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Chapter 76: Hawk’s Reliability

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At the West Coast Studio, Hawk adjusted his tailored business suit, strapped on his Rolex, and stepped downstairs in polished leather shoes, grabbing his new business bag. He called to Edward, who was dressed just as sharply: “Let’s go.”

The two exited and got into their Ford Mondeo, with Edward driving them to Orange County. Hawk settled into the passenger seat, mulling over how to handle the situation. Ms. Mie’s earlier call had hinted at a few things, and Hawk had come up with a rough plan, though the details still needed to be ironed out.

As they arrived at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Edward had to slow down due to the hundreds of fans and reporters gathered at the entrance. Hawk scanned the crowd—many fans held posters of Steve Natt swinging his bat, while the reporters waited impatiently, snapping photos of the hospital entrance and the crowd every so often. Two broadcasting vans were even parked along the curb.

Hawk’s knowledge of Steve Natt and Daisy’s celebrity status had mostly come from online news, but now he was getting a more direct view. They were like a toned-down Beckham and Victoria, but more entrepreneurial, following the path of the Olsen twins with a jointly-owned brand.

The Mondeo pulled into the hospital, and Hawk and Edward headed straight for one of the inpatient towers, taking the elevator up to the fifth floor. As they stepped out, they spotted Caroline waiting by a hospital room door. Her eyes brightened at Hawk’s appearance, and she commented, “That outfit just doubled your credibility.”

Hawk got right to the point, “How many people know about this?”

Caroline responded professionally, “I took control of the situation right away. Those in the know include myself, my assistant Amanda, his agent Biles, and the baby nurse Sophia. The hospital signed an NDA with Steve, so for now, it’s contained, but that won’t last long.”

Hawk glanced at the room door, “I need the full picture. I’m going in to talk to him.”

Caroline opened the door and entered first. Inside, Steve looked up as the door opened, spotting a young man following Caroline. This newcomer was unassuming, but his tailored suit, gold Rolex, and tweed briefcase screamed “professional.”

Caroline made introductions, and Hawk shook hands with Steve, stating, “To fix this, I need the whole story.”

Steve’s agent, Biles, handed Hawk an NDA to sign while muttering, “West Coast Media and Entertainment Studio? Never heard of it.”

Hawk replied, “I’ve worked with the production team for District Highlands and partnered on The Scorpion King with Castle Rock Productions—produced by Stephen Sommers and starring Dwayne Johnson.”

Biles hadn’t heard of the former but recognized the latter. He took the chance to step aside and fire off a few texts. Soon, Biles’s phone pinged with responses from his network, confirming that Dwayne Johnson’s agent and Stephen Sommers’s assistant vouched for West Coast Studio and its founder, Hawk Osmon.

Taking note, Biles subtly nodded at Steve. Caroline saw this but said nothing, knowing Hawk’s unorthodox methods had proven effective when traditional PR fell short.

After reviewing and signing the NDA, Hawk stated, “I’d like to see the baby first.”

The baby nurse brought over the stroller, and Edward peered in, joking, “He might grow up with darker skin than mine.”

Hawk got down to business: “I need to know every detail, including anything that could be remotely related.”

Steve Turner ran through his side of the story. Hawk then entered the room to hear Daisy’s version, followed by Biles and Caroline. He also asked each of them a few clarifying questions.

Caroline chimed in, asking, “Are we teaming up to resolve this crisis?”

Hawk caught her drift, “Give me a moment—I need to assess everything fully.”

Steve, meanwhile, was visibly anxious, recalling how Miller Collins lost all his endorsements and was sued for breach of contract. As a star player for the Dodgers, Steve had multiple endorsements at stake. He knew any image crisis could prompt sponsors to drop him.

After a moment’s thought, Hawk asked Steve, “First, I need to know your goal.”

Steve replied, “Ideally, I want to protect my and Daisy’s careers and reputations. Maintaining our current status would be best.”

“That much I can assure you,” Hawk said calmly. “And if you’re willing to cooperate, I can raise your profile even further, making you an iconic figure in American sports.”

Steve was skeptical, “Can you really do that?”

Exuding confidence, Hawk replied, “I assume you’ve checked my track record. The Scorpion King grossed over a hundred million in North America, and I was part of that success.”

Biles had just called Dwayne Johnson’s wife and manager, Dany Garcia, to verify. He nodded reassuringly to Steve.

Caroline added, “Hawk’s pulled off miracles before.”

Steve asked, “Alright, what do I need to do?”

“First, you, your wife, and everyone in the know—Biles, Caroline, and Amanda—will take directions from me,” Hawk stated firmly. “As for my fee, it’s $600,000.”

Biles seemed about to argue, but Hawk pointed out, “If this goes public, you’ll lose the $1.5 million from People and face penalty fees, not to mention potential losses from other endorsements…”

Steve cut in, “Fine, $600,000. I’ll pay $200,000 upfront, and the rest after the photoshoot for the magazine.”

Hawk added, “And you’ll cover any expenses we incur in the meantime.”

“Done,” Steve agreed.

“Let’s sign,” Hawk said.

After they drafted a formal contract and signed, Edward discreetly turned off his recorder. Hawk briefly outlined his plan, which everyone quickly agreed to.

“Let’s leave Daisy and the baby to rest,” Hawk said, stepping out into the corridor and asking, “Biles, please coordinate with the hospital to use the empty room next door as our temporary office.”

Steve signaled Biles, who went to handle it.

Turning to Caroline, Hawk asked, “Is your ‘Coke Girl’ reliable?”

Amanda thought back to her first encounter with Hawk, where she’d nearly poured a Coke on his camera and notebook—yet here they were, working together. Caroline assured him, “She’s solid.”

Hawk nodded to Amanda, pointing to the door, “Guard the room. If anyone else—doctor or nurse—comes by, make them remove their masks and confirm it’s actually them.”

Caroline, aware of Hawk’s background, added, “Follow Hawk’s instructions precisely.”

Amanda stepped out to stand guard. Hawk then told Steve, “Call in your teammate Wilson. He’s a key player in this.”

Steve muttered, “If I see him, I might just kill him…”

Hawk, with a calm demeanor, replied, “Didn’t you sleep with his wife? Return the favor sometime.”

Steve’s anger faded instantly. He was feeling more confident about Hawk’s approach. “I’m starting to trust you.”

Hawk instructed, “Just bring him in. I’ll handle the rest later.”

Steve called Wilson, while Biles returned, saying the adjacent room was ready.

Hawk went over, with Caroline following closely. She whispered, “Count me in too.”

“Ten percent,” Hawk teased. “Ms. Mie, let’s hear a few ‘baa’s first.”

Caroline, shameless, closed the door and called out, “Baa! Baa—”

Hawk frowned. “Come on, why are you even trying to sound like a sheep?”

“You—!” Caroline felt exasperated.

Hawk got serious again, “Delay the media announcement and the People shoot notice. Make up an excuse. Also, contact Wilson’s agent and get him on our side to help persuade Wilson to cooperate.”

“And don’t forget,” Hawk added, “getting a teammate’s wife pregnant is serious in any team.”

Caroline replied, “I know just what to do,” then headed off to make the call.

Turning to Edward, Hawk said, “Get your baseball-loving friends to dig up any reports or photos of racial discrimination incidents in the MLB—on and off the field. We’ll need every article, picture, and video.”

no ch 77

*Chapter 78: How the Truth Was Born*

Everyone was busy, and Hawk wasn’t idle either. He opened his briefcase, took out his laptop, connected to the room's network, and began by checking public information about the Dodgers.

The team had several Black players, and even the manager was Black.

Next, he researched IVF treatments.

Orange County had abundant medical resources, especially in Irvine.

After a while, he closed the webpage and walked to the nurse’s station, where a tall nurse was organizing files. Hawk walked over quickly.

“Excuse me.” Hawk raised his left hand, resting it on the marble wall at the side of the nurse's station, his sleeve falling from his wrist.

The nurse looked up, seeing an unassuming face she’d planned to greet routinely, but her eyes caught his tailored suit and gold Rolex, and she immediately smiled, asking, “How can I help you?”

Hawk’s smile was warm. “I wanted to ask if you offer IVF services here?”

“No, we don’t,” the nurse replied eagerly, then asked, “Are you looking to undergo IVF? Irvine has several specialized clinics.”

Hawk asked, “Which ones are reputable?”

The nurse thought for a moment, then replied, “Agatha Fertility Center and Irvine Medical Center are the most professional, though it’s not a very widespread service.”

“Thank you,” said Hawk, preparing to leave.

The nurse, however, called him back. “I can help look into it for you. How can I contact you once I find something?”

Hawk had no choice but to leave her his number.

The nurse immediately called him so that his phone rang. She added, “This is my number.”

Hawk nodded, heading back. Edward walked over and lowered his voice, “Boss, you’ve got game!”

“Your methods are too basic,” Hawk replied softly. “Top hunters present themselves as prey.”

Edward took note, then asked about something else: “What is IVF? A baby made in a lab?”

Hawk explained briefly, “The fertilization occurs outside the body, and then the embryo is implanted in the mother.”

“Oh, I see.” Edward handed him a sports magazine. “I just found this. Last season, during a Dodgers-Red Sox game in Boston, some Red Sox fans threw bananas, watermelons, and fried chicken outside the Dodgers' hotel, causing a big stir.”

Such incidents weren’t unusual in the Boston area.

Taking the magazine, Hawk said, “Good work. Keep digging.”

Edward went back to work.

Hawk returned to the temporary office and started flipping through the magazine.

After a while, there was a knock on the office door. Carolyn came in, followed by a middle-aged Black man.

Carolyn introduced them, and the man turned out to be Wilson’s agent, Cobb.

After shaking hands, Hawk got straight to the point, talking about the situation between Steve Nat’s child and Wilson.

Cobb was stunned. “Is he crazy? Messing around with a teammate’s wife, especially the star player’s wife!”

Cobb, a savvy man, quickly grasped the gravity of the issue. “Wilson’s a fool—this could ruin him in the team and any other team.”

Hawk said, “Steve has authorized me to discuss this with you first.”

Cobb knew Wilson couldn’t match up to Steve, so he immediately responded, “We’re willing to apologize and offer compensation.”

“No, no compensation needed,” Hawk replied quickly. “All you need to do is work with me and Steve. We can not only defuse the situation but actually boost Wilson’s reputation.”

Cobb was skeptical. “Is that even possible?”

Steve emerged from the inner room and said, “I can assure you, if this goes public, it won’t benefit me.”

Cobb asked, “What do you need us to do?”

Carolyn added, “Convince Wilson to cooperate with us.”

…

Wilson, the Dodgers' Black player, received a call from Steve and immediately came to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Upstairs, he spotted his agent, Cobb.

Before he could ask anything, Cobb waved him over, “Come with me.”

Wilson followed him into the temporary office. Although Steve had told himself repeatedly to stay calm, the sight of Wilson’s bald head made him rush forward in anger.

Cobb and Byers quickly separated them.

Wilson shouted, “Are you crazy?”

Steve, seething, yelled, “You slept with my wife and even got her pregnant!”

The last part hit a nerve with Wilson, and his attitude shifted. He turned to leave.

Hawk signaled Edward, who, as a Black man, knew exactly how to handle the situation.

Edward stepped forward and blocked the door.

Hawk went over to Steve and whispered, “Remember what I told you?”

Steve took a deep breath, finally calming down.

Cobb pulled Wilson into the inner room.

Despite often acting impulsively, Wilson quickly understood, after Cobb’s explanation, that if he didn’t handle this right, he’d be a pariah, not only on the Dodgers but across the league.

After all, he was just a role player.

A while later, Wilson came out and approached Steve, “I’m sorry.”

Hawk gave Steve a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Steve restrained himself. “If you cooperate, this will be over.”

Wilson’s concern was different, “You’re not expecting me to raise the kid, are you?”

Steve replied, “No.”

Hawk clapped his hands. “Alright, everyone, take a seat. Let’s get down to business.”

They all found places to sit.

Edward, worried Wilson might bolt, dragged a chair to sit near the door.

“Tonight, we’ll reveal the truth about the child to the media and public,” Hawk explained. “Remember, the truth is in our hands. The truth we create is the one the public sees.”

Steve felt reassured, and even Wilson thought this might not be so bad.

Hawk laid out the story. “Steve and Daisy wanted a child, but Steve’s natural vitality was low, and Daisy couldn’t get pregnant, which led to a lot of resentment.”

Wilson blurted, “Is that so? No wonder…”

Steve glared, “Vitality has nothing to do with a man’s abilities!”

Cobb nudged Wilson, who quickly shut his mouth.

Hawk continued, “Steve heard about IVF, and, moved by the injustice Wilson and other Black teammates experienced in Boston, he decided to use Wilson’s genetics to have a Black child with Daisy, fulfilling their dream of a progressive family.”

He signaled to Byers, who handed printed information on IVF to Steve, saying, “Look this over. You’ll need to be familiar with the basics.”

Steve nodded.

Carolyn saw her chance. “I’ll draft a statement for Steve and start arranging a press conference. Three hours sound good?”

Hawk, however, had a different plan. “This might give some clarity, but it has too many holes. Even if Steve and Wilson present the truth together, people will still be skeptical.”

Byers added, “People instinctively question the official narrative in sensitive matters.”

Hawk looked at Edward, the freelance journalist. “This can’t come from Steve or us. The media needs to ‘discover’ it—leak photos, capture recordings. Only then will the public believe it’s true.”

He added, “It needs to look like we’re trying to cover it up, but the media and public figure it all out.”

Carolyn, realizing her mistake, nodded. “Exactly, only a ‘leak’ will look like the truth.”

“Then Steve and Wilson can take a stand in the sports world against discrimination, shifting the focus.” Hawk instructed Carolyn to frame the narrative as not only about IVF but also about fighting discrimination.

Hawk then took Steve and Byers aside, reviewed the IVF information, and got Steve’s authorization.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 79: Black and White*

In the temporary office suite, Hawk opened a modified briefcase he’d just picked up, carefully inspecting the hidden camera inside. He then added a miniature external microphone.

Edward brought over the power cord to charge the battery.

“I just went downstairs to take a look,” Hawk said. “The lounge area by the medical building is connected to the café; it’s pretty quiet there. That’s where we’ll set up for the hidden camera.”

Edward rubbed his hands together in excitement. “Relax, boss; after all this practice, I’ve got it down pat.”

Hawk waved him off. “Relax. If it doesn’t work the first time, we can always come back for another try.”

Edward thought about it, realizing that was true—and instantly lost his excitement. This hidden camera setup wasn’t exactly thrilling.

Hawk glanced at the time. “I’m heading out. Help Ms. Meh with things here. Don’t let Steve and Wilson start fighting.”

Outside, there was a knock at the door from Caroline.

Hawk opened it.

Caroline handed him a document draft she had prepared and asked him to review it.

After carefully going through it, Hawk suggested two changes. When Caroline finished, she handed it over to Steve and Wilson to practice their lines.

Both men, as public figures, were no strangers to speaking on camera, so it wasn’t a problem.

Hawk put on his coat, grabbed his bag, and left.

Caroline followed him out the door. “Where are you going?”

“I still need one more endorsement for the IVF story,” Hawk replied. “I’m going to find a specialized agency to fill in the missing piece.”

He went downstairs and got into his car. Following information provided by a friendly nurse, he arrived at Irvine Medical Center.

One look, and Hawk turned around.

It was an enormous commercial medical complex, with six towers, each over ten stories high.

Steve Turner didn’t carry enough weight here.

Next, Hawk located the Agatha Fertility Center.

This place looked more like a large clinic.

Hawk observed for a moment. There was no one entering or exiting, and the inside was also relatively quiet.

The helpful nurse had informed him that fewer than 50,000 IVF cases are performed annually in the United States. Compared to the big-name Irvine Medical Center, the Agatha Fertility Center was small-time.

At the reception desk, Hawk handed over his card. “I’m a representative for Steve and Daisy Nat. I need to speak with your director about an important matter.”

The receptionist hesitantly asked, “Steve Nat, the Dodgers star?”

“Yes, that’s him,” Hawk replied.

The receptionist notified her superior, who then made a call. After waiting five or six minutes, she returned and led Hawk to the second floor.

In a large office, Hawk met the founder and director, Dr. Agatha.

Dr. Agatha, dressed in a woman’s suit and wearing black-framed glasses, shook Hawk’s hand. “I saw today’s news. The Nat family is waiting at St. Joseph’s for their child’s birth, right?”

“The child’s already been born,” Hawk replied, placing Steve’s authorization and his own card in front of her. “You can verify anytime, Doctor.”

Dr. Agatha remained calm. “What do you want?”

Hawk explained, “Steve and Daisy Nat have sent me to thank you for helping bring their angel into the world through IVF.”

Dr. Agatha frowned, not remembering performing an IVF procedure for them.

“There are crowds of fans and media reporters outside St. Joseph’s Hospital,” Hawk continued. “Steve and Daisy can’t come personally right now, but once things settle down, they’ll come to thank you in person. There’ll be many media outlets involved, so I wanted to let you know so you could prepare.”

He smiled politely. “Steve also hopes that, through this acknowledgment, more families across California and the U.S. who want children but struggle to conceive will become aware that the Agatha Clinic can help make that dream come true.”

By this point, Dr. Agatha understood. She looked Hawk up and down and called for her assistant to verify.

Relieved he wouldn’t need to find another clinic, Hawk relaxed.

Soon, the assistant confirmed everything.

Dr. Agatha got straight to the point. “The media turnout needs to be at least twenty outlets, with at least five major ones.”

Hawk had no problem with her demands, replying, “That can be arranged.”

He then made a request of his own. “When the time comes, I’ll notify you in advance, and I’d appreciate it if you, Doctor, would be there to greet them.”

“I’ll await the Nat family’s visit,” Dr. Agatha said, pushing for more. “When Steve comes to thank us, I’d like to take a picture with him and his wife and display it prominently in the clinic’s lobby.”

Hawk agreed. “Fine, but the photo can’t be used directly for media promotion—that would infringe on Steve’s image rights.”

Dr. Agatha frowned.

Supporting someone does come with some perks, though it didn’t need to come from Hawk directly. He suggested, “If a journalist takes a photo of the picture on the wall and publishes it, that’s out of your control.”

Dr. Agatha smiled, handing Hawk her card. “Once the time is set, feel free to call me.”

Hawk pocketed her card, put away the authorization, and shook Dr. Agatha’s hand again. “Looking forward to working together.”

Dr. Agatha saw him out of her office.

With that arranged, Hawk immediately returned to St. Joseph’s Hospital and met Caroline at the door to the hospital room.

Ms. Meh raised an eyebrow. “You handled that in less than half an hour?”

“Agatha Fertility Center will cooperate. We’ll set a time for the Nat family to visit, depending on Daisy’s recovery and media interest.” Hawk left the follow-up with Caroline, telling her to coordinate with the Nats after the covert filming wrapped up.

Inside the temporary office, Steve and Wilson had started rehearsing their lines based on the script.

The first half was straightforward, but the latter part—dealing with racial discrimination—frequently had them cracking up.

“Gentlemen, please, a bit more serious. This is a very solemn issue.” While Hawk didn’t take it that seriously himself, he couldn’t say that out loud.

He flipped open a sports magazine Edward had found, showing a section on last year’s Boston incident. “Remember last year’s game against the Red Sox? Those fans hurled all kinds of abuse at you.”

Wilson looked at the magazine’s photos, showing images of fried chicken, watermelon, and bananas. His smile faded immediately.

A strong team has a collective pride, and Steve, as a Dodgers star, said, “That scene has always stayed with me.”

The two began practicing in earnest.

After a moment, something seemed off to Hawk. “When you talk to each other, don’t you usually use a lot of slang and insults?”

Steve suddenly realized. “No wonder talking to Wilson feels so unnatural.”

Edward, standing nearby, thought to himself, “Feels unnatural because he slept with your wife and fathered a Black kid for you.”

Meanwhile, Steve and Wilson began throwing in some slang and insults from their everyday banter, finally finding the right tone.

After a few more rounds of practice, Hawk instructed Edward to grab the hidden-camera briefcase and called Biles, who was stationed at the café. “Gentlemen, time to move out.”

He turned to Wilson. “Head over to the café in the medical building and find a quiet spot to wait.”

Wilson left first, with agent Cobb following.

Hawk checked his watch. “Steve, give it two minutes, then head out. Savior, take the briefcase and start tailing Steve from the entrance. Be quick, and don’t let security catch you.”

Edward grabbed the case. “Nobody catches the Savior—not even T1000.”

After they all left, Hawk trailed behind.

Caroline tried to follow, but Hawk held her back. “Stay here and keep the room secure. If someone sneaks in now and gets a photo, you lose your bonus.”

“Just let them try!” Caroline, thinking about her bonus, looked fierce as she pulled out a taser from her bag. “If anyone comes in, I’ll make sure they regret it.”

A few minutes later, Hawk arrived at the café by the medical building and, standing just outside the glass door, quickly spotted Steve and Wilson.

At a nearby table, Edward had ordered coffee and dessert, casually pretending to enjoy his afternoon. His briefcase sat angled on the table, with the camera pointed at Steve and Wilson’s table.

Hawk ordered a lemon water and quietly approached, taking a seat behind them.

“Last year, you told me you had low fertility,” Wilson said in blunt terms. “Fine, we’re brothers, so I agreed to help. But now that the kid’s born, you won’t even let me see him?”

Steve replied, “It’s not that you can’t see him. It’s just the doctor said the baby has jaundice and needs time.”

Wilson shook his head. “I don’t understand all that medical talk. So, what about the baby’s skin color? Is he like you or like me?”

“He has your skin color,” Steve replied.

Wilson whistled. “Buddy, you’re in for some challenges.” His tone shifted, becoming somber. “You and Daisy… you’re not going to treat him differently, are you?”

“What are you talking about?” Steve hesitated, searching for his lines. “You don’t know anything, understand?”

Wilson lifted his head. “Don’t underestimate me!”

Steve recalled the general idea of his line and said, “With all the friends I have, why would I choose you? You have no idea!”

Wilson, showing a bit of his knack for rhythm, replied, “How would I know if you don’t tell me?”

Steve went on, “Remember last year in Boston, playing the Red Sox? Those extremists attacked us without restraint, using the most vicious and crazy ways to insult you and the other Black guys on the team. They weren’t just insulting you—they were insulting the whole Dodgers team!”

His voice grew more intense. “This kind of thing has happened over and over. It happened before in Arlington, in Seattle. And what did I, as the team captain, do? All I could do was act like some useless guy, trying to reassure you that it was just a few people and that things would get better. But really? I couldn’t do a damn thing!”

Wilson said, “Steve, you’ve done a lot…”

Afraid he’d lose his words again, Steve pushed on while he still felt the emotion. “When we came back from Boston last year, I started thinking about how I could really support you all, how to speak up in a way that would get people’s attention. Then Daisy reminded me, and after a lot of thought, I realized that if people like Daisy and I—coming from an all-white family—could raise a Black child, it might set an example. Maybe that could help make a difference for you all!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 80: Temptation to Corruption (Please Subscribe)*

When a freelance reporter struggles to get good candid shots, Hawk advises, “Have the stars redo it, and we’ll shoot it again.” Under his direction, Steve and Wilson go up and down the stairs, chatting in the café, while Edward takes a second round of footage.

The team heads back to the temporary office, where Edward transfers the video to his laptop, making a copy right away. Hawk sits at the laptop, playing both videos one after another. The others stand behind him, watching. Even Daisy, in her wheelchair, is pushed over by Amanda to see.

After both videos play, Hawk asks, “Which one do you think is better?”

Carolyn answers first, “The second one is better; it looks entirely like a candid angle.”

Manager Byers agrees, “If I didn’t know, I’d definitely think it was just a hidden camera shot.”

The others chime in with agreement. Hawk replays the second video for one more review. Steve comments quietly, “I acted well. Hey… do you think after I retire, I could pull an O.J. Simpson and go into acting?”

Daisy snaps, “What? You want to pull an O.J. and kill your wife?”

Steve goes silent, and what he’s thinking, no one knows. Hawk closes the laptop, hands it to Edward, and tells Carolyn, “It’s up to you now.”

Carolyn nods slightly. Hawk has Edward drive him back to Los Angeles. On the way, he calls Megan Taylor. “I’ve got a big scoop.”

Megan doesn’t waste words, “Come to my office.”

The car arrives at the Fox building, and Hawk heads straight to Megan’s office, laptop in hand, without needing to check in with anyone. Megan is waiting and quickly lets him in. “Can it be a headline?” she asks.

Sitting in the lounge area, Hawk opens the laptop. “A $150,000 bombshell.”

Megan sits next to him, her eyes glued to the screen. Hawk plays the video. The shaky, oval-shaped footage clearly looks like a candid shot, the camera following a single figure. Megan recognizes him immediately. “Steve Nutt from the L.A. Dodgers?”

“That’s him,” Hawk replies.

Megan immediately connects the dots. “The paper said today that his wife Daisy is about to give birth. You didn’t get the baby, did you?”

Hawk responds, “I have my boundaries; I wouldn’t take a photo of a baby without the guardian’s consent.”

Megan glances at him briefly but is quickly drawn back to the video. The camera captures Steve sitting at a table with a bald Black man. They begin talking; though the audio is not entirely clear, their conversation is decipherable. Megan catches the key detail in their conversation: Steve Nutt and Daisy Nutt’s newborn is a test-tube baby. The father’s genetic material is from Steve’s teammate Wilson, the bald Black man.

It’s explosive news, but the conversation that follows is even more shocking. Steve used Wilson’s genetic material not only because of personal reasons but to stand with Wilson and other Black teammates who have faced discrimination repeatedly. This Dodgers star intends to make a statement of solidarity, confronting discrimination in sports through this gesture.

The video ends. Megan, silent, takes Hawk’s mouse and plays it again. As always, she pauses at crucial parts, even rewinding a few moments. When she’s done, Hawk says, “$150,000. Totally worth it.”

“Definitely worth it,” Megan says, her eyes on him. “It’s seamlessly candid, but I know your style. Why is Steve Nutt cooperating so much?”

Hawk replies calmly, “Daisy had a Black baby, and she claims the father is Steve’s teammate Wilson.”

Megan catches on immediately. “You’ve leveled up your game. Are you handling PR for the Nutts?”

Hawk neither confirms nor denies but says, “You’ve wanted to elevate entertainment news with social depth. I crafted this story just for you.”

“Am I supposed to thank you for that?” Megan doesn’t wait for an answer, adding, “Famous couple has a child, but the father is a Black friend, full of gossip potential. Then a twist: the mocked protagonist shows a shining humanity, with unexpected words and actions. Finally, it escalates to a societal issue.”

“Perfect summary,” Hawk agrees.

Curious, Megan asks, “Where did you graduate? Who was your mentor?”

Hawk answers without hesitation, “Self-taught.”

This is exactly the kind of story Megan wants. Even knowing it’s crafted by the scoundrel beside her, she can’t let it go. Sensing her thoughts, Hawk says, “Every frame and word is real. This is a true story.”

Having met with Megan several times, he knows what she wants: “This could spark a media frenzy. You could do a series, maybe even bring Steve, Daisy, and Wilson onto your show.”

Megan grabs Hawk’s arm. “You’re like Mephistopheles, tempting people to fall.” Without hesitation, she says, “What I see is what I know; $150,000, and I’ll take the video.”

Hawk proposes a new condition: “Presented by West Coast Media Entertainment Studio.”

Megan thinks for a moment, then nods. “Deal.”

Hawk extends his hand. “Pleasure doing business.”

Megan shakes his hand and adds, “Join the show’s team meeting. If you have new ideas, share them.”

“No problem,” Hawk agrees.

Megan returns to her desk, picks up the phone. “Claire, bring a storage drive and copyright transfer agreement to my office, and prepare a $150,000 check. Also, notify all department heads we’ll meet in ten minutes.”

Claire arrives promptly. Hawk copies the video, reviews the agreement, and signs it. Ten minutes later, he follows Claire to the team meeting room, taking the most inconspicuous seat.

The video plays through, leaving the room silent. Everyone sees the story’s immense potential. Megan, ever decisive, declares, “All other news is dropped tonight. We’re covering this video and its context only. Here’s the plan: Claire, contact the Dodgers. Take a van to the team and find the manager or a player, preferably Black, for a live connection during the show.”

Claire, with a cameraman, immediately heads out. Megan continues, “Alexander, get your team into the Fox archives. I want all Dodgers and MLB cases involving racial discrimination over the last three years, as well as cases from other leagues. Find the most significant, widely known examples, preferably with video.”

A middle-aged man leaves. Megan turns to a bald man. “Bill, contact the NAACP. During the show, I want to connect with a Black thought leader from their team.”

The bald man practically runs from the room. Megan then addresses a bespectacled man, “Stephen, draft a script that shifts from sports gossip to racial discrimination. I need a rough draft in two hours.”

She looks at Hawk in the corner. “Do you have anything to add?”

The team members mostly know who Hawk is, so it’s surprising enough that Megan invited him to the meeting and is asking his opinion.

“A simple overview of what in vitro fertilization involves,” Hawk suggests. “A lot of people don’t understand it.”

Megan nods slightly and assigns someone to gather related information.

The meeting ends quickly, and the team gets to work. Hawk collects his check, bids Megan farewell, and heads back to Orange County with Edward.

By 11 p.m., everyone gathers at the temporary office to watch Midnight Entertainment. Thanks to a previous scandal involving Miller Collins, the show has high viewership, with many nationwide tuning in.

In a typical Dodgers fan’s home, the wife sees the segment and shouts to her husband in the shower, “Oh my God, Steve Nutt’s child isn’t biologically his! He used his teammate Wilson’s DNA for an IVF baby with Daisy!”

Her husband, showering, replies, “Can’t be real! Celebrities say crazy things…”

“It’s definitely real,” she insists. “Steve and Wilson were caught on camera discussing it!”

The bathroom door opens with a creak as her husband steps out in a towel, standing by the TV. “It really looks candid, so it must be real. Oh God, are Steve and Wilson insane?”

The phone rings. It’s a friend from their fan club, asking, “Did you see the Steve Nutt news?”

“Yes,” he replies.

“It’s incredible!” the friend exclaims, clearly convinced. “Actually, the latest part—they did it for the team!”

Meanwhile, multiple Black players from the Dodgers have been called to the club by their Black manager, along with Claire and her cameraman, to watch Midnight Entertainment together in a conference room.

Their reactions swing from shock to anger at repeated incidents of sports discrimination, and finally to amazement at Steve’s comments. “If my white family can raise a Black child, maybe we can set an example that helps.”

The audio may be grainy, but his words reach every Black player in the room.

The manager maintains composure, but the players, quick to be stirred, are visibly moved. Two even tear up.

One of the tallest players remarks, “So Steve’s words weren’t just talk. He meant it.”

The cameraman captures the scene, just as the live connection with Midnight Entertainment begins, showing these emotional players onscreen.

The team manager is thrilled—this news is bound to boost the team’s image.

(End of Chapter)