead."
"We'll fulfill the boss's request," Brian Mills assured.
Turning to Duncan Vizra, Hardy said: "You'll be working in Japan. You can get help from the Global Times to settle in, but you'll need to pioneer your own path."
"Are there any legal restrictions on actions in Japan?" Duncan asked.
Hardy smiled.
"In Japan, you have more freedom. Just be careful and let me know if you're in trouble. I'll do my best to assist," Hardy replied.
Duncan appreciated the consideration.
As they flew to Hawaii for a brief stopover before heading to Japan, Hardy discussed plans with the three men. He outlined their roles and expectations for their work in the eastern market.
Duncan thought about the scope of Hardy's business ventures, which included casinos, gangs, security companies, media outlets, banks, movie companies, and more. It was a vast and complex network.
During the flight, Hardy conversed with each of them. He asked Brian Mills about his family.
"Are you married with children?" Hardy inquired.
"Yes, boss. I have a daughter," Brian replied, showing a photo of his beautiful eight-year-old girl.
"She's lovely. If you ever want her to try acting, I can have Edward arrange it," Hardy offered.
Brian appreciated the gesture but declined, wanting his daughter to have a normal life.
Hardy then asked John Wick about his personal life.
"Do you have any children?" Hardy asked.
"No," John replied, his tone somber. He recounted the tragic loss of his girlfriend and unborn child years ago and his subsequent time in the army.
Hardy sympathized and patted John on the shoulder. "I'll get you a dog when we're done here."
Finally, Hardy asked Duncan Vizra about his future plans.
"I'd like to buy a ranch and live out my retirement fishing and raising chickens," Duncan said.
Hardy promised that Duncan's pension would be secure and urged him to come to him directly if there were any issues.
As the plane landed in Japan, Hardy's team prepared to continue their journey to Hong Kong. Duncan, with his five team members and $100,000 in activity funds, was ready to start his work.
He planned to recruit local staff and control local gangs to ease his integration into the Japanese market. Inspired by Hardy's own beginnings with gangs, Duncan was set to begin with the local gangsters.
With the resources and freedom given to him, Duncan felt like a dragon ready to soar in a new domain.