141-145

*Chapter 141: The Circle's Complicated*

The sky over San Francisco gradually darkened.

As the sun set, the night unfurled like an enormous net, pulling the vast expanse of the sky into a quiet embrace amidst the city's clamor.

Outside the car window, the dim glow of streetlamps illuminated a park opposite a villa, casting a hazy atmosphere.

Milo waited in silence—calm, unperturbed, and indifferent.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Kenny emerged from the villa across the street, walking briskly toward the car.

Once inside, he turned to Milo. "Boss, everything's been taken care of. No mistakes."

"Thank you, Kenny," Milo replied, his smile showing satisfaction. Taking the keys from Kenny, he continued, "You saw him. What do you think of him?"

Kenny hesitated, glancing at David, who sat beside Milo.

David turned his head to gaze at San Francisco's skyline under the evening sky, as though admiring the view.

Damn it, David!

Left with no choice, Kenny mustered the courage to respond, "Boss, I’m not sure. Today was my first time meeting him. I lack the information to make a judgment."

In truth, Kenny was wary of guessing Milo’s intentions. After all, the man inside was, in a sense, Milo’s brother—a half-brother, older than Paladin. Yet, despite all these years, the man had never once visited Blackburn Manor.

"Fair enough," Milo said. "Let’s go meet him."

Adjusting the brim of his baseball cap, Milo opened the car door and stepped out. Surrounded by his bodyguards, he quickly entered the villa.

The villa wasn’t large but was neat and stylish, with a modern design.

In the living room, Milo encountered a striking woman holding three young children. When Milo entered, all four looked at him with visible tension and fear.

He smiled gently, particularly at the children. "No need to be nervous, dears. After all, I’m your uncle."

After his greeting, Milo gestured, and David brought over three large toy packages.

"I wasn’t sure what you’d like, but these are my gifts for you. The pink box is for Rosa—it’s a Barbie doll. The blue and white ones are for Splint and Gerard."

The children's eyes filled with longing, but they hesitated to approach the toys.

Milo smiled again, addressing the woman and children. "I hope you like them. I need to have a chat with your father, Rudolph. The toys are yours now."

Without waiting for a response, Milo, accompanied by David and Kenny, headed toward the villa’s backyard.

The garden wasn’t vast, spanning just over a thousand square feet, with a few trees, a pristine lawn, and a small gazebo at the far end.

By the gazebo, two bodyguards stood guard over a tall man.

Before Milo could reach him, the man shouted angrily, "If you’ve got a problem, come at me directly, you bas—"

The man fell silent as Milo’s calm yet commanding gaze met his.

"Rudolph Ayala Blake. Your mother was Elizabeth Ayala, once a personal secretary to Joseph Blackburn. Twenty-five years ago, she left Boston with you and moved to Los Angeles. Seventeen years ago, she passed away. Seven years ago, you and your wife relocated to San Francisco."

Milo’s voice was soft, yet it made Rudolph’s expression darken with each word.

Rudolph opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by Milo’s gesture.

"Don’t worry. I may own a film company, but this isn’t a Hollywood script. Besides, our father is just a congressman—not significant enough for anyone to use you against him. I came here because I wanted to meet you, not for any malicious reasons."

Rudolph visibly relaxed but still looked wary.

Milo stepped closer, observing the man who shared a resemblance with him yet had dark hair—a clear marker of their shared lineage.

"I know about your small fishing company. I know you visit the Gulf of Alaska yearly to oversee your operations. I also know you receive a $10,000 monthly subsidy from a Washington foundation, disguised as a fisheries grant."

"And you’ve done well for yourself, so there’s no need to worry. I’m just here to meet you, nothing more."

Rudolph remained silent, studying Milo under the garden's warm lights. This golden-haired, blue-eyed stranger—his brother—had appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by bodyguards, and said these bewildering words.

"Alright, I’ve seen enough. You’re doing well. Sorry for the abrupt visit. Next time, I’ll come formally."

Milo patted Rudolph on the shoulder and turned to leave. "Goodbye, Rudolph. Once I’m gone, reassure Gerard, Splint, Rosa, and Julia. My bodyguards may have frightened them."

Rudolph watched as Milo and his entourage departed. Shortly after, his family rushed to his side, their voices filled with relief and confusion.

---

Back in the car, Milo glanced at his phone.

"Ah, Dad, you sure took your time calling me. Relax, I didn’t kill your son. After all, he’s my brother."

"I just wanted to see them. No harm done. And no, I won’t tell Mom—but let’s be honest, she probably already knows."

As the call ended, Milo pocketed his phone and reflected. His father, Joseph, had more than a few secrets, including five illegitimate children with four different women.

Thinking about the messy lives in their circles, Milo chuckled bitterly. "What a tangled web. But then again, I’m part of it too."

He leaned back, staring out at the city lights. "Americans… we really do love our drama."

*Chapter 142: From Pawn to Player*

"Sabbatai, do I really come across as desperate for money? Why would they think I’d sell off my 41% stake in Turner Broadcasting, giving up control over one of the top five TV networks in the U.S.?"

"It seems I not only come off as desperate for money but maybe even as a bit... brainless."

Hearing his boss’s self-deprecating comment, Sabbatai couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, shaking his head awkwardly.

He noticed the hint of disdain on his boss’s face, revealing how disgusted he was with Richard, the chairman of Time Warner, who had just called.

Sabbatai hurriedly said with a wry smile:

"Boss, they probably know you won’t give up so easily. But these mega-corporations in every industry always think, why not try just in case there’s a chance?"

Just like the U.S. itself, they keep pushing for things they know are impossible, hoping for a one-in-a-million chance that could bring them massive returns.

As of now, Milo holds a 41% stake in Turner Broadcasting.

The remaining 59% is divided among Hearst Media, Cox Enterprises, Time Warner, and other shareholders. None hold a decisive share, with Time Warner holding the most at 25%.

So, unless they all band together, Turner Broadcasting is effectively under Milo's control.

Yet, before Milo could even travel to Atlanta to hold a shareholders' meeting and take his seat at the head of Turner Broadcasting, Time Warner approached him. Their chairman, Richard, proposed buying Milo’s 41% stake.

This wasn’t unusual—what if Milo agreed? Time Warner would immediately become the majority shareholder of Turner Broadcasting, much like in a parallel universe.

They were sincere, offering $4 billion for Milo’s shares, a premium of nearly 33%—well above the typical 20% acquisition premium.

But Milo didn’t acquire these shares to sell them for a profit. Like Time Warner, he wanted to own a network himself.

Besides, Time Warner couldn’t afford to pay in cash. Most likely, it would involve a stock swap or specially issued shares plus a small amount of cash.

If they paid all cash, he might consider it—$3.1 billion turning into $4 billion in less than half a month is nothing to sneeze at.

But Time Warner doesn’t have that much cash, so they’re bound to be disappointed.

"I’m done with these idiots."

Milo, visibly annoyed, assigned a new task to Sabbatai. "Get Ted Turner on board. Sabbatai, take some people and head to Atlanta for me. As my representative, secure the position of Chairman of the Board."

Sabbatai nodded, saying he was ready to head to Atlanta today. He could also start calling other shareholders now and schedule a shareholder meeting in Georgia tomorrow.

"And make sure to send a message to Time Warner."

Milo added, "Let them know I’m interested in their 25% stake as well. I’ll offer them the same 33% premium."

Thinking it over, Milo decided to sweeten the deal further. "I’ll pay them in cash. Plus, tell them that if they agree, Paladin Pictures will partner with them on two upcoming films, using my scripts and with me as producer."

Sabbatai nodded, knowing this would be highly attractive to Time Warner.

Milo's second film, Shakespeare in Love, had just finished its North American run, grossing nearly $300 million domestically. The global box office so far is $585 million and counting, with Southeast Asia, Japan, and Northern Europe screenings still ongoing.

A $600 million global box office seems easily achievable.

This film, like Milo's first, Angels and Demons, had a production budget of around $40 million. Including marketing, the total investment wouldn’t exceed $70 million.

$70 million for $600 million in box office revenue…

From the box office alone, Milo and Murdoch stand to earn about 40% of the $600 million, roughly $240 million, yielding about $170 million in profit after subtracting costs.

And that doesn’t even include ancillary revenues like VHS and DVD sales.

Factoring in those, plus splitting profits proportionally based on investment and shareholding over the next decade, 20th Century Fox is likely to earn $150 million to $280 million in total profits from this partnership.

One film or novel’s success can be chalked up to luck, but with two films and two vastly different novels all succeeding, the American media industry, which relies heavily on data, sees this as more than luck—it’s skill.

With two "Blackburn" branded films and a 33% premium, plus Milo already holding 41%, blocking Time Warner from controlling Turner Broadcasting, Milo was still willing to pay cash.

Sabbatai thought, as long as Richard and his board still had any sense, they’d say yes!

After Sabbatai left…

In his office at Yahoo headquarters, Milo focused on a recent email.

It was from a headhunting firm, offering résumés of some promising candidates for Milo to review initially.

This time, Milo was looking for a private wealth manager with corporate management experience.

Over time, Milo found that while Sabbatai was invaluable, his expertise lay more in finance and acquisitions.

Other members of the advisory team were specialists in various fields, like Chris in media and newspapers and Ms. Hughes in personal image and crisis management.

Now, Milo sought someone skilled in asset and corporate management to oversee the day-to-day operations of his companies.

While he had clear investment directions and spending goals, he needed a professional to help systematize the planning and management.

After all, Milo relied on foresight, not corporate management skills.

Sabbatai excelled in acquisitions and financial negotiations, and Wendy handled various administrative tasks.

Hiring an assistant and using the think tank for oversight and management would allow him to make well-informed, data-driven decisions.

This chief management role was crucial to Milo, as his assets and company size grew, making this person’s authority increasingly significant.

The headhunting firm sent only five résumés, but one surprised him—a young Italian-American woman.

"Gina Raimondo…" Milo murmured the name.

She was 25, from Rhode Island, New England. Three years out of college, she held a Harvard degree in economics and master’s and doctoral degrees from Oxford. Recently, she’d started law school at Yale.

Milo noticed that his headhunting partners seemed to favor Harvard and New England elites.

They made it seem like he was partial to those backgrounds!

In all honesty, New England natives and Harvard graduates did seem a bit more trustworthy.

For instance, Sabbatai also graduated from Harvard Business School.

Alright, he admitted it—he did have a preference. This was America, after all.

But Gina Raimondo’s résumé intrigued him. It wasn’t her photo that caught his attention, nor her impressive academic background.

It was her name and appearance. Isn’t she the future U.S. Secretary of Commerce?

Yes, the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce, famous for her advocacy of the "Belt and Road."

The Gina Raimondo he remembered from over 20 years later looked haggard and quite the opposite of beautiful.

Yet her résumé photo here... did she edit it? Was Photoshop around already?

She even had a hint of Audrey Hepburn’s charm in this picture.

Curious, Milo decided he’d meet Gina Raimondo.

As for the other four candidates, he picked two with the most impressive résumés and closest alignment to his needs.

He notified the headhunting firm to schedule interviews with the three.

Once this was handled, it was time for Milo to end his workday—3 p.m. sharp.

Today was the last day of April, and he had an event that evening.

It was the Lycos IPO reception. Side note—Lycos’ CEO, Bob Davis, also attended Harvard.

The strength of American alumni networks would surprise many Chinese people.

To put it simply, America has had over 40 presidents.

Nearly three-fifths of them attended Harvard or Yale, some holding degrees from both.

The same goes for most vice presidents and congressmen.

Even Milo’s uncle, before entering politics, made a point to get a degree from Harvard.

An American with WASP roots, educated at the Big Three, and holding degrees from both Harvard and Yale would have a 75% chance of winning a presidential election.

Of course, that’s now and in the past.

When “old Black” opens Pandora’s box, unleashing the LGBT+ movement and other changes, the game will change, and America will be different.

But that’s for the future.

In the evening, Milo’s convoy arrived at the San Francisco Intercontinental Hotel.

The convoy was impressive: five sleek black Cadillac Escalade SUVs gleaming in the night.

Dressed in a tuxedo, Milo stepped out and entered the familiar Intercontinental Hotel.

He had stayed here for so long, even spending a week here with Sophie Marceau a while back.

Recently, he found it inconvenient and started moving into a newly bought Bay Area villa.

He knew the hotel layout almost by heart.

"Mr. Blackburn, are you here for the Lycos reception? Anything I can help you with?"

Terry Marbus, the lobby manager, quickly came over with a warm smile.

Marbus had witnessed Milo’s transformation from a young playboy into a powerful figure.

So, he always checked in to leave a good impression.

"Yes, I’m here for the reception. Good to see you, Terry. You’re looking well."

"That’s because I’m providing the best service for our guests."

Marbus answered politely, stepping aside as Milo headed for the elevator.

Milo reached the fifth-floor Blue Hall, where the reception had just begun, and everyone was gathered.

*Chapter 143: The Silicon Valley Godfather, Milo Blackburn*

May 1.

In many countries, this day is celebrated as International Labor Day.

However, in its country of origin, the United States, May 1 is just another workday—no holiday, no time off.

Coincidentally, on this same day, Lycos, a Silicon Valley company not yet two years old, made its official debut on the stock market.

Lycos, named after a type of spider, symbolizes a spider navigating the web to fetch and present whatever users need.

The company offered 5% of its shares to the public, starting with a valuation of $500 million and a total of 100 million shares priced at $5 each. Lycos aimed to raise $25 million to upgrade its internal servers.

When the stock market opened that morning, Lycos shares surged 15% almost immediately, breaking past the initial price.

By midday, just before the temporary market pause, Lycos's stock skyrocketed by more than 50%.

By the 4:30 PM market close, Lycos, as the world's fifth publicly traded internet company, had a market valuation exceeding $1 billion, with a single-day stock price increase of 135%.

This performance not only shattered records previously set by Netscape, the first internet IPO, but also left other internet firms far behind.

News of Lycos’s success flooded newspapers and TV screens alike.

That evening, American Economic Review, the oldest financial magazine in the United States, highlighted Lycos on its budding internet section with the headline: *“The Arrival of a New Industrial Revolution!”*

The feature included the Lycos logo—a spider weaving its web—along with an in-depth profile of the company:

- “Lycos was initially developed in 1994 as part of Dr. Michael Mauldin’s search engine project at Carnegie Mellon University, created for the school’s digital library initiative. ‘Lycos’ is derived from Lycosidae, a family of wolf spiders known for their hunting prowess.”  

- “Shortly after its creation, Dr. Mauldin partnered with Bob Davis to transform Lycos into an ad-driven internet portal, and their efforts paid off.”  

- “The success of Lycos’s IPO signifies not just the achievements of Mauldin and Davis but also the dawn of the true internet era following Netscape’s debut last year.”  

Accompanied by other reports in major outlets, the IPO sent the internet stock market into a frenzy.

By Friday, May 3, Lycos had set a new milestone in the U.S. stock market—its shares had soared over 405% in just three days. From an initial market cap of $500 million, Lycos reached $2.025 billion, with its share price climbing to $20.25.

---

*May 4: A Morning at Milo Blackburn’s Mansion*

Milo woke up to the faint morning light and smiled wryly. He glanced at the peacefully sleeping Sophie Marceau, then at his weary self. "The French kiss has turned into a French wolf," he muttered, recalling the previous night’s escapades.

After freshening up, Milo stepped into his luxurious breakfast room. His new mansion, purchased last month for $5.5 million, sat in Saratoga, California, surrounded by scenic parks and upscale amenities.

Milo settled down as staff served breakfast, and his assistant, Kenny, placed a stack of newspapers before him. On top was the San Jose Mercury News, a paper Milo had recently acquired for $150 million plus a 2.8% stake in Lycos.

The paper’s headline boasted Lycos’s new market cap of $2.025 billion. Milo calculated his holdings: his initial $3.75 million investment in Lycos had now ballooned to over $400 million, or $470 million if he included the shares used in the acquisition deal.

---

*The Silicon Valley Godfather*

Among the many newspapers Milo browsed, The New York Times caught his attention.

*“In the pantheon of early Lycos investors, Milo Blackburn stands out as the largest individual shareholder and the earliest to invest in the company. Beyond Lycos, he owns a 50% stake in Yahoo, a site visited by nearly every internet user worldwide, as well as shares in over 60 other top-tier Silicon Valley companies.

This man is Silicon Valley’s undisputed godfather, a dream investor for countless entrepreneurs. He is Milo Blackburn.”*

The article bestowed the title “Silicon Valley Godfather” upon him.

---

*Driving Toward Success*

Later that morning, as Milo stepped into his Cadillac Escalade, his phone buzzed with congratulatory messages from friends and business associates.

Even former President Donald “The Donald” chimed in, predicting Milo’s inevitable rise as a future world’s wealthiest man. “With the internet companies you own, Milo, your net worth will easily surpass $20 billion,” he quipped.

Smiling, Milo dialed The Donald back, agreeing to meet for golf. Changing course, his convoy headed down California’s scenic Highway 1 toward Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The sun shone bright as Milo leaned back in his seat, pondering the lucrative road ahead while letting the winds of Silicon Valley carry him to greater heights.

#Chapter 144: Do Women Who Love to Smile Have Good Luck?

Pebble Beach Golf Links, also known as Pebble Beach Golf Course, is one of the world’s most famous golf courses. Opened in 1919, it is renowned for its exquisite design and challenging layout, making it a beloved course among sponsors and golfers alike.

“Oh, I didn’t expect Milo to actually come! Don, it seems you really do have a great relationship with Milo!” exclaimed an older Black man dressed in a suit and holding a golf club as he spoke to Kim, who stood beside him.

“No one has a better relationship with Milo than I do. We’re best friends, and the best business partners,” Kim said, gesturing excitedly.

As they spoke, Milo approached them, and Willie Brown, the old Black man, started waving enthusiastically.

Beside Brown stood a well-built Indian woman in her thirties, with features that likely aligned with Brown’s aesthetic. Watching the tall, strong, and handsome white man walk toward them, she couldn’t help but smile and say to Brown, “Hey, Willie. We were just talking about him yesterday, and here he is today!”

Brown grinned outwardly but thought to himself, You flirt! I was just joking, but it seems you took it seriously! Don’t you realize that guy is out of your league?

Willie Brown was none other than the California Attorney General, a prominent political figure in California since the 1980s. He had served as the Speaker of the California State Assembly, Attorney General, and Mayor of San Francisco. His term as Attorney General was ending soon, and he was aiming to run for mayor of San Francisco again by the end of the year. The woman beside him was his mistress, who had been with him for several years.

When Milo finally reached them, he greeted Kim with a hug and then shook hands with Brown. “Hey, Willie, good morning. I’m glad Don told me you’d be here. I wouldn’t want to miss out on a golf game with you.”

Brown laughed heartily, displaying the easygoing, friendly demeanor he projected to voters. His persona had earned him considerable support at the polls over the years.

“Oh, Milo, don’t blame me for not inviting you! We thought you’d be busy, very busy. We didn’t want to disturb you,” Brown said, laughing. “I didn’t realize you and Don were such good friends. Well, friends of friends always make the best friends!”

“You’re right,” Milo replied, giving Brown another friendly hug.

On the way over, Kim had filled Milo in on why he and Brown were playing golf together. A couple of nights before, Kim had been bored while visiting San Francisco and decided to fly to Las Vegas with his friend MJ from Los Angeles. At the casino, Kim recognized Brown, the political heavyweight, and thought it would be beneficial to connect with him since he planned to settle in California. MJ, who was already acquainted with Brown, helped introduce them. Through skilled persuasion, Kim helped Brown win about $200,000 at the casino, which delighted Brown, who usually lost more than he won. They became fast friends.

When Brown found out Kim was in San Francisco looking for land to build a golf course, he invited Kim to join him for a game, insisting MJ should come along as well. Milo then looked toward MJ, standing with a smile but staying on the sidelines. In any public space, the presence of the world-famous pop king Michael Jackson would cause a stir. But here, at this exclusive golf course without cameras, MJ was merely a quiet onlooker.

Though MJ had collaborated with high-profile figures, he was visibly honored when Milo warmly approached him, offering a handshake. They exchanged a smile, and Milo laughed as he said, “I envy those Japanese corporations. Over the years, they’ve probably made a billion dollars off MJ. That’s more than enough to fund my grandfather’s presidential campaign ten times over.”

With this comment, Milo slightly shifted the mood, but Kim and Brown skillfully brought the conversation back on track.

“Milo, you’re absolutely right. I’ve known Michael for years and never made that kind of money. Those Japanese corporations are taking what should be ours!” Kim said with mock frustration.

“Yes, I should have smashed more Japanese cars back in the day!” Brown added with a laugh.

The conversation shifted naturally, but soon, Brown skillfully steered it toward this year’s election. It was 1996, another election year for the presidency and countless positions across the United States, including Milo’s father’s congressional seat and the mayoralty of San Francisco.

“San Francisco’s public safety has declined, environmental problems have worsened, and racial discrimination concerns me every day,” Brown said with a heavy tone. “As a former mayor of San Francisco, I want to make a difference, but as California’s Attorney General, my hands are tied.”

Brown’s face took on a look of solemnity that made him seem genuinely empathetic. He was an excellent actor, and anyone unaware of his true nature might have believed his words.

Unexpectedly, Brown’s mistress, Kamala Devi, spoke up with a bright smile, “Oh? Isn’t San Francisco’s mayoral election happening again this year? Dear, if you care so much about the people, I think you should run for mayor again. If you succeed, you could bring new change to San Francisco!”

Hearing her words, Milo, Kim, and MJ exchanged brief glances, all likely thinking, These politicians!

Milo nodded to Kim, signaling him to continue Kamala’s line of thought, as they had discussed earlier on the phone. Kim immediately spoke up, “Hey, Willie. Listen, I think Kamala is absolutely right. You should step up again and make San Francisco great!”

“Haha, see, dear? Even Mr. Kim agrees with me,” Kamala laughed, her smile warm and perhaps slightly bold.

Women who love to smile really are lucky, Milo thought to himself as he responded softly, “Kamala and Don are right, Willie. The people of San Francisco are accustomed to you. Once you step up, they’ll know who to choose.”

*Chapter 145: Hailey’s Moral Boundaries*

Sixty-plus companies with a combined workforce of just over 2,000 people.

This is primarily because most of Milo's companies are early-stage tech startups.

The average company only has about 20 to 50 employees, and some are still in their infancy with fewer than 20 staff members.

The exception is Yahoo. Thanks to its rapid growth, it now has around 400 employees, making it the largest and most populated company in Silicon Valley for the moment.

For Willie Brown, however, this was more than enough.

If all 67 companies donated the maximum amount allowed in political contributions, that would mean $50,000 per company.

In total, that’s over $3 million in political donations.

For a San Francisco mayoral election, $3 million in political funding is a substantial sum.

Of course, Willie Brown understood the principle of "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours."

Or rather, it could be said that any politician who didn’t understand this wouldn’t get far in American politics.

"I support you, and you help me."

This is not an unspoken rule in the political and business worlds of America—it’s an open secret, a non-negotiable rule. Those who fail to follow it will be ousted by others.

So...

*“The district attorney of the San Francisco Bay Area? Or the California Department of Justice?”*

May 10th.

San Francisco International Airport.

On a private tarmac, Milo wore sunglasses, a white T-shirt, shorts, and a pair of brightly patterned canvas shoes, giving him a fresh, sunny, and handsome appearance.

But this wasn’t his usual style.

Milo rarely wore shorts because he didn’t like how his body hair made him look.

This casual attire was something his brother used to favor.

When Paladin was alive, he always dressed like this on his days off and had once told Milo: “Having to keep a straight face at work all day is bad enough; in private, you should relax a little.”  

Standing beside Milo now was his widowed sister-in-law, Hailey.

Hailey had officially come over from Boston today.

She exuded a faint, intoxicating fragrance. Her long, golden straight hair fell elegantly, and large sunglasses covered half her face. Her plump lips, bare of any lipstick, were still strikingly attractive.

She was dressed in a semi-transparent blue-and-white floral dress over a white lace slip, perfectly showcasing a mature allure that was impossible to ignore.

*"Yes,"* Milo said as they walked together.

*“Willie Brown may be Black, but he’s in with the Brown family. If he didn’t look so unmistakably Black, I’d suspect Jerry Brown’s father left behind an illegitimate son or brother with an African American woman.”*

Jerry Brown, a former governor of California, came from a political dynasty. His father, Pat Brown, was also a governor of California.

Currently, Jerry Brown is the speaker of the California State Assembly, making the Brown family a political powerhouse in California, even though their influence has never extended far beyond the state.

Jerry Brown had tried three times to run for the Democratic presidential nomination but failed each time.

Shrugging, Milo glanced at Hailey.

*"California's judicial system and San Francisco are practically their personal playgrounds,"* he remarked.

*“This old man doesn’t have much to offer me in a deal besides something from those two areas.”*

*“And I also think, Hailey, if you want to pivot from the federal judicial system to local elections, these two paths are both excellent options for you.”*

Before Paladin's death, the Blackburn family had laid out an excellent plan for both Paladin and Hailey.

Paladin was to rise through the ranks of local prosecutors, positioning himself to later run for governor, senator, or even the White House.

Hailey, on the other hand, was to advance through the federal judicial system. Even if she couldn’t become one of the nine Supreme Court justices, she could still become a significant political asset for the family in Washington.

Together with Joseph, who was climbing the ladder in Congress, the Blackburns seemed poised for a bright future.

But Paladin’s death had derailed much of this plan.

With Hailey's progress in Washington hitting obstacles, the family hoped she would take over Paladin’s path and transition out of the federal judiciary.

This route, transitioning from federal to local politics, was a common one for prominent figures.

For instance, the famous Italian-American mayor of New York had started as a federal prosecutor in the Northern District of New York.

*“Which path do you think I should choose?”*

Hailey decided to leave the choice to her brother-in-law since she had to rely on him here.

By now, they had reached the motorcade.

Looking at the five identical Cadillac Escalades, even down to the matching license plates, Hailey realized just how much influence her brother-in-law wielded in the Bay Area.

Such license plates would normally draw police attention.

It wasn’t just rare to have sequential license plates; having five identical ones was unheard of.

Only someone like Milo, a major benefactor of California’s local police departments, could pull off something like this.

Milo opened the car door for Hailey, resting his hand on the roof to prevent her from bumping her head.

*“You should run for district attorney of Santa Clara County. Your experience as a former federal circuit court judge will be a great asset,”* he suggested as she got into the car.

Once she was seated and had thanked him, Milo added with a smile before closing the door:

*“And as it happens, I have a little influence in Silicon Valley. I’m sure everyone will support you wholeheartedly.”*

His lighthearted tone made Hailey chuckle.

“A little influence?” she thought. The media calls you the Godfather of Silicon Valley!  

*“Welcome, dear Hailey, to the sunny Bay Area. I think you’ll grow to love it here,”* Milo said as he settled into the car and met her gaze.

Hailey smiled back, her beautiful eyes blinking under her bangs.

Her smile was mesmerizing—less cold and melancholic than usual, radiating a youthful innocence that disarmed those around her.

*“I hope so,”* she replied with a smile.

---