51-55

*Chapter 51: Playing Too Wildly*

In a second-hand business car, Hawk looked at Big Ugly, who was grimacing in pain, and asked, "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Big Ugly quickly waved his hand, "No, no, I'm fine now."

Edward added, "All three of them are in good shape."

Hawk pulled out a stack of bills, giving each of them an extra $50, and said, "Don't talk about this to anyone."

Second Ugly happily took the money and said, "We're just homeless folks. Who's going to listen to us?"

Edward cautioned, "Keep that money safe, or someone might steal it."

Hawk remembered something and asked, "Did they help hand out the business cards?"

Third Ugly nodded, "Yep, yep, and they also helped Edward collect the list..."

Edward sighed. These three fools were always giving too much information.

Hawk rarely offered advice but said, "You guys are strong, living on the streets. It's probably better if you pick up a few bad habits."

Big Ugly and Second Ugly looked at each other, then asked Third Ugly, "What's he mean?"

Third Ugly shook his head, "No idea."

Edward, recalling something Hawk once said, clarified, "Just avoid those free health checkups, got it?"

Big Ugly didn't quite understand, but he trusted Edward and nodded, "Got it."

Second Ugly scratched his head, "Aren't those charity events?"

Third Ugly chimed in, "Ackerman Charity Foundation is organizing free health checkups. They’re even treating homeless people’s illnesses. A few who had hidden diseases were taken away for treatment a while ago, and after getting better, they didn’t come back. I heard they found new jobs out of town, and a lot of people envy them."

Hawk pointed at Edward and said, "Just listen to him."

Edward first drove the Ugly trio to their destination before taking Hawk to Century City, where they entered the William Morris building.

In the same meeting room as before, Johnson, Dani, and Caroline were already waiting.

Johnson had an ice pack pressed to his face, with two swollen spots.

Hawk quickly stopped him, "Don’t let those marks disappear; you need to keep them. The more obvious, the better. When the reporters interview you, those are your badges of honor."

Caroline jumped in, "I told him, but Dwayne didn’t listen." She gestured dramatically, "Hillbilly, you keep trying."

Hawk flipped her the bird and told Johnson, "If the swelling goes down, given our contract, I’ll have to personally redo it. By the way, my style’s a bit different. I specialize in crotch kicks, throat locks, and eye pokes."

Caroline whistled, "Dwayne’s favorite!"

Johnson, unable to take it anymore, flipped her off in return, setting down the ice pack and asking Hawk, "What did you call her last time?"

Hawk replied, "Miss Bleat."

Johnson tried it out, "Bleat... Miss Bleat."

Caroline, with her thick skin, said, "Gentlemen, we’re here to discuss business. Stay on topic."

Hawk was already connecting his laptop to the projector and hit play, saying, "Dwayne did great—brave and fearless."

The video wasn’t long, starting with the scenery and a woman screaming for help, ending with Johnson getting in the car and leaving with the woman. It was all shot from a bystander’s perspective.

During the video, there were rapid camera movements and heavy breathing, clearly showing the camera person running.

The angle was unique, not revealing Jacqueline’s face clearly.

Dani commented, "The footage is great. Just watching it, I’d think Johnson really stopped a crime."

Hawk didn’t bother with modesty, "I told you, I’m a pro at this."

Caroline, serious when it came to work, added, "Not bad. The angle shifts are fast and rough, and the breathing is almost like moaning. The shooting quality is amateurish to the max, making it super authentic."

She wasn’t sure if she was complimenting or mocking Hawk, but she said, "You’re definitely the expert at sneaky filming."

Hawk ignored the jab and asked, "If the video works for you, I’ll send it to Channel 11 later."

With the recent surge in popularity of the "Midnight Entertainment" show, Dani emphasized, "It has to go on 'Midnight Entertainment.'"

"No problem," Hawk said, then asked, "Are you all set on the media side?"

Caroline replied, "I’ve arranged everything. When Dwayne goes out, reporters will snap photos of his injuries. They’ll ask what happened, and Dwayne won’t say much, just that it was a small incident."

She followed a traditional method, "By 6 p.m., news of Dwayne’s injury will be on Yahoo Entertainment, movie forums, and some entertainment bloggers’ sites, setting the stage for tomorrow."

Hawk grasped the key point, "Doing good deeds without leaving your name? Better to let the media expose it instead."

Caroline smiled, "Not too dumb."

Hawk responded, "Bleat..."

Caroline’s expression darkened, but before she could react, her phone rang. She answered quickly, then looked at Johnson, "The reporters are here. Let’s go."

Johnson pointed at his face, "Do I need makeup?"

Caroline pushed him, "Hurry, don’t waste time."

Hawk packed up his laptop, unplugged the projector, and followed them out a little later. He wanted to see how traditional media operations worked, so he stood by the glass door, watching the front entrance.

Johnson exited alone, heading to the parking lot when a few reporters suddenly rushed out, snapping pictures of him.

One of them, noticing his facial injuries, asked curiously, "Rock, how’d you get hurt?"

Johnson gave a well-practiced, friendly smile and said, "It’s nothing, just a little thing."

The reporters pressed for more, but Johnson didn’t answer further and got in his car to leave.

"Looks pretty ordinary, right?" Caroline appeared beside Hawk, "Not as wild as you."

Hawk replied, "Times are changing."

Caroline cautioned, "Play too wild, and you might break something that can’t be fixed."

"Let’s keep in touch," Hawk said as he grabbed his laptop bag and headed to Fox Television Center, also in Beverly Hills.

On the way, he called Megan Taylor and set up a meeting.

Before long, Hawk arrived at Channel 11 and met Megan in the reception room.

Her newly dyed blonde hair was tied up, held in place with a pen.

"Is it headline material?" Megan got straight to the point, "If not, talk to someone else. I’m short on time."

Hawk assured her, "I got it from someone else, but it’s definitely attention-grabbing."

Megan turned around, watching the video with Hawk.

The shaky footage, heavy breathing, and rapid running clearly suggested an emergency situation.

After watching the video once, Megan replayed it, pausing at one point to zoom in on Johnson’s face.

She examined it closely, then let the video continue.

Megan could tell the video wasn’t edited or post-processed and asked, "Where’d you get this?"

"From a source," Hawk replied.

With three major headlines recently, Megan admired Hawk’s ability to get big stories, "You always get the juicy stuff."

Hawk told the truth, "I’ve handed out tens of thousands of business cards across L.A., and I pay sources and copyright fees more than any studio."

Looking at the video, Megan didn’t doubt it. Most explosive media stories came this way.

But for bigger outlets, sources weren’t just ordinary people—many came from big corporations or even Congress, involving complex exchanges of interests.

The story was intriguing and had plenty of hooks. Megan decided to buy it. After some negotiation, they settled on $10,000.

The headline for tonight’s "Midnight Entertainment" was secured.

After signing the licensing agreement and receiving the check, Hawk ran into Megan again.

"Interested in joining my team?" Megan offered, "I can give you a good spot."

Hawk tapped the check in his hand, "How much can you offer for a weekly salary?"

Megan didn’t flinch, "Forget I said anything."

Hawk slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out alone.

Megan entered the production room and asked, "Got a headline? Ready yet?"

A male editor responded, "Got one: ‘Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Fights Robbers to Save a Woman—A Real-Life Hero!’"

Megan wasn’t satisfied, "That’s not headline-worthy enough! Besides Johnson’s heroism, we need to dig deeper."

She pointed to the three Black men on the screen, "L.A.’s worsening crime problem is spreading from downtown to the wealthy suburbs."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Now the video wasn’t just gossip; it had social depth.

*Chapter 52: Public Opinion Frenzy*

In the morning, Hawk changed out of his workout clothes and came downstairs, just as Edward walked in carrying a pile of newspapers. Before he could shut the door, a large foot wedged its way in.

Frank shamelessly said, "I'll take the newspapers after you're done reading them."

Edward, who had paid for the newspapers himself, wasn't having it. "Could you at least have some decency? You're like an old beggar coming into my house to mooch. I’ll call the cops on you!"

Frank sneered. "Oh, what, did your ancestors grow the cotton for these papers?"

Seeing he couldn’t win this argument, Edward switched tactics and launched a verbal attack. "Don't let me find out who your ex-wife is, the one you're stuck babysitting for." He flashed a grin, showing off his bright white teeth. "Or else..."

Frank felt like his head was about to explode.

Hawk came over and grabbed a few newspapers from Edward, flipping through the entertainment section. Almost every paper prominently featured headlines about Johnson.

"Johnson fights off three thugs, rescues a woman in distress!"

"The Rock, a real-life hero!"

"Both on-screen and off, Johnson proves to be a hero."

Frank glanced over Hawk's shoulder, eyeing the articles. "Does this have something to do with you?"

Hawk couldn’t tell the whole truth. "I arranged for the news to get out."

"Are you sure you didn't get duped?" Frank snatched a paper and read it carefully, frowning. "Something feels off. The Rock’s new movie The Scorpion King is about to be released, and now suddenly he's a hero in real life?"

"This really happened," Hawk said, tucking the entertainment headlines into a drawer along with previous stories. "I sold the video to Channel 11 last night. Midnight Entertainment aired it as the lead story."

Frank coughed, "Congrats on making another buck. How about treating us to dinner?"

This scoundrel wanted a free meal. Hawk wasn’t going to give in easily. "Bring your ex-wives along, and I'll throw a party—a big one."

Frank, unfazed by shame, grinned, "How about this weekend? We can have a party by the trailer. Bring your girlfriends, too."

Edward, ever the opportunist, chimed in, "Tell me your ex-wives' names. I'll help you bring them."

Frank ignored him.

Hawk checked the time. "We better head out. It's time to get to work."

He patted Frank on the shoulder and handed him a broken ashtray. "You should get to work too. Go set this up by the road."

Frank snorted, took the ashtray, grabbed the newspapers, and headed outside. Hawk and Edward followed him out the door.

Frank stopped by the sidewalk and asked, "Where's your security camera? I didn’t see it. Did you even install one?"

Hawk responded simply, "It’s hidden outside. Too easy to damage otherwise."

Frank, ever the shameless one, placed the broken ashtray on the sidewalk, spread out the newspapers, and sat down. Whether people gave him money or not, it was up to fate.

Edward, always ready to take a jab, pulled out a dime and tossed it into the ashtray. "Don't mention it."

Frank replied, "Thanks."

Hawk couldn’t hold back, "You two are something else."

He walked to the passenger side of the car. "Let’s go."

Edward eagerly got behind the wheel, and they left East Hollywood, heading straight for Beverly Hills. They soon arrived at William Morris.

As Hawk stepped out of the car, he noticed Johnson surrounded by a group of reporters in the parking lot. Not far away, Caroline was watching from the side by a Mercedes.

She waved when she saw Hawk.

Hawk quickly walked over. "How’s the response to the show?"

Caroline adjusted her high heels and said, "Twelve media outlets showed up, including The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair, Variety, and People."

She continued with a slight edge to her tone, "All legitimate entertainment outlets, not trash like National Enquirer."

Hawk picked up on the sarcasm and shot back, "You use newspapers in the bathroom? Impressive. Don’t you worry about chafing?"

Caroline pretended not to hear him, tilting her head up, her light red Chanel suit making her look like a flamingo.

Last night’s broadcast of Midnight Entertainment's headline story, along with today's media coverage, had skyrocketed Johnson’s popularity. Reporters were crowding around him, trying to get firsthand details. Photographers kept snapping pictures of the scratches on Johnson’s face.

Johnson proudly showed off his injuries, treating them like badges of honor from his heroic deed. But he remained humble, repeatedly telling the reporters, "I just did what any man should do."

After nearly an hour of chaos, Johnson finally managed to get inside William Morris.

Hawk followed him in.

As they reached the meeting rooms, Johnson called out to Hawk, "You were right, man! These injuries alone are getting me two headline stories."

Hawk glanced at Johnson's schedule. "Don’t see a doctor just yet. You've got a talk show this week. Go on with the injuries."

Johnson clapped Hawk on the shoulder. "I’ll take your advice."

Caroline chimed in, "I told you the same thing before Hawk did."

But people have a funny way of valuing outside opinions more. Johnson smiled seriously. "But Hawk explained it more thoroughly and flexibly."

Just then, Dany Garcia walked in and handed Hawk an envelope. "This is for you."

Hawk opened it to find an invitation to the premiere of The Scorpion King. "An invitation and tickets to the premiere."

Dany smiled. "A gift from Dwayne just for you."

Hawk handed the tickets to Edward for safekeeping. "Thanks."

"No problem," Johnson joked. "But you can't walk the red carpet. You go straight into the theater."

Hawk wasn’t interested in the red carpet anyway. "How about you help me get some more clients?"

Johnson thought for a moment. He actually had a friend who might need help, especially since the usual approach wasn’t working. "Sure thing."

Dany, meanwhile, was browsing on her laptop. "Online engagement is through the roof."

Hawk and the others gathered around to see. Many websites, blogs, and forums were sharing the video of Johnson’s heroic act. If there were an award for bravery, Johnson would surely win it, given the media frenzy.

The online comments were overwhelmingly positive.

"Perfectly fitting for The Rock. Johnson never disappoints."

"In real life, too, The Rock is someone you can rely on."

"Strong, brave, and admirable."

"Even though he got hurt, he somehow looks even more charming."

"The movies may be fake, but Dwayne Johnson is the real deal."

Caroline remarked, "Public relations companies like Full Speed have done studies showing that public enthusiasm for actors often translates into increased interest in their films."

Dany added, "The studio will also ramp up its promotion of Dwayne."

"Let the buzz build," Hawk said, already planning. "Tomorrow, I'll arrange for the woman he saved to publicly thank him. But she wants to keep her personal life private, so she won’t appear on camera."

Caroline agreed. "That’s a good plan. Keep the momentum going."

Dany refreshed her screen. "Good news. Dwayne's heroic act has made it into the top three Google searches."

Johnson beamed with pride.

Later that afternoon, The Scorpion King producer Stephen Sommers called Johnson. "Great job! Ticket presales jumped 20% today."

The next morning, Hawk met with Jacqueline, the woman Johnson had saved, and recorded a pixelated video of her thanking him. Since Midnight Entertainment had originally aired the heroism footage, it made sense for them to follow up with the new content.

Hawk also gave Megan Taylor a call.

*Chapter 53: Celebrities and Crime*

At the Fox Television Center, in the reception room of Channel 11.

Hawk turned his laptop screen around and pushed it in front of Megan Taylor, saying, "My news contact found the girl Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson rescued. The girl wants to publicly thank him, so she recorded this video."

What Megan saw, however, was a blurred face. "No original version?"

Hawk shook his head. "She wants to keep her life peaceful and doesn't want to be bothered by the media."

Megan crossed her arms, lightly tapping her left arm with her right hand, her tone seductive. "The price for showing her face and not showing her face is very different. It makes a big difference."

Hawk spread his hands. "I can't have your show violate image rights and get sued, can I?"

Megan replied, "Don't worry, we have the best legal consultants."

"I still can't help it. She really doesn't want to be disturbed," Hawk said before asking, "Can the video make the headlines?"

Megan thought for a moment. "The video doesn't quite fit with the theme of the show, but I'll leave a little time after the headline news."

"I watched your show yesterday," Hawk added, "The spread of crime to the wealthy suburbs in the west—great topic, but it feels more suited for social news."

Megan, ambitious, said, "News about Hollywood celebrities and crime groups has more value. You could keep digging into Robert Downey Jr.’s case, for example—who was the drug dealer he dealt with? Did other Hollywood stars buy from him? Is there a large drug network involved? There are rumors of mysterious organizations inside Hollywood..."

Hawk interrupted her. "I just want to make money, not risk my life."

Megan stared at Hawk for a moment before saying, "Keep an eye on that kind of news. If you can capture it, the show will pay top dollar for it."

"We'll see about my luck," Hawk said as he took the storage drive provided by Channel 11 to transfer the video.

They quickly agreed on a price. Since the video was just a derivative story, with the girl's face blurred, it was only worth $2,000.

Megan took the storage drive and was about to leave when she suddenly said, "If you find more Hollywood celebrities willing to cooperate and create stories like this, bring them to me."

Hawk wasn’t surprised she saw through it. "As long as the price is right."

Megan added, "And don't forget about my 'Celebrities and Crime' story."

Hawk suddenly remembered something—there was a rumor from the Sundance Film Festival closing that Winona Ryder had stolen nuclear launch codes. He quickly searched the rumor online, but so far, no one had provided solid evidence.

Based on online news, since January, Winona Ryder had been followed by a swarm of paparazzi wherever she went.

The competition was too fierce, and Hawk had no interest in jumping into the fray.

He signed the agreement, collected his $2,000 check, and went downstairs to his car.

Just then, Danny Garcia called to check on the situation. Hawk quickly filled her in.

The gratitude video airing tonight would extend the news cycle, tying into Johnson's upcoming talk show appearance, keeping the buzz alive until The Scorpion King premiered.

Hawk then headed to the accounting firm recommended by Johnson—tax season was upon them.

American taxes are notoriously complicated, and the average person can’t make sense of them.

And with the IRS's reputation, avoiding taxes was never a good option.

As Hawk left the accounting firm, Edward called.

The guy was shouting excitedly, "Boss! I got a call from a source. Britney Spears is arguing with her dad in public! I'm on my way!"

Hawk ran toward his car. "Where?"

"Beverlywood, on West Olympic Boulevard."

Hawk hung up and sped off in that direction.

By the time he got there, the street was packed with photographers and cameramen, at least 30 of them.

As for Britney and her father, they were already in their SUV.

A swarm of paparazzi was still crowding around the car, taking photos.

Getting an exclusive was out of the question, so Hawk didn’t even bother squeezing into the crowd. Instead, he got out of his car and jumped onto a nearby planter for a better view, but all he could see were heads.

A guy with a camera came over from the crowd, spotted Hawk standing up high, and walked over. "Dude, you're late. No fresh news for you."

Hawk looked down and realized it was Daniel Richards, the reporter he had met at the Robert Downey Jr. incident. Testing the waters, he asked, "Daniel Richards?"

"That’s me." Daniel came over and said, "I forgot to ask your name last time."

Hawk jumped down from the planter and introduced himself, "Hawk Osmon."

Daniel nodded and smiled. "I got here early today. The stuff I got should sell for at least $5,000!"

He waved as he walked off. "Later, man. I’ve got money to make."

Hawk could hear the bragging in his tone, likely a payback for last time.

Edward squeezed out of the crowd, drenched in sweat. "It's crazy in there. Everyone's like animals, nothing like the calm elegance when we shoot. They're completely nuts."

Hawk asked, "Did you get anything?"

Edward shook his head. "By the time I got here, Britney and her dad had finished arguing and were getting into the car. The photos I got aren’t worth much."

Hawk took the camera, flipped through the pictures, and said, "No value. Let’s head back."

With so many reporters around, there was no way to sell those photos for a decent price.

Edward climbed into the beat-up van, following Hawk back to the studio.

Hawk handed him a bottle of water. "The tip came from a source?"

Edward gulped down half the bottle and said, "By the time the source noticed, reporters were already taking pictures. I was late to the scene."

Edward, always loyal, added, "Ran through gas money and paid the source $20 for the tip. Got nothing out of it."

Hawk, however, remained calm. "It’s business—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."

Edward, who had fought through a sea of paparazzi today, had a rare moment of clarity. "We’ve chased a lot of tips from sources, but never scored an exclusive. Relying on sources doesn’t seem reliable."

Hawk agreed. "The highest we ever made from a source tip was $280, that one time you shot it."

Edward did some quick mental math but couldn’t figure it out, so he just said, "Relying on tips from sources, we don’t make much. It’s like working a regular job. I’d be better off chasing rich, divorced women with kids."

His eyes glazed over. "At least then, even though it’s exhausting, you get something out of it…"

Hawk added, "Relying on ordinary people for news tips is hit-or-miss. Sometimes you strike gold, but it’s all down to luck."

"God doesn’t favor Black men." Edward, now more confident after making some money, said with pride, "Boss, tips from sources aren’t reliable. We need to create news, control the product."

Hawk fully agreed. "It’s all about catching the right opportunities." He pulled out an invitation. "I can bring one person to The Scorpion King premiere. You’re coming with me. Get a suit ready."

Edward, dreading the thought of wearing formal clothes, shook his head repeatedly. "No, no way!"

Hawk easily persuaded him. "If you're lucky, you might meet a rich, divorced Hollywood actress."

Edward straightened up. "Boss, I think you need someone to carry your bags."

Hawk, however, was serious. "You need to start learning more, at least get your math right. The studio won’t stay in the news production business forever."

Edward slumped in his seat. "Just kill me now."

*Chapter 54: Relationships Stacked on Relationships*

Just before the end of April, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's movie The Scorpion King premiered in North America.

Hawk, along with his assistant Edward, arrived at the Chieftain Stone Theater before the red carpet started. They soon ran into the tall, square-faced Catherine and her devoted companion, Eric.

Catherine hugged Hawk tightly, saying, "What happened in Park City was like a miracle. You truly opened the doors to the film industry for Eric and me."

Hawk joked, "If you ever go bankrupt from investing in movies, don't blame me."

Catherine replied seriously, "That would only happen if I got too carried away and didn't hire you to run my film business."

Hawk appreciated the compliment and joked with Eric, "She's praising me too much—falling from this height would be rough." He then looked at Catherine but directed his question to Eric: "Don't you think Catherine is becoming more charming?"

With his hands in his pockets, Eric smiled and said, "I'm just happy because The Heights is doing well in the video market. After Castle Rock Entertainment bought it, they recouped the investment in less than a month through video and DVD sales."

With newfound confidence, he added, "Castle Rock has decided to invest in my next film."

Catherine corrected him, "Remember, it's our next film."

Eric's confidence quickly deflated as he nodded, "Yes, yes, our next film."

As they were talking, a well-dressed couple passed by. The man, noticing someone familiar, slowed down. His name was Miller Collins, and he couldn't take his eyes off Eric, who exuded an artistic charm that intrigued him.

His wife, Maria, was holding their young daughter's hand. The little girl asked, "Daddy, why did you stop?"

Miller caught up with them and pointed out, "I just saw a few people we met at Tracy's Gym."

Maria glanced in their direction and agreed that they looked familiar. The family hurried into the VIP room.

Meanwhile, Eric felt uneasy, like someone was watching him. He looked around but only saw the backs of the departing family.

Hawk noticed and asked, "Are you waiting for someone?"

Catherine perked up her ears.

Eric shook his head, "No, I just felt like someone was staring at me, but I couldn't spot anyone."

Hawk joked, "Maybe a beautiful woman has her eye on you."

Eric quickly reassured them, "My heart belongs to Catherine; I'm not interested in any other women."

Catherine was pleased. Having a director with a film on the market praising her had elevated her status in the industry.

They chatted for a bit before heading into the VIP room together. Inside, Hawk didn't recognize many people. Eric, being a video director, wasn't well-known in Hollywood, and Catherine wasn't officially part of the film industry either.

As they found a place to sit and chat, Edward, feeling restless, excused himself to wander around. The film crew and key members started arriving, including Dwayne Johnson's manager and wife, Dany Garcia.

Dany approached Hawk and said, "Just wait a bit. Dwayne will introduce you to Stephen Sommers."

Hawk smiled, "No rush."

A little while later, Johnson came over, and Hawk followed him to meet the film crew.

Stephen Sommers, a well-known Hollywood director, was famous for The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. Johnson introduced Hawk, and Stephen shook hands with him, saying, "Your promotional work has been impressive. It’s really boosted Dwayne’s profile, and the film is benefiting from it."

Hawk replied, "I hope it helps the box office."

Stephen offered a polite, "It will. You're a promising young man." Then, he quickly moved on.

Johnson commented, "Hollywood big shots are all like that. It's not just you—even I barely get more than a few words with him."

The difference in power and status was obvious. Hawk understood that while Johnson's wrestling fame had given him a leg up, he was still a newcomer in Hollywood.

Suddenly, Johnson remembered something. "There’s someone else I want to introduce you to. Got a moment?"

Hawk immediately knew it was probably someone with an issue. Being the helpful type, he smiled and said, "Lead the way."

Johnson scanned the crowd until he spotted a tall girl. He motioned for Hawk to follow him over.

As they approached, Hawk sized her up. She wasn’t particularly tall but had a great figure and a pretty, slightly tanned face. It was unclear if it was a tan or if, like Johnson, she had some African ancestry.

Johnson introduced her, "This is Allison Faith. I’m good friends with her mother. Allison, this is Hawk Osmon, founder of West Coast Entertainment Studio."

Allison responded cheerfully, "Nice to meet you."

Hawk politely acknowledged her.

Johnson then asked, "Where’s your mother? I don’t see her around."

Allison replied, "She was here earlier but ran into a charming guy. She’s chatting with him now."

Hawk had a hunch it might be Edward.

Allison, seemingly dependent on her mother, said, "I’ll go find her."

After she left, Johnson explained, "Allison used to be a child star and singer. She was pretty popular before she turned 15, but her irresponsible father squandered all her earnings. Her parents divorced, and they fought for her custody. Her career has been stalled for years. She hasn’t released any new music or had many opportunities to perform."

Hawk immediately understood the key point. "She wants to make a comeback?"

"Exactly. She and her mother are eager to revive her career," Johnson confirmed. "Now that the divorce is settled, Allison’s an adult and has signed with a new record label. She might release an album this year."

Hawk was already thinking ahead. A divorced woman with a recently adult daughter, and a "charming guy"...

Sure enough, Allison returned with her mother, Joanna, and trailing behind them was Edward.

Joanna, a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman who looked like an older version of her daughter, gave Edward a glance before turning to Hawk.

Johnson introduced them, and after a few pleasantries, he said to Joanna, "You should take some time to talk to Hawk. He’s got great skills when it comes to image building and managing public personas. He might be able to help Allison."

Joanna, still eyeing Edward, smiled and asked, "Do you have a business card?"

Hawk handed her one and said, "Feel free to call me anytime. I can offer a variety of solutions and options."

Trusting Johnson’s words, Joanna replied, "We’ll have to sit down and discuss it."

As the crew began to head to the screening room, Hawk stayed behind for a moment, watching Joanna and Allison walk ahead. He wondered how to make a faded child star shine again. For now, he set the thought aside.

Later, Hawk bumped into Eric, who suggested, "How about grabbing a drink after the movie?"

Hawk agreed, "Sure, my treat."

They took their seats in the third row, with Eric and Catherine sitting next to them. Behind them, in the fourth row, was none other than Miller Collins and his family.

*Chapter 55: Zero Times and Countless Times*

Inside the cinema, Hawk pushed down the seat and sat down first.

Next to him, Eric also took his seat.

In the same row, a woman kept glancing over—Joanna.

Edward turned his head and flashed a wide smile at her.

Hawk whispered, "Man, aren't you playing the field a bit too much?"

Edward, feeling completely confident in this area, replied in a know-it-all tone, "Boss, you just don't get it, do you? Look, I’m currently dating Nicole from the shelter, but feelings change quickly, so I always need to plan ahead, right? Can’t risk being homeless if we break up, can I?"

He lectured, "That's why you always need a backup plan. Deborah is one option, and Joanna could be another."

Hawk could only respond, "You're really thinking ahead. No wonder you're the man saving the world."

Eric then reminded them, "The movie's about to start. Quiet down."

Hawk stopped talking. The lights dimmed, and the large screen lit up.

In the row behind them, Miller Collins was watching the artsy type in front of him, squirming uncomfortably in his seat as if there were needles under him.

Everyone around was focused on the movie, and someone nearby casually crossed their legs.

Miller stretched, his long legs kicking forward and accidentally hitting the seat in front.

Eric felt a vibration under him, like something had nudged the seat, and he quickly turned around.

Miller immediately apologized, "Sorry, I accidentally kicked your seat."

With the polite apology, Eric could only respond, "No problem."

Maria, startled, asked, "What’s going on, dear?"

Miller pulled his feet back and said, "Just accidentally kicked the seat in front..."

The minor disturbance quickly settled, and the room returned to quiet.

Once the movie ended, the audience broke into applause, but it only lasted about two minutes.

Eric thought to himself, "This crowd really lacks enthusiasm."

After the cast took their bows, Hawk left the theater along with most of the audience.

Catherine went home alone.

Hawk, Eric, and Edward headed to a nearby bar for drinks.

After the premiere, many guests also stopped by for a drink.

"Check it out, that British chick is something else," Eric gestured with his eyes, "She’s got looks and a great body."

Hawk turned to glance and said, "That's Rachel Weisz, lead actress from The Mummy series. If you like that type, go for it. Just remember, you're a director, and they say actresses tend to loosen their belts around directors."

Eric shook his head, "Her current boyfriend is a director too."

Edward suddenly interjected, "Who’s this director? That’s selfish!"

Hawk and Eric were baffled and looked at Edward in surprise.

Edward explained, "She used to be shared property, and now that director’s made her private. Isn’t that selfish?"

Eric was shocked, asking Hawk, "Where did you find this kind of talent?"

Seeing his younger brother giving him such an odd reputation, Hawk quickly raised his glass to hide his face, saying, "Special job, special talent."

Eric, thinking about Hawk’s studio, quietly pointed at Rachel Weisz and asked, "How can you dig up some big news on stars like her?"

Hawk became serious, "Stars getting drunk at a bar is newsworthy, but not too valuable."

He pointed at Edward, "If the 'savior' spits in her face and it's caught on camera, that’s a six-figure headline."

Edward quickly shook his head, "She's not divorced and doesn’t have kids; I'm not interested in spitting on her."

Hawk glared, "It was just an example, you get it?"

Eric thought he understood, but also felt out of his depth. "Every industry has its own tricks."

Suddenly inspired, he asked, "Can I experience life at your place and use your industry as the background for a script?"

Hawk sized him up, thinking, "Free labor, nice." He said, "Sure, you want to experience life, come anytime. But just know, you'll need to get your salary from Catherine."

Eric replied, "Once I finish the first draft of the script, I'll come over."

"Anytime," Hawk agreed.

Due to Catherine's controlling nature, Eric received a reminder text, and the three didn't stay out drinking for too long, parting ways after less than an hour.

The next day, the equipment Hawk ordered arrived.

It included a laptop, video camera, storage drives, and other electronics.

After Edward passed his "test," Hawk set him up with the equipment so the "savior" could save the world.

The gear was all second-hand, from a closed-down independent media studio.

Hawk handed everything over to Edward and said, "Get familiar with the gear as soon as possible; this will all be for your personal use from now on."

He added a specific reminder, "When you capture valuable footage, make sure to copy it from the camera, and don’t carry the copy with you."

Edward, having watched how Hawk handled things, promised, "Don’t worry, boss."

After spending the morning learning the new gear, Edward went out to find some news, hoping to earn his day’s pay.

Meanwhile, Hawk was organizing paperwork to apply for a California gun permit, so he could legally carry a firearm.

There was a set procedure for this, and his identity as "Hawk Osmond" was clean, so as long as he followed the steps, he’d likely be approved.

Then came new work tasks.

To grow the studio, they needed more money.

Waiting around for big stories to pop up wasn’t sustainable. The real money-makers were the stories they created and sold themselves.

Hawk's focus remained on his four main targets.

He’d already far exceeded expectations with the first: catching Robert Downey Jr. red-handed.

His second target, Bro Derek, an executive at Ackman Studios, was next on the list.

When Hawk first arrived in Los Angeles, he had already dug up dirt on Bro Derek—catching Robert Downey Jr. and Derek’s wife, Sarah Parker, having an affair.

But things didn’t go as planned; instead of a divorce, Derek publicly supported his wife, painting an image of a loving couple.

Hawk figured they were like a Hollywood power couple with shared interests, similar to Beckham and Victoria.

Despite their public image, Hawk suspected there was dirt to uncover.

He dug through his files and saw that both Bro Derek and Sarah Parker had been making appearances at promotions for the new season of Sex and the City.

Since public figures like Parker had more public information available, Hawk decided to focus on her.

As the saying goes, a woman cheats either zero times or countless times.

Especially a celebrity who’s never had to tighten her belt.

Hawk searched online and found that Sex and the City had a big event coming up in Los Angeles, which Parker would attend.

He jotted down the time and place, planning to crash the event.

Before the weekend arrived, The Scorpion King was released in theaters across North America, and Hawk kept an eye on its performance.

The better the box office, the more he stood to gain.

This was another form of capital.

It would also boost Dwayne Johnson's confidence in him, leading to potential recommendations for West Coast Entertainment Studio.