Chapter 25: PR Company

[Chapter 25: Nipping Scandal in the Bud]

At BWR Public Relations company, the office remained brightly lit.

Caroline Jones, with her long, straight blonde hair and signature red lips, hung up the phone and pressed the speaker button. "Sasha, Amanda, come in."

Two women, notably less attractive than Caroline, entered the office.

Without any small talk, Caroline got straight to the point. "Ten minutes ago, Downey and Sarah were caught having an affair in a hotel, and someone got photos. Boss has pushed this issue over to us."

Sasha, curious, asked Amanda, "Didn't those two date before?"

Amanda replied, "Yeah."

The situation was urgent, and Caroline instructed, "Sasha, call all the major freelance journalist studios and active paparazzi to find out who's behind this."

Sasha quickly grabbed a phone to make the calls.

Caroline continued, "Amanda, reach out to the gossip rags. If they receive any news or photos regarding this, have them hold off for now."

She thought for a moment, "According to Downey, the camera used for the shots likely prioritized print media when selling. This is an explosive story, worth a lot. Smaller tabloids won't pay much, so we need to focus on Us Weekly, The National Enquirer, and Hollywood Life."

Amanda said, "I'll start with those three."

Caroline clapped her hands. "Let's get to work and clean up after these two idiots!"

The two assistants busily made phone calls, while Caroline opened her makeup bag to touch up her lipstick and brows.

Before long, Amanda called out, "I've got news..."

Caroline immediately grabbed her purse and walked out in her high heels. "Let's talk while we walk."

.....

Melrose Place, McDonald's.

Hawke Osment arrived promptly at the location given, where he found James, an editor from Us Weekly, already waiting.

After exchanging pleasantries, James asked directly, "I haven't seen you around before, are you new? What's this important news you mentioned?"

Hawke flipped his laptop open and turned it towards James. "Caught this half an hour ago."

James took a quick glance and recognized it. "This is explosive." He inquired, "Is the source legitimate?"

Hawke responded, "I secured the shots legally."

"Okay," James pondered for a moment before his phone rang. He stepped aside to take the call, returning with, "Mr. Osment, this news is incredibly valuable; it exceeds my pricing range. Please hold on for a moment while the editorial team appraises it."

US Weekly wasn't Hawke's only option; glancing at his watch, he said, "I'll wait five minutes."

...

At the entrance on the shopping plaza side, three women walked in.

Amanda gestured with her eyes and whispered, "That must be James from US Weekly."

Sasha pretended to order food, walking past quickly, her gaze briefly sweeping over the notebook and camera bag, before returning with burgers and fries.

She reported, "That young guy definitely looks like a newcomer, carrying a notebook and camera gear."

"Perfect! I'll go talk to him and see what he wants," Caroline lowered her voice. "If it doesn't pan out, I'll give you a signal for a targeted response..."

Sasha and Amanda nodded in agreement.

Caroline stepped quickly toward Hawke.

Upon hearing the rapid click of heels, Hawke glanced over. He tended to pay a bit of attention whenever someone passed by.

Wealthy and powerful people never played by the rules.

Rules were meant to restrain the ordinary.

A tall, curvaceous woman with shoulder-length blonde hair and an exquisite makeup approached in red high heels.

Caroline recognized James and said, "I'll have a quick chat with him."

The relationship between PR and media was less adversarial and more about cooperation. James stated, "Ten minutes."

He promptly walked away to a quieter area.

...

Hawke closed his notebook and sat waiting. At that moment, an elegant lady sat across from Hawke, carrying a hint of pride.

Caroline sized him up, "No watch, no jewelry, no cologne, dressed in low-end brands, sporting an unkempt hairstyle, and you have the typical sun-baked skin of someone who works outdoors. Your economic situation seems strained."

She felt confident, "Just hear me out for a moment; it'll benefit you to get out of this predicament."

Using her slender wrist, she revealed her watch as she placed her designer handbag on the table. "I've done similar work to what you're doing, and I was in a worse place than you. Look at me now -- I carry an Hermes bag, a Cartier watch, and wear Chanel clothes and perfume..."

Hawke asked outright, "You're in PR?"

"Transitioned from being a freelance journalist to PR," Caroline replied with a quick smile, introducing herself. "I'm Caroline Jones from BWR Public Relations; may I know your name?"

Hawke nodded, "Hawke Osment."

Caroline picked up her pace, "Oh, Hawke, can I call you that? Thanks. My employer is a generous lady with extensive connections in Hollywood and the media willing to help out friends like you with stable job opportunities."

She noticed no response from Hawke: "Of course, I can't allow you to work for free tonight. How about I buy those photos from you for some cash?"

In normal circumstances, the next question would be how much, and then she'd use her words to lead him into a trap, turning it into an alleged extortion.

Hawke's gaze fell on the Hermes bag; Caroline seized the moment to place it on the table. What was inside?

Not playing by her rhythm, he remained forthright. "Though I'm just a freelance journalist, I hold myself to a high standard; every news photograph I take has to be real, and I have a responsibility to society. The public has a right to know!"

Caroline attempted again to align him with her agenda. "You enjoy reporting news. That's great! My employer and I can help you secure a reporter position at a media outlet like the one James works for at Newsweek."

She made a gesture counting bills: "How much?"

Hawke's expression turned serious. "You're not only undermining my professional ethics but insulting my character!"

On the surface, Caroline remained unfazed; internally she scoffed: Is this guy a total idiot or just incredibly savvy?

She looked at Hawke, and no matter how she assessed him, he didn't strike her as particularly bright.

Hawke declared, "We have no reason to continue this conversation."

The best PR tactic was indeed to stifle scandals in their infancy. Caroline tapped her Hermes bag, proposing, "$5,000 for all the photos."

Hawke reached for his notebook.

Suddenly, Caroline burst into a bright smile, her words turning sharp and sarcastic. "I hear the accent; you're just some hick from Wyoming? A dumb kid who herded sheep on a mountain ranch, coming to Los Angeles thinking you could make your dreams come true? Don't be naive."

She reclaimed her Hermes bag, her fingers lightly tapping the table as she issued a threat. "I'll find out who you are, what you've done, what shameful things you've been involved in, even if you haven't, your family can be dragged into this. Trust me, I'll dig it out, expose it to the media, and ensure you face social death."

"You can do that all you want." Hawke smiled. "Because I'll do the same to you; believe me, the things you want to hide about yourself are at least ten times worse than anything I know about anyone else."

Caroline's face froze in shock.

Meanwhile, Sasha and Amanda received their cue and quickly set to work.

*****

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