[Chapter 62: Endorsement Plan]
"Recently, famous producer Matthew Broderick attended the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony with his wife, Sarah Parker. This couple had been married for five years, enjoying a happy family life..."
In the West Coast Media Entertainment Studio, Hawke sat at his desk, watching entertainment news.
On the other side, Edward rolled his eyes sarcastically. "What's the difference between this rotten Hollywood scene and Compton? Those gaudy female stars are just high-class streetwalkers... no, that's not right. They're more upscale, like Jacqueline."
Hawke focused on the close-up of Sarah Parker on the screen. "How does that woman manage to look so good?"
"She looks at most thirty," Edward replied, then his eyes widened in horror. "No way, boss! You've been single too long, watching those little videos, and now you've gone nuts? You really want to join in with them? I swear, that sheep is a more reliable option than this..."
Hawke was too busy working on a career plan for the contract to respond to Edward's nonsense. "A thirty-seven-year-old woman who looks under thirty is perfect for endorsing skincare products. With her current fame, she could snag a big deal."
Having been hanging around Hawke for a month, Edward had picked up a few things. "She's definitely had some work done."
Hawke started searching for information online while he spoke. "The effects of cosmetic injections can be quite apparent at first; I remember hearing about facial swelling and muscle stiffness."
Edward caught on to something. "Are we just going to shear a sheep? What if we leave her bald?"
Hawke shook his head. "I feel there's a kind of twisted love between Broderick and Sarah."
He thought he could exploit this.
Miss Sheep was a crucial figure.
Hawke seriously compiled a simple plan.
Even though the contract was mostly a formality, he called Caroline immediately after completing it.
...
The next morning, Caroline arrived at the studio.
Hawke handed her the printed plan. "Take a look."
"Is this really needed?" Caroline thought it was just a formality for the $250,000 deal. They could have just scrawled something on a piece of paper.
Hawke insisted, "I'm a man of professional ethics. You paid, so I'll definitely put in the effort."
He specially reminded her, "I don't care if you decide to use this or not; I'll treat it with the same seriousness as I did with Dwayne Johnson."
Remembering the last time, Caroline took it seriously and sat down to skim through the plan, which was simple and mainly contained suggestions for endorsements.
She recalled the questions Hawke had asked by the pool. "Did you already have a thought in mind?"
Hawke replied, "Exactly. Sarah has an advantage in this area; last time you mentioned she had cosmetic injections..."
Caroline denied it. "I never said that."
Hawke didn't argue. "Based on what I saw, Sarah seemed to have a minimal reaction to the injections; her face looks very natural right now, making her suitable for this kind of endorsement. Skincare brands often prefer actresses in her age group, and they tend to offer high fees."
He casually inquired, "By the way, when's she getting her next shot? Make sure to plan ahead."
Caroline didn't answer.
"I'm just making a suggestion or plan; how it turns out depends on you." Hawke guessed that Caroline's finances might not be abundant based on her taking a cut.
The lavish lives associated with Hermes and Chanel needed money to maintain. He gradually grasped Miss Sheep's leverage: "If you help your client land a big deal, you get a cut, right?"
Caroline vaguely replied, "Not much."
She seemed restless. "I'm leaving. Call me if you need anything."
Hawke pulled out a document. "Sign this receipt."
Caroline quickly glanced it over, picked up the pen nearby, signed it, and clicked her heels as she walked out.
Edward, who had been silent, curiously asked, "Boss, why do I feel like you're plotting something?"
Hawke took an envelope out of the drawer and tossed it to him. "Here's your bonus from the news."
Edward looked inside, seeing a hefty stack, and beamed, "No matter what you're planning, this counts as my share. If you ask me to charge ahead, I'll never step back."
That's exactly the kind of reaction Hawke wanted.
He packed two checks carefully, ready to head to the bank.
This time, regarding the dissemination and exposure of the news, he faced some setbacks.
However, in terms of finances, he had profited significantly.
Hawke sold a video to Channel 11, earning $100,000.
He signed a career planning agreement with Sarah Parker, netting $250,000.
In the month Hawke was in Los Angeles, his income, from various sources, totaled roughly $240,000.
But, this one video brought him $350,000 in total.
Additionally, he had sown a new seed, waiting for it to grow.
...
Just as he was about to leave, someone knocked on the door.
Edward went to open it, and Frank walked in, heading straight to the fridge. He opened it and asked, "You guys drink?"
"No, thanks," Hawke said, packing his bag.
Edward asked, "Old homeless man, do you have to pay taxes on your begging?"
"You ignorant pig, even cotton-picking is beneath you now," Frank retorted before getting serious. "All earned income is taxable, and begging is considered income, though low-income stuff tends to be ignored."
After Frank took a sip of beer, Hawke asked, "You came over now, do you need something?"
Frank plopped down on the couch. "The weekend's coming up, and I've got the space in front of the RV all set. Are you ready for the party?"
Hawke had been so busy dealing with Sarah and Broderick that he'd nearly forgotten. Perfect timing for a break, he said, "I was about to head out to pick up supplies."
Frank replied, "Get a grill; I'll whip up something for you all."
Everyone love a good party, so Hawke turned to Edward. "This afternoon, you drive Frank to the supermarket. We'll put the cost on the studio's tab."
Edward didn't miss a chance to tease Frank. "You can't just bring a mouth; bring all the money you've begged up."
Frank ignored him and suggested, "We could invite a few girls to liven up the atmosphere."
Edward thought for a moment. "Nicole should be free this weekend." He tentatively asked, "Boss, do you want to try inviting Miss Sheep?"
Hawke shook his head. "Invite a high-maintenance girl to mock us poor folks?"
He picked up his briefcase. "I'll head out first."
...
As he stepped out to the car, he noticed the waiver card sitting on the seat.
Hawke pulled out Erica's number and called it.
On the other end, the line connected. "Hawke?"
Hawke tentatively invited, "This weekend, Edward and I, plus a friend, are planning a barbecue party at the park. Would you have time to join us?"
Erica readily agreed, "Sure!"
After they set a time, Hawke drove off to the bank.
...
At BWR Public Relations Company, in the office of the director.
Caroline sat on the hard chair, feeling uncomfortable and shifting around.
Across from her, the senior partner and director, Roonie Chassen, closed the planning document and asked, "You came up with this?"
Caroline smirked, not denying it.
However, Roonie remarked, "While this work relates to us, it mostly falls under the purview of the talent agency."
Caroline was well aware that she couldn't manage this business without company support. She said, "Can we collaborate with Sarah's agency? Pool more resources to help her secure a big endorsement deal? The buzz for Sex and the City has been holding strong."
She understood the company aimed for profit: "If we can facilitate such a large deal, we could also take a cut on top of the PR fees."
After considering for a while, Roonie replied, "I'll take care of contacting Sarah's agency. You go find Sarah and start warming her up for this angle."
Caroline stood up. "Knowing Sarah as I do, she wouldn't refuse another endorsement."
*****
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