Chapter 54: Connections Upon Connections
By late April, Dwayne Johnson’s The Scorpion King premiered in North America. Hawk, accompanied by his "bag man" Edward, entered the Chieftain Stone Theater before the red carpet event began.
Inside, they ran into Katherine and her ever-loyal sidekick, Eric.
Katherine greeted Hawk with an enthusiastic hug. "What happened in Park City was like a miracle. You truly opened the door for Eric and me into the film industry."
Hawk joked, "If you end up bankrupt from investing in movies, don’t blame me."
Katherine, dead serious, replied, "That would only happen if I let my ego get ahead of me and failed to hire you to manage the films."
The flattery landed perfectly, and Hawk turned to Eric. "Your girlfriend’s boosting me too much—I’ll be in for a hard fall."
Then, addressing Katherine, he asked Eric, "Don’t you think Katherine’s becoming more charming by the day?"
Eric shoved his hands into his slacks pockets and said, "She’s glowing because District Heights did well in the home video market. Castle Rock Entertainment bought it outright, and within a month, we made back the investment from VHS and DVD sales."
He grinned with newfound confidence. "Castle Rock has already agreed to co-invest in my next film."Katherine gently corrected him, "Our next film."
Eric’s confidence evaporated. "Right, our next film."
Nearby, a sharply dressed couple strolled past. The husband, a stocky man, glanced sideways and caught sight of someone familiar. His steps slowed as his gaze settled on Eric.
Miller Collins couldn’t help himself. Eric’s subtle air of artistic vulnerability was utterly captivating.
His wife, Maria, held their young daughter’s hand. The girl tugged on her dad’s arm, asking, "Daddy, why’d you stop?"
Miller snapped out of it, catching up quickly. "Saw some people we met at Tracy Gym," he said, gesturing subtly toward Eric.
Maria glanced over and nodded. They did look familiar.
The family moved on into the VIP lounge.
Eric, now visibly uneasy, glanced around. "Feels like someone’s watching me…"
Hawk noticed his nervousness. "Expecting someone?"
Katherine, ever perceptive, perked up.
"No, just a weird feeling," Eric replied, still scanning the area.
Hawk joked, "Maybe some admirer has their eye on you."
Eric declared with complete sincerity, "My heart and soul belong to Katherine. I’m not interested in anyone else."
Katherine beamed. Having a director with a released film grovel over her was elevating her status in their circles.
After chatting for a while, they joined the VIP lounge. Hawk didn’t recognize most of the attendees. Eric, a direct-to-video director, wasn’t exactly a Hollywood insider, and Katherine wasn’t officially part of the film industry.
The three settled in to chat. Edward, feeling out of place, wandered off to explore.
Before long, the film’s production team arrived, including Dwayne’s wife and manager, Dani Garcia. She approached Hawk. "Give it a moment. Dwayne will find time to introduce you to Stephen Sommers."
"No rush," Hawk replied.
Soon after, Dwayne appeared and led Hawk over to meet the famed director.
Stephen Sommers, known for The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, had a commanding presence. After introductions, he shook Hawk’s hand. "Your publicity stunt was clever. It boosted Dwayne’s profile significantly, and the film benefited."
Hawk said modestly, "I hope it helps the box office."
Stephen offered a polite compliment. "It’s a good start, young man. You’ve got potential."
The meeting was brief, as Sommers quickly moved on.
Dwayne commented, "That’s just how big names in this industry are. Even I barely get a word in."
Hawk nodded in understanding. Dwayne’s fame from wrestling only gave him a slightly higher starting point in Hollywood. In the film world, he was still a newcomer.
"Actually, there’s someone else I’d like you to meet," Dwayne added. "Let’s go."
Following Dwayne through the crowd, Hawk noticed their destination: a petite woman with striking features. She had a curvy figure and a lightly bronzed complexion, possibly from a tan or mixed heritage, like Dwayne himself.
"This is Allison Faith," Dwayne introduced. "Her mother and I are old friends. Allison, this is Hawk Osmond, founder of West Coast Entertainment Studio."
"Nice to meet you," Allison said with a melodic tone.
"Likewise," Hawk replied.
Dwayne scanned the area. "Where’s your mom?"
"She was here earlier," Allison said. "She ran into some charming Black guy and stopped to chat. Not sure where she went after that."
Hawk immediately thought of Edward.
Allison, seemingly reliant on her mother, said, "I’ll go look for her."
After she left, Dwayne filled Hawk in. "Allison was a child star and singer. She was popular until she turned 15. Then her dad squandered all her earnings. Her parents fought over custody, and her career stalled. She hasn’t released a new album or performed much in years."
"She wants a comeback?" Hawk guessed.
"Exactly. Both she and her mom are determined to revive her career," Dwayne confirmed. "She signed with a new label recently and might release an album this year."
Hawk’s mind went elsewhere, thinking about Allison’s divorced mother and her encounter with Edward.
Sure enough, Allison returned with her mother, Joanna—a stunning middle-aged woman who looked like an older version of her daughter. Following them was Edward, trailing behind like a loyal puppy.
Dwayne introduced everyone, and Joanna immediately asked Hawk, "Do you have a business card?"
Hawk handed her one. "Feel free to reach out. I can offer you a unique approach and options."
"Let’s find time to discuss," Joanna said, slipping the card into her purse.
After the introductions, it was time to enter the theater.
Hawk lingered at the back of the group, watching Joanna and Allison walk ahead. His thoughts drifted to the challenges of reviving a fallen star. A once-famous child singer—what would it take to make her shine again?
For now, he shelved the question.
Inside the theater, Eric caught up with Hawk. "Let’s grab a drink after the movie?"
"My treat," Hawk agreed.
Hawk and Edward settled into seats in the third row, with Eric and Katherine next to them.
Behind them, in the fourth row, Miller Collins and his family took their seats.
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