America 1982-Chapter 323 - 21: The Vacation is Over_3
Under Tommy’s master plan, he went from a data engineer at Actor Corporation to the CEO of Silicon Valley’s Hppe Human Resources firm, and then to the boss of San Francisco’s Touchstone headhunting company; each step he took was a success. That was precisely why Tommy had called Mark to establish the Pathfinder Company. In Tommy’s eyes, Mark was the most suitable candidate.
"There’s no hope at all in this business. Let’s not even mention those damn Jews who control the entire film industry. Just looking at my own investments, I need to pay for Vanessa’s shape instructor, vocal coach, and dance teacher for her grooming. Hire professional photographers to design her photos, find the best recording studio to record her demo for the record labels, and also secure various audition opportunities for her. And yet, she completely overlooks everything I’ve done for her, accusing me of pushing her into the fire pit! Co-producer of ’L.A. Law’! If sleeping with that forty-two-year-old man could get her a guest role on the latest season of ’L.A. Law,’ you wouldn’t believe how many women in Hollywood would jump at the chance!" Mark angrily chugged a beer, venting his dissatisfaction to Tommy:
"If it wasn’t for her, would I rent out West Lake Recording Studios—one of the top recording studios in all of America—to help her record her demo? Does she think she can just meet Donna Summer who will rescue her? Do you know how much that studio charges? A room not even as big as my bedroom costs seventy US dollars per hour, not including the labor fees! Even Michael Jackson records there! Is that how I’m throwing her into the fire pit?"
"Did we waste the ’L.A. Law’ opportunity?" Tommy waited until Mark finished ranting, then calmly asked.
"Of course, we can’t waste it. If Vanessa refuses, then I just have to give it to another girl signed by the company, Laura Layton. She’s a high school graduate and an advertising model with stunning red hair. If all goes well, that role is hers." Mark also adjusted his emotions, calming himself down, and said to Tommy:
"However, she doesn’t have a chance on variety TV shows because, unlike Vanessa, she doesn’t have any stories worth sharing on television. Even though Laura also drives me crazy, to the point where I’ve become a laughingstock and lots of people in the industry know I’m bisexual, after sleeping with the black valet at the mountain view restaurant, at least she’s willing to seize the opportunity and appreciate my efforts..."
Tommy laughed, "I’m more curious about why you became bisexual."
Mark laughed too, "That’s an unforgettable story. I arranged for Laura to meet with the producer of ’L.A. Law’ in a hotel room and then wait for him there, but the producer called me afterward, saying something came up and he couldn’t make it. When I called Laura, she was so bored waiting that upon hearing the news, she called a gigolo service for the hotel and asked me to foot the bill."
"This chick is really fucking cool!" Tommy exclaimed after hearing Mark’s story.
Mark smiled wryly and nodded, "Yeah, and even cooler, while she was in the heat of battle with the gigolo, the producer happened to finish up and called me on his way to the hotel, saying he was going to meet her. But I was in the restroom at the time, and the phone was with my secretary. When I returned, she told me the news, and I was almost scared to death. I quickly called Laura, only for the gigolo to tell me Laura had drunk a whole bottle of vodka and couldn’t even get out of bed. I was at the mountain view restaurant at that moment and, having no choice, grabbed the valet with the best driving skills to rush to the hotel. I sent the gigolo away, taped Laura’s mouth shut and hid her in the closet, then stripped myself bare and had the valet do the same in the bed. When the producer knocked on the door and saw me with a black man, he was taken aback. I told him Susan thought he wouldn’t be able to make it today, so she went shopping and I didn’t want to waste the room, so I came to relax. The producer nodded understandingly and even considerately offered to keep my secret. The next day, many young male actors without backgrounds were calling me, asking if I had time to chat with them, saying if I were willing to give them a chance, they’d like to... become intimate friends."
"You’ve sacrificed too much for the company, Mark, it’s a touching story," Tommy said with a voice indicating emotion, but his face looked more like he was trying to hold back laughter. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Mark looked at Tommy, "So, when Susan comes over, I can go back to San Francisco and continue being the boss of my little headhunting company?"
"Absolutely not, Mark, don’t fucking think you can slack off. You can hand over the showbiz clients to Susan, but that doesn’t mean you get a holiday. You’ll move into the sports agent business, to expand the territory for this Open Road Talent Agency," Tommy said seriously to Mark, "Those muscular men are easier to deal with than cunning women. Find them before they’re famous, make them trust you, be grateful to you, sign them, and when they make it big, take a cut from their hefty contracts."
"Sports talent agent? That career puts even more demand on insight and judgment. With actors, at least, you can make a base judgment from their past works and appearance, while a sports star might have unlimited glory one day and retire due to an injury the next..." Mark hadn’t expected that upon hearing his plans to return to San Francisco, Tommy would immediately assign him a new direction in work. However, he also expressed his own doubts, as scouting for sports stars proved even more challenging than scouting actors.
Tommy took a drink, "I’ll give you a list, then go meet those people according to the list."
"You have experience scouting sports talent too?" Mark laughed.
Tommy looked off into the distance at Martin and Page, and said, "No, but I think my eye for talent isn’t bad. After all, I discovered you guys."
"Sophia says you’ve recently been so free you could take a vacation—that’s not like you, Tommy."
"Vacation’s over. As soon as I finish this beer with you, I’m going to start getting busy."
"Heading to the station to film a TV show?"
Tommy downed his beer in one gulp, "No, to conquer and annex, to turn BT Television into BT Television Network."
