Chapter 15: Do You Know What I Gave Up?

[Chapter 15: Do You Know What I Gave Up?]

A Porsche cruised through the streets of Los Angeles, hair flowing in the wind. The scenery rushed by as a phone rang nearby.

Ian casually picked it up, glancing around, and said in a relaxed tone, "Ian Carr, who's this?"

"Damn! Ian, don't tell me you forgot my number!" A familiar female voice came through the line.

Ian paused for a moment, finally recalling, "Tori?"

This Tori was Ian's girlfriend -- or at least she used to be. He wasn't the type to have a steady girlfriend, and the girls he usually hung out with were no great catch. Just a few days ago, he received a text saying "We're done," sent by this Tori. She had apparently started dating some college football player and decided to break things off with him via text.

This put Ian in a good mood. "Didn't we end things? Tori, why are you calling me?"

Tori's tone turned somber. "Because I was really let down by you back then, Ian, but now you're famous! You've become one of the most recognized reporters in America, even saved Kate Beckinsale's life! So I want to give you another chance."

Ian laughed, "But I'm not someone who values chances that much."

"Damn!" Tori exclaimed, her voice rising. "Ian Carr, you can't forget friends just because you have money now!"

"That's how things go. We're done, babe. Don't come looking for me again." Ian smiled as he hung up the phone, effortlessly severing old ties as he continued down the road.

---

In the CBS Channel 4 studio.

A middle-aged white man sat in the broadcast room. Speaking directly into the camera, he confidently announced, "This is CBS News Channel 4. I'm your host, Burt Waynes. Tonight's spotlight is on a journalist who recently made quite a splash. He was the one who personally rescued a Hollywood star from a psycho and even went to the frontlines to cover a shootout. He is..."

"Ian Carr!"

The audience erupted in cheers. Amidst the thunderous applause, Ian gracefully walked onto the stage and took a seat on the couch beside the host.

Burt Waynes turned to Ian, asking, "Mr. Carr, what made you choose to go to the villa after saving Ms. Beckinsale?"

Ian replied, "It was basic human decency. When I learned that Charlie Mills was involved in human trafficking, I felt a journalistic duty to rescue any others who might be involved... Unfortunately, I didn't find anyone."

"But wasn't Charlie Mills in love with Ms. Beckinsale? Why would he still sell people?"

Ian continued, "Yes! That's what I sensed from my limited interactions with him. He was a very complex person. I felt pain and conflict within him. On one hand, he wanted to be with Ms. Beckinsale, but on the other, he couldn't go against his buyers' will. He expressed this duality in some very complex ways, even going so far as to wear Ms. Beckinsale's clothes, fantasizing about being with her. In a sense, I believe he wasn't a cross-dresser but rather had an unrealistic delusion. I've written a piece about his psyche in such circumstances, which you'll find in the Los Angeles Herald. We'll soon publish an exclusive psychological analysis of Charlie Mills from my interview, guaranteed to be authentic!"

The crowd laughed, looking at Ian with increasing admiration.

This kind of talk show was a chance to shape his public persona and connect with people, and Ian wasn't about to miss it.

Burt Waynes chuckled, "Alright, Mr. Carr, you didn't pay for an advertisement."

"Come on, Burt, we're all friends here," Ian replied with a smile.

Burt Waynes continued, "Did you ever hesitate regarding your choice? I mean, after being out of danger, why continue on? What were you thinking then?"

Ian answered, "I thought it was something I had to do, no matter the danger involved."

Burt Waynes immediately responded, "You know I wasn't referring to hesitation for that reason."

This elicited low laughter from the audience.

Ian glanced at the host and then at the crowd, both sharing an understanding look.

He burst out laughing, raising his hands in surrender:

"Okay, I admit it, it was indeed a tough decision for me. The challenge wasn't that there might be a shootout at the villa, but rather that I gave up the chance to escort Ms. Beckinsale home! Oh my God, do you all have any idea how hard that decision was? Under those circumstances, it was completely reasonable for two people experiencing the same danger to develop feelings for each other, yet I sacrificed it to save the innocent! Do you know what I gave up? I gave up Kate Beckinsale! I'm such an idiot! I'm going to be the laughingstock of everyone's life! I'm just an idiot!!!"

By the end, Ian shouted, holding his head in exasperation, eliciting a roar of laughter from the audience.

At that moment, the story of Ben Affleck and Nicole Kidman had yet to occur, so Ian didn't mind borrowing elements from that narrative and giving it a twist.

Ian Carr gave up the chance to escort Kate Beckinsale home to save the innocent and would regret it for life, which held tremendous publicity value!

And the love triangle of a woman and two men was quite reminiscent of Pearl Harbor!

Burt Waynes mused, "That's indeed a major regret. Sometimes opportunities come only once, and missing one might mean there won't be another. But who knows? Why don't we ask the person directly?"

Ian feigned surprise, "Kate?"

As Ian expressed his shock, host Burt Waynes announced, "Let's welcome the beautiful British rose, Ms. Kate Beckinsale!"

...

Amidst the applause, Kate stepped out in a stunning black low-cut evening gown, her poised demeanor and breathtaking beauty mesmerizing the audience instantly.

Cheers erupted in the audience as Kate naturally took a seat beside Ian.

The host asked, "Ms. Beckinsale, did you hear Mr. Carr's earlier regrets? What do you think about his choice to abandon you to save others?"

The dialogue had been rehearsed, and Kate answered gracefully, "Opportunities are always there; there's no need to rush."

More cheers erupted from the audience, and someone started whistling wildly.

The host smiled at Kate, "So you're still willing to give him a chance, right?"

Kate turned to Ian, who was beaming with joy.

That bastard!

She repressed her internal shivers and said softly, "Mr. Carr is someone who risks everything for justice and journalism. His dedication is something we all should learn from. I admire those who are dedicated; that's the essence of what makes America great."

She thought to herself:

You're not in it for justice, Ian Carr; you're just in it for the news!

If it weren't for my agent really pushing me, I wouldn't be saying such cheesy lines.

Oh right, isn't this script something you wrote?

You really have no shame!

Pausing slightly, Kate continued, "So... yes, I would give him a chance."

The audience erupted again into applause, with whistling continuing.

Kate turned to Ian, "But you missed your best chance, Ian! The impulsive moments have passed, and now only rationality remains. If you still want me, you'll need to put in ten times the effort."

Ian smiled back, "Then let's start with a cup of coffee, how does that sound?"

Kate shot him a flirtatious glance, "Sounds good."

"Yay!" The audience cheered again, alive with excitement.

*****

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