Chapter 27: Big Scoop
[Chapter 27: Big Scoop]
The office of the president of the Los Angeles Herald.
Ian kicked back, typing away on his laptop while checking his latest scoop. He preferred online news over newspapers, mainly for the direct interaction it had with readers. After all, it provided a platform for responses to the stories he wrote.
Everyone had their own brand of humor, often contrasting and ironic.
....
Some comments were harsh:
"Fuck, I knew she was a bitch!"
"Fake! This woman is actually selling fakes! She doesn't have breasts at all!"
"No wonder she needed two men; they were pathetic! Let me show you, Lili, what a real man is!"
...
Others were more emotional:
"Oh my God, Lili, how could you do this? My dreams are shattered."
"Are you even thinking about Albie?"
...
Then there were the feminist remarks:
"Lili, you should be on top, how can you be under those disgusting men?"
"The great Lili, breaking tradition; it should be polyandry!"
"Real feminism should be about women being with women!"
...
And there were those looking for a second chance:
"If Albie doesn't want you, I would take you, Lili."
"No way, you're not worthy, asshole!"
...
There were plenty of mixed comments.
"I can use this material for a year!"
"My whole career depends on this!"
"No, buddy, you'll be lucky to stretch it to two months; new stories will pop up fast!"
There was sarcasm, insults, and support, but overall no call to boycott. This scandal wouldn't end Lili Marlene's career; it merely tarnished her reputation.
...
Watching those comments brought an amused smile to Ian's face.
Just then, a sudden cheer erupted outside. "Fifteen thousand copies! We sold fifteen thousand copies today!"
That was Lloyd's excited shout. Upon hearing the number, Ian stepped out of his office and into the main hall.
As Lloyd spotted him, he exclaimed, "Let's cheer for our great boss!"
Lloyd had once looked down on Ian, unwilling to call him boss, but today, everything was changing. He genuinely liked Ian! Who wouldn't want to work under a capable leader?
"Woohoo!!!"
"Ian!"
"Ian!"
"Ian!"
The editors stood up and chanted, excitement filling the room. The tears shed by celebrities were a journalist's achievement, the bulging of their wallets, the promise of their future!
While only one person, Lili Marlene, was sad, a whole crowd was celebrating -- this was a profitable venture!
Standing in the middle of the hall, receiving cheers, admiration, and reverent looks from his subordinates, Ian smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
When the applause subsided, Lloyd said, "Why don't you say a few words, Ian? You've earned it as a capable boss now."
"Fifteen thousand copies are decent, but it's nowhere near enough," Ian replied.
He gazed at his team of editors, softly saying, "My father set a record of over ten thousand sales in this very spot; that was the pinnacle of the Los Angeles Herald. We broke that record today, but it's just today."
As he looked around at everyone, he continued, "I want you all to understand that the battlefield of news is a timeless one. The smoke of conflict will always be present; the fight never rests. Today's glory only represents today; it will become the past, history. The future still requires our hard work; we will do everything in our power to obtain valuable news and increase our sales.
My goal is to make the Los Angeles Herald the greatest newspaper in the world and to establish our company as the most outstanding media conglomerate globally. Today, we are just a newspaper; tomorrow, we will be a television station, the internet -- everything!
I do not want fifteen thousand copies; I desire one hundred fifty thousand! Not just records but daily averages!
Everything from today is just a foundation.
One day in the future, when we look back, we will see today's sales as nothing much, but it will become the starting point of our future glory. With this foundation, we will grow bigger and stronger to achieve new heights!!!
In the future, we will become the most powerful entity in the world.
We will tell the world who is good and who is evil! We will shine light on all darkness and brightness! We might even decide who the president is!
This is the media; it is where our power lies, where our existence finds meaning!
Let the world hear our voice!!!"
Ian raised his arms and shouted passionately, his tone resonating with powerful conviction.
All the editors shouted together:
"Ian!"
"Ian!"
"Ian!"
---
In an outdoor cafe in downtown Los Angeles, a glamorous blonde in her thirties, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and clutching a Chanel bag, sat tightly gripping a black suitcase at her feet.
Cressida Tillman.
She was a television star, not very famous, but from a good family, known as the innocent darling of the screen, but in reality, she was quite the wild one, living life to the fullest.
She was attractive and wild in bed, adventurous and always up for something new. In general, scandals involving celebrities rarely ended their careers unless they involved serious crimes like assault or child exploitation.
Cressida's only problem was that she, like Lili Marlene, played too hard and got caught on camera.
Thus, Ian found it hard to extract too high a price for her.
What a shame.
...
Standing at the street corner, confirming there were no issues nearby, Ian headed toward Cressida Tillman.
He sat down next to her, tossing an envelope her way.
Cressida took the envelope, opened it, and went pale.
She angrily glared at him, "You despicable rat!"
Ian gently shook his head, "Don't take it personally; it's business. Besides, I do not believe your current performance will help us get along in the future."
Cressida felt a shiver.
She knew Ian probably still retained video evidence; this money was just to keep him quiet. So, she quickly shifted to a charming smile, "Ian Carr, you are remarkable! Regardless, I admire you. Would you like to get a drink together sometime?"
As she spoke, she licked her lips subtly, her gaze full of allure.
Actresses were very skilled at enticing others.
Was she trying to charm him into giving her back her money, or was she genuinely interested in him?
Ian chuckled, shaking his head, "No, thank you."
Cressida frowned, "You don't find me appealing?"
Ian replied, "You misunderstand me, Miss Tillman; I have no particular aversion, but not sleeping with clients is my principle."
Cressida shouted, "I'm not your client! Don't think you'll get to blackmail me again!"
Ian replied seriously, "I have my own boundaries and will never exploit this repeatedly. But if you have something new for me next time, that would be our second deal."
As he smiled slightly, he picked up the black suitcase at his feet.
When he opened it, it was neatly filled with five hundred thousand dollars.
Pleased with himself, Ian closed the case. "Thank you for your generosity; see you later."
Turning away, Ian left.
Cressida shouted, "You're scum!"
Ian paused and turned to look at her, smiling, "Maybe so, but I prefer to call it a paid blindness service."
Paid blindness service?
Cressida felt a wave of confusion.
How did he come up with that line?
Yet, who couldn't invent a new term? That was hardly the monopoly of any big boss.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.