Domination in America, Starting from being a Boxing Champion

By six in the evening, when it was time to get off work, the entrance to the Rooftop bar began to see a constant stream of visitors.

The over ten booth areas on the second floor were gradually occupied by patrons.

In a booth next to the magazine rack, Link crossed his legs, listening to the conversation between Ivanka and the female singer across from him.

The female singer, in her twenties, wore a red leather jacket and jeans. She was tall, over 5'7", wearing sneakers.

Her face was attractive, but her makeup was heavy, with black eyeshadow, long false eyelashes, and bright red lips.

Makeup is normal, the women around Link all wore makeup, but Taylor generally only wore light makeup at home, and sometimes, being too lazy, went completely bare-faced.

Ivanka's eyebrows, lips, cheeks, and nails were all meticulously groomed, making her look exquisite and beautiful, but as her makeup skills were high, it also appeared to be light makeup.

Compared to that, Link preferred light makeup. He felt that women who liked heavy makeup were using their face and figure as selling points, implying they had little substance to show, so he didn't pay them much attention.

"Miss Grant, I saw many names in your videos, Liz Grant, Fenumonro, Lana Del Rey, which one is your real name?"

Ivanka asked, turning to her side.

"None of them, my real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, the others are stage names."

Lana said, glancing at Link because she noticed something strange in his expression as he kept looking at her face, as if there was something dirty on it.

When Link heard her stage names, he indeed was a bit surprised. 'Lana Del Rey' sounded familiar.

She had performed "The Great Gatsby" theme song "Young and Beautiful," "Video Games," "Summertime Sadness," among others.

She had collaborated with Taylor on a song "Snow on the Beach," had won several Grammy Awards, and was quite famous internationally.

Link had seen her posters; a classically beautiful brunette. He wondered if it was surgery or makeup, but her current look did not match the striking appearance on the posters.

"Lana Del Rey? Does this stage name have a special meaning?"

Link asked.

"Yes, it was inspired by Ms. Lana Turner and Mr. Ford Del Rey, who I consider my musical mentors."

Lana explained.
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Link smiled slightly. Lana Turner was a Hollywood actress from the 1950s and 1960s, nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress, and was stunningly beautiful.

Ford Del Rey was a Broadway actor, Link had only heard his name and hadn't seen his works, but he was reportedly handsome and charming.

Using this stage name was like someone naming themselves Monroe Kei Hsi.

Seeing that he didn't ask further, Lana shared more about herself. She was also from Manhattan, New York, and had studied philosophy at Fordham University.

Chasing her music dreams, she dropped out in her sophomore year to become a singer. Last year, she had released an EP, writing all five songs herself.

"Dropping out to become a singer? Did your parents support your decision?"

Ivanka asked.

Lana shrugged nonchalantly, "Pursuing dreams is my personal affair, it doesn't concern them."

"Cool!"

A flicker of inexplicable amusement passed through Ivanka's eyes as she looked at Link, "Anything else?"

After thinking for a moment, Link wrote down some lyrics and music for "Young and Beautiful" on a piece of paper and pushed it towards her.

Just from the name, he couldn't be sure if she was indeed Del Rey, but he had listened to that song; the voice was distinctive and unforgettable.

"Miss Del Rey, please try singing this!"

Lana glanced at it and felt the lyrics and tune were quite common, not pop, rock, or country; they resembled 60s baroque pop, not her preferred style.

But as it was Link's request, she picked up the guitar and started the intro as written.

After playing for a bit, she was surprised. It sounded good. She looked at Link curiously. Had he just written this?

I've seen the world

I've seen the lavishness of the world

Done it all, had my cake now

Gone through life's ebbs, tasted sweet fruits

Diamonds, brilliant, and Bel-Air now

Now endowed with diamonds and fame, living in luxury

"Wow!"

After singing just a short segment, Lana suddenly covered her mouth; she never knew her voice combined with this tune could sound so good.

Ivanka also looked at Link in astonishment. Lana's voice during her stage performance had its unique flair, but it was nothing compared to now.

Now her voice was like that of a legendary French opera singer, lying lazily on a velvet carpet in the Louvre, singing softly, lazy, charming, and magnificent, absolutely captivating.

It seemed like signing her might be a good idea.

Listening, Link nodded his head; the similarity in voices was very high, she must be Del Rey.

"Miss Del Rey, your voice has a distinct quality. If you plan to be a singer, consider developing with Link Music. We are confident we can turn you into a true artist,"

Link said.

Lana was taken aback briefly. They were offering her a contract already; could she really sign with a record company?

Considering her past experiences of abandoning a record deal after just one album, she suppressed her excitement and asked, "Mr. Baker, how many albums are you planning to sign with me?"

Link looked at Ivanka, who gestured with her hand, telling him to decide.

"You are a talented singer, and we want to cultivate you. Naturally, it won't just be one; my plan is for more than five."

Lana was somewhat surprised. To start off with more than five albums was a bold decision. If her albums sold well after release, that would be fine, but if they flopped, the company would make a loss.

But with a contract in place, the company couldn't abandon her and would need to continue the collaboration until five albums were produced.

Link proposed a contract for five albums, which meant he really had great faith in her to commit deeply.

Lana glanced at him, feeling a bit embarrassed. She had sung several times in front of Link, and he had seemed uninterested each time, making her secretly complain that Link had no taste and couldn't appreciate talent.

Now, Link had pulled out a major contract to find her.

She decided to retract her previous words; Link's level of musical appreciation was extremely high. He was definitely a musical genius.

"Mr. Baker, thank you for believing in me. I am willing to join Sony Music,"

Lana said with a smile.

"Welcome!"

Link extended his hand to shake hers.

"Mr. Baker, I have a request. Could you please be the producer for my five albums?"

Lana asked.

Link raised his eyebrows; this request was too much for him.

Being a music producer requires understanding how to train singers, knowing about music composition, sound mixing, electronic sounds, and various instruments, and having knowledge of genres like pop, rock, blues, rap, akin to being an all-around musician.

For example, Mr. Graham Goodall, who has played in a band and worked at Sony Music for twelve years, possesses a vast knowledge reserve and abundant music production experience to be a producer.

However, Link did not have these skills.

"Miss Del Rey, I have many part-time jobs and no time to participate in album production. However, I can promise you that I will be involved in the creation of your album's songs in the future,"

Link said.

Lana first felt disappointed and then surprised. She knew Link was indeed busy with many part-time commitments, but his songwriting ability was very strong; he had written many good songs, including two that topped the singles charts.

With his help in songwriting, Lana felt her path in the music industry was more secured.

——

"Was that song you just wrote?"

Outside the bar, the neon lights were dazzling, as Ivanka walked beside him in high heels and asked.

"How about that? Impressive, right?"

Link placed his hands in his pockets, his face wearing a smug smile.

Ivanka looked at the tall, handsome, and strongly built man beside her, immensely talented with seemingly no flaws, yet she knew better than to indulge such a person.

"Yes, you are amazing, a musical genius, so I plan to make your second album a deluxe edition. You will write the remaining songs, which should be no problem for a creative genius like you, right?"

Ivanka asked coolly.

"A deluxe edition? Is that necessary?"

Link said with a troubled expression.

A standard album has over ten songs; a deluxe edition requires over twenty, which is also more expensive. But for him to write over ten more songs was just too much.

"Yes, it's necessary, and I believe in your ability to accomplish it, right?"

Ivanka stopped, looking at him with her blue-gray eyes. Link made eye contact for a moment, then shook his head and looked towards the street lights,

"No, I'm too busy; I don't have that much time to write songs."

"You make time. Remember you said you did math problems in the locker room before competing against Tyson? Why can't you write songs?"

A hint of a mysterious smile flashed in Ivanka's eyes.

Link's mouth twitched; the last time on "The View" program, he had joked about fitting in some study before a match, and now Ivanka used that to trap him.

"Then it's settled."

Ivanka, seeing his displeased face, secretly delighted inside, said 'goodbye', picked up her handbag, walked in high heels towards the car under the brilliant neon lights, her tight skirt accentuating her attractive, peach-shaped behind.

"Hey, when are you going to introduce me to the second singer you are interested in?"

After meeting Miss Del Rey, he thought Ivanka's judgment in picking talent was quite good. The second candidate might also be a future star.

Ivanka stopped by the back door of the black car, her tall and slender silhouette highlighted against the vehicle, making her appear even more striking.

"There is no second one. That jerk was indecent, with an extremely rude gaze. I won't work with a crude and disrespectful person."

Ivanka said coolly.

Link chuckled dryly, spreading his hands, "Why not give him a chance? Men are like that. Put a million US dollars and a stunning woman in front of them, and they will definitely look at the woman first. It's a habit inherited through genes, hard to change."

"Fine, I'll give you the address; you can go and see for yourself."

Ivanka gave him a name and address, then disappeared in the twilight streets in her car.

Link shook his head; this woman was too alluring. Better to keep his distance.