[Chapter 74: The Angel Is About to Descend]
Upon hearing that Sarah Jessica Parker had accepted the proposal, Hawke felt reassured; the first step had been a success.
He asked, "Which brand is still negotiating? Is the price off?"
"It's not just the price, but also the brand image," Caroline said proudly as she spoke on her forte, almost as if she were a teacher talking to elementary school kids. "Sarah is a major television star now; while she's not at the level of the top movie actresses, she still commands a huge fanbase and influence. Mid-tier brands are simply not in our consideration, even if they offer a high price."
Hawke feigned humility, "I just got wind of a big story. I heard Miller Collins is getting sued by a brand for breach of contract. Will there be any cosmetics endorsements on the line?"
Caroline was particularly pleased with his low profile, "Of course there will be. A brand has to assume responsibility relative to the amount they pay. If issues arise due to personal reasons, the brand certainly has the right to pursue a breach of contract."
Hawke casually posed, "What if Broderick physically abused Sarah and messed up her face? Would that count as a breach?"
"That wouldn't count," Caroline thought to herself that this guy was a bit dense. "Your own footage shows that Broderick's feelings for Sarah are very complicated; it's a distorted kind of love. From what I've observed, Broderick would rather get hurt than let Sarah take any damage."
Hawke said directly, "I can't understand that."
Caroline smirked, "I can't comprehend it either, which is why we'll never become stars or be a part of their world."
Hawke concluded, "Because we're not twisted enough."
Caroline agreed, "Exactly. We're normal people, while the ones who thrive in Hollywood are a bunch of weirdos. Like the couples on set; as long as they're not exposed, they act like they don't even exist."
"That kind of love is very peculiar," Hawke said worryingly, stopping himself from asking too much to avoid raising suspicions. He switched the subject back to Caroline: "You made this big deal happen, so you have to be getting a nice commission."
Caroline replied, "It's alright, definitely better than the hard-earned cash you're making."
"I'm starting a business, working hard for my own career," Hawke shot back. "If you have any suitable business on your end, you know my expertise -- fixing difficult problems."
Caroline looked down her nose at him, "Your methods are too out there; not sticking to the conventional path will eventually backfire."
Hawke pretended he didn't hear her: "If you can successfully introduce me to a deal, I'll give you a cut."
Caroline's expression changed immediately, her demeanor brightened like a cheerful lamb: "No problem."
At that moment, her phone rang as she walked over to the window to answer. After a brief conversation, she quickly hung up and patted her Hermes bag: "I've got an urgent matter, I need to leave now. Please apologize to them for me."
Hawke stood up and walked outside, casually asking, "What happened?"
Caroline quickly replied, "The baseball star Steve Nutt, his pregnant model wife Daisy is having contractions and has gone to a hospital in Orange County. There's a media frenzy following them; I need to rush over."
Hawke nodded, "Good luck with everything."
The sound of Caroline's high heels echoed as she quickly disappeared. Hawke returned to the conference room and briefly summarized, but the others didn't pay much attention.
...
After the party wrapped up, Hawke and Edward drove back to the studio.
Nicole called Edward, mentioning that there were a lot of no-shows at the shelter today and asked if he could help out. Hawke decided to give Edward a break.
He grabbed some beers and that Taser gun, crossed Fountain Street, and made his way to the parking lot where he found Frank lounging beneath a sun umbrella on a reclining chair.
The old guy wasn't shy at all; he tucked the Taser gun away and accepted the beer from Hawke, popping open a can to take a swig before gesturing toward a nearby folding chair: "Make yourself comfortable."
Hawke cracked his own can of beer, saying, "You're living the good life, taking it easy every day."
"You could too," Frank said, nodding toward the open space nearby. "A few grand could get you an old RV; you could drive it over, and we'd be neighbors."
He then passed over the broken ashtray Hawke gave him: "Don't forget this; set it up by the roadside. No investment needed."
Hawke replied, "I'm not like you. I don't have a bunch of old friends helping me out. Just claiming territory on the street would get me beat up."
Even begging had its own territories.
Frank chimed in, "No worries, I've got your back."
Hawke shifted topics, clinking his can with Frank's: "Thanks for that phone call."
Frank countered, "In others' eyes, this might look like a simple favor, but for anything major, think they'd lend a hand?"
Hawke could see more: "It's not a small matter for me. It saves me a lot of headaches. The gang I've helped arrest aren't fools; they can sniff out that I have a PD exemption card and a connection with a big shot from PD."
Frank interjected, "And you're also involved with a wealthy young lady from PD; that chick shot little Robert Downey Jr. in public and didn't get blamed at all; her rank even went up a level. If that were a regular cop, I'd lose my head just to give you a football."
Hawke continued from earlier: "It's been days now, and every night I've been sleeping with a gun, but these gang people haven't come looking for trouble."
"That shows they're not idiots," Frank said, thinking about the studio across from them and burst into laughter, then added, "Your place is too intimidating for them to come near."
Hawke remarked, "I also designed a few little gadgets, but it seems I won't need them now."
Frank bluntly said, "At the rate you're getting into trouble, you'll be needing them soon. I strongly suggest you stock up; I feel like having too few won't be enough."
Hawke found that very reasonable, "I'll swing by the hardware store later."
Frank ushered him, "Let's go. I'm old; I've had my time. You won't squeeze any juice out of me, and you won't find any connections."
The old man was shrewd, so Hawke didn't linger, saying, "I'll take you out for a drink another day."
Frank responded, "Leave all the beers behind."
...
Hawke returned to the studio, standing by the window, glancing at the RV across the street.
Networks of relationships developed step by step, radiating outward through connections.
Frank, Eric, Catherine, Dwayne Johnson, Miss Baa, Erica, Megan Taylor, and even Edward could serve as connections to reach out further.
Thinking of Megan Taylor, he rummaged through a cabinet and found a new can of pepper spray, stuffing it into his pocket.
The Fox 11 Channel anchor was currently his biggest backer.
Not just selling news.
Based on his observation of Dwayne Johnson's case, as long as it was a true story, she'd use it.
That meant that some operations and PR matters could also be handled through her.
Building a good relationship and showing some care was definitely necessary.
And then there was Miss Baa, who maintained a sophisticated lifestyle on dollars, hoping to get lost in greed.
Hawke wasn't afraid of her being greedy; he was worried she would not be.
Greed would only help her fight for endorsements for Sarah Jessica Parker.
Hawke recalled what they discussed today and searched online for the couple Steve and Daisy Nutt.
The former was the star player for the MLB Los Angeles Dodgers, having made 47 home runs last season.
The latter was a model who had strut her stuff for many big names, including Valentino. After marrying Steve, her fame skyrocketed, and they created a joint business brand, modeling after the Olsen twins.
Simply put, they were quite akin to the American baseball version of Beckham and Victoria.
This star couple together achieved a synergy greater than the sum of their parts.
However, their influence was mostly limited to North America.
Hawke discovered the couple's blog online and clicked on it.
The blog boasted high traffic and was filled with Daisy's baby bump photos recently.
The couple had been generating buzz for their upcoming child.
Hawke surmised it might be part of a baby photo rights agreement.
The latest post appeared today and featured six pictures.
In the photos, Steve and Daisy were both at a hospital room -- one standing by the bed while the other lay in the hospital bed.
The caption read: "Awaiting the arrival of our angel."
Star's private lives could be monetized if executed well.
Hawke closed the webpage, turned on the security system, and headed out to Century City, where a large supermarket was located in the mall, fully stocked with hardware products.
He picked up additional tools and supplies to bolster the studio's security.
The West Coast studio rarely received clients in person; uninvited guests were usually malicious idiots.
After wrapping up his shopping, Hawke headed to Rodeo Drive to customize two suits along with matching shirts and shoes.
The clothes for climbing high and jumping low had to be sturdy and durable, while the business attire needed to be presentable.
Hawke paid the deposit and left Rodeo Drive, making his way to the Fox Television Center.
*****
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