166-170

Chapter 166: Ruthless Is Real, Detective Is Fake

In Hollywood, a young girl went missing. Hawk knew that this was already the third case.

The first two incidents happened in the superstar performance class, while this one occurred on a film set.

A single name kept surfacing in the background: Ackman Studios.

Jacqueline retrieved two more photos of herself and Christine from her rented apartment. Hawk promptly cut the photos in half, returning Jacqueline's portion to her.

As Edward drove, Hawk reviewed the documents in his hands.

Knowing full well that Ackman Studios was involved but being unable to act further was incredibly frustrating.

After thinking for a while, Hawk called Campos and stopped by a bank safe deposit box to retrieve files on the two missing female trainees from the performance class. He placed them together.

A few minutes later, they met in an underground parking garage.

Campos handed Hawk a file folder. "Details of Paris Hilton’s boyfriends over the past five years."

Hawk put it away, donned gloves, and handed over the fingerprint-wiped photos and documents to Campos. He waited until Campos had also put on gloves before saying, "You need to deliver these in person. Head out of town tonight, reprint the documents, pair them with the photos, and mail them to Fox News."

Campos accepted the task and carefully stowed the files.

Hawk remembered the woman who had once tried to undermine him. "Fox News has a morning show called Fox & Friends. One of the hosts is Gretchen. Look up her email address and send the materials to her."

"Gretchen! Got it." Campos took the materials, made a phone call, and drove straight out of Los Angeles. Disguised as a tourist from Mexico, he headed toward Las Vegas.

As Edward drove out of the parking lot, he asked, "Boss, do you think Gretchen will report on this? Will she investigate?"

"I'm not sure," Hawk replied after some thought. "Journalists are often quite curious. Hollywood’s Jewish elite leans heavily Democratic, while Fox News has been increasingly Republican. If the two sides clash, it could get very interesting."

Edward added, "And it might stir up some trouble for that bad woman Gretchen."

Hawk chuckled. "Let’s hope she has the adventurous spirit of a true journalist."

In this world, even in America, not everyone calculates the pros and cons before acting. There are always a few idealists.

Hawk wasn’t sure if Gretchen had that spirit, but he knew she was an ambitious woman.

The risks were high, but so were the rewards.

Hawk understood how Fox operated. Even if they didn’t act on this, the news tip would be added to their database, and someone might investigate it eventually.

Back at the company, Hawk found Frank teaching Caroline.

Frank was someone who could juggle multiple film sets simultaneously back in the day and had extensive management experience.

Hawk entered his office, opened the file Campos had delivered, and began reviewing the contents.

The file contained a list of Paris Hilton’s boyfriends over the past five years, relationships that lasted more than a month.

Some were publicly known, while others had only circulated within social circles.

Nowadays, Paris Hilton was closely associated with Britney Spears, often making tabloid headlines.

Although the "party girl trio" still lacked Lindsay Lohan, they were already gaining quite a reputation.

Hawk scrutinized the photos in the file, paying close attention. He recalled the infamous One Night in Paris tape, which he had watched more than once.

One of the men in the tape was frequently and unmistakably on screen.

Hawk soon identified a familiar face in the photos along with a corresponding description.

The man’s name was Rick Salomon. Thirteen years older than Paris, he was an amateur actor and professional poker player residing in Las Vegas. His background wasn’t particularly deep; his father, the elder Salomon, had once been a vice president at a Warner Bros. subsidiary but had been fired years ago.

Rick, however, had a decent appearance and a particularly persuasive charm. He had dated multiple famous actresses, including Pamela Anderson.

Rick had already broken up with Paris Hilton. Apparently, she had initiated the split, and it hadn’t been amicable, involving disputes over money.

Hawk examined the photo again, recalling the details. It was indeed Rick Salomon.

This guy had a tape.

Hawk picked up his phone and called Campos. "Rick Salomon. Once you’ve handled the documents, find an opportunity to meet him. I’ve heard he still has a tape of him and Paris Hilton. Buy it from him."

Campos hung up, pulled over, and reviewed Salomon’s file. Discovering that Salomon was a long-term resident of Las Vegas, Campos decided it was worth a visit since he was already headed there.

Meanwhile, Hawk received a call from Erica.

"The renovations at the Silver Lake villa are finished," Erica said excitedly. "Want to check it out after work?"

"Sure," Hawk agreed immediately. "I’ll head straight there after work."

Erica added, "I’ve got some paperwork to wrap up on a tricky case, but I’ll leave soon."

The Silver Lake community was closer to the police station.

Hawk decided to leave work early, driving his armored Mercedes directly to Silver Lake.

---

---

After the gunfight during the night raid by the mule gang, the Silver Lake community has undergone a major transformation. Once a semi-closed community, it has now become fully enclosed, with several security guards patrolling the entrance.

Numerous surveillance cameras have been installed around the community’s perimeter.

Hawk drove along the main road of the community toward the lakeside villa area and noticed an increase in patrolling security vehicles.

“If these measures had been in place earlier, that gunfight might never have happened,” Hawk thought to himself as he arrived in front of Erica’s villa.

The villa's perimeter wall had been raised, and an electric fence had been installed. The hidden surveillance cameras that he and Erica had set up were still functioning.

The real estate company’s promise to renovate the villa exterior wasn’t an empty one.

In addition to the electric fence, cameras similar to those installed around the community perimeter had been added to the wall.

Hawk remotely opened the gate and drove inside.

The driveway had been resurfaced with newly replaced granite.

At the villa entrance, a brand-new red Mercedes-Benz G-Class was parked, and Erica stood beside it, appearing to have just arrived.

Her long hair was tied back, her beautiful face exuding confidence. The combination of boots and tight-fitting pants accentuated her toned, athletic legs, giving her the aura of a sleek, predatory panther ready to spring into action.

Hawk parked next to the G-Class, stepped out, and greeted Erica with a passionate kiss.

Moments later, the two strolled through the villa's courtyard together.

The lawn had been completely replaced, and new bulletproof glass had been installed. However, the walls and sculptures riddled with bullet holes remained as Erica had requested, retaining their original look.

Erica’s aesthetic sense was quite unique compared to most women.

Holding Hawk’s hand, she walked to a nearby stone sculpture, ran her fingers over the bullet holes, and said, “This is a special memory worth preserving. We need to keep some marks of it.”

Hawk couldn’t help but laugh and replied, “By the way, I brought some guns from the company. From now on, let’s keep a few in every room of the villa.”

Erica suddenly had a burst of inspiration. “I have a great idea. Let’s build an underground shooting range in the basement. We can practice shooting upstairs and downstairs.”

“Great idea,” Hawk said, pulling her along. “Let’s start right now.”

Once inside the villa’s main hall, they hadn’t even reached the basement when their jackets had already fallen to the floor.

A passionate “gunfight” ensued.

Much later, the two returned to the main hall from the basement.

Since Hawk had done most of the work and Erica’s athletic physique demanded stamina, he was exhausted and collapsed onto the sofa, breathing heavily.

Their clothes were scattered everywhere.

Erica moved closer, gathering their clothes as she went.

She handed Hawk his pants and shirt, then put on her own clothes before heading to the foyer to pick up their jackets.

When she picked up Hawk’s jacket, a photograph slipped out.

Erica instinctively picked it up and glanced at it. The photo showed a stunningly beautiful blonde girl who looked no older than eighteen.

What caught Erica’s attention was that she had seen this girl’s photo before.

She couldn’t pretend not to notice it. After a moment of contemplation, she walked back to the main hall with Hawk’s jacket and teased, “A photo fell out of your jacket, and it’s of a woman.”

Hawk remembered immediately. “A girl’s photo?”

Hearing this, Erica felt reassured and handed him the picture. “Who is she? She’s gorgeous.”

Hawk took the photo—it was the one Jacqueline had given him.

He had brought it intending to show Erica, so he said directly, “A lead from one of my news informants. The girl in the photo is named Christine Johnson, a young Hollywood actress who disappeared a few days ago. No one has seen her alive or dead.”

Erica took the photo back and examined it closely.

Hawk added, “The informant said Christine’s mother traveled to Los Angeles from out of town and has already reported her missing to the police.”

“Yes, she did,” Erica confirmed, realizing Hawk was now involved in the case. She shared a bit of information. “The case is being handled by the detective bureau—my team specifically. Christine’s mother, Bryce, has been persistently pressuring us to find her daughter.”

“Have you found any leads?” Hawk asked.

Erica shook her head but added, “Do you remember the serial disappearance case I mentioned to you last year? The one involving young, beautiful girls vanishing?”

“I remember,” Hawk said. The case had left a strong impression because the detective bureau shelved it last time, and he hadn’t brought up the missing students from the performing arts class since.

Erica asked, “Does your informant have any leads?”

Hawk thought for a moment and replied, “Some, but it might be complicated. I suggest you stay out of it, just like last time.”

Erica immediately understood. “You’re saying Christine’s disappearance might be connected to the serial cases?”

“Very likely…” Hawk then explained everything Jacqueline had uncovered, including the missing persons case linked to Broderick.

Erica, whose family included politicians and businessmen—her grandfather had even served as a senator—didn’t find it difficult to draw a conclusion from Hawk’s account. “These disappearances have a powerful force behind them.”

Hawk added, “I suspect it’s connected to the Ackerman family.”

“No need to suspect. They’re definitely involved,” Erica concluded. “The Ackerman family’s business revolves around Hollywood, and they’re part of the deep blue faction.”

Her clarity was sharp, and her reputation as a tough female detective was well-earned. However, her pursuit of justice and truth was more nuanced.

---

*Chapter 167: The Return of the Tape*

The villa's living room fell silent for a moment.

Hawk and Erica, both young individuals shaped by their unique life experiences, possessed a certain political intuition. They had the ability to anticipate future developments and fully grasped the harsh and dark realities of societal competition.

Erica remarked, “These cases—I’m just a small-time cop. There’s no way I can investigate them.”

Hawk suggested, “We could let someone bold and fearless take the first shot.”

“As the leader of a team, I have to ensure my subordinates’ safety,” Erica replied, rejecting the idea of putting her people at risk. “If they fail to find anything, that’s one thing. But if they do uncover something, their safety could be in real danger.”

Hawk shook his head slightly. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

He elaborated, “I plan to have information about Christine Johnson, Jessica, and the others mailed anonymously from out of town to Fox News.”

Erica asked, “Your friend Megan Taylor?”

“No, her nemesis—Gretchen,” Hawk said thoughtfully. “Media outlets under News Corp have always been bold. Gretchen has been with Fox for years. Even if she’s hesitant to investigate herself, she might escalate the information to higher-ups. It’ll depend on whether Fox, a staunchly red network, has the courage to clash with the deep blue.”

Erica understood. “Using Fox’s blade to test the waters?”

Hawk nodded. “Right now, the red and blue sides are vying for the governor’s position. This might become a breakthrough point.”

After considering for a moment, Erica asked, “Should I talk to my grandfather about this?”

Hawk shook his head. “Not yet. We need someone to take the first hit. Fox is a good candidate.”

“True,” Erica agreed. “Fox News and News Corp are massive. Handling this kind of pressure is nothing for them.”

Hawk stood and said, “I’m hungry. Let’s make dinner together. There’s still a lot to do afterward.”

He asked Erica, “Do you still have your uniform and duty belt?”

Erica responded confidently, “I knew you liked them, so I had a batch custom-made.”

They headed to the kitchen together. While Hawk was cooking, Erica changed into a chef’s uniform.

That dinner didn’t end up being an ordinary meal.

---

The neon lights of Las Vegas sparkled in the night.

Wearing gloves, Campos arrived at the edge of the city, locating a mailbox with no surveillance nearby. He dropped a package inside—a package addressed to Fox News’ Gretchen.

Campos quickly left, taking a winding route before getting into a rented Volkswagen sedan. He then drove toward the city center.

Near the MGM Grand Hotel, he made a phone call.

Rick Salomon’s acting career had been more of a game. Since his father left Warner Bros., he hadn’t taken on any roles. However, he had gained some recognition as a professional poker player.

For the right price, it wasn’t difficult to obtain detailed information about someone like Rick Salomon.

Campos wasn’t in a hurry. He found a place to stay for the night. By the next morning, someone had faxed detailed information about Rick Salomon to his hotel room.

Individuals like Salomon, who call themselves professional poker players, are essentially professional gamblers.

It’s a career of ups and downs.

Campos discovered that Rick Salomon was a mess. Years ago, Paris Hilton broke up with him partly because she was no longer the naïve 18-year-old he could easily deceive.

Another reason was that he had secretly gambled away Paris Hilton’s money.

Although the media often painted Paris Hilton as a brainless heiress, she wasn’t entirely without wit.

Paris was young, wealthy, and loved to have fun. She especially enjoyed the spotlight and the celebrity lifestyle.

Rick Salomon, however, had been having a tough streak in recent years and was struggling financially.

Campos even managed to get Rick Salomon’s phone number.

Through an intermediary, Campos contacted Salomon, claiming to have a lucrative deal worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The two agreed to meet at the MGM Grand Hotel’s café.

At 10:30 a.m., Campos arrived at the hotel and quickly located Salomon, who was wearing a hat.

Seeing the heavily bearded man of Mexican descent, Salomon asked, “Are you Vidal, the one who contacted me?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Campos pulled out a fake press card and showed it to Salomon. “I’m Vidal from World News Weekly. I’ve come all the way from New York to meet you.”

Salomon was surprised. “A journalist? Are you here to interview me? I’m open to it.”

Campos lowered his voice. “Not an interview. We’re looking to gather information for an important story.”

“What story?” Salomon, ever the gambler, was fixated on money. “If you want news from me, you’ll need to pay.”

Campos made up a story on the spot. “When I was in New York, I heard from a socialite in the Upper East Side that Paris Hilton once drunkenly confessed to her close circle that she’d made a number of tapes with you. She’s always been worried they might leak.”

Salomon, who had almost forgotten about it, suddenly remembered. Years ago, during a trip to Paris, he and Hilton had indeed filmed several videos.

Campos noted his reaction. “So, it’s true.”

Salomon nodded. “Yes, but it was all her idea—no, actually, she insisted on it. It had nothing to do with me.”

Worried that Campos might have been sent by the Hilton family, Salomon added defensively, “Hey, man, when a woman insists, how could I say no, right?”

Campos nodded. “Sell me the exclusive rights to the footage.”

In a way, Salomon was the kind of guy who had an inexplicable allure for young women.

But to someone like him, women were just commodities. He asked bluntly, “How much can you pay?”

Campos replied, “One hundred thousand dollars.”

---

Solomon grinned and said, “What are you joking about? I'm the male lead, and the female lead is Paris Hilton.”

Campos replied, “I haven’t seen the video yet, so I’m not sure how explicit it is. If it’s just kissing and hugging, it’s not worth even $5,000.”

“It’s as explicit as Sacred Valley. I promise,” Solomon recalled, ensuring there was no mistake. “There are scenes of me actually doing her, and even shots of her giving me oral…”

Campos said, “Name your price.”

After thinking for a moment, Solomon replied, “One million dollars.”

The two started negotiating and eventually settled on $800,000.

Campos demanded that when the media released the video, all visuals involving Solomon should not be blurred.

Solomon had no objections and confidently stated that he could appear directly in the footage. Scoring Paris Hilton would make many men in America envious.

Who knows? It might even reignite his acting career.

For a man, this was also something to brag about.

Campos wouldn’t pay immediately; he insisted on reviewing the footage first.

Solomon brought him to his place, retrieved the old camcorder from a cabinet corner, connected it to his computer, and played the video.

Campos was very satisfied. He hired a law firm to draft the agreement and secured exclusive rights that same day for $800,000.

With the authorization in hand, Campos made several copies of the video. He carried the original with him back to Los Angeles.

One copy was mailed to Butterfly Media.

Another was sent directly to Twitter.

After handling these, Campos called Hawk to update him on the situation.

In Los Angeles, upon hearing Campos’ report, Hawk replied, “The morning after tomorrow, send someone to sell the footage to Twitter, same process as before.”

Campos agreed, “No problem. I can return tomorrow.”

Hawk hung up and went to the operations department, where Caroline was working.

He asked, “How’s Will Smith’s traffic performing?”

Caroline forced a smile on her petite face. “It’s been less than two weeks, and the buzz has mostly settled. In Hollywood, scandals and gossip get replaced quickly.”

She glanced at the data sheet. “Daily new registrations have dropped below 100,000, and daily active users are now under 10 million.”

Hawk nodded, “Online traffic always rises and fades quickly.”

Caroline added, “Tomorrow, there’s a press conference at Parker Center. Are you attending?”

“You can handle it. I’ve already arranged things with them.” Hawk had used his connections with Mary Ferguson and Susie to establish a partnership between Twitter and LAPD.

Connections are a resource, and it’s only natural to use them when the opportunity arises.

Caroline asked, “I’ll be representing the company at the press conference?”

Hawk casually handed her more responsibilities. “Soon, you’ll officially be the company’s operations director.”

This wasn’t just empty promises.

Caroline knew this and smiled a mix of nerves and excitement, her small face as animated as a lamb entering the slaughterhouse. “I’ll do my best!”

After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Boss, do we have any new trending stories?”

“There will be soon.” Hawk didn’t plan to release it immediately. “Once the hype from the Parker Center agreement fades, we’ll launch the next big story.”

Caroline, envisioning a lucrative future with her six-figure salary, exclaimed, “Great! We’ll have another major campaign!”

The next day, in Los Angeles.

Caroline represented Twitter in signing an exclusive online cooperation agreement with Susie, head of LAPD’s Media and Public Relations Office, in front of numerous media outlets.

LAPD would launch its official Twitter account and use the platform for official announcements.

That same afternoon, at a routine preseason press conference, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced a full collaboration with Twitter, unveiling the team’s official Twitter account.

Prominent philanthropist Steve Nat attended the press conference, where he revealed his personal Twitter account and promised to share updates about his daily life with his adopted Black son.

This attracted many fans and media outlets to sign up for Twitter accounts.

Some media outlets even proactively contacted Twitter, requesting official verification for their accounts.

At the same time, Caroline personally secured the authorization for the new video footage.

(End of Chapter)  

 Chapter 168: Stance and Blade

The thick curtains in the meeting room were drawn tightly shut.

The projector was connected to the computer, casting video footage onto the screen, while peculiar, inexplicable sounds of a man and a woman played from the speakers.

Hawk, along with the rest of Twitter’s management team, was gathered there, indulging in the spectacle.

Compared to the clandestine recordings of Will Smith and his wife, Rick Salomon’s openly filmed footage of Paris Hilton was of far superior quality.

Frank, seated next to Edward, couldn’t wrap his head around it. “Is she out of her mind? Letting someone film her like that? What kind of upbringing did the Hilton family provide? It’s just disgraceful.”

On the other side, Caroline muttered under her breath, “She’s probably not a primary heir. Her main focus seems to be enjoying life.”

Edward chimed in, “There’s almost no news about male descendants of the Hilton family on the internet or in the media.”

Frank glanced at him. “Well, I’ll be damned. Looks like even cotton can grow brains.”

“Hey, old man,” Edward retorted sharply, “What’s your ex-wife’s last name? What’s her name?”

Confident after turning the tables, Frank smugly replied, “Elizabeth Taylor. Dare you ask her out?”

Edward nodded. “Got it. So you’re the gigolo raised by a serial bride.”

Hawk lightly knocked on the table, and the group promptly fell silent.

The video was rather long, running over an hour and a half in total.

When it finally ended, Edward turned off the projector and opened the curtains in the meeting room.

Frank, serving as the company’s unpaid consultant, remarked, “An heiress of a wealthy family and an Upper East Side socialite—these identities alone are enough to draw attention. This story is as big as one involving an A-list Hollywood star.”

The technical director, Harland, asked, “When will the website publish this? The tech department needs to prepare in advance.”

“Next week, just before the summer movie season kicks off,” Hawk replied. He had already thought it through. “This week, we can still ride the wave of traffic from the LAPD and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ collaboration. By next week, that momentum will probably wane.”

Caroline reminded, “We’re a legitimate online media outlet. When publishing, we need to censor the explicit parts.”

Hawk nodded and instructed Edward, “From the footage, pick out the clearest segments for editing. The total runtime shouldn’t exceed 10 minutes, and censor all sensitive parts. Wait for my go-ahead before releasing it.”

Edward removed the storage drive from the computer. “I’ll get started right away.”

Standing up, Hawk looked around the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is highly confidential. Before the news goes live, no one is to leak anything to anyone.”

The meeting concluded.

Edward returned to his office with the storage drive to begin editing.

Frank, the retired and once-renowned producer, followed the dark-skinned editor to provide on-site guidance.

Hawk suspected the old man just wanted to rewatch Paris Hilton’s footage multiple times but had no evidence to back it up.

Caroline accompanied Hawk into his office, saying, “The footage is over an hour and a half long. Only editing 10 minutes for online release—don’t you think that’s a bit too little?”

Hawk responded, “Only three segments are truly clear and well-lit. Ten minutes of highlights will suffice.”

“What about the remaining footage?” Caroline asked.

Instead of answering, Hawk posed a question: “What do you think we should do with it?”

After briefly considering Hawk’s usual approach, Caroline replied, “I can think of two ways. Since we have exclusive rights, the 10-minute highlight not only grabs attention as a headline but also serves as an excellent advertisement.”

She continued, demonstrating her own expertise, “Back during the ‘Selfie Gate’ incident, I remember you collaborated with manufacturers in the Valley. We could do the same this time—distribute DVDs and tapes through them. Considering we spent $800,000 on this footage, the sales could easily bring in $5 million or more.”

Hawk nodded in agreement. “That’s a solid idea. Since the company’s inception, we haven’t had any significant revenue. If this deal works out, the profit will be substantial.”

Caroline beamed at the compliment and added, “The second approach—if Paris Hilton still has any sense of shame, she’ll likely come to us, trying to buy back the footage. After all, as a legitimate media outlet, we’re only releasing censored content.”

Hawk nodded again. “If her offer is high enough, we can sell it back to her.”

Caroline quickly replied, “I’ll start planning this now.”

Sitting at his desk, Hawk opened his computer and browsed the internet. Paris Hilton’s gossip filled the web, far surpassing the coverage of most Hollywood stars.

This wealthy heiress was in the most chaotic, rebellious, and wild phase of her life.

Hawk could usually predict how most people might react, but with someone like her, whose mind seemed like mush, it was anyone’s guess.

He prepared himself for the worst-case scenario.

---

A newspaper clipping from The Los Angeles Times shows Buddy Ackerman posing with the current governor, Gray Davis, and Lieutenant Governor Wilson.

Gretchen wasn’t surprised. Hollywood’s Jewish influence tends to lean deeply blue.

Even the upper management at Fox is filled with many Jewish executives.

These individuals, in some cases, even help each other.

Normally, such a lead would go straight into the archives, ignored until the right moment to make a move.

But Gretchen had bigger ambitions. On Fox & Friends, there are three hosts, and she ranked the lowest among them.

A powerless anchor is merely a puppet controlled by producers and directors.

After thinking for a moment, Gretchen picked up the phone. When the other side answered, she said, "Hi, it’s Gretchen. Does Roger have time? I’d like to see him."

“Hold on.” There was a moment of silence before the reply came: “You can come up in half an hour.”

“Thank you.” Gretchen hung up, quickly went to change her clothes.

She took off her casual outfit and put on Roger’s favorite short skirt, stockings, and high heels. Then she brushed her teeth and sprayed on some perfume.

When the time came, Gretchen grabbed the news leads and took the private elevator upstairs to the office of the emperor of Fox News, Roger Ailes.

Inside the office, Roger Ailes, a man resembling a mountain of flesh, was sitting on a single-seat couch. He waved at her, “Come over, come over, let me have a look at you.”

Gretchen was used to it by now. Habit is a terrifying force.

She no longer felt shame. Instead, she used these moments to her advantage, trading them for the resources she needed.

Gretchen gave Roger her full attention.

But Roger wouldn’t make an important decision just because of that.

After reviewing the materials, he said coldly, “Someone wants to use Fox as a weapon.”

Gretchen cautiously probed, “The other side belongs to the deep blue camp, our opposition.”

Roger didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he thought about who had brought this information to light.

The first person that came to his mind was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This guy was a candidate backed by some members of the red camp to challenge Gray Davis for governor, though there were dissenting voices within the red camp as well.

Was he trying to provoke a more intense red-blue battle to secure broader support within the red camp?

A powerful Fox wasn’t afraid of Ackerman. Strictly speaking, they weren’t even in the same league.

After a moment’s reflection, based on Fox’s political stance, Roger said, “Here’s what you’ll do: investigate this further. If you find something concrete, don’t report it yet. Bring it to me first.”

Fox needed to maintain the upper hand.

Having achieved her goal, Gretchen quickly excused herself and returned to her office.

She called in her trusted assistant, Haley, and handed her the materials. “Go through this carefully. For the foreseeable future, you and your news team will focus solely on investigating this story. Once you find something, don’t make it public. Bring it to me.”

Haley, who had been overlooked in the past, was promoted by Gretchen.

As a young journalist still early in her career, Haley was full of enthusiasm and hadn’t yet lost her idealism.

She skimmed through the materials and realized they involved cases of girls like her who had gone missing. Feeling a mix of empathy and a sense of solidarity among women, she said, “I’ll get to the bottom of it!”

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 169: The Business Strategy of a Billionaire Heiress*

As May began, with a single command from Hawk, a video personally edited by the Savior was uploaded to the news section of Twitter. Miss Caroline Jones, the newly promoted Director of Operations, immediately pinned it to the top of the page, highlighting it in bold red.

Hawk was meticulous, and since Twitter is a mainstream social media platform, all sensitive parts of the video involving the male and female protagonists were pixelated.

But that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the internet's voyeurs. Even with the blurring, it was easy to discern what the two protagonists were doing.

The video’s clarity and provocative nature far exceeded the infamous Mr. & Mrs. Smith scandal.

Within an hour of the video’s release, it went viral on Twitter, with countless users sharing it in their group chats.

“A billionaire heiress’s scandalous video? Insane!”

“Rich people really know how to have fun.”

“Paris Hilton is so bold!”

“Tabloids really held back—this is way crazier than any headline suggested!”

By morning, One Night in Paris was trending all over Twitter. By the afternoon, it had become a global sensation.

When it comes to celebrity scandals—be it explicit photos or similar videos—the public’s insatiable appetite for gossip can metaphorically drain the Pacific Ocean.

Paris wasn’t just any socialite; she was a billion-dollar heiress with striking looks, often referred to by the media as a real-life Barbie doll.

The general public, often harboring resentment towards the rich, relished such scandals. Paris Hilton, born with advantages that 99.9% of the world could never even dream of attaining, suddenly found herself at the center of a scandal that thrilled the masses.

It didn’t matter how wealthy she was. People delighted in the knowledge that they had seen her in a vulnerable moment, or as they said, “caught in the act.”

One Night in Paris would forever be etched in the collective memory of scandal-loving internet users.

The flood of traffic was far beyond Hawk’s expectations. He initially thought the hype might rival that of the Smiths’ Red Table Talk episode. Instead, the influx of activity caused Twitter’s first-ever system crash since its launch.

The chaos wasn’t limited to the U.S.; users in Canada, the UK, and even parts of mainland Europe flocked to download and register for Twitter to join in the spectacle.

Though the platform recovered within three minutes, it was enough to catch Hawk’s attention.

It wasn’t hard to identify the reason: a young, beautiful blonde heiress with an explicit scandal held infinitely more appeal than a middle-aged, lesser-known figure.

Celebrity gossip always captivates the masses, but the audience tends to gravitate toward the more glamorous stories.

It’s simple logic—if Oprah Winfrey or Whoopi Goldberg had a similar scandal, people might initially click out of curiosity, but few would stick around to watch in detail. That would be a nightmare.

In contrast, Paris Hilton’s One Night in Paris was destined to become a cultural phenomenon.

However, the blurred-out video left the audience wanting more. On Twitter, calls for an unedited version became increasingly loud:

“Release the uncensored video!”

“No more pixelation!”

“We demand the original footage—don’t blur the truth!”

“If Twitter doesn’t release the uncensored video, I’m protesting at their headquarters!”

Such tweets were retweeted thousands of times, creating a wildfire of demand.

Hawk noticed the uproar and immediately summoned Edward.

“Hire a group to stage a protest in front of the office. Keep it going for a few days,” Hawk instructed.

Edward, experienced in these matters, nodded. “I’ll call some media outlets too and make a little extra by selling the story.”

Hawk waved dismissively. “Just handle it.”

Edward got to work contacting professionals in Los Angeles, companies they’d collaborated with during the SelfieGate incident.

The next morning, over a hundred protesters gathered outside Twitter’s headquarters, conveniently located near Venice Beach’s parking lot.

Holding posters of Paris Hilton and banners with slogans like “No Blurs, Only Truth!”, the protesters made their demands clear.

Edward stood by a window, phone in hand, ready to call media outlets. Suddenly, someone snatched his contact book.

It was Frank, who took Edward’s phone and began dialing media numbers, grinning as he planned to pocket Edward’s news tips commission.

“You’re stealing my earnings!” Edward fumed, following him outside.

Frank smirked. “You’re a millionaire now! And me? I’m just a broke guy trying to eat.”

Edward gave him a suspicious look. “You’ve got some ulterior motive, don’t you?”

Frank patted him on the shoulder. “You’re too focused on small gains. I’m teaching you to think big—like a shareholder of Twitter should.”

“A shareholder?” Edward was confused.

“Exactly! A future billionaire,” Frank said before walking off, whistling.

Not long after, seven or eight media outlets arrived to cover the protest. Though each paid only $20 per tip, it was enough to send Frank back to his RV in high spirits.

Meanwhile, in his office, Hawk observed the scene below. Among the protesters he had hired, many had joined of their own accord, driven by frustration over the censored footage.

It wasn’t just about seeing the video; it was about the principle of authenticity—or so they claimed.

Caroline entered the office and reported, “Boss, new user registrations yesterday increased by 720,000 compared to the day before.”

Hawk nodded without speaking.

Caroline admired her boss’s silhouette, thinking how commanding and heroic he seemed. He wasn’t just a leader among men—he was like a wolf among sheep.

“We’ll definitely surpass 20 million users with this wave of publicity,” she added.

Hawk turned and asked, “Any other trending news we can leverage?”

Caroline hesitated, feeling guilty. “Just some minor celebrity gossip—nothing major.”

“Contact Steve,” Hawk instructed. “He used to manage PR. Ask him to post regular updates about his happy life with his son.”

---

---

Caroline said, "I’ve already reached out. Steve assured me that he’ll update the diary of his Black son’s growth every week."

She glanced at Hawk. "Steve is kind of afraid of you."

Hawk chuckled and shook his head. "It’s not fear. It’s just that we know too many of his secrets, and he has no leverage against us."

Caroline was well aware of this. If Hawk decided to go after Steve, Steve’s saintly public persona would inevitably collapse.

---

*Beverly Hills, Hilton Hotel.*

In the presidential suite on the top floor, Paris Hilton sat in front of a computer, registering a Twitter account. After logging in, she quickly opened a nearby tab for trending news and saw a video featuring herself and her ex-boyfriend Rick Solomon.

Her assistant, Kardashian, glanced at Paris nervously but said nothing.

Paris wasn’t overly angry, as she had been living a rather wild lifestyle in recent years, earning her the nickname “Drama Princess.”

Although the videos were indecent, they didn’t expose anything critical.

Having worked as Paris’s assistant for years, Kardashian had become accustomed to her reckless behavior, especially when Paris was drunk. Her antics often defied imagination.

For instance, just the previous day, Paris had gotten so drunk she relieved herself in the car.

In Kardashian’s eyes, Paris alone could keep eight paparazzi companies in business.

Paris wasn’t exactly thrilled, though. Earlier that morning, she had furiously scolded Rick Solomon over the phone.

She asked Kardashian, "Has the PR manager my parents hired arrived yet?"

"I’ll call them," Kardashian replied, pulling out her phone to make the call.

Paris sat expressionless. Her parents had only made a quick call about the incident, hired a competent PR manager to handle the fallout, and help her draft a life plan before stepping back.

Over the years, Paris’s wild behavior had all but extinguished the Hilton family’s expectations for her.

Soon, the suite’s butler introduced a stylishly dressed middle-aged woman into the room.

This was Rooney Chasen, a director at Full Speed PR. After greeting Paris, she sat down across from her.

Paris got straight to the point. "Are you familiar with my situation?"

Rooney replied, "I’ve reviewed it in detail before coming. It’s not as bad as it could be."

"What’s your plan?" Paris asked curtly.

"Before we decide on a course of action, let me give you some background on the news publisher," Rooney began. "It’s important for you to have some basic understanding."

She had done her homework on Twitter and discovered a series of familiar names that demanded her attention. "Twitter’s CEO is Hawk Osman, who’s also the founder of West Coast Media Entertainment Studio."

Paris shook her head. "Never heard of him."

Ignoring the comment, Rooney emphasized, "He’s extremely dangerous, skilled at destroying reputations and mental fortitude."

Thinking of the fates of Wagram and Redford, she couldn’t help but shudder. "His methods are subtle, striking from unexpected angles to deliver a fatal blow…"

"You’re forgetting something—I’m a Hilton!" Paris interrupted. Then she added, "Just tell me your recommendation."

Rooney nodded slightly. "It’s best to resolve this with money. Buy back the rights to the video. The fact that the released clips are censored suggests they’ve left room for negotiation."

"Can’t we just sue Twitter directly?" Paris asked.

"It’s not advisable," Rooney replied. "For one, Twitter hasn’t used the video for direct commercial gain. Plus, as a public figure, they’ve made an effort to protect your privacy."

Not wanting to provoke Hawk Osman over a minor issue, she continued, "We’re in a passive position here. If we anger Twitter, they might release the uncensored video, which would escalate the situation."

Paris considered this, then glanced at her assistant. Seeing Kardashian signal her, Paris said to Rooney, "Let me think about it. You can wait in the other room."

Rooney picked up her bag and left.

Once alone, Kardashian shut the door and said to Paris, "I think this is an opportunity. Paris, you could become even more famous—a true star."

Paris frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kardashian reminded her, "Remember when we watched Josh Hartnett and Allison Faith’s scandal? After their video leaked, they became huge. Don’t you want to be a big star? Twitter is practically giving you free publicity. If this video gets released as tapes or DVDs, you’ll be even more famous than them!"

She added, "It’s already out there. People have seen almost everything. Whether it’s censored or not doesn’t make much of a difference. Why not seize the opportunity and profit from it? Buy the video and sell it to the Valley."

"That’s enough!" Paris wasn’t ready to lose her mind. She pointed to the door. "Go get Rooney."

Rooney returned, and she and Paris discussed the situation for a good half-hour, focusing on Hawk.

Their conversation touched on the scandal and other topics, including Steve.

Finally, Rooney called Hawk to arrange a meeting.

An hour later, in Twitter’s meeting room, Hawk met with Rooney, Paris, and Kardashian.

Paris was dressed in an eye-catching short skirt, quite literally sparkling with embedded rhinestones.

After shaking hands with Hawk, Rooney said, "We meet again. This time, I’m representing Paris, and we’d like to collaborate with you."

Hawk glanced at Paris Hilton. "Is this about the video?"

Paris cut straight to the chase. "I want to buy back the video. Name your price."

Rooney added, "Paris would also like to invite you to help strategize her career."

"I’ll sell the video rights for $5 million," Hawk said without hesitation. "As for the strategic planning, that’s a separate service from my personal studio and will incur additional fees."

Paris exuded her signature heiress confidence. "Name your price."

Hawk replied, "One and a half million dollars. I’ll handle the planning, but you’ll need to cover the implementation costs yourself."

Looking directly at Paris, he asked, "What exactly is your goal?"

Paris, showing more clarity than she often displayed, answered directly, "I want to be a star. I want to have my own career."

(End of chapter.)

*Chapter 170: The Ordinary Life of a Heiress*

In the conference room of the office building, Hawk, representing both Twitter and West Coast Studios, signed two contracts with Paris Hilton.

One was a video copyright transfer agreement, with Paris Hilton buying out the video rights for $5 million.

The other was a professional strategy consulting contract, for which Hawk would receive $1.5 million.

After signing the agreements, Paris shook Hawk’s hand. “My family hired Rooney PR for me, which shows my parents trust Rooney’s capabilities. Since Rooney strongly recommended you, I trust you won’t disappoint.”

Hawk replied, “I need to understand your situation better. Please wait for a moment before leaving.”

Paris nodded. “I’ll wait.”

Hawk had Edward escort her to the lounge.

At that moment, Rooney approached Hawk. “Can we have a private word?”

“Sure, go ahead,” Hawk said.

“Remember what I said last time?” Rooney didn’t wait for Hawk to respond. “We’d have the chance to collaborate.”

She continued earnestly, “We don’t have personal conflicts. The previous clash happened because we worked for different employers. This time, however, we share a common goal.”

Hawk saw through her intentions instantly. “Paris Hilton is quite a handful. She’s manageable when sober but an absolute disaster when drunk. Managing her as her PR agent won’t be easy, and the Hilton family’s hefty PR fees won’t be easy to earn either, right?”

Rooney admitted, “The PR fee is higher than what Wagner paid last time, but it’s spread over the year, and part of it includes guiding Paris.”

She glanced at the door Paris had just left through. “She creates a scandal every two days on average. One person can support a hundred paparazzi. Her drunken antics alone could make them rich. Guiding her is incredibly challenging.”

Hawk understood the root of the issue. “Ordinary people usually harbor resentment toward the wealthy. Someone born with a silver spoon in their mouth who doesn’t know how to keep a low profile and enjoys partying will inevitably attract scandals. Gossip media will always cater to public sentiment.”

Rooney candidly said, “That’s why I brought you in—to see if you have a unique solution.”

Hawk thought for a moment. “Changing this girl is too difficult. Do you think her lifestyle can be altered? Instead of changing her, why not create something new?”

Recalling their last confrontation, Rooney replied, “I specialize in change; you specialize in creation.”

Hawk said, “If I help solve this, you owe me a fee.”

“Didn’t Paris just give you $1.5 million?” Rooney quipped shamelessly. “I brought you this business and haven’t even asked for a cut.”

Hawk headed toward the door. “I’m starting to believe Caroline learned from you.”

Mentioning the traitor, Rooney added mockingly, “If she could betray me, she’ll betray you someday too.”

Hawk replied, “Do you think Caroline is afraid of death?”

That comment reminded Rooney of Wagner and Redford, leaving her silent.

As Hawk left the conference room, the bank called to confirm that $1.5 million had just been credited to West Coast Studios’ account.

Twitter’s finance team also confirmed receipt of the $5 million.

Paris lived extravagantly, but she was quick to pay.

In business, clients who pay promptly are always the best.

Hawk’s mind raced as he followed Rooney into the lounge.

Today, Paris was sober and direct. “I want to be a star, to be the center of attention for the media and the public. I want countless people chasing after me. I want a career of my own.”

Hawk nodded. “A successful career under the spotlight.”

“Yes,” Paris affirmed. “Fame driven by a real career—not like it is now.”

Hawk continued, “I need to know how far you’re willing to go for this career.”

Paris misunderstood, assuming he was referring to money. “My trust fund can immediately provide another $8 million. Anything more would require my parents’ approval.”

Hawk clarified, “I mean effort, not money. For instance, the video you just bought back—something could be done with it, like the ‘selfie scandal.’ To be honest, that was my creation.”

Before Paris could react, Kardashian exclaimed, “The selfie scandal was your work? Oh my God, you’re amazing—turning two scandal-ridden people into superstars!”

Rooney shot Kardashian a glare, silencing her.

Paris asked, “How would you do it?”

This was the simplest and most efficient way, with a proven template. Hawk explained, “Sell the video to a company in the Valley. Have it re-edited into a movie and distributed through their channels…”

“Stop!” Paris interrupted. “If I wanted that, why would I buy back the rights?”

Hawk understood. “Do you want to change your lifestyle?”

Paris answered without hesitation, “No, why would I? This is my life. I won’t change myself because of random media reports.”

A life of indulgence and enjoyment—who wouldn’t want that? Hawk now understood and asked, “What are you good at?”

Paris thought carefully before answering seriously, “Spending money, enjoying life, fashion, flaunting, clubbing, dressing up. I’m also interested in cooking, but I don’t know how to make anything.”

Rooney buried her face in her hands. Even the most eccentric Hollywood stars were at least skilled actors.

How could a socialite with no talents beyond indulgence have a career of her own?

Rooney tentatively suggested, “What about a TV show where Paris introduces the life of the rich?”

Paris immediately chimed in, “I’d be great at that.”

Hawk shook his head. “There are already many shows like that. Even if people watch, they’ll just resent you.”

Rooney thought for a moment and agreed. “Paris is already too high-profile.”

Hawk then gathered some basic information about Paris Hilton, her personal habits, and thoughts, bringing the interview to a close for the day.

He needed some time to consider his next move.

Paris and Rooney, along with their group, soon bid farewell.

Hawk escorted them downstairs. Watching the car drive away, he turned to Edward and said, “Call Campos and have him assign someone to keep an eye on Rooney Chasen.”

Edward asked, “Boss, do you think she’s up to something?”

“Doesn’t seem like it,” Hawk replied cautiously. “But we can’t afford to take chances.”

Edward promptly pulled out his phone and called Campos.

Hawk returned upstairs.

Caroline emerged quietly from the operations department and asked, “Should we take down the news about Paris Hilton?”

(Note: The original version of this novel can be found on 69shu.com—exclusive release!)

“No need,” Hawk said. He had already discussed this while negotiating copyright. The video had spread far and wide, and taking it down wouldn’t make much difference. “This news still has value for my future plans. Let’s keep it trending.”

The popularity of news can also be manipulated. Caroline nodded and said, “Understood.”

Without saying more, Hawk went to his office and carefully reflected on the details Paris had shared.

This Hilton heiress had her fair share of skills, but none seemed capable of truly changing her public image.

It seemed the smartest thing Paris ever did was being born into a wealthy family, which allowed her to do whatever she wanted.

Without any standout talents, unwilling to change her indulgent lifestyle, but still wanting to make a name for herself under the spotlight—what could be done?

Hawk suddenly recalled the short skirt Paris wore today, covered in glittering rhinestones.

A life of indulgence requires immense wealth to sustain. Paris was undoubtedly rich, a perfectly polished socialite.

To make a career in the spotlight, she would need TV, movies, or some other platform.

Television and movies were out of the question. Hawk knew his limits; these fields were far too complex for him to manage.

Especially with Paris Hilton as an unpredictable factor, always on the verge of an explosion.

Then Hawk thought of someone—an old tycoon who once served as a judge and host before making his way to the Oval Office.

That guy had done it with reality TV.

Hawk started to form an idea: showcasing the contrast between Paris’s everyday behavior and her on-screen persona.

Contrast often creates intrigue.

Hawk grabbed a piece of paper and quickly wrote down a phrase: “An Heiress’s Ordinary Life.”  

Paris had mentioned her interest in cooking, though she didn’t know how to make anything.

Hawk added: “Episode 1: Cooking.”  

The concept? A wealthy socialite struggling in the kitchen—a striking contrast.

As for planning and filming, that would require professional expertise, something beyond Hawk’s skill set.

He knew his limits; he was good at coming up with quirky ideas but was a total novice when it came to producing reality shows.

However, this was Los Angeles. With enough money, finding experts in this field would be easy.

Besides, Paris Hilton would be footing the bill herself.

Hawk quickly outlined his ideas, refining them further on a fresh sheet of paper. Once he had a clear framework, he picked up the phone and called Eric Eason and Katherine.

The two had just returned to Los Angeles after completing post-production on their latest film and enjoying a vacation abroad.

Before long, Eric and the square-faced Katherine arrived at Hawk’s office on the fourth floor.

Katherine hugged Hawk and said, “Eric and I just went on a world tour, and now you’re the founder and CEO of a big company!”

Hawk joked, “Unlike you, I don’t have a wealthy girlfriend, so I had no choice but to start a business.”

Eric came over and asked, “You mentioned over the phone that you had an idea for a show and wanted our input?”

“Exactly. You two are much more experienced in this area,” Hawk replied, handing over his handwritten concept. “Eric, you’ve already directed two feature films, and Katherine, you’re now a seasoned producer who manages your crews with precision.”

Eric took the paper and read it carefully. “A reality show?”

Katherine leaned in to read, quickly breaking into laughter. “Paris Hilton? Isn’t her video trending on your site?”

Hawk shrugged. “She hired me for career strategy planning—at a high price.”

Most film directors wouldn’t touch reality TV, but Eric, recalling Hawk’s help in the past, didn’t hesitate. “I’ll direct the first episode.”

(End of chapter.)