Chapter 25: Downfall

[Chapter 25: Downfall]

In a hotel room, a young couple was lost in passion.

Amidst long, pleasurable moans, Kate Beckinsale gripped the sheets tightly, her beautiful face displaying immense pleasure.

Ian lay on top of her, breathing lightly.

His greatest inheritance as a trust fund kid turned out to be impressive skills in the bedroom!

He gently licked the glistening sweat off Kate's face and chuckled, "Want something to drink?"

She was a beauty, bringing him an incredible feeling.

Kate continued to sigh softly, her long, elegant legs stretched out, fully releasing her beauty.

She murmured, "How about a glass of wine? I need to hydrate."

It was a valid need, who could deny that she was a delicate being?

The overwhelming excitement almost made her feel dehydrated.

...

Ian smiled, got up, and went to the minibar, pouring Kate a glass of red wine and bringing it to the edge of the bed.

Kate finished the glass in one go, kissed Ian lightly, propped herself up on her arms, and showed off her gorgeous figure, saying, "I had no idea you had such a gentle side."

Ian smiled back, "I've always been gentle, but being a guy from the lower end of the spectrum means sometimes we have to fight hard and come off as fierce."

His tone was soft, his gaze dreamy, "Like a little dog barking at a giant to summon the courage. The truly powerful don't need to do that."

There was a hint of melancholy in his voice, making him all the more charming.

Kate sat up, revealing her beautiful body, her bright eyes wide in surprise, "Do you really still think you're at the bottom? You've made major headlines these past few days, and that alone could get you on the national best reporters list!"

Ian dismissed the idea, "Being a gossip columnist isn't much different from being a high-class escort; it doesn't prove anything. My future is as a business mogul, someone who can influence the world -- not just a reporter!"

In another life, Ian was a well-known journalist, but so what?

He was used to seeing celebrities, and he had only come to feel the vast disparity.

The beautiful anchor around him was even worse off; after seeing so many, she believed she could only marry into wealth, yet ended up as a mistress.

This industry offered many chances to engage with big names, but few could seize those opportunities to make something of themselves.

Everyone developed a massive appetite as a result!

Ian was no exception -- he probably wanted more than anyone...

He thought, I've crossed over, I've got connections, and I can't just be content with such mediocrity!

God wouldn't favor the mediocre!

"Your ambitions are indeed large," Kate placed the glass down, "I'm going to take a shower and deal with your gift... I don't want to get pregnant."

She stood and walked toward the bathroom, showcasing her graceful figure.

...

Watching her disappear, Ian smiled to himself.

He got up, wrapped a towel around himself, and sat at the computer to handle video materials.

Half an hour later, Kate emerged from the bathroom.

She wore a sheer robe and glanced at Ian still working, shaking her head lightly, "You're such a workaholic; can't you wait until tomorrow?"

Ian didn't look back, "I can't; news is always better if it's timely. It has to come out early.

Stale news is worth less than stale bread... and we've already wasted over an hour!"

"So you're saying I delayed you?" Kate retorted, somewhat annoyed.

She huffed, "And it was not an hour!"

Ian nodded, "I need to work out... I'll try harder!"

The predecessor had skills but not strength; had a delay but not long-term effect.

But that was fine; he would improve.

...

Having regarded him deeply, Kate walked over to the grand floor-to-ceiling window of the hotel.

The sheer fabric reflected her beautiful, delicate form, barely concealing it.

Through the window, she gazed into the distance.

In the distance was Beverly Hills, home to the most famous stars in Los Angeles, where crazy scandals happened every night, but only a handful had the evidence to back them up.

The material Ian had was enough for a reporter to live on comfortably for a lifetime, yet to him, it seemed like an everyday affair.

This was clear from Kate's observation: he wasn't particularly excited; all he exhibited was a sense of calm, composure, and immense confidence in the future.

After all, he still thought of himself as being at the bottom.

...

Ian finally finished up his work.

He walked over to Kate, embracing her soft, lovely body, smiling, "You know, sometimes work can also be a form of rest... finishing one piece means you can start another."

Kate scoffed, "I'm not planning on showering again."

Despite her words, she returned to bed in Ian's gentle embrace.

They kissed passionately.

Just as Kate was about to take things further, Ian paused her, saying, "I need to make a call; I think you'd find it interesting."

Kate stopped and gave him a sulky look.

This man was a madman; he wouldn't even forget his business in such a situation.

She knew whom Ian wanted to call.

...

The moment he picked up the phone and dialed, Ian said: "Hey Harnett, it's me, Ian Carr. I apologize for disturbing you again this late, but this isn't too late -- I know you're still awake... haha, don't be surprised; I know where you went tonight, and I know you're home now; I hope your wife isn't beside you... I sent something to your email; you can check it yourself."

After hanging up, he called Ron Lloyd and others, working through a backlog before returning to embrace Kate again, savoring her scent.

...

Kate closed her eyes, enjoying it, her nostrils flaring as she let out a sultry murmur, "You plan to blackmail Ikebod Harnett? You just had dinner with him three days ago."

Ian replied cryptically, "So what? My previous news to him totaled no more than a million, while CBS pocketed at least five million -- not counting any ongoing revenue.

That's the strength of the distributors; as the content producer, I can't even manage a fifth of the benefits. At the dinner three days ago, he didn't even say a good word for me... the best he could do was, 'Hey Ian, you're quite a guy.' What a load of crap! Meeting once doesn't mean anything, and even sleeping with someone doesn't change that."

Damn!

Ian's words rang true; yet because they were true, they felt sharp.

Kate nudged Ian gently, "As your photographer, I haven't earned a dime."

Ian kissed her softly, playing with her beautiful lips, "Don't worry, babe; I just gave you over a billion."

Kate laughed lowly, wrapping her arms around Ian's neck and giving him a passionate kiss.

She looked at Ian, infatuated, saying, "Oh my God! You really are a scoundrel; just hours ago, I hated you, but now I'm starting to like you."

Her gaze revealed her feelings.

She was truly taken with Ian.

His madness, his wickedness, his ruthlessness all exuded an enticing charm.

Ian gently reassured her, "You have to learn to control your emotions, babe."

Kate felt her mood drop.

She understood all too well what that phrase meant.

This heartless bastard!

The problem was that she knew he just wanted to play with her, yet she didn't have the confidence to refuse... like a loyal puppy, even being played with felt joyful.

This made Kate feel a sense of helplessness, as though she had fallen.

It was like an addiction.

You enjoyed the pleasure it brought, yet felt pain without it, unable to extricate yourself, ultimately leading to downfall!

...

Ian looked at the calendar. November was approaching.

On November 1st, the General Assembly would vote to accept the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a member of the United Nations.

On November 2nd, the International Space Station would welcome its first permanent residents.

On November 7th, the presidential election in the U.S. would conclude.

Unfortunately, none of this had any immediate relevance to him; at best, it could predict that George Bush would become president, yet that wasn't remarkable. It was a binary situation with a fifty-fifty chance, not a bold prediction.

But in the near future, countless major international events would become leverage on his scale!

He, Ian Carr, was not only a producer of news but also a participant, a witness, and even a... manipulator of future events!

With lofty ambitions echoing in his heart, even the beauty in his arms seemed unimportant.

*****

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