[Chapter 318: Los Angeles Heat]
Los Angeles, Century City.
A rcedes sedan pulled up in front of the Fox Tower. As Hawke stepped out, a wave of heat hit him square in the face.
Just as teorologists had predicted, sumr had arrived early in Los Angeles this year, and the heat was relentless.
"Mr. Osmond." gan Taylor's new assistant was already waiting at the entrance.
Hawke gave her a slight nod and followed her inside the Fox Tower. They took the elevator upstairs to the floor where Channel 11's director had his office.
The assistant spoke softly, "The director is in a eting. Please wait in the office for a mont."
"Alright." Hawke entered the Channel 11 director's office.
...
This office was three or four tis larger than gan's previous one. In addition to a spacious seating area, it also had a private lounge and a bathroom. Outside, there was even a dedicated workspace for her assistant.
Hawke sat on the sofa in the seating area and picked up a copy of the Los Angeles Tis.
The front page was filled with political news.
After all, it was an election year.
Hawke read carefully. The Elephant Party's candidate, often ridiculed by the dia as "the Texas Pig," was currently serving his first term and was expected to run for re-election.
On the Donkey Party's side, the candidate was yet to be decided. John Kerry and Johnny Edwards were still battling it out, and a winner wouldn't erge until mid-year at the earliest.
The Los Angeles Tis seed to be favoring Kerry.
California had been part of the Red camp in the early '90s, but over the last decade, thanks to a series of spectacular blunders by the Elephant Party, it had firmly shifted to Blue.
...
The office door opened from the outside. gan walked in, dressed in a dark won's suit. She gestured toward Hawke and said, "A small situation ca up, so the eting ran a bit longer than expected."
Hawke put down the newspaper. "I just got here."
gan placed the docunts she had brought back on the desk and sat on the armrest of the single-seater sofa next to him. "Last ti, you ntioned going to New York for an art auction?"
She was curious. "Since when did you beco interested in art?"
Hawke put on a scholarly air. "I've always been studying different cultures and art throughout history. This trip to New York was quite rewarding. I also happened to invest in a company."
"What kind of company?" gan asked. "If it caught your eye, it must be sothing special."
Hawke replied, "An internet company. It will officially launch soon, and when it does, I might need so TV advertising."
gan understood. "Just have them co straight to the marketing departnt."
"There's more. We're planning so dia coverage as well." Hawke briefly explained the two major initiatives that SugarBaby was about to roll out.
They would be using both traditional and digital dia — Fox's Channel 11 on one side, and Twitter on the other.
gan's expression was amused. "So this is the kind of website you invested in." She teased, "Darling, you're corrupting Arica's youth and dragging the nation into depravity." ℞ÂNО𐌱Ęș
Hawke, however, responded seriously, "I'm saving young n and won across the country by giving them a spiritual sanctuary. Think about it — if they spend their free ti on this instead, won't it diffuse their frustrations and aggression? Society will be more peaceful."
Even though she knew he was talking nonsense, gan was entertained. She played along, "So by that logic, I'm also a savior of Arica since I'm involved?"
Hawke laughed. "If you really want to be part of the salvation effort, you should consider investing when the company seeks funding."
gan trusted his instincts. "Alright, I'll follow your lead."
Hawke continued, "Once I have more capital, I plan to start an investnt firm."
gan smirked. "And then you'll scam out of both my money and my affection?"
Hawke burst into laughter.
...
After chatting for a while, gan asked, "You didn't co to Fox just for this, did you?"
"Of course not. There's sothing more important." Hawke took gan's hand. "Fox's local stations all broadcast weather reports daily. Channel 11 focuses on California, and you have deep collaborations with local teorological institutions, right?"
gan leaned against his shoulder. "Yes, especially with Caltech's teorology lab. We've been working with them for years, and their weather models for California are highly accurate."
Hawke asked, "This year's heat wave started early. Can you check with your most reliable experts and see if temperatures will keep rising and if rainfall will be below average in the coming months?"
"This year's temperatures are indeed high. Sumr and fall are already dry seasons in L.A., and we haven't had a drop of rain since the Oscars." gan pressed his hand against hers. "I'll make a trip to Caltech and ask."
She was curious. "What exactly are you planning?"
Hawke didn't answer directly. "There's one more thing — if there's going to be strong seasonal winds, have your partners give you an early heads-up."
This was a normal part of the station's collaboration with teorologists, so gan agreed readily. "No problem."
Hawke kissed her. "Make it look natural."
gan said, "I'll have my team do a segnt on Southern California's increasing drought issues. That will give us a reason to reach out to our partners."
Hawke knew gan was more than capable of handling this.
She asked again, "What exactly are you planning?"
Hawke gave her a hint. "I'm setting up a big news event. Fox and Twitter will report on it together — it'll generate a massive wave of attention."
gan caught on. "You're planning a major incident? In what area?"
Hawke didn't hesitate. "You've heard that Brian Ferguson is preparing to run for L.A. mayor, right?"
gan asked, "Isn't the election next year?"
"We're laying the groundwork early." Hawke recalled how Arnold Schwarzenegger had entered office through a recall election and added, "If the timing is right and the conditions are favorable, we might push for a recall vote."
Schwarzenegger had risen to power that way.
Lately, Brian had been calling Hawke daily because this wasn't just an isolated mayoral race — it was part of a bigger political strategy.
The Elephant Party had lost California for just over a decade and desperately wanted it back. Given the current political climate, they needed a bold move to have a shot.
gan didn't ask further. Fox News Network already leaned conservative, and Hawke would keep her inford on the necessary details. It wasn't sothing she had to stress over.
After discussing business, the two of them headed into the lounge.
Before entering, gan had already told her assistant — no interruptions for the next two hours.
...
West 5th Street, Los Angeles Fire Departnt Headquarters.
Brian's Cadillac pulled up near the crowded entrance.
"Find a spot to park," he told the driver.
The driver circled around and finally found an empty space a bit farther from the fire departnt's gate.
The fire departnt was hiring, and the influx of applicants had made the entrance congested.
Brian pulled out the binoculars Hawke had given him and scanned the fire departnt's courtyard.
...
The gates were wide open, and three long lines of applicants stretched deep inside.
All of them were won, ranging from their 20s to their 40s.
Since February, the departnt had been aggressively recruiting female firefighters, dedicating substantial resources to the effort.
Reporters from the Los Angeles Tis and NBC arrived at the scene and were welcod inside by the newly appointed female deputy chief.
Caras flashed, and an NBC crew set up their equipnt.
...
anwhile, Michelle, a leader from the FMF feminist group, shouted, "Hold up our signs! Quick!"
Most of the slots in this recruitnt drive were unofficially reserved for L.A.'s major feminist organizations.
At Michelle's command, the won raised their banners and placards, displaying slogans advocating for won's rights, along with ssages supporting the city and the fire departnt.
...
Just then, two vehicles from City Hall arrived, and Mayor Antonio stepped out, greeting the caras with a wave before mingling with the crowd.
He shook hands, made small talk, and delivered a speech about empowering won in all professions, promising that female firefighters would play a crucial role in Los Angeles.
The crowd erupted in applause.
...
Brian watched from afar, considering how to counter this.
His faction had the National Association for the Advancent of Colored People led by Steve Nutt.
If there was a conflict with the feminists, he would unleash the Black community's influence.
Black won had both gender and racial leverage — a double-layered shield.
Brian signaled for the driver to leave and made a phone call.
He had already planted people inside the recruitnt drive.
After arranging a eting with his informant, he sent a ssage to Hawke.
*****
/Sayonara816.
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