The Wolf of Los Angeles

Chapter 51: Playing Too Wild

In the second-hand van, Hawk looked at the largest thug, who was grimacing in pain. "Do you need to go to the hospital?"

The big guy quickly waved it off. "No, no, I’m good. Just needed a moment to recover."

Edward chimed in, "These three are tough as nails."

Hawk pulled out a stack of cash and handed each man an extra $50. "Keep quiet about this."

The second thug grinned as he pocketed the money. "Boss, who’s going to believe the word of homeless guys like us?"

Edward cautioned, "Hold onto that cash tight. Don’t let anyone rob you."

Hawk had a thought. "Did they help hand out the business cards?"

The third thug eagerly nodded. "We sure did! Even helped Edward collect a list of names—"

Hawk, amused, decided to give them some advice. "You’re in good shape. If you’re going to hang around the streets, pick up some bad habits."

The big and second thugs exchanged puzzled looks before turning to the third. "What does that mean?"

The third thug shook his head. "No clue."

Edward, recalling Hawk’s earlier warnings, explained more directly, "Stay away from those charity health check-ups, got it?"

The big guy looked confused but nodded. "Sure thing."

The second thug scratched his head. "Aren’t those supposed to be helpful?"

The third thug added, "Ackman Charity Foundation has been offering free check-ups. They even took a few sick homeless guys for treatment, and some didn’t come back. Word is, they got jobs elsewhere. Everyone’s envious."

Hawk pointed to Edward. "Just listen to him."

Edward dropped the trio off and then drove Hawk to Century City, where they entered the William Morris Agency.

In the same meeting room as before, Hawk found Dwayne Johnson, Dani Garcia, and Caroline Jones already waiting.

Dwayne was holding an ice pack to his face, which sported two noticeable bruises.

Hawk immediately intervened, "Don’t let the bruises fade. The more visible, the better. When reporters interview you, these are your badges of honor."

Caroline smirked, "I told him that, but he wouldn’t listen. Go ahead, Cowboy, talk some sense into him."

Hawk flipped her off without hesitation. Turning to Dwayne, he added, "If the swelling fades, I might have to step in. Just so you know, my specialties include groin kicks, chokeholds, and eye pokes."

Caroline whistled. "Sounds like Dwayne’s favorite activities."

Fed up, Dwayne flipped her off as well and put down the ice pack. "What did you call her last time?" he asked Hawk.

"Miss Baa-Baa," Hawk replied.

Dwayne echoed with mock seriousness, "Miss Baa-Baa."

Caroline, unbothered, maintained her composure. "Gentlemen, let’s focus on work, please."

Hawk connected his laptop to the projector and played the video. "Dwayne did an excellent job. Brave and heroic."

The footage began with a scenic street view before capturing Jacqueline’s cries for help. The video, shot entirely from a "bystander’s" perspective, was shaky and featured heavy breathing and hurried footsteps, adding a sense of urgency. Jacqueline’s face remained obscured.

Dani was impressed. "It’s so convincing. Watching this, I’d believe Dwayne genuinely stopped a crime."

Hawk didn’t downplay his role. "Like I said, I’m the best at this."

Caroline’s commentary mixed praise with jabs. "Quick cuts, shaky breathing that sounds borderline obscene—it’s amateurish to the core, but it sells authenticity. Classic paparazzi finesse."

Ignoring her, Hawk said, "If everyone’s satisfied, I’ll deliver this to Channel 11."

Dani emphasized, "Midnight Entertainment is a must."

"No problem," Hawk assured her, then asked, "Have you prepped the media?"

Caroline took over. "I’ve lined up reporters. When Dwayne leaves, they’ll photograph his injuries and ask what happened. He’ll only say it’s ‘nothing serious.’"

Her approach was methodical. "By 6 p.m., headlines about Dwayne’s injuries will be on Yahoo Entertainment, movie forums, and entertainment blogs, building momentum for tomorrow."

Hawk appreciated the strategy. "Doing good anonymously but ‘accidentally’ getting media attention works wonders."

Caroline quipped, "You’re not as dumb as you look."

"Baa," Hawk retorted, earning a sour look from her.

Just then, her phone rang. After a brief conversation, she turned to Dwayne. "The reporters are in place. Let’s head down."

Dwayne gestured to his face. "Do I need makeup?"

Caroline pushed him forward. "No time. Let’s go."

Hawk followed a few moments later, wanting to observe traditional media tactics. He stood by the agency’s glass doors, watching as Dwayne exited alone toward the parking lot.

Reporters appeared seemingly out of nowhere, cameras flashing.

"Rock, what happened to your face?" one asked.

Dwayne, wearing his trademark warm smile, replied, "Nothing serious. Just a little incident."

He deflected further questions and got into his car, leaving the reporters to speculate.

Caroline appeared beside Hawk. "Pretty tame, huh? Not as wild as your stunts."

"Times are changing," Hawk replied.

Caroline warned, "Play too wild, and you’ll break something beyond repair."

Hawk shrugged, "Let’s stay in touch."

On his way to Fox Television Center in Beverly Hills, Hawk called Megan Taylor and arranged a meeting. He arrived at Channel 11 shortly after and found Megan waiting in the reception area. Her newly dyed blonde hair was pinned up with a pen.

"Is it headline-worthy?" Megan asked bluntly. "If it’s not, you’re wasting my time."

"It’s a bombshell," Hawk replied confidently. "You’ll want this one."

They watched the video together. The jittery footage, heavy breathing, and frantic movement made the incident feel like a genuine emergency. Megan watched it twice, pausing for a close-up of Dwayne’s bruised face.

She confirmed the video’s authenticity. "Where’d you get this?"

"A source," Hawk replied.

Megan, impressed by his track record, said, "You always land the big scoops."

Hawk was honest. "I’ve distributed thousands of business cards across L.A., and I pay better than any other studio for tips and licensing rights."

She wasn’t surprised. Big media often relied on sources, some of whom came from high-level corporations or even Congress. Deals involved complex exchanges of interests.

After some negotiation, they agreed on $10,000 for the video. Hawk signed the licensing agreement and pocketed the check.

As he was leaving, Megan stopped him. "Ever consider joining my team? I can offer you a good spot."

Hawk flicked the check in his hand. "What’s the weekly pay?"

Megan deadpanned, "Forget I asked."

Back in the production room, Megan reviewed the video with her team. "What’s the headline?"

A male editor suggested, "‘Dwayne Johnson Fights Off Thugs to Save Woman: A Real-Life Hero!’"

Megan shook her head. "Not enough for a headline. Beyond Dwayne’s heroism, we need a broader narrative."

She pointed at the footage of the three "robbers." "Tie it into L.A.’s worsening crime, with violence creeping from the inner city into affluent neighborhoods."

The team nodded in agreement, recognizing the combination of celebrity and social commentary would make the story irresistible.

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