[Chapter 480: Drugged and Still Fell In Love]
Century City, Fox Tower.
The annual 20th Century Fox party was held here. The film group and the television network had invited many partners to attend.
Roger Ailes hurriedly approached as soon as he saw Hawke, warmly shaking his hand. "We've collaborated for years; we're each other's most important strategic partners."
Hawke smiled, responding with the usual formalities, "Fox Television Network and News Corporation have been partners with Twitter in traditional media. Our cooperation has led to repeated successes."
Fox's own photographers were present in the banquet hall.
Hawke and Roger Ailes shook hands, then turned to face the camera. After the photographer finished shooting, they briefly hugged, allowing the camera to capture the moment.
One side excelled in new media; the other belonged to traditional media powerhouses. For now, they maintained a strategic partnership.
The last time Hawke attended a Fox party was two years ago, when Roger Ailes only gave a polite nod.
Today, Hawke scanned the room and saw many familiar faces.
At least, everyone seemed friendly on the surface.
...
Megan Taylor came over and accompanied Hawke to other areas.
Throughout, several people proactively approached to greet Hawke.
Megan also introduced some people to Hawke.
Among them was a young blonde woman.
"This is Harley Wayne, an independent reporter from Fox News," Megan said, standing beside a beautiful woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and a heart-shaped face.
"Harley, this is Hawke, Chairman and CEO of Twitter."
Harley shook Hawke's hand. "I have a Twitter account and often post news on it."
Hawke admired the professionalism of this upright female journalist and said, "I've heard of you and have seen a few of your feature reports. Your work is quite impressive."
In Megan's presence, he boldly made a pitch, "Harley, interested in working for Twitter? We'd double your salary."
Though not a subordinate of Channel 11, Harley was still a Fox Television executive. Megan shrugged to Hawke, "Can you not ask that in front of me?"
Harley firmly declined, "I'm skilled in newspapers and television -- traditional media. I'm not familiar with new media operations; I'd rather stay in my expertise."
Hawke didn't press further. After chatting a bit, James Murdoch approached.
Megan greeted Harley, and they left together.
...
James was an old acquaintance of Hawke's. He said, "I met Brian this afternoon."
The Fox Group had openly supported Brian in the governor's race this time. Hawke chuckled, "Made some good gains then. Congratulations."
James admitted frankly, "Just a little return."
He shifted, asking Hawke, "Who do you plan to back in the 2008 election?"
The Republican Party had roughly settled on candidates -- John McCain and Tom Emmer.
Hawke replied, "There is no rush to decide."
James agreed, "We hold the key media channels. The ones who should be anxious aren't us."
They moved past the topic; after all, the election was still some time away.
James continued, "20th Century Fox is under my management now. Many projects face financing difficulties."
Hawke remarked, "Isn't Hollywood about using other people's money to make your own movies?"
"It's too hard to get money from others," James shared. He had another agenda for meeting Hawke. "I heard your foundation has been investing in film projects consecutively."
Hawke asked, "You want a piece of my action?"
James was bold, "Pick any big-budget Fox film project."
Hawke quickly responded, "I heard James Cameron is prepping a new movie."
At the mention of that intimidating name, James's face changed. "That guy's a bottomless pit. Terrifying. He'll chase at your heels, demanding money again and again!"
Hawke nodded, "I've heard."
James exaggerated, "Several senior 20th Century Fox execs paid huge sunk costs back then. They nearly jumped off buildings due to Cameron's demands."
Without such financial pressure, Fox wouldn't have sold the North American rights to Paramount.
Hawke said, "Maybe James Cameron will create another miracle."
James knew a bit about Cameron's new project; it was a massive budget and needed external financing. Hawke's Twitter was the top new media platform. So, he said, "When the project enters financing, I'll have someone notify you."
Taking over 20th Century Fox, James needed results -- and money was first. He asked Hawke, "Got any overseas investors?"
...
Meanwhile, Paris entered the hall, saw Hawke, and upon seeing James Murdoch leave, tugged her dress and hurried over loudly, "Hawke!"
Hawke looked her over, "You look great tonight, way more refined than before."
Paris winked, "Because I'm rich now, I have confidence."
Hawke chuckled, "I hear you've started a nightclub chain."
"All thanks to your strategies back then," Paris said. After her tape incident years ago, she paid Hawke to design her life strategy. From In Paris' Company onwards, she transformed and ventured into variety shows, candies, and fashion.
Using Hilton family resources, she succeeded in those industries and now invested in nightclub chains with partners.
They grabbed champagne and had a toast.
Hawke praised, "Your publicity moves are smart -- fit your persona and gain exposure."
Paris, with Britney and Lindsay Lohan, formed a wild trio often making gossip headlines.
Many thought it was decadence.
In reality, Paris orchestrated the publicity stunt carefully.
She laughed, "Compared to your strategic decisions, mine are just sneaky tricks."
Hawke complimented, "Dragging Britney along was a good move."
Paris pointed to her head, "She doesn't think straight, always does dumb things, infuriatingly dumb."
Hawke looked curious, "Didn't I help her escape Jamie Spears? Is she controlled again?"
"Almost," Paris, Britney's best friend for years and knowing her well, whispered, "Though a white singer, she's mixed into the black rap scene, hanging with rappers. Recently, she even found a boyfriend there, Lou Taylor Pucci, despite our objections."
Hawke recalled, "I thought Britney wasn't interested in black guys."
Paris looked around, drawing Hawke aside, whispering, "Months ago, Lindsay and Britney got wasted. We talked, and Britney said she was drugged by a rapper, orchestrated by her new boyfriend Lou Pucci, but she likes him, so she let it go."
Hawke nodded, "That's so Britney."
Paris shrugged, "That dumb girl is all about love."
If such things happened to others, it'd be unbelievable. With Britney, it's normal.
Paris added, "I suspect Lou Pucci is scamming Britney. She's borrowed money from me twice, not lots, but given her high income since leaving Jamie, she shouldn't be short."
Hawke frowned, "Hasn't she experienced similar scams before?"
"If she'd learned from them, she'd no longer be Britney Spears," Paris, caring for her, said, "Can you help her again?"
Hawke first refused, "I no longer do crisis PR or strategy consulting."
Paris understood. Hawke doing that now wouldn't be realistic.
He added, "From a friend's perspective, Paris, as you said, Britney and Lou are in the honeymoon phase -- when minds are hot. Intervening rashly won't help Britney and might ruin your friendship."
Paris, experienced in love, agreed.
Hawke wasn't here to save Britney but to see how to leverage the showbiz queen's affairs for his plans.
He asked, "Does Lindsay know?"
Paris shook her head, "She was drunk at the time and passed out."
Hawke said, "Don't make this public until Britney cools off."
"Got it." Even Paris felt helpless about Britney. "Besides you, I've told no one."
She hesitated, "If you hadn't helped Britney break free of her father's control, I wouldn't have told you."
Such things were embarrassing. A leading pop diva was drugged and fell for the person. Only someone like Britney could be that dumb.
...
As the party progressed, James Cameron arrived.
Introduced by James, Hawke chatted with Cameron about his new project Avatar.
The story had no innovation, typical Hollywood formula, but the key was tech and special effects, which cost big money.
Cameron was still writing the script and only beginning discussions.
...
On the way back, Hawke pushed Avatar from his mind, focusing on Britney instead.
Investing in Avatar was an option but secondary; politics promised quicker returns than movies.
Hawke knew why Trump surpassed the stock god.
He called Campos, briefing him on the situation.
---
The next morning, Campos left home, kissed a woman goodbye, and drove to the office.
After successful revenge in Mexico, he bought property in Los Angeles and had a girlfriend from Latin America -- a sister of a mercenary who died in Africa with the Hurricane Company.
Campos's car neared Butterfly Consulting.
...
At a roadside parking lot near a company checkpoint, many cars parked daily. A scar-faced man snapped Campos's car with a camera.
"These bastards are loaded, driving an armored car," he said.
The driver got a text: "Shift change is here. We can go rest."
Scar put away his camera and said, "Let's grab breakfast."
The driver sped away, asking, "Why doesn't Adams let us follow 24/7? Easier to find something."
Scar answered, "Everyone's copying Hawke Osment's bad habits."
The driver repeated, "These bastards have money."
Scar stretched, "This is the enemy HQ. Butterfly Consulting has hundreds of security staff, nearly a hundred tough ones. We have to be cautious -- getting caught means a dozen guns aimed at us."
"Boss was right," the driver said. "We must protect ourselves to gain anything."
...
They ate quickly at a fast-food joint, switched cars, and returned to a villa on 14th Street, Santa Monica.
Bald middle-aged white man Adams finished breakfast and asked, "Did you find anything?"
Scar said, "Too cautious to get close. Nothing uncovered."
In the living room, Adams pointed at photos on a whiteboard: "We've used all methods but found no info on Sean Ackerman and Melissa Ackerman."
The driver sipped water, "Boss, any update from others?"
Adams cleaned his hands, "No. One disappeared in Rosario, Mexico; the other disappeared en route from Malibu to Beverly Hills. All escorts dead. No surveillance, no witnesses."
He tossed the wipe, "Ackerman family's downfall benefited the Ferguson family. Brian and Hawke Osment were key in Ferguson's rise. From what we know, Brian was a playboy before meeting Hawke; meeting Hawke made him more aggressive."
Scar added, "Hawke started in LA as a paparazzo, then crisis PR. His staged cases show ruthless tactics. Washington sources say he likely plotted the Covina crash and Redford incident; no proof though."
Adams stared at Hawke's photo, "Taking down Ackerman family and Ferguson's rise -- if siblings are alive, Ferguson would hide them somewhere."
Driver guessed, "Mexico? Too far. Ferguson's influence is in Southern California."
Though they said that, LA's population was vast. How to find the siblings?
They came with a dozen people, cautious, avoiding the targets. The other side didn't notice.
LA had few public cameras.
Adams looked at a Venice map, "You're right. Ferguson would keep them in LA. Two spots: his security company in downtown, busy and unsuitable, or here!"
He pointed at Butterfly Consulting and the former Venice Yacht Club: "Once an Ackerman family club, with tall walls and holding cells. Perfect for detainment."
Scar had been photographing the area and showed photos, "Butterfly isn't a company or yacht club -- more like a makeshift prison."
...
Adams was interrupted by a call from Abedin in Washington, asking about the Ackerman siblings.
Adams could only express regrets.
Though quiet, the call showed their intent.
Holding a high commission from Washington meant delivering results. But in LA, they felt constrained.
...
Adams said, "Washington called again."
Scar said, "We must act, at least to report."
Adams cautioned, "Getting in is tough."
Driver suggested, "What about from the sea?"
Adams shook his head, "We've surveilled from the sea. Armed guards protect the coast. Remember, this is America, not a backward outpost. Infrared and alarms are formidable."
Driver murmured, "Should we call the cops? Say Butterfly unlawfully detains people..."
Before he finished, Adams and Scar gave him disdainful looks. He shut up.
Adams said, "Only FBI, LAPD or Homeland Security handle such cases. Reporting would tip off Ferguson and Hawke Osment. They'd know someone is targeting them in LA."
Scar said, "Secret operations are the way."
Adams nodded, "Find club construction blueprints and related info."
*****
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