The Wolf of Los Angeles

[Chapter 205: BlackRock]

Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades.

A mansion occupying an entire hillside shone brightly tonight as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver hosted a lavish thank-you party at their home.

Hawke Osment and Brian Ferguson arrived together. Schwarzenegger personally called the two over for a brief chat and gave Daniel Keitel a gentle reminder to treat Hawke and Brian well.

As the newly appointed assistant to the governor, Daniel spoke privately with Hawke and mentioned that once the new state government was formed, they would launch an official Twitter account, positioning it as the preferred online media partner for the state.

This wasn't just talk; he warned Hawke to send someone to liaise with the governor's office as soon as he started work next week.

...

As he watched Hawke and Brian enter the banquet hall, Steven Zhang, the media and public relations director for the new governor's office, wondered aloud, "He looks young; is he even 25?"

Daniel replied seriously, "He's the founder of Twitter."

Many in the California Republican Party already knew that Brian Ferguson had performed impressively, having opened crucial doors on two occasions, making him one of the key players behind the successful recall election. However, only a few core members understood the full picture: the new mayor of Covina had a powerful ally, Hawke Osment.

Without Hawke Osment, there would be no Brian Ferguson.

...

As they stepped into the banquet hall, Hawke found himself in a room filled with older individuals, where he encountered Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News.

Brian noticed this and said, "We can't really talk to each other; that's the group of youngsters from last year."

He approached a man in his thirties and introduced him, "I've got a friend here for you; like me, he's from Stanford University."

This man, casually dressed in a suit without a tie and sporting simple brown hair, embraced Brian when he saw him.

Brian then introduced the two, "Hawke, this is Peter Thiel, founder and CEO of PayPal, and my fellow alumnus from Stanford Law School. Peter, this is Hawke, founder of West Coast Media Entertainment Studio and Twitter Entertainment."

Hawke remembered hearing the name PayPal a few days earlier from Brian. Like the Ferguson family's Pacific Investment Group, it was also a top priority in the new governor's development initiative.

Peter stepped forward, shook Hawke's hand, and grinned, "I visited Pacific Investment recently, and Mary introduced you to me. I'm now a loyal user of Twitter."

Hawke replied politely, "The pleasure is mine."

Peter asked, "Are you interested in relocating Twitter to Silicon Valley? The environment there is much better for internet companies to flourish."

Hawke didn't hesitate and replied, "Los Angeles offers good conditions; the prospects for Silicon Beach look promising as well."

"When is Twitter planning to seek funding?" Peter inquired directly, pulling out his business card. "Make sure to notify me."

Hawke exchanged cards with him, "I will."

Just as Peter Thiel left, a few more individuals approached him, all expressing an interest in Twitter and wanting to invest.

The Twitter pie was growing larger, naturally attracting those looking for a slice. Hawke had established himself and built a network and influence, which led to discussions about investment.

...

Emma Batson, dressed in a light yellow evening gown, had been observing from the sidelines. Receiving an invitation through her connections in Silicon Valley, she had entered the banquet hall early.

Seeing the familiar faces from the investment world and noting Hawke's popularity, Emma knew her mission would be quite challenging. Spotting a moment alone with Hawke, she approached him and introduced herself, "I'm Emma Batson."

Hawke took her outstretched hand and stated, "Hawke Osment."

Emma smiled and said, "I know you; you're the founder of Twitter and West Coast Studio."

Hawke glanced at her, judging her appearance; she seemed to be in her late twenties, with a polished look and an attractive figure. Remembering the visitors from earlier, he asked, "Which investment company do you work with?"

"No, I don't invest," Emma replied with a radiant confidence. "I specialize in business strategy planning for individuals and companies."

Intrigued, given she knew he was the founder of Twitter and likely understood West Coast Media Entertainment Studio, he smiled slightly, "I didn't expect we'd be in the same line of work."

Emma responded, "Those who plan strategy often find it challenging to map out their path."

Her bright eyes focused on Hawke as she added, "I come from a Bay Area consulting firm in San Francisco. Are you interested in collaborating?"

Hawke questioned, "Collaborating? Do you want to develop a strategic plan for me or my company?"

"The Bay Area has the best consulting firm in Silicon Valley," Emma asserted confidently. "The cases I've handled have increased in valuation by over five billion dollars, turning many company founders into millionaires and billionaires."

Hawke wasn't familiar with the firm, and he wasn't sure if she was boasting, so he simply complimented, "You're quite impressive."

Emma, much like Hawke, was proactive instead of waiting for opportunities. She surveyed the banquet hall and remarked, "There are at least a dozen people here with a net worth of over 100 million, and some with a net worth of billions of dollars. In this battle in California, it seems that Schwarzenegger is the winner, but in fact they are the winners."

She tucked her cascading red curls behind her ear, revealing her finely chiseled profile, and continued, "They are the true players at the table. Don't you want to be among them? A net worth in the billions means shifting from being a pawn to being a player, impacting California and, indeed, all of America."

Emma stepped subtly closer, neither breaching social safety lines nor failing to showcase her charm. "A man like you could have as many offers as he wants. Hollywood starlets would be clamoring for attention."

"It sounds enticing," Hawke replied, catching a whiff of Chanel No. 5, "but shouldn't company growth be gradual? A shaky foundation would turn into a sandcastle."

Not pressing further, she proposed, "It's a bit noisy here; shall we find a quieter place to talk?"

Hawke turned to look at her, appreciating her looks more than even Bella Sain. This was Schwarzenegger's territory, not his office, and he wasn't sure where the surveillance cameras were.

Hawke quietly said, "I think we should discuss it here."

Emma conceded, "I'm connected with several investment firms. They have ample funds, far beyond what someone like Peter Thiel could offer, which could help Twitter quickly scale and capture the global market for an IPO."

Understanding what drives career-focused men, she had researched his background. The son of a bankrupt small-farm owner from Wyoming wasn't likely to resist monetary temptation.

Emma continued, "Given Twitter's active user base and rapid growth, coupled with the resources and support from large investment firms, reaching a valuation of over ten billion dollars wouldn't be far-fetched."

Hawke contemplated and boldly asked, "Which investment firm are you with?"

"BlackRock's San Francisco office," Emma replied directly.

Hawke had heard about this firm and had seen some information online; it was a spinoff of the Blackstone Group that had only gone public in New York in 1999 but was nowhere near as significant as it would become post-2010.

He also knew that BlackRock had a strong left-leaning bias.

Sure enough, the Democrats had begun to realize the potential of Twitter and were starting to act.

Hawke wasn't naive enough to reject on the spot; he said, "What are the investment objectives? What are the plans? What platforms and resource supports are there? I see none, and I can't make any commitments."

Since he hadn't outright refused, there was an opportunity for negotiation. Emma answered, "All of that will follow; our meeting today is just preliminary."

Hawke replied, "Twitter doesn't lack investors; you'll need to show me your sincerity."

After further discussion, the two exchanged business cards, and Emma bid him farewell.

...

Hawke found Brian, who was entertaining Schwarzenegger's daughter, Katherine. She was laughing joyfully during their interaction.

Upon Hawke's arrival, Brian wrapped things up, coming over and saying, "That woman was stunning."

Hawke responded, "She's a black widow."

Brian asked, "What did you mean by that?"

"We should head out; it's about time," Hawke observed as numerous guests began making their way out. "I need to discuss some things with Mary."

The two men said their goodbyes and made their way to the estate's parking lot.

Edward flashed his lights to signal their car's location. A black armored Mercedes quickly exited Pacific Palisades.

...

Half an hour later, at a bar in Santa Monica, Hawke met with Mary Ferguson and her daughter, Erica Ferguson.

Mary led the Pacific Investment Group, and it was the second-largest shareholder in Twitter.

Erica acknowledged Hawke with a nod but exchanged no words. She went to the bar owner, ordered drinks suitable for Hawke and Mary's tastes, slipped money to the familiar owner, and hung a "closed" sign on the door.

Hawke then stated bluntly, "BlackRock contacted a consulting firm about investing in Twitter."

Mary responded, "While the firm isn't huge, it has shown remarkable growth in recent years."

She paused a moment before asking, "What's your take?"

Hawke replied, "Investments are not just about money and platform; it's also about timing. Twitter will definitely seek funding, but not with BlackRock."

Mary nodded slightly, "I've gotten wind that BlackRock and Vanguard have devised a strategy with the Democrats to push marginalized voices into the mainstream."

Hawke quickly understood, "Giving them privileges serves to distract while securing their votes. These marginalized groups can cause more chaos than ordinary folks when they seize opportunities."

Without further thought, if BlackRock were to invest and bring in a bunch of LGBTQ individuals, it would be intolerable.

The company would go bankrupt for sure.

Hawke decided, "In the second half of the year, we will initiate our first funding round."

Mary agreed, "The time is nearly right; Twitter needs more allies and platforms."

"Regarding BlackRock, I won't outright refuse, but I plan to delay," Hawke stated firmly. "I am concerned they might initiate a high-stakes business war and take physical action against us."

Mary, being in capital investment herself, was acutely aware of such strategies; she reminded him, "Before seeking funding, focus on boosting the active user count as much as possible."

Hawke nodded affirmatively, "I will."

As Mary prepared to leave, she called to Erica, "Are we heading home?"

Erica casually responded, "You go ahead; I'm not returning."

Mary didn't press further and exited the bar directly.

...

Erica approached Hawke with a bottle of alcohol, "Let's have a drink."

Hawke got a new glass and placed it before her, "Just a little; we need to keep our reflexes sharp."

Erica agreed, "The early stages of starting a business are always tough."

The two returned to Hawke's villa together.

Erica unlocked a cabinet and pulled out a yoga outfit, playfully pushing Hawke outside to change clothes.

That night, Hawke fully appreciated Erica's flexibility.

...

The next morning, after dropping Erica off at the precinct, Hawke arrived at the office.

He encountered Edward and said, "Let's meet Campos at ten."

Edward made a call.

Noticing that Edward looked a bit off, Hawke asked, "What's up? You don't seem your usual self."

Edward sighed, "Deborah has been arguing with me constantly over the past few days; she insists that I should quit."

"Quit?" Hawke was surprised.

Edward wasn't foolish at all; "I'm not quitting."

"Didn't you jot down notes about various women?" Hawke reminded him. "Are you really going to hang all your hopes on one tree?"

Robert Downey Jr. had been dead for over a year, and Deborah, along with Indio, couldn't provide much emotional support.

Edward pondered the situation.

...

"Make sure to carry a gun," Hawke advised, putting on his coat as he left the office.

Edward grabbed the car keys and followed suit.

They arrived at the safe house where Campos was already waiting.

Hawke asked directly, "No news at all on Tiger Woods, David Beckham, or Kobe Bryant?"

Campos replied, "Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid has been confirmed, but the transfer window won't open until July 1. The Madrid media has gathered; he's been spending time with Victoria. We've had our eye on Tiger; for now, there's been no movement; he just got engaged and has been keeping close to his fiancee aside from training and matches."

He focused on the last individual, "Kobe Bryant has been restless since going to Colorado, and like many athletes during rehabilitation, he's been messing around with women, getting close with a hotel receptionist. We've gotten some photos but haven't alerted anyone yet. I've sent Garcia to assist; he's more experienced."

Hawke nodded, "Good work; let's aim for some results."

Campos added, "He's back in Los Angeles, but we've received firm intel that he plans to return to Eagle County tomorrow to prepare for surgery."

Hawke reiterated, "Keep a close watch on him."

Having spent over six months with Hawke, Campos had seen the other side of celebrity life and stated, "Athletes are generally in good physical shape; their hormones are both active and difficult to control."

Previous incidents involving Will Smith and Paris Hilton showed that celebrity scandals could effectively increase Twitter traffic and user engagement.

For funding, the active user count remained a vital valuation metric.

Hawke understood the effectiveness of old tactics and would certainly not abandon them.

Furthermore, most Black athletes came from relatively humble beginnings, posing little threat.

Before departing, Hawke mentioned, "I might need a few bodyguards; start looking for good candidates, ideally those skilled in combat and driving, someone who strongly adheres to principles."

Campos agreed.

He had encountered numerous individuals who had fled to California, refusing to associate with criminals.

These individuals generally held strong principles and showed great dedication to their work.

After thinking, Hawke added, "If you find suitable candidates, let them know they can bring their families to Los Angeles to live; their legal status won't be an issue moving forward."

...

Hollywood Boulevard.

Tim, the assistant to BlackRock senior executive Douglas, drove through the famous Walk of Fame, where the sidewalks were nearly taken over by the homeless.

The downtown area of Los Angeles and the traditional Hollywood district had become two major camps for the homeless.

The person he sought had unfortunately fallen into that category, likely residing in one of these areas.

Tim arrived near Highland Center and spotted the person he was looking for waving by the roadside.

He parked his car and waited for the man to get in, asking, "Coulson, have you found him?"

Coulson, a private investigator who had collaborated with BlackRock in the past, replied, "I found him. It's hard to believe that a once-prominent football star has ended up as a homeless man due to just one wrong step."

Tim said, "Take me to see him."

"This way," Coulson directed.

...

Tim drove eastward, past two intersections, turned a corner, and spotted the sign for Ackman Charity Shelter.

Coulson pointed out, "There's a parking lot behind the shelter. Miller Collins' old teammates pooled money to buy him an RV, and he's been living in it for now."

Tim turned the car into the parking lot behind the shelter and parked in an empty space.

Coulson indicated an old RV parked a few meters away and said, "He's in there."

Tim turned to look, and after a short wait, a figure emerged from the RV.

The man looked disheveled, with a scruffy beard and unkempt hair, holding a bottle in one hand while the other clasped a cigarette, exhaling clouds of smoke.

Tim scrutinized him for a moment and comparing to the photo he had, he had no doubt.

Coulson remarked confidently, "We've worked together over a dozen times; I've never been wrong."

Tim observed the scene and suddenly inquired, "Does this guy have any fight left in him?"

"What fight? After last year's milk scandal, he had a goon squad attack a Fox News host and ended up in prison," Coulson had done his research. "During his time in prison, his wife Maria successfully sued for divorce."

He couldn't help but shake his head, "This guy has hit rock bottom. He had to pay for breaches of contract, and with a female lawyer and judge in his divorce case, the court mostly favored her. On top of that, he still owed alimony based on his club contract's income level..."

Tim listened and felt a wave of despair washing over him, even starting to develop a fear of marriage.

*****

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