Chapter 253: Scared Into a Cold Sweat
Late at night, in the darkened bedroom, Aaron was fast asleep, holding Jennifer Aniston in his arms.
Suddenly, the entire house began to shake.
Both of them jolted awake instantly. Aaron shot upright, still half-dazed.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Ah—it's an earthquake!" Jennifer screamed.
"F*ck—get outside!" Aaron broke out in a cold sweat as he jumped out of bed.
Jennifer, equally panicked, scrambled up, instinctively reaching for her clothes.
"Forget the clothes—just grab the blanket!" Aaron snapped.
Neither of them had time to think. They wrapped themselves hastily in a blanket and rushed toward the door.
"Ah!" Jennifer stumbled and fell just as they reached the bedroom exit.
Aaron immediately turned back, pulling her up, and the two of them ducked into a corner, bracing themselves. Jennifer clung tightly to him.
The quake lasted only about thirty seconds—but to Aaron, it felt far longer. His back was drenched in sweat.
After hastily throwing on some clothes, they stepped outside. Neighbors had already gathered in front of their homes, alarm written across every face.
Soon, the news came through:
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake had struck the Northridge area in the San Fernando Valley.
Aaron glanced at the time—just after 4 a.m.—and pulled Jennifer closer.
"Well… that was one hell of a wake-up call."
---
By daylight, the news had spread everywhere.
At 4:17 a.m. on January 17, 1994, the Northridge earthquake hit Los Angeles, causing massive damage. Buildings collapsed, highways and overpasses were severely damaged, and power grids, gas lines, and water systems suffered widespread destruction.
Despite the devastation, relief efforts were quickly underway.
Yet just days later, at the 1994 Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Hollywood still gathered in full glamour—stars dazzling on the red carpet as if the disaster had briefly paused the city's suffering.
That night:
The Piano won Best Motion Picture (Drama) and Best Actress
Philadelphia earned Tom Hanks Best Actor (Drama)
Farewell My Concubine took Best Foreign Language Film without controversy
Later that night, back at his Bel Air mansion, Aaron lay in bed with Monica Bellucci in his arms, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Seems like quite a few people died this time…"
Monica nodded softly, her expression subdued.
"The papers say 62 people were killed, nearly 9,000 injured. Over 2,500 buildings were destroyed, more than 4,000 severely damaged. Around 11,000 homes collapsed… and over 25,000 people are now homeless."
Aaron shook his head.
"A fault-line earthquake…"
His hand moved absentmindedly as he spoke, his thoughts still lingering on the chaos.
The disaster dealt a heavy blow to Los Angeles—not just physically, but economically as well.
Insurance companies alone paid out an estimated $12.5 billion in claims.
Meanwhile, Pete Wilson traveled from Sacramento to Los Angeles to oversee relief efforts in person, while the American Red Cross worked alongside the government in rescue and recovery operations.
The city would recover—but the shock of that early morning would linger far longer.
At the initiative of Governor Pete Wilson and California Senator Dianne Feinstein, a charity gala was held in Los Angeles, bringing together politicians and prominent figures from across the state.
Aaron attended the event alongside Jack Wells, and the conversation soon turned to the upcoming California gubernatorial race.
"Pete Wilson handled this crisis extremely well," Aaron said, sipping his champagne.
"I'd say he has a strong chance of winning re-election."
Jack smiled. "So, you're planning to support him?"
"Not exactly 'support,'" Aaron shrugged. "But we'll definitely contribute funds. That's just how the game works."
Jack chuckled. "Personally, I'm more optimistic about Senator Feinstein. She's up for re-election too—we should strongly back her."
Dianne Feinstein, once the first female mayor of San Francisco, had run for governor in 1990 as a Democrat but lost to Wilson, the Republican candidate.
When Wilson became governor in 1991, his U.S. Senate seat opened up, and Feinstein won the 1992 special election to claim it.
Aaron nodded. "That works."
California politics had been shifting. While Wilson was a Republican governor, the state itself was leaning increasingly Democratic—especially after Bill Clinton took office.
Both of California's U.S. Senators were Democrats, and even the State Assembly Speaker, Willie Brown, was a prominent Democrat and a close Clinton ally.
"Los Angeles is becoming more and more liberal," Aaron remarked.
"I've also heard Orange County is drowning in debt—there's a real chance it could declare bankruptcy this year."
Jack hesitated. "We're backing George W. Bush in Texas, and now supporting Republican figures like Wilson here… won't that affect our position with Democrats?"
Aaron smiled.
"Not at all. Everyone hedges their bets. As long as people connected to us rise in politics, we benefit."
"Supporting Wilson is an investment in the present—we're a California-based company, after all. Supporting George W. Bush in Texas?"
"That's an investment in the future."
He paused, then added:
"If Bush wins the governorship, the returns will be even greater. And don't forget—his father was already President. Who's to say he doesn't have ambitions for the White House?"
Investing in George W. Bush wasn't just about the moment—it was about long-term positioning. If Bush one day reached the presidency, the payoff would be enormous.
Jack nodded slowly. "Fair enough. You've got a point."
He might have had his doubts, but he had long since learned not to question Aaron Anderson's judgment.
After all—who else could achieve so much at just twenty-four?
"Come on," Aaron said, patting his shoulder. "Let's go meet a few people. Time to strengthen some connections."
As they moved toward the crowd, Aaron asked casually,
"How long are you staying this time?"
"About a week," Jack replied.
With that, the two stepped back into the swirl of politics, power, and opportunity.