[Chapter 479: The Tauren and the Orc Girl]
Washington D.C., Capitol Hill.
After work, Hillary stepped out of her office and told her assistant Abedin at her desk, "Go meet Robby Mook and deliver the message I gave you."
"Sure, ma'am," Abedin replied; she had already scheduled a meeting with Robby Mook.
The two exited through the side door of Capitol Hill and got into a black Cadillac parked outside.
Once the driver started the car, Hillary asked, "Any news from Los Angeles?"
Abedin knew she was referring to the private security teams returning from overseas. She said, "Adams has been keeping an eye on our targets, but there's little useful intel. According to his reports, Hawke and his main associates are always surrounded by security, some with multiple layers of protection. He's worried about alerting them, so he hasn't been able to get too close."
Hillary nodded slightly and suddenly said, "I was reviewing cold cases in Los Angeles today and found something odd. Buddy Ackerman's children, Sean and Melissa Ackerman, disappeared without a trace. They've been missing for a long time."
Abedin, who had been following political cases in L.A. for years, said, "Yes, both the FBI and LAPD couldn't locate them. The cases were classified as missing persons and subsequently shelved."
She paused briefly, then added, "Given the typical pace of justice, the Ackerman family likely disintegrated, and there's almost no chance this case will be reactivated."
"The decline of the Ackerman family directly benefited the Ferguson family," Hillary said, experienced in politics, "There's a chance these two might be in their hands."
Abedin asked, "Should Adams focus his investigation there?"
Hillary softly replied, "Yes."
...
The Cadillac drove onto Independence Avenue. Abedin got out and entered the nearby Starbucks, locating Robby Mook's seat.
Robbie appeared ordinary, only about 26 or 27 years old.
Abedin ordered coffee and sat opposite him. "Ma'am assigned a new task. You and your team need to execute it quickly."
Robbie replied simply, "Go ahead."
Abedin explained, "Online public opinion is unfavorable to one of our main bases: the women's rights organization. The entire internet favors the LGBTQ community, and due to a series of incidents in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the two groups have become adversaries. Supporting one side automatically places you against the other."
Robbie, responsible for Hillary's team's new media operations, responded, "I've seen this."
Abedin took a sip of her coffee. "Ma'am wants you to find a way to make inroads online, especially on social media, to prepare for the 2008 election."
Robbie nodded. "Got it."
Abedin found this tech-savvy man a bit difficult to communicate with. He spoke little, making interaction challenging, but precisely having ongoing work made him suitable.
She asked, "What's your plan?"
Robbie was silent for a few minutes before replying, "Twitter is the largest social media platform today, with unmatched influence. From my long-term observations, Twitter has its own core algorithm. If we push too much on Twitter, our messages will just get lost in the infinite sea of information."
As he spoke about his expertise, he became more talkative, "Every media outlet is controlled. Online media seems open but is just as tightly regulated as traditional media. Twitter never bans information about women's rights movements but won't actively promote it either. Trying to manipulate Twitter is like walking into a trap set by others. The outcome is predictable."
Abedin knew Twitter was controlled by Hawke Osment, who opposed the Democrats. "The recent LGBTQ movement shows the importance of new media. We can't give up."
Robbie had already prepared a response. "LinkedIn from Silicon Valley is the second-largest social media network after Twitter. Unlike Twitter, which is global, LinkedIn targets corporate employees and elites, with a very different style. These people have a significant influence on those around them and tend to vote more actively."
Abedin put down her empty cup. "You're the expert here. It's your responsibility."
Robbie nodded and stayed silent.
"Remember to submit a report," Abedin said, checking the time. She didn't want to delay her evening date and left.
...
Minutes later, Robbie exited Starbucks, hopped into a BMW, and drove to the Seventh District.
He had opened a new media studio there, funded initially by an overseas foundation since he lacked his own capital.
At the studio, he clapped to get the attention of about a dozen male employees, gave instructions for the next day's work, then sent them home.
He stayed overnight at the studio.
Robbie quickly drafted an operational plan and logged into Twitter and LinkedIn, analyzing the differences and potential strategies.
Clearly, LinkedIn was much smaller than Twitter. But Twitter was controlled by the opposition. If they had illusions about Twitter, Hawke Osment could choke their efforts when it mattered.
Such hopes relied on the opposing side's character, which Robbie distrusted deeply. From long-term observations, Hawke Osment was even darker than traditional capitalists; he should just be gotten rid of.
...
After finishing work, Robbie shut down all software and enjoyed some gaming time.
World of Warcraft had been in North America for over two years with a loyal user base.
Robbie was one of them.
He logged in as a Tauren Hunter from the Horde.
A friend asked him to help power-level a low-level account, and Robbie agreed casually.
They went to the Wailing Caverns, where he met the friend's low-level character and a burly female Orc with green skin, who was lively and pleasant to talk to.
After running the dungeon twice, Robbie's guild had an event, and he planned to fly to Silithus next.
...
Before the trio disbanded, they exchanged Twitter accounts.
Robbie liked the Orc girl and added her on Twitter after finishing the Ahn'Qiraj raid.
He noticed Twitter had launched its mobile app over a year ago, while LinkedIn had none yet.
After adding the Orc girl, he browsed her tweets.
Her earliest post was nearly two years earlier, celebrating her 17th birthday and finally getting a personal computer.
She was a young girl who liked dancing, traveling, and gaming.
Her posts included photos showing her figure from the side and back.
Robbie, used to interacting with men, felt a bit warm inside.
He hesitated then sent a private message: "Hi, I'm the Tauren."
...
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, DaShawn controlling an Orc rogue, the "Orc girl," stabbed a Tauren in the back from behind during a game battle.
After a set of combos, the monster screamed and fell to the ground.
He grabbed his phone, saw Robbie's message, and replied, "Hello, thanks for helping me level up," along with a cute emoticon.
Robbie saw the reply and asked, "Want to go Wailing Caverns to level some more? I finished my raid; I can carry you a bit more."
DaShawn felt an itch between his toes, kicked off his flip-flops, scratched the itch hard, then sniffed his hand before replying, "Sure! Thank you so much!"
A Tauren and an Orc started a happy gaming journey together.
---
A black Audi turned onto Ocean Park Avenue. Campos maneuvered, steering into the Coastal Building parking lot.
He exited and headed straight to the 16th floor, entering Hawke's office.
Hawke had previously received a call from Campos asking, "Any progress on Britney?"
Campos pulled out the files he carried, handed them to Hawke, and said, "I found some information about how Britney got into the Puff party circuit."
He continued, "After we targeted Jamie Spears last time, Britney completely broke free from her father's control and signed with the professional agency CAA. Up until July this year, she partied with Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan, known as the 'Los Angeles fallen sisters,' but her career stabilized with reduced negative news."
Hawke, who kept in touch with Paris Hilton, knew some of this.
Campos added, "At the MTV Awards in July, Britney took photos with Puff Daddy, and they reportedly talked closely multiple times during the ceremony. Afterwards, Britney attended an afterparty, drank with Puff Daddy and others, then left the official event to join his private party."
He showed a gossip magazine photo of Britney leaving a hotel and getting into Puff Daddy's car. Also present was a short young man seeming younger than the rest.
Hawke pointed at him. "Who's that?"
Campos replied, "That's Lou Taylor Pucci. He performed in a Broadway production of The Sound of Music and moved to Hollywood around 2000. He's been in projects like Fast Food Nation, The Chumscrubber, and Southland Tales -- all minor roles."
Hawke didn't recognize him. "Not a star yet?"
"No," Campos said, "Not famous at all. But after the party, rumors surfaced about him dating Britney. Because of Britney's chaotic love life, few paid attention."
He added, "Lou got these roles largely through Puff Daddy's introductions. The leading actor of Southland Tales is our old acquaintance Dwayne Johnson."
Edward glanced at Lou's photo and interjected, "He looks youthful. Could he be Puff Daddy's male companion?"
Campos said, "Our investigation showed Puff Daddy is bisexual."
Hawke recalled rumors after Puff Daddy's previous scandal, including some with Leonardo DiCaprio. Hawke said, "Britney is very different from most Hollywood stars we know. She's very talented musically but not very bright in daily life -- easy to control and manipulate."
Campos asked, "Shall we use her as an entry point?"
Hawke placed Britney's photo on top of the file. "We need a heavyweight with national and global influence to break the stalemate."
Campos hesitated but said, "Elena heard a rumor while investigating, but it was from a drunk and unreliable source..."
He wouldn't share unverified info with Hawke to avoid misleading.
Hawke urged, "Tell me."
Campos said, "Elena overheard a drunk entertainment insider claiming that at the July MTV Awards, Lou Taylor Pucci hired Puff Daddy to drug Britney."
Such gossip couldn't be fully trusted, but Hawke ordered, "Investigate it."
"Yes," Campos acknowledged, "Elena is on it, but no solid evidence yet."
Hawke thought of Paris Hilton; maybe he could find info from her?
Britney, Paris, and Lindsay now fueled gossip media.
...
Edward escorted Campos out.
When he returned, Hawke said, "Check Paris's recent schedule. I want to bump into her."
Edward understood immediately. "On it."
...
Hawke flipped through files, focusing on Lou Pucci's movie Southland Tales.
The film, produced by Weinstein Brothers' Dimension Films, finished shooting and was in post-production for a release next year.
The Weinsteins, Puff Daddy, and Lou Pucci's involvement clearly meant something.
The leads were Dwayne Johnson and Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Hawke only heard of Gellar but didn't know her personally.
But Dwayne was an old friend; they'd kept in touch for years. Dwayne visited twice yearly.
Recently, Dwayne was among Hollywood's most vocal supporters of LGBTQ, alongside Tom Cruise.
Hawke's BWR handled Dwayne's PR.
...
Hawke called Rooney Chasen to check on Dwayne's involvement, especially with Dimension Films.
Rooney explained, "Dwayne has no relationship with the Weinsteins. This project wasn't originally Dimension's. You helped with Dwayne's PR, so you know he signed a three-film deal with Universal. Southland Tales is the last film."
She checked files, "Last year, the Weinsteins split with Disney, left Miramax, and formed Weinstein Studios, with Dimension Films under their banner. Harvey acquired projects he liked. Southland Tales's director and writer, Richard Kelly, is an old acquaintance of his. He used his connections to buy the project from Universal. Dwayne signed the contract and still needs to star."
Hawke nodded, "This matter ends with you."
Rooney's BWR PR firm was acquired by Hawke's overseas foundation.
...
Hawke called Dwayne Johnson. When Dwayne answered, Hawke said, "Dwayne, it's me. Long time no see. No new films lately?"
Dwayne laughed, "Just finished one. Vacationing in Hawaii."
"The new one is Southland Tales?" Hawke asked directly. "I need to ask about it."
On a Honolulu beach, Dwayne stood, waved to new girlfriend Lauren Hashian, and walked alone to a quiet spot, saying, "Go ahead."
Hawke asked, "How did Lou Pucci get into the cast?"
Dwayne recalled, "Lou's role is small. I never interacted much with him. Justin Timberlake, a guest actor, said Sean Combs -- Puff Daddy -- recommended Lou to Harvey Weinstein. I have a contract with Universal, but they sold the whole project, including my contract, to Harvey. I barely talk to the rest of the crew; I heard this from others."
"Thanks. Keep it quiet," Hawke said.
"Understood," Dwayne replied.
He'd dealt with Hawke before, before Hawke became a billionaire who stirred Los Angeles and North American public opinion.
Twitter's power was now evident across LA and the US.
Dwayne hung up.
Lauren teased, "Who was that? Another call while you're out? Not your ex-wife, right?"
Dwayne had divorced manager-wife Dany Garcia, who remained his manager and kept close ties with Lauren and him -- usual Hollywood stuff.
He deleted Hawke's call log and said, "Not Dany. Don't ask."
Lauren smirked and dropped it.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.