Chapter 700: Chocolate Sauce!

At the bustling TMZ headquarters, Judy dashed back from lunch, barely stopping herself from colliding with the lobby door.

"Quick! Everyone, conference room three, now!" she barked to her trusted editorial team, urgency lacing her tone.

Her assistant darted over, pen poised to take notes. "What's up?"

"Head to Finance, issue a $10,000 check for informant fees. Any questions, come to me," Judy instructed swiftly.

With a sense of anticipation, the team trailed after Judy into the dimly lit conference room, where she revealed a series of jaw-dropping images splashed across the projector screen.

"All eyes on Emma Watson," Judy announced, her voice carrying a mix of disbelief and intrigue.

The images depicted Watson's figure, but the focus was on a rather unfortunate stain on her off-white trousers, with a mysterious liquid trickling down.

The scent of something foul hung in the air, even though they were only looking at photos.

Grimacing, the guys who just finished lunch clamped their hands over their mouths, while one of the ladies couldn't contain her gag reflex.

"Ugh..." she retched, barely holding it together.

"The backdrop looks like Disney Studios," one person observed, trying to maintain composure.

Judy confirmed, "Exactly. We snagged exclusive footage just over half an hour ago."

Another chimed in, "Disney Studios again? Remember Amber Heard? That place is cursed!"

"And this time, it's Emma Watson!" someone exclaimed, the excitement palpable.

With adrenaline pumping, they knew this scoop would set tongues wagging.

Judy set the photos to autoplay. "You've got thirty minutes. I want this on TMZ ASAP."

With a sense of purpose, the team scattered to their tasks, while Judy delved into her laptop, orchestrating the chaos with finesse.

In less than thirty minutes, the news hit the wires, spreading like wildfire.

Judy ensured it made front-page headlines on TMZ's website.

TMZ, renowned for breaking scandals involving A-listers like Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, had become the go-to source for entertainment gossip in North America.

Their business editor, Judy, had even clinched a Pulitzer Prize for her groundbreaking entertainment reporting.

Around the globe, millions tuned in daily to TMZ, proving that in a world rife with political turmoil, celebrity scandals often took precedence.

The bombshell about Emma Watson exploded online, garnering over 10,000 comments within the hour.

"Is that really Hermione?"

"My childhood crush shattered in one photo..."

"Emma's got some interesting taste, I guess."

"What on earth happened to her?"

"I can't unsee this. Hermione who?"

"After seeing those images, I can't watch an Emma Watson movie without thinking about this..."

The news had gone viral, forever altering perceptions of the beloved Harry Potter star.

In a cozy Burbank hotel room, steam wisped around Emma Watson as she emerged from the shower, her phone buzzing insistently with her agent's call.

"Emma, where are you?" The agent's voice crackled with urgency. "What's going on?"

Emma, oblivious to the unfolding drama, wrapped herself in a towel and answered, "Just got out of the shower, why?"

"What happened at Disney Studios?" The agent's tone was fraught with concern.

Emma's mind raced, piecing together the events. "Chocolate sauce?" she mused, recounting the mishap.

"I have no clue who snapped those pics and sold them to TMZ," the agent sighed. "Take a look, I'll be right over."

With trembling hands, Emma motioned to her assistant, Alanna, to fire up the computer and navigate to TMZ's website.

A knot tightened in Emma's stomach as she saw her photo plastered on the homepage, the telltale brown stain glaring back at her.

Clicking through the images, each one more incriminating than the last, Emma's frustration boiled over. "What was your initial reaction?" she demanded of Alanna.

Alanna stammered, unable to find the words.

Fury flashed in Emma's eyes. "Whoever did this will pay!" she vowed.

Minutes later, the phone buzzed incessantly, inquiries flooding in. Emma scrambled to defend herself, insisting it was a simple misunderstanding.

Though callers claimed to believe her, their underlying skepticism lingered.

As her agent and PR manager rushed in, the suggestion of a press conference loomed. Police were summoned, adding to the chaos.

Amid the frenzy, the studio shrugged off responsibility, speculating that Emma orchestrated the scandal for publicity.

Paparazzi swarmed, amplifying the scandal's reach.

In the tabloids, Emma eclipsed Amber Heard, crowned the new queen of controversy.

By afternoon, Emma's name dominated Google's trending searches, securing her a spot in the spotlight.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the studio where "The Martian" crew busied themselves, Martin, Leonardo, and Nicholson lounged, beer in hand, relishing the spectacle below.

Nicholson chuckled, scanning Twitter and YouTube. "Emma's making headlines faster than a speeding bullet," he remarked.

Martin shook his head in disbelief. "We're the unsung heroes here!"

Leonardo grinned, eyes fixed on the commotion. "After Hermione, Emma's on a quest for reinvention, and we unwittingly lent a hand."

As Bruce ascended, followed by Saoirse Ronan, the stage was set for the next act in Emma's unfolding drama.

Martin leaned in, his voice low but eager. "Did you handle it?"

Bruce nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. "All taken care of."

Saoirse skipped over, anticipation radiating from her. "Hey, am I doing alright?"

Martin beamed, always ready with encouragement. "You nailed it."

Saoirse's grin widened, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Guess what? I filmed it. Can't wait to watch it again later, it's thrilling!"

Nicholson chimed in, enthusiasm bubbling. "Let's light up Martin's place with fireworks tonight to celebrate!"

Martin raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "You forgetting you raided my stash last time?"

Nicholson waved off the concern. "We'll use mine this time. No worries."

Leonardo interjected, a twinkle in his eye. "We should treat Lorraine. She made a killing today."

Saoirse hesitated, then tentatively asked, "Can I join you guys?"

Nicholson nodded in approval, while Martin gave a subtle nod of consent.

Meanwhile, as dusk descended, an urgent press conference convened at the Burbank Hotel.

Emma Watson, flanked by her agent and PR manager, rehearsed her lines meticulously in the green room.

Before taking the stage, she sought solace in the adjacent lounge.

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, summoned by their agency, awaited her arrival.

Upon seeing Emma's distress, Rupert reached out to comfort her, but hesitated, recalling the damning images from earlier.

Daniel's gaze flitted between Emma and the scandalous photos, his response carefully measured. "We've got your back."

Emma, sensing their unease, wiped away tears and expressed gratitude. "Thank you. You've always been my true friends and unwavering support."

As the press conference commenced, despite Emma's attempts to demonstrate the chocolate stain on her pants, reporters remained skeptical, bombarding her with probing questions.

The post-conference exhaustion weighed heavily on Emma, but she couldn't retreat just yet.

Her predatory agents lurked nearby, eager to capitalize on her newfound notoriety.

Desperate for companionship amidst the chaos, Emma turned to Daniel and Rupert, extending an invitation for supper.

Daniel, wary of the situation, feigned a prior commitment, leaving Emma crestfallen.

Rupert, too, found himself repelled by the thought of indulging with Emma, citing a curfew imposed by his mother.

Emma's facade of composure wavered, her disappointment palpable as her last glimmer of hope slipped away.