[Chapter 81: Hot Headlines]
In the Westwood area, inside a newly decorated mansion.
Dwayne Johnson sat on the big sofa in his bedroom, intently watching TV. Dany Garcia erged from the makeup room, joining him to watch a gossip show.
After a while, Johnson couldn't help but exclaim, "Steve Nutt is amazing." According to the one-drop rule, he was Black too. "If it were , I definitely couldn't do that. The Dodgers' cohesion must be incredibly strong after this."
Dany laughed, "What you're seeing may not be the truth."
Johnson had been watching since the show's start, catching the mont when gan Taylor connected with the Dodgers' Black players. He argued, "You didn't see earlier. The information wasn't released by the Dodgers nor promoted by the Nutt couple. It was caught by paparazzi."
"Just because a journalist got a scoop doesn't an it's true," Dany reminded sternly. "Did you forget? We were also photographed last month."
Johnson was startled, tapping his forehead. "You an..."
Dany picked up the thread. "During the day, Steve Nutt's manager called to confirm whether Hawke had worked with us. I spoke highly of Hawke since he was no ordinary person. Yet, it was less than a day before Steve Nutt dropped this bombshell."
"It must be related to Hawke," Johnson confidently stated. "He used unconventional thods last ti."
Dany remarked, "Unconventional, but very effective. Even you believe this is real."
Johnson marveled, "That guy has so many tricks up his sleeve. Who would've thought sothing snapped by a paparazzi could be fake?"
After thinking for a mont, Dany noted, "This is exploiting the dia and public psychology."
"I'll call Joanna," Johnson said, rummaging for his phone. He dialed his friend's number and said, "You should tune in to Channel 11. Yes, it's about Steve Nutt and his wife. Rember the friend I introduced you to last ti? That's who it's about."
Joanna had been hoping for the washed-up pop star daughter, Allison, to make a coback.
Johnson added, "If you want Allison's album to sell big and for her to regain fa, working with him seems much more promising."
Joanna was serious. "Thank you. I'll definitely reach out when I need to."
"Have Allison check out the Channel 11 show too," Johnson suggested.
"She isn't here," Joanna replied with a hint of frustration. "She went out on a date and hasn't returned."
Johnson had a great personal relationship with her and advised, "You need to rein Allison in a little. She's about to release a new album, and this kind of partying can lead to trouble." ṝ𝖆ɴố𝔟Еs̈
"I'll try," Joanna said.
Once Johnson hung up, Dany asked, "You're so eager; did you manage to get a cut from Hawke?"
"I've known Joanna since I was a teenager. If I can help, I will. Allison is a washed-up child star. Making a coback is hard enough, and traditional promotion has limited chances," Johnson replied.
"Alright, enough of that," Dany said, sitting on him. "Big guy, let see your little guy."
...
Beverly Hills, Four Seasons Hotel.
After a grand Hollywood party, Waddell, the deputy editor of People, exited the hotel and climbed into a waiting car.
Once the car began to move, the assistant in the passenger seat quickly stated, "Sir, in the recently concluded Midnight Entertainnt show, Steve Nutt dropped a bombshell. The father of Daisy's child is actually his Black teammate Wilson..."
Waddell's surprise interrupted the assistant's explanation. "What?"
"The content revealed by the show is like this..." The assistant detailed everything, finally emphasizing, "gan Taylor video-called several Black players from the Dodgers, who were so moved by Steve that they went crazy. Then, they connected with Cecil, a leader from the NAACP, who praised Steve as a real hero."
Waddell sensed a major news break and instructed the driver, "Back to the office." He then said to his assistant, "Gather the top editorial team. They need to get to the office within half an hour."
He pulled out his phone, calling Steve's PR manager, Caroline, asking, "What's the matter with the revelation in Midnight Entertainnt?"
Caroline's voice ca through amidst car honks, "I'm on my way to St. Joseph Hospital. I just spoke with Steve and his agent Biles. Wilson indeed went to the hospital this afternoon, and Steve talked to him."
Waddell pressed for the key detail. "What's the deal with the IVF?"
Caroline was prepared. She imdiately threw down a bombshell: "I asked. Steve said fans and professionals have faced repeated racial discrimination, particularly last year's Boston incident when extre Red Sox fans openly acted inappropriately outside the hotel. Boston officials did nothing, and it made him determined to fight discrimination his way!"
Waddell didn't know what to say at that mont. No matter how he felt privately, so things couldn't be said out loud, or it would lead to huge trouble.
...
Upon arriving at the People office, he imdiately reviewed the footage from Midnight Entertainnt.
The show had pulled together every racist incident that had occurred in sports and its surroundings over the past three years, all as background for Steve Nutt.
Steve Nutt's image lood large, as if he could sit at the Lincoln morial.
Waddell then checked online for related information.
Within half an hour of the show finishing, Steve Nutt's news had beco a trending topic on the internet.
Nurous sports and entertainnt bloggers were re-sharing the news.
Having worked in the dia industry for years, Waddell sensed sothing unusual was brewing, but he was even clearer that Steve's news was destined to explode.
And it was in a positive direction.
He understood exactly how to proceed. He called Caroline again: "Work with the hospital to find out the earliest ti we can get a photo of the child. I want it for the next magazine cover."
...
St. Joseph Hospital, parking lot.
Caroline stepped out of a red rcedes, looking at Hawke standing beside the car. "Done. The position from People is pretty much what we expected, but Waddell wants those photos fast."
Hawke headed toward the hospital building. "You're responsible for communicating with the Nutt couple and the hospital."
Caroline had only taken a few steps when her phone rang. She answered, saying, "Yes, I just arrived at St. Joseph Hospital. For detailed information, please look at tomorrow's announcent."
Hawke inquired, "Has the dia called?"
"Yep." While Caroline was answering, her phone rang again, still dia inquiries.
For more than an hour, her phone didn't stop ringing, with various dia outlets frantically asking for information.
On the traditional dia side, Hawke wanted to hear Caroline's opinion, "What do you think?"
Caroline replied, "Let the news simr overnight. Tomorrow, Steve will be on the front page of nurous entertainnt and sports dia. We can let him respond then."
Hawke pondered slightly. "Sounds good."
...
As they returned to the temporary office, Steve greeted Hawke with a fist bump.
All his earlier anger and despair had vanished, and he excitedly said, "Buddy, you're incredible! You managed to control the narrative effortlessly."
Hawke cautioned, "This is a critical mont. You have to watch what you say and do."
Steve repeatedly agreed and added, "The teammates and the team manager just called saying they'd be coming over tomorrow morning."
"Great," Hawke said. "You've moved the whole team. Next, you'll touch the entire state of California and Arica."
Steve smiled widely.
Hawke turned to Caroline, "Find a news tipster to notify the dia that the Dodgers will co to visit Steve and Daisy tomorrow morning."
Caroline pulled out her phone and called another assistant still in Los Angeles.
Sasha, who had already fallen asleep, had to get up, find her backup phone, and start calling the dia.
That night, reporters from many publications, including the Los Angeles Tis, Sports Illustrated, Sports News, and the National Enquirer, all received one ssage: the Los Angeles Dodgers would collectively visit St. Joseph Hospital the next day to support Steve Nutt and his wife.
By the ti the clock had struck midnight, it was destined to be a sleepless night for the dia workers in the Los Angeles area.
...
As others gradually turned in for the night, Hawke kept an eye on the trending news online.
Steve's report had already beco the top trending story.
The anti-discrimination campaign was picking up steam, and mainstream dia's stance was quite clear.
Hawke found Caroline. "You stay up and write a speech for Steve."
Caroline stretched, "Country boy, it's 1 AM. You don't intend to let sleep?"
"I'll keep you company through the night," Hawke replied.
Caroline grabbed so paper and a pen, sitting at the desk. "The?"
Hawke had been considering for a while. "Steve should express the intention behind doing IVF, share his stance against discrimination, and the pride of having a Black son while calling Arica to pay attention to Black issues."
Caroline's lips twitched, and she wrote a title on the paper: My Black Son and I.
The piece took a full two hours to write, during which Hawke reviewed and suggested edits multiple tis, continuing until after three in the morning.
Crossing into the other rooms that were all occupied, Hawke finished reviewing the notes and sat on the couch, preparing to rest for a bit.
Caroline, too tired to keep her eyes open, sat down beside him and pressed down hard on his shoulder, "Can I borrow this?"
Hawke closed his eyes. "Whatever, Miss Baa. I've told you a long ti ago, I'll cooperate with you no matter what you want."
Caroline leaned against him. "I'll just sleep for a bit, country boy, and don't move. I have a taser."
Hawke casually responded, "I'm not into little sheep."
Caroline didn't reply, quickly falling asleep and mumbling in her dreams, "Baa! Baa--"
...
The next morning, the entrance of St. Joseph Hospital had turned into a tourist attraction.
Hundreds of people almost blocked the road.
Irving's police had to increase their manpower to maintain order.
Large numbers of fans held up huge posters of their Dodgers players, gathering at the hospital entrance to show support.
Hundreds of dia reporters amassed on both sides of the entrance.
The number of TV broadcast vans parked nearby had increased from two to six.
When the Dodgers' vehicles arrived, the dia went wild, crowding the cars to take pictures and hoping for interviews.
In the early stages of sumr, Los Angeles erupted into the hottest news event since 2002.
*****
/Sayonara816.
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