The Popularity Price

Andrzej had enough money to pay off his debt and quit his job, but he preferred not to change his life so quickly and radically. People may start wondering where the money is coming from. It is true that he still persuaded himself that he had obtained it legally, but others might not see it that way. Besides, it could have seemed that the photos cost so much that they allowed him to completely change his life, and this would reveal Śliwiński's secret. Andrzej took money from him not to accidentally lead to his downfall.

But he definitely didn't want to work for his newspaper any longer. Being paparazzi offended his dignity, which was a perfect excuse to quit his job. Everyone knew his fate in the editorial office was uncertain anyway, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he just said he was throwing it all to hell.

With such an attitude and an arrogant smile on his face, he entered the editorial office.

He didn't like almost everyone who worked here. The exception was Marlenka, an intern who had not yet soaked up the nightmarish odor of gossip. He heartily wished her not to get a job here. She was too nice and too sensitive to go to waste in a tabloid.

"Good morning," she called out to him happily as soon as he showed up at the door. His editorial colleagues looked at him like wolves.

"Hi, Marlenka. What's up?"

"Do you have any new photos of Śliwiński?"

Her excitement seemed a little suspicious to him.

"Maybe. What, are you a fan?"

"He's lovely," she beamed, "but that's not the point." There are rumors that Henri Baptiste wants to shoot a historical romance in Poland and that Śliwiński's name appears most often as a candidate for the main male role. And that would mean ..."

Nowicki knew exactly what, so he stopped listening to her for a moment. The media will now attack the boy like ravenous vultures, knowing how marketable he will be. And not only domestic. The name Dominik Śliwiński was not completely unknown in Europe, but if Baptiste really considers him the main actor of his film, the whole continent will start sniffing around the young man.

'But that's none of my business,' thought Andrzej returning to his good mood. 'Let the kid worry about himself.'

"The boss is in his office? He asked the girl excitedly."

"Yeah. And waiting for some good news from you. From your smile, I guess you have something interesting for him."

"That's right, I just don't know if he's expecting something like this," he winked at her and headed toward his boss's office.

He knocked on the thin glass door and entered without waiting for an invitation.

"Excuse me…"

"Nowicki, it's good that you are. Show what you got on Śliwiński."

"I have nothing. The boy is so boring that those were the longest and most boring days of my life" at least those before Marczak appeared.

"Bullshit," the editor growled. "Everyone has some dirt, only you can't find it."

"Look, he hardly ever left the house all these days, only going to the grocery store or for short walks." His life is so boring that if it came out, nobody would want to read about him."

"You don't mean to tell me that a healthy young man hasn't crushed any lady. Don't take me for such a naive."

"Ladies? Come on. No starlet, no little lady or whore. Hell, he cleans his house himself."

"Really?" the interest in the editor's voice seemed strange to Andrzej.

"Yes. I think he sees it as a way to pass the time."

"Do you have photos?"

"Are you telling me you're so desperate to post pictures of a guy wearing an economic apron?"

"And was he wearing an apron?"

"That's not the point! Why the hell did you get on with it?"

"Nowicki, Nowicki, grow up finally. People have always been interested in the private lives of others, especially those who are famous. If we show that Śliwiński cleans his house himself, the questions will arise why? He can't afford a cleaning lady or maybe he doesn't trust them? Maybe he has obsessive compulsive disorder or at least he is a bacterial freak? Think, one sentence supported by a photo is enough and a whole network of discussions in articles is already energized. That's why I ask, do you have a picture of him cleaning his house?"

"Got it," he admitted. He was too surprised to react against it.

"Show me."

"E ... I'll send them to you by email."

"We have the house until the end of the month, so you have to sit on your ass and watch Śliwiński. I need photos of any of his suspicious activities before the competition gets them. Are you ready for this simple task or should I entrust it to someone else? Believe me, dozens of others are waiting for your place."

"I know," he growled. "I'll do it. I'll be watching him until the end of the month. And no."

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"He's not wearing an apron."

"Send me these pictures and don't leave this house until you have something really good."

"I can see it with this bore."

"Hopefully, because if not, I don't see a future for you here."

Andrzej left angry, refraining from slamming the door. After all, he went there to quit that vile job, how did he end up being a voyeur again?

Shit, he cursed silently. Why are they all so on this boy? Why don't they just let him live? Does the popularity price really have to be that high?

Nowicki did not even notice when he left the train at the appropriate station. His legs carried him to the right place on his own. His anger passed a bit, but his bad mood remained.