[Chapter 24: Allen's Hideout]
Since the decision had been made, Zach reached out to Allen the next day, using the same phone number they had last time.
They discussed things over the phone and agreed to meet at Allen's hideout the next day to talk over what challenges lay ahead.
That evening, John caught up with his good friend Charlize Theron over their usual lively chat. Charlize mentioned she had been invited to be in a film, a small part, but she had already agreed and was flying out to Chicago the next day.
Hearing that, John couldn't help but smile. According to his past life memories, Charlize had just started breaking into the big screen around '95, officially beginning her Hollywood star journey.
So, John wished her well and said that once the movie premiered, they should go watch it together to see the beauty's debut on screen.
Over time, Charlize and John had grown quite close. There was no romantic tension, but they had become true friends. Charlize had even forgotten that John was only 17 years old. Often, she would turn to him with questions, unconsciously placing him in the role of the protective older guy.
Of course, considering John's decades-old adult soul inside a teenager's body, the 20-year-old Charlize really was still just a young girl in comparison.
Before going to sleep that night, John couldn't help but reflect: the road to winning over a beautiful woman was still a long, winding one. It would be a journey of endless effort and exploration.
---
The next morning, John woke up bright and early -- an unusual feat for him. He finished his morning magic practice by 9 a.m. and then had breakfast with Zach.
Their plan was to visit Allen this morning -- Allen's hideout, also known as the Black Python Club -- to discuss their next move.
After breakfast, Zach, carrying a briefcase, dressed in a suit and tie, led John out of the apartment. Seeing Zach looking so sharp and professional, John sighed inwardly, thinking, 'Now this is what an elite lawyer looks like.'
They got in Zach's beat-up pickup and headed out of the underground garage toward their destination.
Los Angeles might seem huge in area, but its population was only around 2 to 3 million. Of course, when people casually say "Los Angeles," they usually mean the greater Los Angeles metro area, including Long Beach and Santa Ana, which swells the population above 10 million. That made it the second-largest metro area in the U.S., just behind New York.
The western and northern parts of L.A. were where the wealthy lived -- the famous Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu beaches. The eastern and southern parts tended to be lower-income neighborhoods, including places like Koreatown.
As they twisted and turned through the city, John started to get a little lost, not quite sure where they were going.
About twenty minutes later, they seemed to be near East Los Angeles. The car pulled up near an open-air sports field.
---
A group of kids and teenagers -- mostly people of color -- were playing basketball and soccer. Nearby, clusters of young men with tattoos, some in groups, others standing alone, hung around.
Most of them were Mexican-American and African-American, with the occasional Asian face spotted. It was a real mix.
Many sported thick gold chains, shaved heads or small braids, and eyes that darted around casually -- just short of wearing a sign saying "I'm part of the gang."
As soon as Zach and John got out of the car, Allen came striding out from a nearby two-story building, about 15 to 20 feet high per floor, covering over 20,000 square feet in total.
Allen's bold approach caused a stir among the people loitering nearby; clearly, he had been tipped off about Zach and John's arrival.
"Zach, my friend, thanks for coming. Whoa, and here's our little John."
Allen greeted them enthusiastically, exaggerating the welcome and pulling Zach into a big bear hug.
John ducked away from the embrace, letting Zach enjoy it instead, and rolled his eyes at Allen.
"Alright, Allen, no need to be so enthusiastic. Is this your hideout?" John asked, pointing at the seemingly rundown two-story building.
"Hey, boy, you're not exactly adorable. Doesn't feel like you're a teenager," Allen replied, leading the two inside.
...
Once inside, John saw that although the outside looked old, the interior was actually pretty decent. The first floor was packed with gym equipment, where a lot of muscular men were working out.
Each of them had bulging pecs -- like buff bodybuilders taking a show. Occasionally, a few African-American women were working out too. Their curves, small waists, and smooth, sweat-glossed skin caught John's eye, and a few even flirted with him.
John, who had been a virgin for over a decade in this life, almost lost his composure.
Allen led Zach and John up to the second floor, which felt more like an office area. Compared to the first floor, it at least looked somewhat professional, even if most people dressed casually.
...
"Duke, Charlie, you two come up here too," Allen called after them as they reached the second floor.
Two men followed -- a rare white guy for these parts and a middle-aged Asian man. The five of them entered a conference room.
"George Duke, Charlie Sun, these are my two partners. And this is Zach, the lawyer, and his friend John," Allen introduced them.
When he got to John, Allen hesitated briefly, then decided to just refer to him as Zach's friend.
The group then began explaining the problems they were facing, mostly speaking to Zach. It was clear they saw Zach as the leader.
John stayed quiet, just listening in.
Allen knew more about John than the others. He understood that John was more than just a kid, but since they barely knew him, they didn't fully grasp the situation.
Most importantly, Allen and his crew all had criminal records. Trying to clean up their reputations was tough. Only George and Charlie were relatively clean.
They primarily discussed setting up an entertainment company with three main branches: a nightclub featuring various stripping acts; a gym -- but given their backgrounds, it was surprising if anyone actually showed up to that.
The third was a security company, a tricky business. For a legit security firm, military connections were best. But Allen's crew was trouble. If they tried to get involved with the military, they'd probably get gunned down instead.
George and Charlie were to be the legal owners -- the two without dirty records.
By the way, George and Charlie were college classmates -- one studied management, the other finance.
John hadn't much interest in company setup matters; Zach was the professional in this area.
Feeling bored, John left the conference room, planning to take a look around this Southern L.A. boss's hideout. To avoid trouble, Allen had someone assigned to show him around.
Soon, a tall, muscular young man with brown skin and a short buzz cut approached.
He said he was sent by Allen to show John around.
*****
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