Father of France

Chapter 114 The Temptation of a Spokesperson
"That's really a high-paying job," Coleman muttered to himself. For the average American, this salary was indeed very high. How could it not be high when it was the annual salary of an average American?
However, for the acting profession? Ava Gardner is clearly still in the stage of living in a basement.

During the current MGM dynasty, which is at its peak, Ava Gardner is not valued at all. She is indeed beautiful, but which woman who dares to strive for the big screen is not beautiful?

Ava Gardner's rise to stardom and spotlight wouldn't come until the Korean War. Right now, she's just a seasoned extra in Hengdian World Studios.

Vanderbilt III accurately caught the fleeting lewdness in Koeman's eyes. He didn't want to use such a word to describe it, but it was indeed his first impression: this Frenchman had impure motives and wanted to do something to the beautiful American woman.

Koeman's earlier assessment was correct. Given the Vanderbilt family's current strength, Vanderbilt III could no longer afford to hire real Hollywood stars. Ava Gardner, for example, was just a pretty face on the big screen, which was still within their means.

The main advantage is that it doesn't cost too much money; inviting Ava Gardner this time only cost $1,200.

“Ms. Ava, this is Mr. Picasso’s client.” Vanderbilt III knew he had to say something and began to introduce him. “As for why he is wearing a military uniform, it’s because he is an active-duty soldier and is in the United States this time to inspect military projects.”

After listening, Ava Gardner glanced at Koman and praised him softly, "Being able to stand up for the country when it is in trouble is definitely an admirable person."

"Ms. Ava's outstanding appearance leaves me speechless." Koman deliberately rubbed his hands together, feigning embarrassment, and acted like a sycophant. "I believe that Mr. Picasso's art exhibition will be even more successful with Ms. Ava's participation."

After saying that, Koeman regained his indescribable pride, a contrast that surprised Eva Gardner. She smiled and finally commented, "Mr. Koeman could choose to be a comedian."

"Aren't comedians generally said to have no acting skills?" Koman said, looking at Ava Gardner's face, which was described as the standard of femme fatale beauty. "It's like Hedy Lamarr being said to make a living off her looks; it's all industry prejudice."

Ava Gardner simply stood there, her scarlet lips curving into an almost predatory arc, her eyes like gun barrels polished by moonlight, aimed at the timid flowers yet to be offered up right in the center of Koman's heart.

Koman sensed danger, like gunpowder mixed with tuberose, exorbitantly expensive and utterly lethal. The ivory tower crumbled silently behind her, each brick falling and striking her meticulously crafted life plan.

At this time, Ava Gardner and Hedy Lamarr were completely incomparable. Hedy Lamarr raised $25 million in a fundraising event in the United States during World War II, which shows her influence.

Eva Gardner, on the other hand, was still a figurehead earning a weekly wage. The gap between the two was not so much like the gap between Koeman and de Gaulle, but rather the gap between Koeman and Torres.

At this point, Vanderbilt III changed the subject, instructing a servant to arrange a room. Only after Ava Gardner's figure had left did Koman say, "Ms. Ava's appearance is quite rare. Koman thinks that such a woman will ultimately fall into someone's hands."

“Mr. William, I am a soldier.” Although Koman felt a bit nervous seeing a beautiful woman, his middle-aged willpower still prevailed.

His journey to the United States was entirely for the future development of France, and was absolutely not driven by any underhanded personal motives.

“I understand.” Vanderbilt III thought that Koeman was just too shy to admit it, so he said knowingly but not saying it outright, “Love between men and women has nothing to do with morality, and Ms. Ava is not married.”

Ava Gardner's first marriage was to Mickey Rooney, who was then one of Hollywood's most popular stars. The marriage quickly broke down due to Rooney's philandering, and the divorce was a highly publicized affair. At this time, Ava Gardner was indeed single.

Koman didn't react much after hearing this, but he seemed to feel a sense of joy in his heart. He said expressionlessly, "That's how the world is. It's not about scarcity but about inequality. Most men would consider it a blessing from God to have such a partner, but some people just don't cherish it."

Vanderbilt had a completely pimping mentality. Koeman felt that Vanderbilt III could have led the family to transform into the Epstein line, which might have been more successful.

In Potsdam, Germany, Churchill had just delivered a moment no less memorable than the Potsdam Conference: he was replaced by British voters during the conference and appointed as an advisor to Prime Minister Attlee at the Potsdam Conference.

The Potsdam Conference did not suffer any setbacks due to the temporary change of British prime minister. The fundamental reason was that Britain was not the main player at this conference. Although Britain was nominally one of the three giants, the main players at this conference were only the United States and the Soviet Union.

With the war over, the United States and the Soviet Union were no longer allies fighting side by side; common interests diminished while contradictions increased. Especially after the United States successfully detonated the first atomic bomb, Truman, intentionally or unintentionally, revealed America's ambition to dominate Europe.

This was the complete opposite of what Stalin had been pursuing. Holding his signature pipe, he walked slowly down the corridor, followed by Molotov and Gromyko. His army had already taken control of vast swathes of Eastern Europe; the steel torrent was a tangible force.

He approached the West, especially the newly appointed and inexperienced Truman, with a scrutinizing and unquestionable toughness. What he wanted was an absolutely secure eastern border dominated by Soviet power.

The debate centered first on Poland's western border. Stalin tapped the map with his knuckles, his voice low but unyielding: "The Oder-Neisse line is the compensation the Polish people deserve, and a permanent punishment for German aggression. Our army shed blood for this; it is a fait accompli."

Truman leaned forward, his gaze sharp: "Grand Marshal, the Polish government-in-exile in London represents legitimate interests. We cannot unilaterally decide the territory of a sovereign nation and the fate of millions of Germans without international consensus. This violates the principles we reached at Yalta."

He specifically emphasized Yalta, implying that Stalin had not kept his previous promises.

In addition to demanding that the United States and Britain recognize the territorial changes, the Soviet Union demanded huge reparations and direct access to supplies and industrial equipment from the eastern German territories it occupied.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Fred Vinson strongly objected: "Germany must maintain a minimum level of viability, otherwise it will become a breeding ground for hatred and chaos, dragging down the whole of Europe! We cannot repeat the mistakes of Versailles!"

Truman expressed his support for Fred Vinson's stance, stating, "Reparations should be distributed based on the wealth of the whole of Germany, not left to the individual occupied territories to decide. We cannot allow Germany to be fragmented into several insatiable slums!"

"Is Mr. Truman protecting Germany's war potential?" Stalin asked Truman with a calm gaze. "There's a rumor that American investment in Germany after World War I was a major factor in Germany's rapid recovery of its war machine. Of course, I'm not criticizing anything, but I have a different view on what the Finance Minister has said about the Versailles debacle."

After World War I, Germany received aid to support its reconstruction. To help Germany recover its economy, the United States provided massive loans and made huge investments. In the Dawes Plan alone, Germany received over 30 billion marks in loans, 70% of which came from American capital.

"The outbreak of war again was not America's original intention; poverty was the reason Germany went down the path of war again." Fred Vincent glanced at Truman, and the two exchanged a look, feeling that this involved the question of whose responsibility it was for Nanjing to fall, and should stop there.

If this entanglement continues, how can the Soviet Union absolve itself of responsibility when Germany imported a significant amount of raw materials from the Soviet Union to maintain its war machine while it was waging a major war on the Western Front?

The clash in Potsdam did not affect Koman, who was at Tingtao Mountain Villa. After a short period of consideration, he decided to make contact with Ava Gardner, a Hollywood prospective star whom Vanderbilt III had found to save money.

Before coming to the United States, Koeman had similar plans; if it wasn't Ava Gardner, it would have been someone else.

Koman's sudden enthusiasm left Ava Gardner, who was experiencing setbacks in both her career and family life, somewhat at a loss. She could only try to maintain her femme fatale smile and listen to what his purpose was.

“Some French brands want to enter the American market and need to find a spokesperson with an impeccable image,” Coman said, sitting in front of Ava Gardner. “These companies include Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Guerlain, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, and so on. I believe Ms. Ava is no stranger to these names.”

“It’s certainly not unfamiliar.” Ava Gardner was more than just familiar; it was a household name. It was a major brand in the world’s fashion capital, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that it was her dream.

Koeman breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that France still had a thick enough filter in this regard. Only an actor who was not famous and was still at the bottom of the industry would have such an attitude. Since they had this attitude, things would be much easier to handle.

“These companies are optimistic about the American market and need an opportunity to enter, and Mr. Picasso’s art exhibition is such an opportunity.” Koeman looked at Eva Gardner with a deep gaze and said, “I believe this is an opportunity that neither of us can afford to miss, Ms. Eva. Do you understand what I mean?”

Faced with such intense gazes, Ava Gardner felt a pang of unease. Was she about to make another sacrifice for her career?

(End of this chapter)