[Chapter 78: How the Truth Came to Light]
Everyone was busy, and Hawke was no exception. He opened his briefcase, took out his laptop, and connected to the internet in the room to check the public information about the Dodgers. The team had several Black players, and even the manager was Black.
He also searched online for information on IVF and test tube babies. Orange County had abundant medical resources, especially in Irvine.
After browsing for a while, he closed the webpage and headed to the nurses' station, where he saw a tall nurse organizing some files. He quickly walked over to her.
"Excuse me," Hawke said, lifting his left hand to lean against the marble wall of the station, his sleeve dangling from his wrist.
The nurse looked up, and seeing a friendly face, she initially intended to respond with a routine answer. However, her gaze fell on his tailored suit and Rolex watch, and she immediately brightened up and asked, "How can I help you?"
Hawke flashed a warm smile. "I wanted ask if you have any services for IVF here?"
"We don't," the nurse replied helpfully. "But there are several specialized facilities in Irvine if you're looking into IVF for babies."
Hawke inquired, "Which ones are reliable?"
After a moment of thought, the nurse answered, "Agatha Fertility Center and Irvine Medical Center. Those two are the most professional, but this service isn't widely available."
"Thank you," Hawke said as he prepared to leave.
The nurse, however, called after him, "Let me do some checking for you. I'll find out and let you know. How do I contact you?"
He had no choice but to give her a phone number.
The nurse called him right away and, upon hearing the ringtone, reminded him, "This is my number."
...
Hawke nodded and hurried back, where Edward was approaching. He lowered his voice and said, "Boss, you really know how to charm the ladies!"
"Your tactics are too basic," Hawke whispered back. "High-end hunters present themselves as the prey."
Edward took note and asked another question, "What exactly is IVF? Is it a baby created in a laboratory test tube?"
Hawke explained briefly, "It's artificial insemination done outside the body, letting embryos develop in a test tube before implanting them back into the mother's womb."
"I see," Edward replied, handing over a sports magazine. "I just found this. Last season, when the Dodgers played the Red Sox in Boston, some extreme fans targeted them. They threw a bunch of bananas, watermelons, and fried chicken at the hotel where the Dodgers were staying, creating quite a stir..."
This type of incident wasn't unusual in Boston.
Hawke took the magazine, saying, "Good job, keep digging."
Edward went back to work.
...
Hawke returned to his temporary office and browsed through the sports magazine. After a while, someone knocked at the door, and Caroline walked in, followed by a middle-aged Black man.
Caroline introduced them, mentioning that the man was Cobb, Wilson's agent.
Hawke shook his hand and immediately addressed the issue concerning Steve Nutt's child and Wilson.
Cobb looked stunned. "Is he crazy? Messing around with a teammate's wife, let alone the leading star of the team!"
A smart agent like Cobb quickly grasped the seriousness of the situation. "This jerk, Wilson, has no sense! This could ruin his place on the team; not just this team, he will not be able to gain a foothold in any team!"
Hawke stated, "Steve authorized me to discuss this matter with you first."
Cobb knew Wilson couldn't compete with Steve, so he directly said, "We're willing to apologize and make reparations."
"No, no need for reparations," Hawke replied quickly. "You just need to cooperate with me and with Steve. We can diffuse this situation without damage, and it can actually boost Wilson's fame."
Cobb looked skeptical. "You really think there's a chance of that?"
Steve pushed the door open and stepped out, saying, "I can assure you, if this gets exposed, it won't do me any good."
Cobb asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Caroline showed her presence: "Convince Wilson to cooperate with us."
...
Wilson received a call from Steve and immediately rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital. Heading upstairs, he spotted his agent, Cobb.
Before Wilson could ask any questions, Cobb gestured, "Come with me."
Wilson followed him into a temporary office. Despite repeated reminders to stay calm, Steve's anger flared as he saw Wilson's bald head, and he lunged forward.
Cobb and Biles quickly intervened, separating the two.
"Are you out of your mind?" Wilson yelled.
Steve was livid. "You fucked my wife and got her pregnant!"
Hearing this accusation, Wilson's bravado faded, and he turned, making a dash for the door.
But Edward, who had received a nod from Hawke, stepped forward, blocking the exit.
Hawke approached Steve and whispered, "Did you forget what I told you?"
Steve paused, considering Hawke's words, and gradually regained his composure.
Cobb then led Wilson to an inner room. Although Wilson's instinct was to react impulsively, he quickly realized, with Cobb's persuasion, that if this situation wasn't handled delicately, he would become a pariah not only within the Dodgers but throughout Major League Baseball. He was, after all, just a role player.
A few minutes later, Wilson re-emerged and approached Steve, saying, "I'm sorry."
Hawke patted Steve on the back, and Steve restrained himself. "If you help me sort this out," he said, "then it's over."
Wilson's response was unexpected. "You're not going to make me raise the child, are you?"
Steve replied, "No."
At that, Hawke moved to the center of the room, clapping his hands. "Alright, everyone, find a seat. Let's get down to business."
They all took their seats. Concerned that Wilson might try to leave, Edward positioned his chair near the door.
Hawke began explaining the plan: "Tonight, we're going to reveal the child's origins to the media and the public. Remember, the truth is in our hands, and the truth we create is what the public will believe."
Steve exhaled, feeling a measure of relief, and even Wilson seemed to relax slightly.
Hawke continued, "Steve and Daisy have wanted children for a long time, but Steve's genetic material is naturally less active. Since they married, Daisy hasn't been able to conceive and has often expressed frustration about it."
Wilson blurted out, almost reflexively, "Is that so? No wonder…"
Steve shot him a glare. "Genetic vitality has nothing to do with a man's capabilities!"
Cobb lightly nudged Wilson, signaling him to be quiet.
Hawke went on, "Steve learned about IVF and felt moved by the discrimination Wilson and other Black teammates faced in Boston last year. So he decided to use Wilson's genetic material through IVF with Daisy, aiming to fulfill his dream of having a child and creating a 'new era' family."
Hawke gestured to Biles, who handed Steve a packet of printed information about IVF procedures. "Review this carefully to get a basic understanding," he said.
Steve nodded, accepting the documents.
Caroline, seizing the moment, chimed in, "I can draft a speech for Steve based on these ideas and contact the media to set up a press conference. How does three hours sound?"
Hawke, with a different strategy in mind, shook his head. "A straightforward explanation has too many loopholes and might be hard for the public to accept. Even if Steve and Wilson jointly reveal the story, there will still be doubts afterward."
Biles added, "The public instinctively questions any official narrative when it involves sensitive issues."
Hawke then looked at Edward, a freelance journalist. "This story can't come from Steve or us. We need the media to discover it 'organically,' through leaked footage or a recorded conversation. The real truth lies in the footage that appears to be secretly captured."
He continued, "In fact, we should make it seem like we're trying to hide the truth, while making sure everyone 'discovers' it."
Caroline's perspective shifted, and she nodded. "You're right. The public and the media tend to believe that anything captured secretly is genuine."
"Then, we'll have Steve and Wilson publicly align themselves with the fight against discrimination in sports," Hawke instructed Caroline, emphasizing that her speech should frame this story around anti-discrimination themes as well as IVF.
Everyone, except Edward, appeared slightly taken aback by the plan.
Finally, Hawke pulled Steve and Biles aside for a private discussion about the IVF narrative, securing Steve's consent to proceed.
*****
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