Chasing the Headlines

Astra entered the hotel and noticed the elevator doors were about to close. She quickened her pace and requested, "Please, hold the doors."

A helpful hand halted the doors, and she exchanged a smile with the woman who held them open.

Astra heard in her head, *ALERT: Covert recording in progress.*

Astra's gaze briefly fell on the charming butterfly pin adorning the woman's chest as Archana encircled it. Looking back at her, Astra's smile returned, and she uttered her gratitude, "Thank you."

In return, the woman offered a friendly smile. Astra's attention shifted to the man whose arm was linked with the woman, and a hint of amusement sparkled in her eyes. She positioned herself on the left side and took out her cell phone.

Elias directed his gaze toward Astra. Following his line of sight, the woman's eyes widened in recognition. Releasing Elias' arm, she positioned herself in front of Astra.

Astra raised her eyes to meet the newcomer. The woman's smile brightened as she inquired, "You're Astra Orion?"

Astra affirmed with a nod. The woman's eyes gleamed with excitement as she said, "It's truly wonderful to meet you. I'm Amy, and I've been an avid admirer of yours."

Astra regarded her with a touch of confusion, asking, "Of me?"

Amy nodded enthusiastically, sharing her admiration, "Absolutely. After witnessing everything that unfolded on your birthday and your composed reaction, I couldn't help but be amazed. I doubt I would have handled it with as much grace as you did. And the way you stood up against the malicious comments directed at your family was truly commendable."

As the realization dawned on Amy that she would not only have an intimate tape involving the renowned Elias Veritas but also a video featuring Astra Orion, a mix of disbelief and excitement welled up within her.

Astra had been a prominent presence in the news over the past few days. If her efforts at the press company didn't yield a raise, nothing else would make sense.

She was on a mission to dig up information, but Astra couldn't recognize her role as a journalist.

There was not a shred of doubt in her mind about her capability to handle the situation. Astra gave off an air of innocence.

Astra murmured, "I know exactly how it feels to be bullied and insulted. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, no matter what they've done."

Amy inquired, "Have you been staying here since that day?"

Astra nodded, and Amy added, "I'm really sorry, that must be really tough."

Astra's smile bloomed as she replied, "You don't need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong. I had hoped that after spending a few days here, things would have settled down, and they might've apologized, but it's been quite the opposite."

Curious, Amy probed, "What do you mean?"

Seeing Astra's hesitation, Amy extended her hand and offered her assurance, "I promise I won't share anything. You can trust me."

After a brief pause, Astra began with difficulty, "Violet didn't just lie to Silas. She also deceived my friends, whom I had introduced to her when she moved in. It's not just that friends I'd known for over 15 years turned against me and believed someone they'd only recently met, but even my fiancé did the same. They bombarded me with the most horrible texts imaginable, pressuring me to apologize for something I hadn't done. They even went so far as to threaten me."

Amy exclaimed, "Oh my god, I can't believe they would stoop that low. How did you respond?"

Astra glanced at her messages and replied, "Wait a moment, I can't quite recall."

Amy's heart raced, and she stood by Astra's side, who continued, "I didn't respond."

"Could I see what they wrote to you?"

Astra nodded and handed over her cell phone. Amy meticulously read through each message, taking her time to record the entirety of the conversation along with the names of Astra's friends involved.

While reading the final exchange, Amy's astonishment was evident as she remarked, "I can't believe your fiancé spoke to you like that, and he even threatened to call off your wedding."

Returning Astra's cell phone, Amy stood before her again. Astra's chuckle held a mix of resignation as she shared, "Honestly, it's not all that surprising, given that he's been repeatedly unfaithful."

A sudden realization gripped Astra when she comprehended that she had revealed such personal information.

Her eyes widened in alarm, and she clasped Amy's hand, anxiety evident in her voice, "You won't mention this, right?"

Amy's reassurance was swift, "Absolutely not. You can trust me."

As the elevator reached their floor and Astra prepared to disembark, she inquired, "By the way, how do you know he cheated on you? Alex..."

Amy's momentary lapse in recalling his name prompted Astra to say, "Alexander Rayne. I caught him at a hotel with another woman. It happened during a business meeting. His pattern was to cheat and then temporarily treat me well. It was odd because he used to exert full control over my life, dictating what I could say, wear, and even eat. Whenever he reverted to being controlling and harsh, I sensed he was having another affair."

Tears welled up in Astra's eyes as she continued, "Each time he'd end his affair and be kind, I foolishly believed it could last, that he'd finally treat me right. But after reading his hurtful messages, I've realized it will never change."

Amy couldn't help but feel sympathy for Astra. Despite her journalistic experience, she found it hard not to see Astra as one of the unluckiest individuals she'd come across.

Curious, she inquired, "What's your plan now?"

Drying the tears that had fallen, Astra's resolve shone through as she replied, "I'm through with him. He can continue his affairs, and I'll spend time with someone worthy of my time. Our connection is strictly professional now. One day, I'll meet someone who truly values me, while he'll remain a past mistake."

Amy's encouraging words followed, "I'm certain you will."

Astra stepped forward, enveloping Amy in a warm hug reciprocated with equal sincerity.

After they broke apart, Astra wiped away her tears and expressed her embarrassment, "I'm sorry for unloading all of this on you."

Astra's desire to convey gratitude was met with a reassuring smile from Amy, who remarked, "Don't worry about it."

Seeking reassurance, Astra pleaded, "You won't share any of this, right? There's already so much out there, which could worsen things."

Amy sincerely promised, "I absolutely promise I won't reveal a word of our conversation."

Astra's gratitude was evident as she thanked her and stepped out of the elevator. Elias, who had silently witnessed their interaction, regarded her with an amused smile.

Astra returned to her suite with a newfound smile, feeling as though the universe had conspired to place a cunning reporter in Elias's bed.

Amy had used her allure to deceive numerous celebrities. Yet, in targeting Elias, she had chosen the wrong person this time.

Elias was known never to be caught with a woman in his bed, due to a unique device that nullified all electronics.

When someone crossed the threshold of any of his residences, the apparatus deactivated all devices and erased any recordings spanning the past day.

Archana had granted Astra the ability to hack her butterfly pin. She had already edited the video of their conversation, ensuring its quality, and securely transferred it to her private server.

It was crucial for the names and messages of her supposed friends to be legible, considering the inevitable screenshots that would circulate.

Anticipating Amy's imminent upload of the video onto their celebrity news site, Astra foresaw its rapid viral spread, leading her followers to track down her so-called friends and hold them accountable. The added delight was that the backlash would extend even to their family's business.

Astra's scheme didn't end there. With the video, she aimed to put pressure on Alexander and his father, Leon. Reflecting on her past slight crush on Leon, Astra found irony in her amusement.

While she had never shown any signs, this time, she decided to have a bit of fun. After all, he had to face consequences, too. Astra had no intentions of taking any prisoners; everyone involved would have to pay.

She climbed the stairs, a playful whistle escaping her lips. The rest of the night was dedicated to work, paving the way for a leisurely sleep-in on the horizon.

As she switched off the bedside lamp and settled in, her anticipation for the coming day's events filled her with excitement.