Chapter 272 — Aiming for Monopoly
With the arrival of May, Hollywood entered its annual summer blockbuster season.
In Dawnlight's New York office in Manhattan's West Village, Aaron leaned back in his chair, reviewing recent numbers.
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective had earned $30 million overseas, pushing its global total past $100 million—on a production budget of just $15 million.
---
"Jim Carrey is still filming Dumb and Dumber, right?" Aaron asked.
Evelyn Beckett nodded.
"Yes. Another low-budget comedy. Our The Mask is set for release at the end of July."
"And New Line has scheduled Dumb and Dumber for the Christmas season."
Aaron smiled faintly.
The rise of a comedy superstar was inevitable.
---
"By the way, boss," Evelyn added, handing over an invitation,
"William Randolph Hearst III has invited you to a reception."
Aaron glanced at it and chuckled.
"Tomorrow night… This must be about the Houston Post."
The Hearst Corporation might have reduced its reliance on newspapers and magazines over time, but they were still core assets.
Publications like the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle remained especially important.
---
That said, what Aaron valued most under Hearst wasn't the newspapers—
It was Vogue and its 20% stake in ESPN.
ESPN, alongside MTV and CNN, dominated their respective sectors—sports, music, and news—making them among the most valuable cable networks in the world.
---
"By the way," Aaron continued,
"has the acquisition of the Los Angeles Daily News started on the West Coast?"
"Yes," Evelyn replied. "According to Tom Rothman, negotiations are progressing smoothly."
Compared to major outlets like the Los Angeles Times or the San Francisco Chronicle, the Los Angeles Daily News was only a regional paper—far easier to acquire.
And with MediaNews Group's funds from selling the Houston Post, combined with Dawnlight's local influence, the deal was well within reach.
---
The next evening, at the Gramercy Park Hotel, Aaron met William Hearst III for dinner at the rooftop terrace.
"Dawnlight is entering the newspaper business now?" Hearst asked, clearly puzzled.
"You've been focused on film and television—why the sudden shift?"
Aaron smiled.
"We're expanding into publishing. Newspapers are an essential part of that."
"The Houston Post has a long history—it still has potential."
Hearst frowned slightly.
"But Houston already has the Houston Chronicle. Don't you think one city having two major dailies is excessive?"
Aaron shook his head.
"Houston is a major metropolitan area. It can support both."
Of course, profit wasn't the real objective.
For Aaron, the Houston Post was about something far more valuable—
influence.
With control over the Houston Rockets and a major newspaper, his leverage in Texas—especially once George W. Bush rose further—would increase significantly.
---
Hearst leaned forward slightly.
"We could sell you Northern California papers like the San Jose Mercury News and the Contra Costa Times…"
"But on one condition—Dawnlight walks away from the Houston Post."
The intention was obvious.
Hearst wanted the Houston Post gone.
By acquiring its assets and shutting it down, the Houston Chronicle would become Houston's sole dominant voice—
Bringing not just economic gains, but also greater political influence.
Aaron looked at Hearst and replied calmly:
"If Hearst is willing to sell the San Francisco Chronicle, then Dawnlight might consider giving up the Houston Post."
The San Francisco Chronicle was the second-largest newspaper on the West Coast after the Los Angeles Times.
Its influence extended far beyond Northern California—it wasn't on the same level as the Houston Chronicle, but it was still far more significant than any of Hearst's smaller regional papers.
---
Hearst didn't hesitate.
"That's impossible. The San Francisco Chronicle is one of our core assets."
The refusal was immediate—and final.
It was clear that the meeting between Aaron and Hearst had led nowhere.
From Hearst's perspective, how could a rising film company possibly challenge a media empire built on newspapers?
---
After Hearst left, Jennifer Connelly approached.
"Doesn't seem like that meeting went very well."
Aaron smiled faintly and stood, walking toward the window overlooking Gramercy Park.
"There wasn't much to discuss in the first place," he said.
"Hearst just wants total control over Houston's newspaper market—turn the Houston Chronicle into the only voice."
"The Houston Post is the only real competitor. It's been cutting into their profits."
---
The Houston Post employed over a thousand people.
If William Dean Singleton shut it down, all of them would lose their jobs.
Now, Dawnlight's entry positioned it as something of a savior—preserving competition and preventing monopoly.
Naturally, that stance earned support from multiple sides. Few wanted to see the Houston Chronicle dominate unchallenged.
---
"Come on," Aaron said, slipping an arm around Jennifer's waist.
"I hear the Jade Bar here is excellent. Let's grab a drink."
Jennifer nodded.
"My Best Friend's Wedding is about to premiere. There's a premiere event the night after tomorrow—are you going?"
Aaron shook his head.
"You all go ahead. I won't be back in Los Angeles anytime soon."
He still needed to oversee Dawnlight's financing operations in New York.
"Alright," she said.
---
At the Jade Bar inside the Gramercy Park Hotel, Jennifer mentioned her new project.
"I've signed on for a drama by John Singleton—Higher Learning."
"It's about racial tensions among college students. Actors like Ice Cube, who worked with him before, are involved too."
Aaron nodded.
"John Singleton does have talent."
The director had previously collaborated with Dawnlight on Boyz n the Hood, achieving major success.
But after disagreements over Poetic Justice, they had gone their separate ways.
That fallout had even escalated tensions elsewhere—leading to serious consequences that still lingered in the background.