Chương 127: Chapter 127: Hollywood Couples
[Chapter 128: Hollywood Couples]
Century City, Beverly Hills Business Club.
In the meeting room, a copy of the National Enquirer lay on the desk.
Hawke sat in an armchair, looking serious as he stared at the newspaper on the table.
Sarah breathed heavily, clearly a bit nervous.
Caroline and Sofia each held a copy of the newspaper, reading intently.
Edward stood by the door, seemingly worried that someone might be eavesdropping.
The front page headline featured three close-up photos of Sarah side by side.
The first one showcased Sarah as if she were in her twenties, from a Lancome serum ad that she had endorsed.
The second photo was a side shot taken at the Beverly Beauty Center, revealing her swollen face just barely.
The final picture was a close-up of her face, which, while not very clear, showed that Sarah's face was not only swollen but also had a stiff expression.
The news headline read: "Beauty Guru Sarah Jessica Parker Suspected of Botched Cosmetic Surgery!"
The article detailed that the Beverly Beauty Center's main business was cosmetic surgery, further adding to the news's credibility.
Just then, Caroline's phone rang. She answered and quickly put her hand over the microphone, saying, "It's Lancome calling."
Sarah chimed in, "Put it on speaker."
Caroline switched to speakerphone and said, "Sarah wants to talk to you."
"Hi, Isabelle." Sarah greeted with a smile. "Why are you calling so early?"
The woman on the other end responded directly, "Is what's in the paper true? Never mind, it doesn't matter. What celebrity or model doesn't get work done? You've got three days to calm this down. If you can't, Lancome will have to take action. We can't let your mistakes affect the brand's image."
In the fashion world, cosmetic surgery and injections were seen as norms; as long as they didn't come to light, they didn't exist.
But if a scandal broke, that changed everything.
Sarah wasn't foolish enough to deny it, nor would she admit to it outright. She replied, "Five days."
"Resolve it quickly," the other woman said before hanging up.
"Damn it!" Sarah exploded, grabbing a newspaper, tearing it to shreds, and throwing it on the ground. "I shouldn't have gone out the back door that day! And I definitely shouldn't have met anyone!"
She turned to Caroline and Sofia, saying, "You! And you! Why didn't you stop me?"
Caroline and Sofia stayed silent, opting for the rational route.
Sarah then turned her attention to Hawke.
Edward reminded her, "The boss suggested something to you, but you didn't listen."
Sarah paused, recalling that was indeed true. If she had listened to Hawke, none of this would have happened.
Facing Hawke, Sarah seemed to change her demeanor, "What do you think we should do?"
Hawke shook his head, "It happened suddenly; I don't have any thoughts yet."
Sofia, who had recently become Sarah's manager, hadn't reviewed the endorsement contract in detail, asking, "If it escalates, will Lancome breach the contract?"
Caroline understood more clearly; she stole a glance at Hawke, thinking he must have a plan, and kept talking, "This endorsement contract is worth $6 million annually. Other scandals and rumors don't matter in the contract, they could just terminate it. But Sarah's current situation could severely damage Lancome's Aurora line, and they might seek significant damages."
Sofia remarked, "It's understood that female stars get cosmetic injections."
"The problem is, it's been revealed!" Sarah nearly shouted. "The image I created in the ad could collapse!"
This was the most serious kind of breach.
She looked at Hawke, "Can you resolve this?"
Hawke remained silent, his expression deepening in thought.
At the moment Sarah turned away to look elsewhere, Caroline suddenly noticed Hawke's fingertips pointed towards her from under the chair.
Why is he pointing at me? Is he scheming against me? Caroline initially felt confused, but as the months of collaboration had built a sort of understanding, she started to piece together what Hawke meant.
It simply boiled down to a money issue.
Once Caroline thought of money, she became particularly eager. "Hawke's job is to help you secure a nomination for the Golden Globe. This matter doesn't fall within his duty, Sarah; we need to handle it ourselves..."
Her words reminded Sarah that if this spontaneous event couldn't be controlled, the losses would be enormous.
Just like in her rise to fame, when it came time to pay, Sarah was resolute, "Hawke, how much did you charge for the last crisis management?"
Hawke replied honestly, "The selfie scandal cost $800,000."
"Alright, in addition to the Golden Globe contract, we'll sign a crisis management contract." Sarah had signed a two-year contract with Lancome. If her ad persona collapsed, she would owe a hefty breach of contract fee: "Payment $800,000."
Hawke didn't immediately agree but instead wore a very serious expression, "Give me a little time. If I can think of a solution, then I'll take your job."
Seeing he didn't make any rash promises made Sarah trust that he could find a way.
"Please, be quiet," Hawke said, focusing on the newspaper as he began to think.
In fact, he had already considered a solution; otherwise, he wouldn't have initiated this plan.
This entire charade was meant to convey to Sarah that aside from this, there were no other options.
In the meeting room, everyone fell silent.
Sofia was also deep in thought, but her focus was more medical -- wondering if there were medical means to quickly alleviate the impact, allowing Sarah to appear on camera at her best, proving the problem lay with the reporters' lens.
Caroline didn't want to overthink and prepared to shout "baa baa baa."
During this time, Sarah received a call from Matthew Broderick, who had already booked his flight and would be back before the night.
She relayed this information to Hawke, hoping he could factor in her husband's resources.
"Mr. Broderick is coming back?" Hawke seemed suddenly inspired, asking, "Sarah, how is your relationship with him?"
Sarah knew Hawke was in the know and didn't hide the truth, "Aside from a few special preferences, our relationship is incredible. Matt loves me to the core."
Hawke asked again, "As a major client of the Beverly Beauty Center, would they cooperate with us in times like this?"
"Of course," Sarah replied. "That's written into the contract."
Hawke's serious demeanor faded, replaced by confidence, "I have a plan now. Prepare the contract."
Caroline quickly pulled out the contract template from her email, sent it to both lawyers, and after drafting the terms, both parties signed the agreement.
Sarah checked online; news about her had already circulated, with many entertainment bloggers sharing clips from Los Angeles Channel 9's Morning Show.
The news had spread across the internet, met with a flurry of ridicule.
With urgency upon them, she called the financial manager to transfer $500,000 to Hawke as an advance payment.
...
Hawke took the contract and shifted into work mode, saying, "The key to solving the problem lies with Matt."
Sarah didn't understand.
"He loves you dearly; he will likely be forgiving about this incident, right?" Hawke asked directly, "For instance, as your husband, he would bear the pressure."
Sarah enjoyed a queen-like treatment from Matt and thought it was only natural for him to bear pressure, "No problem."
Hawke pointed to her swollen, stiff face, stating the facts, "Before Matt went on the business trip, you both had a fight. He got drunk and physically abused you, leaving your face swollen and injured. You went to the Beverly Beauty Center to consult a doctor about quickly reducing the swelling. Your silence until now was to maintain family harmony and to prevent him from bearing pressure."
Sarah, being a refined egotist, couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, "Good idea! That can explain my facial issues!"
Hawke reminded her, "The focus is on Matt."
"Don't worry," Sarah had decided to let her husband take the fall, "I can handle Matt."
Sofia exchanged glances with Hawke, then back at Sarah, realizing this might actually be a solution.
Caroline felt that Hawke wasn't done speaking.
Hawke kept piling on to the reasoning, "Pregnant woman, domestic abuse victim, family maintainer -- these labels will win you more sympathy votes when chasing the Golden Globe."
He gave Sarah a moment to consider it and continued, "Most of the Oscars and Golden Globe judges won't even watch the nominated works; emotional scores carry significant weight in their voting."
Caroline added her support, "Emotional appeal is also the goal of publicists during the awards season."
Sarah believed these words because that was the status quo in Hollywood.
Hawke said, "There's more I need to discuss with you privately."
Sarah turned her head, staring blankly at Hawke for a moment, then replied, "Sure."
Hawke addressed Caroline and Sofia, "If the media contacts you, tell them Sarah will make a formal statement tomorrow."
Edward rose, opened the door to the meeting room, and gestured for Caroline and Sofia to leave.
Seeing Sarah wave her hand, they had no choice but to exit the meeting room.
Edward closed the door behind them, standing guard outside.
...
Inside the meeting room, Sarah unbuttoned her blazer, pulled off her rhinestone belt, and asked Hawke, "What do you plan to do?"
Hawke was momentarily thrown off by her move, "Wait, Sarah, what are you doing?"
Sarah had long realized Hawke was strong and directly stated, "You want to send the others away, don't you? That's why we're doing this."
Hawke finally understood; Hollywood people were often driven by base instincts. Once someone took the initiative to suggest talking privately, they would jump right into it.
Suddenly, Sarah recalled that Hawke had once secretly recorded moments of the two of them and asked, "You want to involve Matt? I don't mind; he's coming back tonight."
Hawke waved his hand, "Stop with the nonsense. What I need to discuss next is a very serious matter."
Sarah carefully examined Hawke, realizing he didn't seem impulsive, and sat back down, "Go ahead."
"How do you want to explain this to Matt?" Hawke asked.
Sarah frowned slightly, "I'll just tell him directly; with how he dotes on me, he'll definitely agree. Isn't it a husband's responsibility to support his wife?"
Hawke pointed to her swollen face, "You have to face the media. Although it's swollen, it's still different from visible abuse."
Sarah touched her stiff face, "Are you suggesting I should have Matt actually hit me?"
Hawke stated, "There are difficulties in this approach. First, Matt might not dare to lay a hand on you. Second, that would mean losing control of the situation. Are you really sure you can fully control Matt? Once something unexpected happens, it'll be hard to remedy."
He sighed, "You're my client, and I am paid to uphold your interests."
Sarah sensed some unease but, after some thought, felt that being in total control was indeed the safest route.
After all, feelings could change.
She asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"Our plan is not to disclose anything to Matt for now," Hawke adopted a position entirely supportive of Sarah, "Matt would wholeheartedly protect you, proving his love for you, just like you do for him; that's certainly not a problem, especially considering how much you've done for him."
He emphasized, "Sarah, you are a woman!"
Sarah naturally thought back to the times she had explored other relationships. At this moment, she certainly viewed those as sacrifices made for her husband.
She softly replied, "You make a lot of sense; this is also a test for me regarding Matt. How specifically should I carry this out?"
Hawke proposed, "You and Matt have a particular playfulness between you. What if this evening when he comes home, you express some frustration or suitable excuse and suggest trying a new game, using physical pain to alleviate emotional distress?"
Sarah laughed, "That sounds perfect! We've played before, just at a lighter level, but he really enjoyed it."
Hawke had previously gathered data showing that those interested in one type of kink often had a penchant for another.
He said, "This time you could delve a bit deeper and even use a camera to capture it; then you'd be holding all the cards."
Mending the breach of contract was bait; winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress was the hook. After some internal struggle, the refined Sarah opened her mouth to bite onto the hook: "The power is in my hands; I can maneuver as I please."
She worried about the future, thinking of how Matt might change if she ever strayed.
With newfound determination, Sarah asserted, "Hawke, find me a camera that can blend in as furniture. I need it before tonight."
Hawke made a call, asked a few questions, and said, "I'll figure it out."
Sarah completely endorsed Hawke's plan and asked, "What about other aspects?"
"We'll also need a selfie camera." Hawke detailed more aspects of the plan, going on for nearly half an hour.
Afterward, he left the meeting room and chatted with Edward, who immediately left to "find" suitable filming equipment.
...
Caroline caught Hawke, "Several media outlets called me inquiring about Sarah's situation, and I provided the responses you suggested."
Hawke nodded, "Prepare a press statement for Sarah and Matt."
"What's the content?" Caroline inquired.
Hawke explained, "Matt apologizes for mistakenly hurting Sarah and expresses sincere remorse. Sarah states she chooses to endure and forgive for the sake of family and their relationship... and yes, she should stress she is not a good role model for women."
Caroline had gotten used to working with Hawke. Whatever he said, she followed his thought process.
In the past, everything had gone smoothly.
At that moment, Sofia returned from her break, asking, "Will things resolve smoothly?"
Hawke replied, "No major issues, it's not the most difficult challenge I've faced."
Caroline couldn't resist adding, "The solution is pretty unconventional."
...
Around noon, the group had lunch at the business center.
By around two o'clock, Edward returned, handing a large bag to Hawke.
Hawke called Sarah aside to the meeting room, opened the bag, and began teaching her how to use the equipment inside.
As a member of Hollywood, Sarah was no stranger to such things.
Hawke took the keys to the business car, giving them to Caroline, "The media knows about your car; it may become a target for them. Take this vehicle to drive Sarah home, park it at her place, and tomorrow I'll send a driver to pick it up."
Caroline complied, "Alright."
...
Later that afternoon, Caroline drove the business car, quietly taking Sarah back home before leaving in Sofia's car from Sherman Oaks.
As the sun set, Matthew Broderick rushed over from the airport, seeing reporters with cameras along the road before speeding home.
After parking, he dashed into the living room of the villa, tightly embracing his wife, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything; just give me some time; I'll figure it out."
"You're the one who loves me the most." Sarah, feeling lustful, clung to Matt, fervently requesting, "I've been down for a long time; make me happy."
She led Matt to an upstairs room filled with various implements.
Sarah requested, "I need extreme physical stimulation to temporarily forget about these worries, alright?"
This was no usual couple; they played both openly and with kinks.
At that moment, Matt couldn't refuse his wife's eager invitation.
After establishing a safe word, the air filled with sounds of their play.
Sarah continuously begged, shouted for him to stop, and screamed for help, which were not the agreed safe words but only fueled Matt's emotional intensity.
Encouraged by Sarah's teasing, Matt grew more vigorous, and the marks left behind became increasingly apparent.
When all quieted down, Sarah felt immensely satisfied and handed Matt a bottle of water.
Matt, feeling fulfilled as if he had discovered a new territory, drank and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
Sarah, ignoring her discomfort, entered the changing room, retrieved the hidden camera, and began taking pictures of her injuries in front of the mirror.
This home must be under her command; these photos would give her true control.
Even if Matt disagreed, he would take the blame.
In Sarah's mind, Matt was merely a behind-the-scenes producer; even if domestic violence allegations surfaced, it wouldn't be a huge issue.
After finishing taking pictures, Sarah donned gloves and, following Hawke's instructions, started gathering the canes, wooden boards, and boxing gloves Matt had used, sealing them in plastic bags to hide for now.
She recalled Hawke's advice, ensuring she did everything she could.
At last, she stood in front of the mirror, inspecting her face.
Matt couldn't bear to touch her already swollen face. The bruises were all inflicted by Sarah during the earlier play.
Due to her prior injections, she couldn't apply too much pressure, so she had to be careful to inflict just minor surface wounds, saving heavier makeup and concealment for the next day.
A night passed in the blink of an eye.
...
The next morning, when Matt woke up, he found the room had been tidied up, and Sarah had prepared bathwater and fresh clothes.
Noticing the bruises on Sarah's face and the marks around her neck from where he had applied pressure, he felt guilty, "I'm sorry, dear. I got carried away last night."
"No, I feel wonderful." Sarah feigned unparalleled kindness and generosity. "This is what I asked you to do; you've brought me happiness."
Matt, the most sentimental man in Hollywood, felt even guiltier, "Next time, I'll be gentler."
He recalled something important, "The negative press about you; it's intertwined with the Lancome contract and must be resolved quickly."
Sarah took Matt's hand, caressing her facial wounds, "I have an idea -- can you help me?"
Moments later, after hearing Sarah's plan, the guilt-ridden, immensely satisfied man complied with her request.
Matt, the responsible husband, was more than willing.
*****
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