"Are we filming today, or do you have ti to show around?" Hardy asked Ava.
Ava knew what he had on his mind and smiled mischievously.
"To leave the set, we'd need to ask the director for permission. I wonder if he'd let us go," Ava playfully frowned.
"Asking the director for leave is indeed a big issue. How about we elope instead?" Hardy whispered.
"Elope?" Ava's eyes lit up.
"Yes, elope."
The two sneaked out of the room, cautiously approached the sedan, quietly slid inside, and drove off slowly.
Matthew glanced at Henry. "The boss has left. Should we follow?"
Henry chuckled, lying comfortably in the shade. "The boss is off to et his lover. Are you an idiot?"
"What if there's danger?"
"We may not be able to kill the boss even if we attack him together, so don't worry. By the way, I saw the crew filming a horse battle scene. Why don't we get two horses to follow him."
"Fine by !"
Hardy drove along the wide highway.
The car window was open.
Ava's long hair danced in the wind.
"Where are you taking ?" Ava asked Hardy.
"To a place with a bed."
Dozens of miles away in a small town, they found a xican-style inn—low adobe buildings, immaculately clean, surrounded by flowers.
Separated for months, the man and woman entwined in the room.
...
David Wash drove, calming down only after driving several miles away. Rembering the recent humiliation, feeling the shit on his rear, David Wash gritted his teeth and slamd the steering wheel.
"Damn it, I'll get my revenge."
He used to be a notorious playboy.
After inheriting the family business, though the company's performance was poor, he remained wealthy. When had he ever been forced to endured such humiliation?
Who was that man holding Ava's hand?
He claid to be a producer.
With such capable bodyguards, he was probably no ordinary person. David planned to investigate thoroughly before taking action against him.
But as for that wretched woman, Ava...
She had been indifferent to him from start to finish, ignoring his advances despite his efforts, and she already had a man.
Just a minor celebrity who sang a song.
If not for his desire for sothing fresh, he might have overlooked her.
Suddenly, he rembered past reports about Ava. The journalists still couldn't find her. David speculated they were using so mysterious publicity strategy.
Humph...
If he couldn't have her, he would ruin her.
He shifted uncomfortably, accelerated towards the city, and arrived in Albuquerque an hour later, rushing into a hotel for a shower.
He tossed his clothes in the trash and picked up the phone by the table.
"Hello, Los Angeles Tis? I have news for you regarding Ava Gardner. You've been searching for her, right? I know where she is."
So ti ago, after Scarborough Fair success, interest waned due to poor promotion. Yet people remained curious about the singer, Ava Gardner.
Upon hearing of Ava's whereabouts, the LA Tis imdiately perked up. "If you can provide us with accurate information, we'll pay you $500."
Initially, David Wash only wanted to expose Ava, but upon hearing about the bonus, his greed took over. He provided his na and mailing address.
Then he disclosed Ava's whereabouts.
The next day.
Hardy and Ava returned to the set.
Ava had a scene today, and Hardy sat next to Director Nolan, watching the actors perform, when two reporters entered the set.
Spotting Ava, one reporter raised a cara to snap photos, while the other approached with questions.
"Are you Miss Ava Gardner? We're journalists from the LA Tis stationed in New xico. We finally found you! Since you released 'Scarborough Fair,' you've garnered a lot of attention, but we couldn't trace your whereabouts."
She was sowhat at a loss.
It was her first interview.
Director Nolan intervened. "We're filming. Please don't disturb the actors. And how did you find this place?"
Previously, Hardy had inford Nolan that Ava's singing was a promotional strategy, intending to reveal her identity before the film's release to garner attention. Unexpectedly, the reporters found her first.
One reporter quickly explained, "We received a tip-off about Ava's location."
Hardy stayed silent.
Hearing this, he pondered and asked, "Was this news from yesterday?"
"Yes, indeed, it was yesterday. That's why we rushed here today, hoping Miss Ava would grant us an exclusive interview."
"Can you disclose who tipped you off?"
"Sorry, our source's identity is confidential," the reporter replied.
Though Hardy had already guessed who it was, Given the secrecy until yesterday, it had to be that wealthy young man.
All eyes turned to Hardy—he was the backbone here.
After a mont's thought, Hardy decided. "Pause filming. Ava will conduct the interview first."
The crew stopped working and rested.
Hardy pulled Ava aside, explaining she could answer most questions but keep the songwriter's identity confidential for now.
During the interview, Ava remained composed, answering questions tactfully. When asked about the songwriter, she smiled and said it was confidential.
While answering, she also promoted her new film.
The reporters learned the film was titled "The Wild Bounty Hunter."
The photographer took copious photos of Ava, only stopping after using two rolls of film. The interview was fruitful, and the reporters left happily.
Watching them leave, Hardy instructed Henry, "Go to town and contact Lancer. Have him investigate David Wash thoroughly."
"Got it, boss."
Though David Wash's actions hadn't hard him, Hardy still felt offended. Who knew if Wash would cause more trouble in the future?
The next day.
Henry returned from town.
"Boss, David Wash's background is clear. His father owned a mining company nad Wash Mining, valued at around $3 million. When David's father died years ago, he inherited the company. Even under his father's managent, the company faced difficulties and sold many shares. David still holds 34% of the company's shares."
"The mining company has deteriorated since David took over, with stock plumting to $0.31 per share, considered junk stock. During a shareholder eting, many wanted David to step down as chairman. He refused, asking for two more years to stabilize the shareholders' faith.
There's speculation about extending operations to neighboring New xico, near the San Andreas Mountains, for a big vein of minerals—though nothing significant has been found."
"David Wash is an incompetent and arrogant playboy."
"Boss, if you want, I can deal with him now," Matthew suggested.
Hardy shook his head.
"Matthew, we're legitimate businessn. We can't resort to violence. I have a better plan for dealing with him."
"What plan?" Henry asked curiously.
"Do you know how to torture a listed company?" Hardy asked both.
Both shook their heads.
Hardy knew many ways to tornt a listed company.
Even in the 21st century, with extensive regulations, there are still nurous thods to manipulate a listed company.
For instance, causing an uproar, evaporating billions, or manipulating brakes to cause a massive loss.
The famous football player C7 Rolando once caused Coca-Cola a missive loses of billions just by taking their drink off from his table and replacing it with a bottle of water.
Hardy bid farewell to Ava, feeling nostalgic. They spent another day at the inn before Hardy drove back to Los Angeles.
"Did you investigate Wash Mining's shareholders?" Just back, Hardy asked Lancer.
Yesterday, while with Ava, Hardy asked Lancer to gather data.
"It's clear," Lancer said, handing over a detailed shareholder list.
Wash Mining's total market value was $1.83 million, with 35% of shares circulating, priced at $0.30, down another cent from Hardy's inquiry.
"Lancer, I rember the chief editor of the LA Financial Post. Do we have his photos?" Hardy inquired.
"Yes, we have his photos."
"It's ti to activate him."
Over these two days, Hardy purchased a defunct mining company, registering it under 'HD Mining.'
The company's scope included mining developnt, processing, sales, and minerals like gold, iron, coal, copper, aluminum, nickel, and magnesium.
anwhile, he opened over 40 accounts through interdiaries at brokerage firms, depositing $4,000 to $6,000 each, shorting Wash Mining.
Preparations were complete.
One early morning, the LA Financial Post published an analytical article on page two:
"Geologist Michael De Guzman's Copper Deposit Extension Theory will doom mining companies."
"In mid-1945, geologist Michael De Guzman published 'Rocky Mountain Ore Deposit Sedint Extension Theory.' De Guzman claid Arizona harbors the US's largest copper deposits, and New xico, on the other side, should possess comparable reserves."
Because of this theory, many mining companies have purchased land in New xico to look for mineral veins. However, in the past six months, they have not found any, not even an ordinary copper mines—let alone massive veins
"Today, with no quality copper ore found, the industry's believed De Guzman theory which is only based on hypotheses and conjectures is flawed. The future mining prospects of the companies that bought lands in new xico such as San Francisco's Wash Mining who purchased 8,000 acres seems bleak."
This report imdiately drew intense attention to mining stocks.
Stocks of companies buying land in New xico dropped, especially Wash Mining, nad in the article, leading to the plunge.
The US stock market is the biggest, strongest, and most rciless in the world, with no price limits on the increase or decrease.
Wash Mining was already junk stock, lacking performance for years, and losing public trust. Now, it plumted from $0.31 to $0.16 per share, a 48% decrease.
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