Caught in the Lens

Hailey attentively observed the cab as it gradually disappeared from her view, her gaze lingering until the vehicle became a distant memory. Turning around to proceed into the building, a sudden clicking noise from a camera startled her, halting her steps in an instant.

'That sound... am I being stalked?' Hailey pondered, her eyes scanning the surroundings while she stood motionless, arms crossed protectively over her chest. Suspicion knitted her eyebrows, yet the streets remained eerily vacant.

'The only person capable of doing something dumb like this...' she scoffed internally, brushing off the unsettling feeling as she pressed forward with determined steps into the building.

Meanwhile, as Hailey continued on her way, a man in a dark blue hoodie emerged from behind a tree. His brown curly hair appeared tousled, as if someone had forcefully pulled at it while running, and a few strands fell casually onto his forehead. A self-satisfied smirk played at the corners of his lips as he reviewed the pictures he had taken, reaching the one capturing Hailey and Javin.

Grinning triumphantly, he relished in the realization that he had flawlessly captured both of them in the frame as he entertained the notion,' This could make a good headline that would destroy Hailey's reputation,' and it brought a sinister chuckle to the photographer's lips.

"I'm even getting paid with a large sum of money for just doing this," he mumbled with satisfaction, preparing to stow his camera back into his backpack. However, the symphony of clicks from another camera seized his attention, prompting him to look up and pivot around, only to discover Hailey standing before him.

She held her phone firmly, capturing images of the man . A sudden freeze overcame him as he realized he was now the subject of someone else's lens. His eyes widened, jaw dropping open in shock, as Hailey, seemingly unfazed, continued her impromptu photoshoot.

'This could make a good headline that would destroy Hailey's reputation,' his previous thoughts from moments ago echoed in his mind as he chuckled at the ironic twist as he realized that now he is on the receiving end of exposure.

"Why are you so shocked?" Hailey queried, a hint of irritation lacing her words as she snapped pictures, not bothering to lift her gaze from the phone. "You are trespassing, after all."

The man hesitated momentarily before clearing his throat, attempting to articulate an explanation in a soft yet firm voice. "It's not like that, Mrs. Gao. I... I," he stammered, miserably failing to convey his thoughts. Hailey, unimpressed, rolled her eyes, stating, "Now I remember you. You're the idiotic reporter I rendered jobless before I went on a business trip."

The reporter's jaw clenched, and his fists tightened at his sides, vividly recalling the humiliation of being ousted. He felt a tinge of annoyance at how casually Hailey spoke about that incident, as if it were a mere footnote in her life.

"You ruined my life!" he snapped accusingly, his anger evident. "Do you know what I suffered because of you? My wife left me! And I lost everything! " The man continued to glare angrily at Hailey, his emotions bubbling to the surface.

Hailey, undeterred, raised an eyebrow questioningly, maintaining her grip on the phone. Her expression remained unchanged as she observed him, seemingly unfazed by the accusations hurled her way.

"So what? Your wife made a wise choice by leaving behind a worthless, perverted man like yourself. Even after suffering, you show no remorse for your past actions—secretly taking illicit pictures of celebrities for your own pleasure," Hailey spat at the reporter, who felt shivers running down his spine, fully aware that her words held an uncomfortable truth.

'Hailey Gao... How did she find out? I thought it was just that one incident when I tried to take pictures of her, but she already knew about what I did,' the reporter wondered in disbelief.

Hailey, reveling in his disconcerted expression, smirked before pressing further, "Now, who sent you to follow me around and take pictures of me?"

The reporter, contemplating the consequences, thought, 'If I tell her, I'll most definitely lose my life,' swallowing hard before finally responding, "No one sent me."

Rolling her eyes, Hailey retorted, "You're playing hard to get... Do you want me to report this to the police? I have evidence." A sinister smile crept across her face, causing the reporter to shiver in fear at the impending consequences of his actions.

The reporter remained silent, his gaze fixed on Hailey in disbelief, a sense of urgency gripping him as he began to speak hastily. "Please don't call the police! It was nothing! Just a stupid misunderstanding! Please, don't ruin my life further!" he pleaded, desperation coloring his words.

"Then tell me... who sent you?" Hailey inquired, a seemingly pleasant smile on her face belying the underlying threat in her tone. Her eyes glinted with a dangerous malice, and a sinister satisfaction played across her features. She relished the discomfort she had instilled in the reporter.

Closing his eyes tightly and clenching his teeth, the reporter , in a shaky voice, began to reveal the identity of his clandestine employer. "It was—!" Before he could complete his sentence, a sudden choking and gasping overcame him, blood spurting from his mouth, obstructing his words. Hailey's eyes widened in disbelief as she witnessed the macabre scene unfold.

After a harrowing couple of seconds, the choking ceased, and he coughed up more blood before collapsing onto the sidewalk. Lifeless, he lay motionless, his eyes wide open, blank, and devoid of vitality, as a crimson stream flowed from his mouth, staining the concrete with the gravity of his demise. The unsettling turn of events left a haunting stillness on the dimly lit sidewalk.

Hailey stood there, her gaze fixed on the lifeless body sprawled on the sidewalk. Her heart raced, pounding against her ribcage, and a blank expression veiled her face. Uneven breaths escaped her as she grappled with the shock of the unexpected demise before her. 'How did this happen? Just when he was about to reveal the main culprit? This isn't normal!' she thought, panic setting in as her mind raced through the unsettling scenario.

A creeping sense of dread began to envelop her, prompting cold sweat to bead on her skin. Clutching her chest, as if seeking solace for her pounding heart, she questioned, "What should I do? What should I do?" In a surge of urgency, Hailey backed away, turning on her heels, and sprinted towards the entrance of the building.

Once inside, she ascended to her penthouse apartment. Opening the door, she entered and began pacing through the living room, nervously biting her nails as she contemplated her next steps. Coming to a sudden halt, she acknowledged, 'I have no choice.'

Turning on her phone, she dialed the emergency line. Approaching the large screen window, she glanced outside, only to find the spot where the reporter had met his demise empty. To her surprise, his body, bag, and camera were nowhere to be seen, leaving Hailey bewildered and her mind racing with a new layer of mystery.