The Wolf of Los Angeles Chapter 480: Drugged and Still Fell In Love

[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 dia. 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 cara. After the photographer finished shooting, they briefly hugged, allowing the cara to capture the mont.

One side excelled in new dia; the other belonged to traditional dia powerhouses. For now, they maintained a strategic partnership.

The last ti 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 seed friendly on the surface.

...

gan Taylor ca over and accompanied Hawke to other areas.

Throughout, several people proactively approached to greet Hawke.

gan also introduced so people to Hawke.

Among them was a young blonde woman.

"This is Harley Wayne, an independent reporter from Fox News," gan 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 gan'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. gan shrugged to Hawke, "Can you not ask that in front of ?"

Harley firmly declined, "I'm skilled in newspapers and television -- traditional dia. I'm not familiar with new dia operations; I'd rather stay in my expertise."

Hawke didn't press further. After chatting a bit, Jas Murdoch approached.

gan greeted Harley, and they left together.

...

Jas was an old acquaintance of Hawke's. He said, "I t Brian this afternoon."

The Fox Group had openly supported Brian in the governor's race this ti. Hawke chuckled, "Made so good gains then. Congratulations."

Jas 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 Emr.

Hawke replied, "There is no rush to decide."

Jas agreed, "We hold the key dia channels. The ones who should be anxious aren't us."

They moved past the topic; after all, the election was still so ti away.

Jas continued, "20th Century Fox is under my managent 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," Jas shared. He had another agenda for eting Hawke. "I heard your foundation has been investing in film projects consecutively."

Hawke asked, "You want a piece of my action?"

Jas was bold, "Pick any big-budget Fox film project."

Hawke quickly responded, "I heard Jas Caron is prepping a new movie."

At the ntion of that intimidating na, Jas'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."

Jas exaggerated, "Several senior 20th Century Fox execs paid huge sunk costs back then. They nearly jumped off buildings due to Caron's demands."

Without such financial pressure, Fox wouldn't have sold the North Arican rights to Paramount.

Hawke said, "Maybe Jas Caron will create another miracle."

Jas knew a bit about Caron's new project; it was a massive budget and needed external financing. Hawke's Twitter was the top new dia platform. So, he said, "When the project enters financing, I'll have soone notify you."

Taking over 20th Century Fox, Jas needed results -- and money was first. He asked Hawke, "Got any overseas investors?"

...

anwhile, Paris entered the hall, saw Hawke, and upon seeing Jas 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 transford 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, ford 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 complinted, "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 twice, not lots, but given her high inco 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 ti 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 soone like Britney could be that dumb.

...

As the party progressed, Jas Caron arrived.

Introduced by Jas, Hawke chatted with Caron 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.

Caron 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 ho, kissed a woman goodbye, and drove to the office.

After successful revenge in xico, he bought property in Los Angeles and had a girlfriend from Latin Arica -- a sister of a rcenary 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 cara.

"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 cara and said, "Let's grab breakfast."

The driver sped away, asking, "Why doesn't Adams let us follow 24/7? Easier to find sothing."

Scar answered, "Everyone's copying Hawke Osnt'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 ans a dozen guns aid 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 thods but found no info on Sean Ackerman and lissa Ackerman."

The driver sipped water, "Boss, any update from others?"

Adams cleaned his hands, "No. One disappeared in Rosario, xico; 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 Osnt were key in Ferguson's rise. From what we know, Brian was a playboy before eting Hawke; eting 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 sowhere."

Driver guessed, "xico? Too far. Ferguson's influence is in Southern California."

Though they said that, LA's population was vast. How to find the siblings?

They ca with a dozen people, cautious, avoiding the targets. The other side didn't notice.

LA had few public caras.

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 forr Venice Yacht Club: "Once an Ackerman family club, with tall walls and holding cells. Perfect for detainnt."

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 ant 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. Ard guards protect the coast. Rember, this is Arica, 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 Holand Security handle such cases. Reporting would tip off Ferguson and Hawke Osnt. They'd know soone is targeting them in LA."

Scar said, "Secret operations are the way."

Adams nodded, "Find club construction blueprints and related info."

*****

spatreon/Sayonara816.