Chapter 9: News Needs a Twist

[Chapter 9: News Needs a Twist]

The Los Angeles Herald operated just a street away from Elk Avenue, so close that driving there seemed like a waste of time. The office had only two storefronts, and there were barely seven or eight employees in total. What could one expect from a struggling local newspaper?

When Ian arrived at the office that morning, he stepped into the main working area. A few editors glanced at him, not even bothering to greet him. Their looks were cold and tinged with a hint of disdain.

One employee even stated outright, "Mr. Carr, I'm quitting by the end of the month, and I hope you can settle all salaries for me before then."

Ian forced a helpless smile. "Sure, Locke, but I suggest you wait a bit; the Herald is about to have a major turnaround."

Did no one here have any faith in him? The employee scoffed, clearly not believing his words.

...

Navigating through the office, Ian entered his own space. Since nobody seemed to need his input, he was just about to take a nap when a gray-haired old man walked in. It was Ron Lloyd, the editor-in-chief.

Lloyd, at fifty-two years old, had come from humble beginnings in rural America, making his way to Los Angeles with hopes of achieving greatness alongside his father Carr. That dream never materialized, and now he felt the weight of the years. Luckily, his hometown still had some land, and he was prepared to return to farming if needed.

Lloyd, in good spirits despite his age, with slicked-back hair and steady eyes, sat down across from Ian and handed him a draft of the upcoming issue of the Los Angeles Herald.

"The layout is done and should be out by noon. This one turned out well, but it's still not enough on its own," he remarked sternly, like an elder speaking to a younger relative.

Ian took the paper, glancing at it. The headline boldly proclaimed: "Mystery Shooting at Riverside Dock; Pearl Harbor Actress Suspected at the Scene. Is Los Angeles Experiencing Another Pearl Harbor?"

Great!

Ian smiled with satisfaction at the headline. Though it wasn't the biggest scoop, it involved Kate Beckinsale -- who, while not yet a superstar, had starred in the blockbuster Pearl Harbor, which had been heavily promoted for months. Who wouldn't want to ride that wave?

With the celebrity angle, combined with themes of gangs, death, and gunfights, there was a compelling story to tell. Ian felt confident in his article. It was detailed, suspenseful, and entertaining; he had even learned from the tabloid style of the East Coast media, which made for a captivating read.

Nodding to himself, Ian checked his account. The money hadn't come in yet.

"Great!" he muttered. "CBS, such a huge company, also delayed payments?"

CBS was one of the largest news networks in the U.S., boasting nearly two hundred television channels at its peak. However, in this timeline, CBS had yet to become the powerhouse it would later be -- they had not merged with Columbia or been absorbed by Viacom for $35 billion and had a market cap just over $10 billion, pulling in about $800 million last year. They had around seventy channels under their control.

Yet, they were still a substantial force in the industry.

The fourth channel he had contacted was a CBS subsidiary.

...

"How did you pull this off?" Lloyd questioned.

"Hard work," Ian replied.

"..."

Good reporters worked hard for good stories; that much made sense. What didn't sit right with Lloyd was that Ian Carr, the second-generation prodigal, was actually working hard to secure a story.

Ian looked at Lloyd and said, "Contact the car dealership again and sell my Porsche in the next few days. Pay that bastard Garrick back immediately."

What?

Lloyd was shocked. How could he part with his beloved sports car? Ian had spent three months haggling with his dad just to get it. All this to impress girls! And now he was ready to sell it?

Ian chuckled, "Just do it. The company needs the funds to grow."

Lloyd looked at Ian, feeling as if he had transformed overnight. He asked curiously, "Ian, what's going on?"

"Nothing," Ian replied, shaking his head lightly. "I barely slept three hours last night over this stupid news, and I'm exhausted. I need to catch a little sleep. Remember, wake me up at eleven... You must wake me up, this is very important!"

With that, he propped his legs up and leaned back in his chair, drifting off to sleep.

...

At eleven, Ian awoke to Lloyd calling his name. He checked the time and realized it was good enough. He left the Herald and drove his Porsche to the address on the business card.

It was in a decent apartment area, not far from Hollywood. Kate Beckinsale still couldn't afford a house there.

He parked his car beneath the apartment building and waited silently. Occasionally, a pretty girl walked by, casting flirtatious glances his way -- Hollywood had its fair share of beautiful people. Ian smiled without acknowledging them.

Not long after, it was noon. Ian took out his phone and dialed. "It's me, Ian Carr."

Inside the apartment, Kate was still sound asleep. The events of the night before had kept her tossing and turning; she hadn't settled down until the early hours.

Groggily, she picked up the phone, "Ian Carr? Couldn't you call me a little later?"

Ian laughed. "I guessed you wouldn't have time to buy the paper. Turn on CBS Fourth at noon news."

Kate was startled.

But she got up and grabbed the remote.

As the television came to life, she saw a news anchor in the studio. "Last night, there was a shooting at a lakeside villa near Los Angeles. Three African American men are dead. According to onsite reporters, there's a suspicion that Hollywood newcomer Kate Beckinsale was involved..."

Kate's jaw dropped in shock.

Then she noticed Ian interviewing an injured man who believed she had also been part of the shooting and had even developed a romantic connection with Charlie Mills?

Was this a bad joke?

Kate instantly lost her drowsiness. She sat up and shouted into the phone, "Ian Carr, what have you done?"

Ian chuckled, "Do you know what makes a story a good one? It's all about the twist, much like in movies. First, let everyone think Kate Beckinsale might be the killer. Then, you reveal the evidence, and people will see that you are innocent."

Kate was stunned.

It could actually be manipulated like this?

Ian continued, "The reports are out, and the police should be contacting you soon. Here's my advice: get out of there, leave your phone at home, don't answer any calls. I'm right outside your building!"

Kate yelled into the phone, "Why should I listen to you?"

Ian laughed, "Your fame will grow. Trust me, I have no reason to harm you. When the world wrongly accuses you, clearing your name afterward will leave people feeling guilty, and your public image will thrive!"

He paused for a moment, then continued, "If you want to ruin someone, build them up first and then bring them down. If you want to help someone, use opposite approach... No need to thank me; we make each other thrive. Also, right now, I'm the only one who can clear your name!"

Kate was speechless, her mouth agape.

There were no fools working in entertainment; she understood he had a point.

She nodded decisively, "Okay!"

...

Ian smiled as he hung up the phone, looking at himself in the mirror. The report was out, and the numbers below his right eye were starting to rise.

1/1000, 2/1000...

Slowly but surely.

It was settled; his advantages would upgrade through news!

Ian exhaled, relieved. But he realized that the report wouldn't be seen by just a few people, meaning it wouldn't increase his experience by just one person witnessing it.

This made sense; otherwise, leveling up would be too easy.

What thrilled him was that while the Influence Points he accumulated were small, the fatigue from using that insight feature last night eased significantly at that moment.

Did leveling up also relieve eye fatigue?

That was good news!

Ian let out a deep breath.

*****

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