In the meantime, Thomas Jones had found a plot of commercial property that was big enough for a three-thousand-capacity nightclub in Chula Vista at a reasonable price. But with Emilio Alvarez still stalling and Julio’s cousin in L.A. uninterested, Ivan went with the working title of “Latino Club” and pitched it to investors without a Latino celebrity attached.

“I’ll just push the club on my own, hire a popular manager, and send my guy Mike Adams in there to make sure the numbers are right,” Ivan explained to Thomas and Jeffrey. “Then we’ll invite folks like Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, and get Nelly Furtado back. And if we ask for Mark Anthony, we may even get his wife Jennifer Lopez to come with him.”

By the time the new football season was in full swing, Perry Downing had made a full recovery from his injuries, and the Chargers’ management had forgiven him for his misjudgment during the off-season. They had decided to offer him another two-year stint to help the team in their quest to win an NFL Super Bowl, but with less money. Perry accepted it on Ivan’s advice. And he was forced to pay an undisclosed amount for the injuries of the passenger. Fortunately, she survived it.

Jeffrey was in the third year of a five-year contract, and Zee-Dog was in the second year of a four-year deal. And they all decided to back Ivan in his commercial real estate and nightclub plans after he guaranteed them all a hundred percent return on their money.

Thomas told him, “Ivan, if you can make these club and restaurant deals work, you’re setting yourself up to make a killing.”

Ivan smiled and told him, “That’s just what I’m counting on.”

The man was on a sweet roll of momentum. By the end of his second year in business, he had earned more than two and a half million dollars before taxes and officially established himself as the CEO of Ivan David Enterprises, the parent company of his diversified interests in websites, real estate, accounting consultation, promotions and events, brand marketing, club and restaurant development, yacht and luxury car rental, tourism packages, and private jet travel.

However, as Ivan refocused on making his first millions, his private life had all but evaporated. He had not had a chance to meet Jacari before her sudden popularity in San Diego earned her a trip to the fashion and modeling capital of Manhattan, where she quickly signed with an agency and began work in her dream career.