A modern man in 1930’s Americas

Charlie Lee's Expanding Ventures

At noon, Charlie Lee appeared in front of the Subway store next to the First Bank in Chicago.

"Mr. Lee, do you enjoy this kind of food too?" The reporters stationed at the entrance immediately swarmed toward him.

"Of course, who wouldn't enjoy healthy and fast food?" Charlie replied with a bright smile, exuding his characteristic charm.

Across the city, in front of the Chicago Police Department, Grant—often commended for maintaining the city's stability and widely respected—took a big bite of his hot dog and smiled.

"This is amazing food," Grant remarked, giving a hearty thumbs-up of approval.

Meanwhile, White and Yevich, enjoying a quick lunch, purchased a hot dog and coffee from the Subway store opposite the Duplex building. They carried their food in a green paper bag and drove off, but not before receiving a gift from Charlie Lee. The Subway outlet, which was soon to be renovated, came with a special offer—no franchise fee—provided they made one phone call to finalize the arrangement under their names.

Elsewhere, Garbo and Hepburn were spotted arm in arm in front of the store, indulging in chicken tortillas amidst the frenzy of fans and journalists snapping photos.

"This is delicious! I absolutely love it," Hepburn exclaimed, savoring the tortilla. Garbo, ever the reserved figure, simply nodded in agreement.

By that afternoon, the Subway store located opposite the Duplex building was swarmed with enthusiastic fans. Everyone wanted to experience the chicken tortillas that Garbo herself had praised.

Out of gratitude for Charlie Lee's unwavering support, a woman prepared a fully loaded pancake and delivered it to his residence in Area 22. Unfortunately, Charlie wasn't home, and the pancake ended up being devoured by his loyal dog and three young helpers.

POMA Hotel, Senior VIP Suite

"Your fans are absolutely crazy," Garbo remarked, glancing at Charlie with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Three days had passed since the opening of the Subway store, yet it continued to attract hundreds of fans daily, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary figures or taste the now-famous chicken rolls.

Among these fans was a teenager from Seattle, Washington. The pimply youth had traveled over 4,000 kilometers across five states over three days, just to try the chicken tortillas.

But his reaction was unexpected. One bite into the tortilla and tears streamed down his face.

"Why is it sour? I hate chicken rolls! I hate everything Chinese!" he cried, his misery palpable.

Garbo, reading the newspaper and observing her own overwhelming fan following, remarked, "They want the queen on the screen, not me."

"Why not stay in Chicago for a few more days?" Charlie suggested, wrapping his arm around her waist with a teasing smile. "Your new film hasn't started production yet."

Garbo shot him a cold glance but said nothing, her actions suggesting she had already made up her mind.

"Fine," Charlie conceded. "I'll have Amos finalize your MGM contract. No need to worry about the compensation—DreamWorks will welcome you anytime."

Though he tried to add a personal touch, their interaction was purely transactional. Charlie couldn't help but think, 'This is just how it works between us—mutual benefits and clear boundaries.'

As Garbo made no further remarks, Charlie set aside any misplaced guilt. He reflected that any hint of emotional attachment between them was purely his imagination.

"Py trading is probably the best way to approach this," he muttered to himself, recalling a more casual and carefree time spent with Shirley.

"Jesse, arrange a car to take Miss Garbo to the airport," Charlie instructed. After spending three days with her, it was time to return to work.

After bidding farewell to Garbo and Hepburn, Charlie asked his driver to take him to pick up West. His destination: Li's Real Estate Services and Tourism Company, where five key executives had arrived the previous evening.

"How's my estate coming along?" West asked the moment he stepped into the car, his excitement barely contained.

Charlie reassured him with a grin, "It'll be ready by mid-year. Don't worry."

West, however, was not so easily placated. "Make sure you bring in two more men for the project."

"Done," Charlie replied casually, as though arranging for manpower was as simple as pouring a cup of coffee.

Upon entering the building, Charlie saw Tia approaching him with documents in hand.

"Boss, everything is ready," Tia reported briskly.

Charlie gestured toward West. "This is West, the future CEO of Lee's Real Estate. And this," he added, pointing to Tia, "is one of my secretaries, Tia."

West chuckled slyly. "One of them, huh?"

Charlie smirked. "Want me to hire ten secretaries for you? Think you could handle them?"

"Cheeky little bastard…" West muttered, clutching his chest in mock indignation.

Inside the reception hall, a dozen sofas were arranged in a circle. Five middle-aged men stood as Charlie and West entered.

"Boss!" they greeted him in unison, their faces familiar from countless newspaper articles.

Charlie motioned for them to sit. Taking the documents from Tia, he began reviewing the detailed profiles of the five men:

1. Adolf Hill: A former wealthy rancher from Texas, known for supplying premium beef to high-end restaurants before bankruptcy.

2. Papo Andrew: Once a celebrated vineyard owner in California, his vineyard was destroyed during Prohibition, leaving him destitute.

3. Old Ritchie: A former owner of a copper mining company in Arizona, forced into bankruptcy by larger competitors during the Great Depression.

4. Adal Drummond: An Irishman and former owner of a salmon processing plant in Alaska.

5. Amon Field: A rancher from Ohio, another victim of stock speculation leading to financial ruin.

Charlie closed the file and glanced at the diverse group.

"You've been selected for your expertise and resilience. Let's see how well you work under West's leadership," he said, formally appointing West as CEO of Lee's Real Estate.

Detailed Planning Begins

Over the next hour, the five executives outlined plans for various regions under their management:

• Texas: Hill proposed focusing on beef cattle, dairy farming, and agricultural production, with plans for a horse breeding center.

• California: Andrew emphasized revitalizing vineyards and establishing a horse farm while pursuing partnerships with high-end markets.

• Alaska: Drummond expressed concerns over limited options, focusing on mineral exploration and fisheries.

• Arizona: Ritchie's primary focus was on resource surveys, hoping to uncover copper reserves.

• Ohio: Amon proposed creating hunting grounds and wildlife reserves, alongside sustainable forestry and fishing initiatives.

West nodded along but later vented his frustrations to Charlie in private.

"You didn't warn me about this level of preparation! I'm not a magician," he complained, glaring at Charlie.

"Relax, you'll figure it out. You're the best man for the job," Charlie replied, patting him on the shoulder.

West sighed. "Fine. But I need maps, reports—everything. Now."

"Consider it done," Charlie said with a laugh, already planning his next steps.

As the meeting adjourned, Charlie left with a sense of accomplishment. His ventures were expanding rapidly, and his carefully chosen team was ready to bring his ambitious visions to life.