Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 224: A Show of Muscles]

Hearing Jared's reply, Ivanka rubbed her forehead. "Come on, Jared, this isn't going anywhere."

"No, no, no, you just don't understand me yet," Jared quickly shook his head. Ivanka was like an angel to him; her smile, her looks, her body, her background -- everything about her was perfect. The moment he first saw Ivanka, he secretly vowed to win her over.

"We've known each other for quite a while..."

"Let's skip that for now," he suggested. "We can talk about business instead. As you know, I took over the Kushner Companies from my father last year -- a huge real estate firm. Although Obama was not the recipient of my donation at the beginning, our family still holds some sway in the Republican Party. Just think of your father, Ivanka. He's always been kept out of the inner circle; it's something he's needed for years. I could help him, and in turn, help you." Jared hinted.

"He told me to go with my instincts and trust my gut," Ivanka looked distressed.

There was a significant difference among real estate moguls. Back in the '80s, her father made huge bets in Atlantic City, from the original Trump Plaza to Taj Mahal, eventually acquiring the local Hilton and renaming it Trump Castle. Everyone thought Atlantic City would be the next Las Vegas, the East Coast's answer to Sin City.

But what happened?

He had declared bankruptcy twice already, and Trump Castle was now in peril as well. Local gambling revenues had nearly halved; the financial crisis struck the final blow, with Wynn halting investments in Atlantic City, followed by MGM, and the Morgan Stanley-backed Revel Casino project now searching for a buyer.

Atlantic City was finished. America couldn't sustain a second Las Vegas.

Last year, Ivanka and her brother and sister-in-law followed their father and his current wife on a trip to China, where they paid a formal visit to a local real estate mogul. They spent an entire afternoon in the office without even seeing their host, merely standing like waitstaff.

This left a deep impression on Ivanka. Although her father boasted about how massive his business was and how many viewers his reality shows garnered, Ivanka was aware that recent investments had mostly resulted in failure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have filed for bankruptcy five times in a row, with a strong chance of a sixth this year.

"He just can't say it outright; he doesn't want to burden you with that thought. But you can save him, Ivanka." Jared took a step closer, moving into her personal space.

"What are you proposing?" Ivanka wanted to hear his thoughts.

"It's simple. Focus on the South; property values in Florida have dropped significantly. It's a great investment opportunity, and Kushner Companies is already moving in that direction. Your father has connections in Florida -- Mar-a-Lago, right? With Kushner's capital and your father's influence, we could build something significant there, and he could finally get out of the mire." Jared explained.

In truth, this was Jared's first step to reel the family in; the reality was the opposite -- Kushner needed her father more than Trump needed Kushner. The next step would be to gradually force Ivanka to comply, solidifying their relationship before negotiating with her father.

"What do you think about the plan?" Jared pressed, stepping even closer.

"I think..." Ivanka started to speak, but Jared's hand reached out toward her.

Her mind briefly short-circuited, and she didn't instinctively pull away.

Just as he was about to touch Ivanka's hand, the sudden sound of a door opening startled Jared, and he quickly withdrew.

...

"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" Ryan asked knowingly.

What a timing! No, it was perfect timing.

"Why didn't you knock?" Jared said, shaking his head, silently cursing Ryan for ruining the moment.

"Was that new song you thought of just now?" Ivanka saw Ryan and seized the chance to step away from Jared.

"Yeah, that's right," Ryan nodded.

"Was it because of what I just said?" Ivanka tried to inquire.

Ryan suddenly realized Ivanka had misunderstood. In fact, his recent inspiration stemmed from a comment he heard from Paris Hilton.

"I guess you could say that; you were one of the people who inspired me. I thought of some lyrics based on what you said," Ryan replied.

"Cool! You're a genius!" Ivanka exclaimed, admiration flickering in her eyes.

Seeing this interaction, Jared quickly positioned himself beside Ivanka. "Ryan is indeed an artist, but artists don't attract investment."

"Investment? So, are you two discussing business? Regarding the development project in Miami? You mentioned earlier you were short on cash. Has that been resolved?" Ryan fired off several questions.

"Lacking cash?" Ivanka picked up on that key detail, glancing at Jared in surprise. He had just mentioned moments before how he could help her father out of a difficult situation.

Jared smiled slightly. "That's not a precise claim; Kushner Companies' capital is tied up in larger projects. Ryan, you don't understand how real estate companies operate. With me, a dollar needs to act like ten to achieve the best investment returns. That's the mindset of a businessman, while an artist is often lost in a spiritual world and lacks this awareness."

"That's true to a point. However, it's normal for people from different fields to have different perspectives -- just like scenery, different places have different beauty," Ivanka said.

Ryan sensed that Jared's intentions were becoming clearer and suspected he was looking to enlist Ivanka's father for some type of assistance. Considering this, it wasn't just about financial gain but also a play on charm.

"You might be able to procure money, but one thing is for sure: the project can't be postponed any longer. I'm just an intermediary, and I can't afford any complications in the end," Ryan said.

"Intermediary?" Ivanka never imagined that the Miami real estate project Jared mentioned was facilitated by Ryan.

"Your commission will be wired to you on time," Jared said, feeling a mix of embarrassment and anxiety. He sensed Ryan was throwing a wrench into his plans.

Meanwhile, Ivanka started asking Ryan specific questions about the project details.

"Yes, I've got several partnerships with companies under the Carlyle Group in Florida. You've probably seen construction around the clubs -- those are my projects," Ryan noted.

"You're only 20, right?" Ivanka seemed a bit incredulous. She hadn't expected Ryan to be both a musical prodigy and ambitious in the business world.

"How old are you?"

"I'm quite a bit older than you. When I was in college, you were probably still in grade school," Ivanka remarked.

"There must have been many people pursuing you at school. I bet your name spread across campus the moment you enrolled."

"That's a bit exaggerated," Ivanka laughed, her smile showing off her pearly teeth.

"Then you must've had a bad day the moment you arrived on campus," Ryan shifted the topic.

"Why do you say that?" Ivanka blinked.

"Because you look even better when you smile."

"You really know how to flatter," Ivanka said, feeling slightly bashful from the compliment.

"Want to check around? I can take you to see the record label upstairs," Ryan offered.

"Really? Is that okay? I won't be a bother?"

"There's nothing to worry about; most of the staff at the label has gone home."

"Ivanka, it's pretty late," Jared cut in, his smile stiff, feeling uncomfortable about how cozy the two had gotten.

"By the way, Jared, why can't you partner with the local banks for funding? If you need, I can help connect you," Ryan suggested, directing his attention to Jared.

Jared had previously mentioned being unable to secure loans from banks in New York, but that didn't imply the banks in Florida were unavailable.

"Thanks for your concern, but I have plenty of financing channels," Jared replied, feeling flustered.

Ivanka didn't grasp the source of his frustration. "But Jared, isn't this a great opportunity? Ryan has extensive connections in the area."

"Just a few random acquaintances, like Rick Scott and Jeb Bush," Ryan casually stated.

"Seems like you need to give Ryan a bit of gratitude," Ivanka smiled, starting to see Ryan in a different light -- definitely not just an ordinary celebrity.

Ryan stood as if to take them on a tour. "Let's go; I'll show you around."

"Alright, superstar," Ivanka stood up without hesitation.

"I'll join, too. I'm quite curious about the insides of your nightclub," Jared stood up as well. Seeing his crush almost getting swept away by a guy with a fiancee made him realize he had to act fast.

"You're curious about the nightclub?" Ivanka raised an eyebrow.

"Not that kind of curious. You just mentioned I should charm Ryan, and that's exactly what I'm doing," Jared joked, trying to keep it light-hearted.

Ryan nodded, and soon the three of them stepped out of the booth.

"I'll show the two guests around; don't clean the booth just yet," Ryan instructed the server waiting at the entrance.

"Yes, sir," the server nodded.

...

They hadn't walked far down the hall when they encountered a familiar face heading their way.

"Ivanka! What are you doing here?" the person looked surprised.

"Paris! You're here too?" Ivanka recognized her instantly.

The two had known each other for nearly nine years, as both had been signed models with Trump Models, the agency founded by Donald Trump.

"I just arrived today; I heard this nightclub was hot, so I had to check it out."

"Oh, you should've told me earlier. I have a booth here!"

"You didn't mention it!"

"Didn't you see the pictures I posted on Twitter?"

"I didn't pay much attention," Ivanka admitted with a laugh, realizing if she had known Paris had connections, she wouldn't have needed to rely on Jared.

The two women quickly embraced.

At that moment, Paris noticed Jared and nudged him with her elbow, laughing, "Hey, rich guy, have you won over your crush yet?"

Young, wealthy heirs from the Upper East Side didn't go unrecognized by Paris.

"What are you talking about?" Jared hurriedly deflected.

So, Paris knew about their relationship? Ryan picked up on this hint, planning to probe further later.

Then Paris turned her attention to Ryan, and similar to the booth earlier, she unconsciously leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Ryan, you're here too? You finished your show and didn't come see me? You don't know how much I missed you," she slurred, a hint of drunkenness evident in her voice.

Seeing this, Ivanka's jaw dropped. The two seemed to be getting too friendly.

"You're slightly tipsy."

"I'm not tipsy. I know your new song was written for me. My sister doesn't believe it. You need to come to my booth and tell her yourself. She's easy to persuade; how about a threesome of sisters?" Her face was now almost touching Ryan's own.

A threesome of sisters? Ivanka felt perplexed.

'Of course, Ryan was working in the entertainment industry and was evidently not an exception to the norm,' Ivanka thought and the image of Ryan that she had just built in her mind was strongly shaken.

Ryan raised his hand to call over a server, preparing to guide Paris to the restroom.

"Ivanka, we haven't seen each other in a while. You should come sit with me in my booth; I'll be right there," Paris called out before leaving.

"Okay, I'll wait for you in the booth," Ivanka nodded.

"Let's go to Paris' booth," Jared quickly chimed in. With Ryan's image seemingly tarnished, he felt a sudden change in fortune had arrived.

Ivanka nodded, then turned to Ryan, eyeing him suspiciously. "Ryan, you and Paris seem quite close."

"We get along well; she's a major client. Our relationship is strictly professional; she sometimes loses her sense of boundaries, which you know," Ryan explained, sounding a bit exasperated.

...

Ivanka remained silent as the three made their way to Paris's booth, postponing any nightclub exploration for a few hours.

"Ivanka! Jared!"

As soon as they entered the booth, the energetic young crowd greeted them.

"I didn't expect to see you both here. I ran into Paris in the hallway!" Ivanka casually remarked while shifting her focus from Ryan to chat with others.

Nikki glanced at Ryan, and Ryan met her gaze just as quickly; Nikki swiftly looked away.

A short while later, Paris returned, her lively presence lifting everyone's spirits as the atmosphere grew festive again.

Ryan joined in, mingling with the group.

"Ryan, you've got to say that song was written for me," Paris playfully demanded.

"Now the whole world knows you've friend-zoned me," Paris teased.

"That's my safety net," Ryan chuckled.

With instances like with Karlie Kloss in the past, if this slipped out, it could lead to endless public outrage for Paris.

Ivanka's understanding grew clearer, piecing together the truth. Ryan must have said something similar to Paris first, and she subsequently echoed those sentiments, leading to the song's creation.

If that was the case, the song ironically proved their lack of connection.

She felt a twinge of embarrassment for having misjudged him.

"By the way, Ryan, whatever happened to your collaboration with Dior?" a young partygoer asked.

"The specific product details are managed by the Olsen sisters," Ryan explained.

"What does that include?" Ivanka's eyes lit up, eager to know more.

Determined to make her mark in the fashion industry, Ivanka had been working on launching a jewelry, shoe, and clothing line named after herself since graduating from Wharton. She even struck a deal with a diamond merchant to produce her own jewelry line in 2007.

"Ivanka, I can tell you're trying to dig for business secrets," Paris noted playfully, sensing Ivanka's intention.

"My little business doesn't compare to Ryan's," Ivanka waved her hand dismissively. It wasn't an act of humility; her ventures had always been under the umbrella of her father's connections, which made it understandable that her entrepreneurial efforts would be seen as trivial.

"Then we might be able to collaborate," Ryan stated promptly.

"Really?" Ivanka gasped in surprise.

"That...," Jared's face turned awkward, contemplating how disastrous it could be if their collaboration materialized.

A hint of jealousy flickered in Paris's eyes.

'This guy! After ignoring my advances all this time, he invites Ivanka to collaborate just like that?

What a shameless beast!'

*****

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