The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 292: Little Guys at the Foot of the Mountain]

Back at the office, Caroline handed Hawke the invitation from the Hilton Group.

The party was set to take place at the Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, inviting a host of collaborating companies and stars associated with the Hilton Group.

Caroline also received an invite and asked Hawke with eager anticipation, "Are you going? If you do, we can go together."

They were in talks over an advertising collaboration, so Hawke certainly planned to attend. "Sure."

Caroline beamed, a couple of dimples appearing as she stepped out of the office, pondering what hairstyle to wear, what outfit to choose, and which high heels to match.

It was as if a carrot was dangled in front of a sheep.

...

As quitting time approached, Hawke called Erica. She was working overtime and recently didn't have time.

Hawke tidied up his desk, then asked Edward to join him at a bespoke menswear store in Santa Monica to pick out a new suit.

After leaving the store, Hawke got a call from Campos.

...

They met at a safe house where Campos handed Hawke two folder envelopes. "These are photos and bios of Manninger Jenkins and Renee Russell, along with available public information; I'm still looking into the rest."

Hawke opened the folders and took a look.

Manninger was a middle-aged white man in his forties, a strong presence in the television industry. He had been with Channel 11 in Los Angeles for quite some time before the channel was acquired by Fox Network, at which point he seamlessly transitioned to Fox, rising from producer to deputy director.

Renee Russell, a thirty-three-year-old white woman, joined Fox 11 in 1997. She held a position similar to Megan's, serving as a host and producer for the 7 PM news, all while being a deputy director at Channel 11.

Both were married; the former had a 15-year-old son, while the latter had no children.

Judging by the publicly available information, it seemed that Manninger had a higher chance of promotion.

However, Cynthia Rosenberg's retirement report highlighted a strong endorsement for Megan.

Campos mentioned, "Fiona went to the Fox Television Center this afternoon under the guise of a freelance journalist, she learned that the Hilton Group had invited Fox 11 to the partner party."

...

Hawke pulled out his phone and called Megan. "Does Channel 11 have a collaboration with the Hilton Group?"

Megan replied, "They're one of Channel 11's biggest advertisers."

Hawke followed up, "The Hilton Group invited Channel 11 to the partner party in Los Angeles. Can you find out who will represent Channel 11?"

"I'll call right away."

...

Megan hung up and reached out to the Ace News program team. She soon called Hawke back and said, "Manninger is representing Channel 11."

Hawke responded, "Got it."

Megan added, "If I get discharged, I'll fight for it with Cynthia. It should be me going."

Hawke said, "Just continue to rest. Make it seem like your situation is serious."

Megan affirmed, "I understand."

...

Hawke stored his phone and told Campos, "Keep investigating those two."

"Understood." Campos replied, noting a few more details before departing.

...

The next morning, Hawke received a call letting him know that the cargo transported from Florida via cold chain had arrived at a warehouse near Los Angeles International Airport, asking for a delivery address.

Hawke ordered it sent directly to Twitter, instructing Edward to take care of the pickup.

Frank sent a few over from the parking lot at Venice Beach, Edward kept a few, and a few more went to Brian.

After checking in with Erica, he kept a few for himself.

...

In the afternoon, Frank called, inviting Hawke and Edward to the parking lot for a barbecue.

Under the setting sun, a complete barbecue setup was set outside the parked RV.

Frank split a few cleaned green iguanas in half, skewered each piece, and placed them over the charcoal grill.

Brushing them with sauce, a unique aroma drifted with the wind.

Edward stood by the grill, watching the golden meat while still sporting half a triangle head, asked, "Are you sure that's edible?"

Hawke sat at the table, just opening a beer, and replied, "Don't you know? They are like dinosaurs. Speaking from a grilling perspective, this is like barbecued dinosaur meat."

Edward believed Hawke but was skeptical about Frank, muttering, "Good ingredients also need good chefs."

Wearing oversized sunglasses, Frank got annoyed hearing Edward doubt his grilling skills: "I can make anything tasty, even cotton gin, so don't you dare question my cooking."

"Really?" Edward quickly pulled back his leg. "Let's see you prove it!"

Frank picked up a skewer, aiming towards Edward, which startled him into retracting his leg.

Frank wasn't aiming for his leg but rather a more sensitive area.

Frank withdrew the skewer. "Since we have dinosaur meat today, I won't be roasting any cotton."

Once the lizard was done, Hawke brought over some trays.

Frank added cumin and chili powder before placing everything on the trays.

The three of them sat at the table, poured some beers, and dug into the grilled iguanas.

Hawke ripped off a piece of meat, stuffing it into his mouth, giving Frank a thumbs-up. "This is on par with a top chef's skills."

Edward chimed in, "It must be due to high-quality ingredients."

Frank entered his over-the-top boasting mode: "I spent time honing these grilling skills; with this barbecue technique, I've effortlessly charmed three Hollywood starlets, including Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor."

Hawke caught the keyword: "So Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor were your ex-wives?"

Frank raised his glass, downing its contents in one go, smiling without answering.

Hawke challenged him, "You are bragging again. Haven't you heard that Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor had an ex-husband named Frank?"

Frank waved dismissively, "Interpret it however you wish."

As Edward refilled Frank's empty glass, he curiously asked, "So, did you ever date Audrey Hepburn?"

Frank chuckled, exuding the essence of a king of boastful charm.

"I don't believe it," Edward replied. "She had very few scandals."

Frank clinked glasses with Hawke and indulged in food and drinks, unwilling to entertain Edward's foolishness further.

While visiting for the barbecue, Hawke was not only interested in sampling Frank's cooking but also had something to inquire: "Do you know the current deputy director of Fox 11, Manninger Jenkins?"

Frank looked contemplative. After a long pause, he said, "That name rings a bell, but I can't associate it with a person."

Hawke pulled out two photos from his coat pocket and handed them over. "This is how he looked back then and now."

Frank took a look at both, shook his head, and returned them, saying, "I don't know him."

He reverted to his braggart status. "When I was at my peak in Hollywood, he was just a nobody down at the foot of the mountain. From the peak, I could see a vast crowd below; how could I possibly remember such an insignificant character?"

Hawke then asked, "What about Renee Russell? She's also a deputy director at Channel 11 and only 33."

"I don't know her," Frank replied firmly, shaking his head. "She's too young."

Hawke realized this information would be of no use.

He wouldn't be able to use the usual channels and had to explore different paths.

Frank was the first acquaintance Hawke made when he arrived in Los Angeles. The old-timer lowered his voice, "Are they your next targets?"

Hawke didn't feel the need to hide his intentions. "It's the director of Channel 11."

Frank laughed. "Megan Taylor is aiming to be the head of Channel 11? That's a tough spot to climb; dealing with Roger Ailes is no easy task."

Hawke wanted to ask, so instead, he said, "Is there a legitimate way to deal with Roger Ailes?"

"Roger Ailes has made quite a name for himself in the media since the '80s; his reputation is unmatched in the industry." Frank stated plainly, "For most women to gain opportunities with him, they pretty much have to go down that unspoken path. I can't speak for everyone, but at least a third of the female hosts at Fox Network didn't climb through sheer talent; they took shortcuts through Roger Ailes."

He sipped his beer and continued, "However, many others didn't, especially the directors of various sub-networks. Program hosts can use shortcuts because they only need to follow established scripts and pretty much look pretty while reading from a teleprompter; but sub-network directors have to guarantee they possess the necessary capabilities. Channel 11 is a critical television station for all of California and the entire West Coast; if anything goes wrong, Roger Ailes has to explain himself to the Murdoch family."

Hawke interjected, "Because the real emperor of Fox is Murdoch, not Roger Ailes."

Frank chuckled, "You've hit the nail on the head. If Ailes makes a serious misstep, the Murdoch family won't hesitate to dispose of him."

Hawke asked, "What if there is only one best choice?"

Frank contemplated cautiously for a moment, then said, "I've dealt with Roger Ailes a few times. The key is not to make him feel antagonized."

He paused slightly before adding, "Intense competition is within his acceptance range. If you can't win in the internal competition, how can you compete against your rivals?"

Hawke poured Frank some more beer and clinked glasses with him. "Your perspective is wise; every time I consult you, I gain valuable insights."

Frank took a sip of beer and glanced back at the RV. "You've not only provided me with an RV but you've also set up an entertainment room at the office with the security team to keep me company; I can't just enjoy the perks without contributing something back."

Edward couldn't help but tease, "Who would've thought you'd have professional ethics for a culinary beggar like you?"

"Better than you cotton-pickers who won't even grow cotton!" Frank shot Edward a disdainful look and turned to Hawke. "You should acquire a piece of countryside and send this guy off to grow cotton."

*****

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