America 1982-Chapter 541 - 108: Where is Tommy?_3
"One last question, purely out of personal curiosity, Mr. Hawk, do you always maintain this image during vacations or when playing games? I mean, this ’bad boy,’ ruthless in your methods, but ultimately everything is for the greater good kind of image—it’s the archetype of a Hollywood blockbuster hero," Eddie said with a relaxed smile, asking a personal question after feeling clear about the image Tommy wanted to project.
Tommy laughed and said, "Why does Hollywood make so many movies with similar hero characters every year? Because people like to watch that kind of image, and also, I’m not maintaining it—I am that person who enjoys helping others, remember? I just mentioned I would talk to Stephen about getting you a raise."
...
While Tommy and Eddie Wyler were chatting, Martin was also preparing for an interview in his own office. The Miami Post, considering the substantial amount of advertising money Martin had invested in the newspaper on behalf of Jeff, as well as Jeff’s performance in the primary election, decided to arrange a profile interview with Martin, the campaign manager, to discuss the stories behind Jeff’s campaign.
At that moment in the office, Marcus wore a sullen expression as he applied some makeup product to Martin’s face. Annoyed, he said, "Martin, it’s just a newspaper interview, not television. There’s absolutely no need for makeup or to deliberately match your clothes. People won’t be able to see what you look like through the text of the interview."
"Shut up, Marcus! That’s the Miami Post. Most of the black underclass in Miami only get the chance to be featured on the news pages of such a big newspaper once in their lives—that’s if they’re unlucky enough to be shot dead by the police. But now I’ve got one more chance than them. So even if one day I do get shot dead by the cops, my tombstone can read: ’Here lies Martin Hart, the black man who made it into the Miami Post twice—and the first time wasn’t even for being nearly killed by the police,’" Martin retorted, dissatisfied with Marcus’s belief that he was overvaluing the interview, hoping that Marcus would realize the Miami Post’s reputation in Florida.
After Marcus finished applying the camera makeup for him, Martin looked at himself in the mirror before walking out of the office. He clapped his hands to get the attention of the busy staff in the lobby and said loudly, "Everyone! A reporter from the Miami Post is coming today to interview us about my founding story, the company’s history, and what we have done for Jeff’s campaign. When the reporter arrives, I want them to feel our hustle and bustle. So remember, if there’s nothing much going on, just knock on my office door more often, interrupt the interview, and give me some work updates. In short, make it look like I’m as busy as the CEOs of those big consulting firms."
The employees exchanged glances and nodded in response to Martin’s eager gaze, then continued with their respective tasks.
The boss is worried about having nothing to do? There’s so much work it’s killing us, especially after Jeff’s primary ended, organizing various public meetings, local TV interviews, community visits to solicit votes, shooting campaign advertising videos, arranging for Jeff and his family to attend various charity events—there are all kinds of tasks waiting for them to do, and they would normally report to him even without being asked.
Soon, the reporter from the Miami Post arrived on time, but Martin lost his smile and the light in his eyes the moment he saw him.
Because the reporter was a black man, although he wore glasses and showed his credentials, Martin still felt he didn’t look like a reporter, but more like a taxi driver who had brought a journalist here.
"Kirk Davis, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Martin Hart," the reporter said as he reached out his hand to Martin while looking around the company and complimenting, "It looks very busy here."
Martin shook hands with him woodenly, then led him back to his office to sit down. He couldn’t help but blurt out, "The newspaper didn’t say they’d send a black reporter to interview me."
The reporter was taken aback by the comment, and asked in confusion, "I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand. Does my being black affect the interview?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"No, not at all," Martin explained. "But it affects my mood. You see, boasting to white people and boasting to black people are two entirely different feelings."
The reporter confirmed several times that he hadn’t come to the wrong address and that Martin Hart was indeed the boss of this election consultancy before saying with a forced smile, "I’ve interviewed many black entrepreneurs, but few have such surprising openers. So, if a white journalist had come to interview you, what would you have boasted to him about? You can treat me the same way, boast to me, and maybe I can pass it on to my white colleagues at the newspaper."
"Alright, did you graduate from college?" Martin asked halfheartedly.
The reporter shrugged, "Purdue University, School of Journalism."
"I’ve been to college too, Little Haiti Community College, Hair Design major. Now I’m a company boss with a bunch of branded college graduates working for me, and more than half of them are white. Now do you understand why I hoped for a white reporter to interview me? I even arranged for white employees to come in during the interview to report back..." Martin said with regret.
