Chương 119: Chapter 119: Filled with Schemes
[Chapter 120: Filled with Schemes]
Century City, Beverly Business Club.
As Hawke walked in, he spotted Caroline and felt a bit puzzled.
She usually waited in the reception area.
Hawke asked, "What are you doing here?"
Caroline forced a smile that looked a bit unnatural on her small face. "I wanted to discuss something with you ahead of time. Can you help me out, okay? I've helped you so much before."
Hawke hesitated but stopped walking. "Just say it."
"Remember that proposal you helped Sarah with? The one where she paid West Coast Media Entertainment Studio $250,000 for a career plan?" Caroline lowered her voice unconsciously. "Could you please not mention that when you meet her?"
Hawke paused to think and quickly pieced it together. "You're having her endorse skincare products, right?"
Caroline nodded eagerly. "Yes! Yes!"
Hawke got straight to the point. "So you took my proposal and presented it as your own? And then made a profit off it, right?"
Caroline bit her lip, staying silent.
Not wanting to pursue the conversation further, Hawke walked toward the reception area.
"I... can let you hear it." Caroline followed him, opening her mouth and bleating, "Baa! Baa, baa--"
Miss Baa completely lost the poise she exhibited in the William Morris meeting room, putting her feet on the conference table as she confidently urged Hawke to give her a try.
Perhaps this was the contrast brought on by thorough training?
Hawke pulled out his phone and activated the recorder. "Miss Baa, change positions and do it again."
Caroline hesitated but opened her mouth once more, "Baa--"
"That's enough." After recording, Hawke turned off his phone. "I won't bring this up in front of Sarah."
Caroline covered her face, quickening her pace to open a door to a meeting room.
...
Sarah Jessica Parker looked up as the door opened. The person who entered wasn't particularly striking, but her tailored outfit and gentle demeanor made her appear completely unrelated to the paparazzi who typically captured candid celebrity videos.
Hawke stepped forward, extending his hand to Sarah. "Hello, Mrs. Parker."
Sarah smiled. "Just call me Sarah." She added, "Although this is our first meeting, we've known each other for quite a while."
Hawke replied, "Work sometimes leads to conflicts."
With the topics of recent buzz at her fingertips from the previous day and earlier that morning, Sarah had thoroughly investigated and was well-prepared.
The young man across from her might not have seemed impressive to an outsider, yet he stirred the entire scene in Los Angeles from behind the scenes.
Sarah shifted her focus to the future and stated directly, "Caroline must have told you what I need."
Hawke replied, "Best Actress in a Comedy Series at the Golden Globes." He asked directly, "Does Jennifer Aniston's Friends fall into that category?"
Sarah spoke candidly. "That bitch is my biggest competitor."
Hawke followed up with, "I checked earlier, and Jennifer Aniston has never won the Golden Globe for Best Actress."
"Yes, she's never won." Caroline chimed in. "I've heard that Aniston plans to go all out for this year's awards."
Sarah added, "That's also why I wanted to meet with you."
Having long developed a comprehensive plan against Sarah Parker through her husband, Broderick, Hawke had laid the groundwork during Caroline's PR stint at the pool months ago.
This referred to that so-called proposal.
In these months, while Hawke made money, he built up his reputation. He used his commission-making strategy to bring himself closer to Caroline, which made Miss Baa lower her guard considerably, eventually becoming somewhat obedient to him.
Now, he found himself sitting with Sarah Parker under the pretense of helping her navigate the Golden Globes, all while pursuing his own agenda.
Hawke asked, "You're Jewish, right? Your husband is, too?"
Sarah confirmed, "That's right, we're both Jewish. My father worked in the media and held a high executive position, gaining some recognition in the Jewish community. This status gives us a slight advantage in the industry, but for awards like the Golden Globes, it doesn't hold much weight. The awards have seen mediocre win rates for Jews over the years."
Hawke took note of Sarah's words and continued, "How many resources can your husband put into this?"
"Just the usual resources." Sarah appeared slightly impatient as she responded. "That's not why I reached out to you. The Golden Globes have only about a hundred voters. I could sleep with each one of them, but others can do the same. There's no advantage here."
Hawke, who had already planned out everything, then said, "In that case, I'll be straightforward. To ensure a win, apart from normal publicity, we need to work on two fronts: first, establish your unique advantages, and second, eliminate direct competitors."
"My biggest competitor is Aniston." Sarah turned her focus to another point. "Your unique advantages?"
Hawke replied directly, "I have a way to make Aniston withdraw from competing for the Golden Globe this year, giving you a targeted advantage."
Sarah understood and recognized that the other party wouldn't just agree without money involved.
Caroline opened her mouth, wanting to speak, only to suddenly notice Hawke discreetly signaling her to stay quiet.
They had been cooperating for several months, and Caroline understood, remaining silent.
Sarah pondered, her mind racing through various incidents Hawke had orchestrated during this time.
A person like him was quite rare.
"What's your fee structure?" Sarah asked.
Hawke said, "$2 million, plus an additional $800,000 if you win."
Sarah disagreed, "The PR for Oscar Best Actors or Actresses doesn't cost that much. I can only offer you $1.2 million plus the winning bonus of $800,000."
"Deal." Hawke emphasized, "All additional costs will be your responsibility."
Sarah looked to her trusted Caroline. "The expenses need to go through Caroline for approval."
Hawke said, "No problem, that's fair."
Worried that someone else might snatch this person away from her, Sarah proposed, "Let's sign a contract."
Hawke reminded her, "Aren't you notifying your agent?"
"I'll report to the agency," Sarah replied nonchalantly. "I just fired my agent, and the agency is currently in the process of getting me a new one."
Caroline opened her bag. "I have a contract template, take a look."
The two sides signed a collaboration agreement, with Sarah's team making an initial payment of $1 million, followed by another $200,000 once they received a Golden Globe nomination. The final $800,000 would be the reward for winning the Golden Globe.
...
"Can we discuss specifics now?" Sarah asked eagerly.
Her career was at a bottleneck. While Sex and the City had brought her immense fame, it also fixed her image as an actress, and since the previous season, the viewership was subtly declining. They could only film another two seasons before concluding.
Hawke said, "I'll handle your main competitors. These matters will involve smear tactics, and you won't have to know anything about them."
Upon hearing this, Sarah was quite satisfied. "The negative stuff won't be associated with me."
"Now, let's discuss how to create your unique advantage," Hawke continued. "Since marrying Mr. Broderick, have you had any plans to have children?"
Sarah hesitated for a moment before answering, "Originally, I thought about it this year, but then you disrupted it."
Hawke had his suspicions.
Sarah elaborated, "It's when you caught me with Robert Downey Jr."
Hawke nodded. "What about now?"
"I haven't thought about it." Sarah was having too much fun with Broderick, and a child would only be a burden. "After that, we haven't brought up the topic of children again."
Hawke said directly, "You should consider having a child. With the timing, if you can get pregnant, it would show before the Golden Globe voting. This could give you an intangible edge."
Sarah furrowed her brows. "As long as you spread your legs, it can happen..."
"You're right, but you're not considering how the media and public perception work," Hawke reminded her. "Think about it: a pregnant woman often receives special treatment across industries in most circumstances."
He emphasized, "I've seen the Golden Globe voter list; all are seasoned media professionals. They're generally older, mostly have kids, and they like seeing a mother."
After reflecting, Sarah slowly nodded. "That's true."
Hawke said, "That's only one aspect; we'll expand on this. I'll draft a detailed plan."
He subtly signaled to Caroline, raising a finger.
Caroline understood. "If you're not keen, just wait until the Golden Globe finishes, and say you had a miscarriage due to a little fall or something."
"Good idea." While Sarah agreed verbally, her mind was racing with a different thought.
She recalled hearing that pregnant women became more sensitive. Finding a third party while with her husband could double the excitement compared to now.
Once she enjoyed herself enough, she could easily let it go.
This plan would also achieve what Hawke had mentioned -- a win-win situation.
All three individuals present were filled with schemes.
Even Miss Baa pondered how to earn commissions to buy luxury goods.
Sarah's response reminded Hawke of Caroline's earlier evaluation of her.
A refined egoist.
"Since you agree, a few more things need confirmation," Hawke began his calculations. "During this time, will there be anything that could hinder your pregnancy, particularly in terms of medical treatments?"
Sarah thought for a moment. "I have to get a beauty injection on November 14."
Hawke asked, "Can pregnant women use it?"
"Generally, they shouldn't, but some people in the industry have used it while pregnant." Sarah hadn't considered carrying the child to term. "No worries, I will definitely have a miscarriage."
Caroline interjected, "That's fine."
Hawke's understanding of Sarah deepened. "Let's finalize the first step. Sarah, you should try to get pregnant as soon as possible."
Seeing the benefits now, Sarah stated, "I will consult a professional doctor for ovulation injections."
Hawke checked the time on his watch. "Let's wrap it up for today. I will leave soon for a trip, but when I return, I'll prepare a plan."
"Alright." Sarah reminded him, "Don't forget who my main competitor is. Help me take down that bitch, Jennifer Aniston."
Hawke casually replied, "No problem."
...
Caroline accompanied Sarah out of the Beverly Business Club but returned shortly after.
Upon entering the meeting room and noticing Hawke still there, she said, "I got it sorted for you."
Hawke didn't waste time on pleasantries. "Ten percent commission until the Golden Globes are over."
"Sounds good." Caroline calculated; if everything went smoothly, she could earn a $200,000 commission.
The mere thought thrilled her.
Hawke added, "I had someone transfer the last commission to you."
Caroline couldn't suppress her smile. "I received it."
Grabbing her bag, Hawke stood up to leave.
Caroline followed and quietly asked, "What's your plan for Jennifer Aniston?"
Hawke replied, "What about using my charm?"
"Is that you?" Caroline looked Hawke up and down, pinching his arm playfully. "Nice physique, solid muscles, but you're not as handsome as Brad Pitt."
Hawke's aim lay with Broderick, not with Brad Pitt.
He inquired, "I heard that Brad Pitt once served as a personal assistant for a male actor in exchange for his recommendation?"
Caroline nodded, "That's Hollywood for you. I had a fantasy about the stars before moving to LA, thinking the old ways of compromise had vanished, but reality proved I was just a naive fool."
She returned to Hawke's question. "A lot of people in the industry know the story about Pitt, the guy's name was Roy London -- he was just a minor star in the '80s, but to someone new in the business, he seemed quite significant."
Hawke asked these questions for a purpose. "During this time, you need to gather some information on Brad Pitt. You in PR likely have access to dirt about celebrities others don't."
Caroline, motivated by her potential commission, kept a positive demeanor, eager to get things done since she hadn't received her payout yet. "Leave it to me."
...
Hawke left the Beverly Club and arrived in Hollywood, waiting for a while on an inconspicuous back road, where Edward and Campos drove up.
The two got into Hawke's car together.
Edward stated, "Boss, the paperwork is completed."
Campos added, "The company's lease is near the original Ackerman Charity Center. Do you want to check it out?"
Hawke shook his head. "Not today." He reminded, "Our focus for the next few months is Broderick."
"I've followed him twice." Campos replied, a bit puzzled. "Once, Broderick went to a location directly associated with the Ackerman Charity."
Hawke instructed, "Organize the information about him well. Every week, I'll have the Savior retrieve it from you."
Campos sensed Hawke's seriousness. "I'll handle that personally."
Hawke continued, "Aren't there a lot of Mexican homeless people on the streets? You could try developing informants. Also, check out those few people you mentioned last time."
Campos noted everything down.
The three discussed matters for less than ten minutes before Campos excused himself.
Hawke turned to Edward. "While I'm in Wyoming, you'll handle the studio. Miss Baa might provide some materials, so keep them secure until I return."
Edward was busy getting cozy with Deborah. "Can I skip staying at the studio tonight?"
"Open the security measures when needed." Hawke didn't push. "You should head back to Brentwood and stay in a villa instead."
Suddenly, an idea struck him. If Sarah Jessica Parker got pregnant and Broderick was out of the picture, she could perhaps land on the Savior's backup list.
When Hawke sent Edward off, he couldn't help but applaud himself -- where in the world was there a better boss than him?
...
As evening fell, the homeless around Hollywood Boulevard began returning to their shelters.
This area had transformed into the second largest homeless settlement outside the poor streets of Los Angeles.
Hawke drove back to Fountain Street, where there were no available parking spots on the street, so he turned into a park parking lot.
Just as he stepped out of the car, Frank approached him with an ashtray in hand, patting the hood of the car. "Finally, a decent car! Back in the day, The luxury cars I bought back then couldn't fit in the garage with ten parking spaces -- eventually, I had to give away a few cars I didn't like."
"I'm not big on buying cars." Hawke seized the opportunity to show off a little in front of the king of annoyance. "This was given to me by a client."
Frank shook his head. "All your clients are fools. They still have to count money after you've sold them out."
Seeing he couldn't break through Frank with direct aggression, Hawke decided to sidestep. "Right, Salma Hayek left me a business card last time. Edward has been bugging me about it. Should I give it to him or not?"
Frank's expression turned dark as he turned to leave.
Hawke followed him into the RV, lifting his shirt to reveal a handgun inside as a reminder. "Don't mess with the Taser, or I'll empty the clip."
"Why learn from that LAPD chick to empty the magazine?" Frank opened the fridge and pulled out a can of beer, handing it to Hawke. "Are you still dragging things out with that chick? Move faster."
Hawke replied, "This sort of thing can't be rushed. In a few days, I'm taking her to Wyoming for a vacation."
Frank asked, "Did she agree?"
"Of course." Hawke responded, "I understand her tastes well."
Frank remarked, "She seems nice, but you're a bad person." He was savvy for his age. "You're like a leading man in a Hollywood blockbuster; you've meticulously crafted your persona to please others."
Hawke shook his finger. "You're mistaken. What I excel at is what she enjoys, and what she has is precisely what I like."
He specifically addressed Frank. "While I'm away, keep an eye on what's happening at the studio."
Frank didn't refuse. "Bring me back a gift."
Hawke agreed, "No problem."
...
The next morning, Erica called to tell Hawke that her annual leave would start in three days.
Hawke booked a flight from Los Angeles to Buffalo, Wyoming, making sure it wasn't a red-eye flight but a daytime business class one.
He couldn't carry firearms on a plane, so he planned to buy weapons once he arrived in Wyoming.
Erica arranged a hunting license for him, and she also obtained a legal gun license for Wyoming.
To put it precisely, money and power made everything manageable.
Laws and rules were mostly there to restrain ordinary people.
Before the weekend arrived, the two of them met at Los Angeles International Airport, each pulling their baggage and boarding the flight to Buffalo together.
After landing in Buffalo, they had to drive to Jeffrey City.
Considering the needs for hunting, Hawke specifically rented a modified Ford Raptor and took Erica to a gun shop to purchase firearms.
*****
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