LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 308: [Bonus chapter] Anonymous
Samantha read the article once again, making sure she didn't get it wrong. It wasn't signed by the reporter, but the picture was taken by a photographer she knew well enough.
She had talked with that person already... It had happened when she had bought some pictures of one of the sales agents with a group of girls from another company. She couldn't allow the scoop to bring trouble to the LY Corp, so she had paid the paparazzi to avoid the article being published.
Roxy had sent her the results of the investigations, confirming to her that they were suspecting the same person. It was a famous photographer... Well, famous for newspapers and editors. Not for the public. It looked like he felt old for his job and wanted to become a regular photographer.
To do so, he had asked for his name to be included in the article, but he didn't know the writer would stay anonymous.
Samantha had ridden her bike, polished and cleaned from the dust, to the address written in the documents she had received. She could chat with the author of the picture to confirm some things before finding the reporter who wrote the words.
She walked into the building and rang the bell of the tabloid magazine. They had a couple of offices only, and they used to produce a number every couple of weeks. They couldn't survive by selling copies alone, so they also sold the pictures of their paparazzi to other magazines.
«Yes?» a young girl asked while opening the door.
She was a part-timer, working there for around two weeks. Her hair was tied in a high bun, and her eyes were framed by thick glasses.
She had eyebags because of the amount of work and computer screen light. Her clothes were old, baggy, and needed to be washed, just like her hair.
«Yes?» she repeated, opening her eyes wide in front of that stunning beauty.
Samantha was wearing leather clothes because of the bike, and her hair was tied in a braid to avoid trouble with the wind and the helmet. Her eyes shined with determination, making her even more beautiful than usual.
Nate had sent her on that mission, and she couldn't disappoint him. She would do all in her power, and even more than that, to bring home some new intel.
«I need to talk with your photographer,» she said with a polite smile, showing the issue with the pictures of Nate and Lara. «It's about this.»
«Oh, this... He did say it would work, that someone would notice his good eye for pictures...» the girl murmured, letting Samantha in and walking towards the second room. She opened the room and called her colleague, soon returning to her part of the job. She had to finish editing grammar and check that the titles were catchy enough.
«Why didn't you publish such a story in your own magazine?» Samantha asked.
«And having to deal with Nate Woods and Luciano Polenta? Thanks, but no, thanks. We already can't survive on our own. We don't need powerful enemies...»
«I see,» Samantha chuckled. «So, you sold the pictures to a more stable tabloid, one who couldn't be sued because they're so used to it that they know which words to use and how to avoid trouble. And you also thought it wouldn't be your problem if someone used a real picture you made. How wicked.»
«We got to survive the harsh world.»
Samantha's chuckles made the man who was just walking in stop mid-step. He stared at her, his neck covered by cold sweat. What was the Ice Manager doing there, amicably chatting with their new errand girl?
«He-hello,» he stuttered. «I have nothing regarding your boys this time.»
«I know that, right?» Samantha said. «But I wanted to make sure you don't have anything regarding my boss.»
«No, I've sold it all. I have nothing left.»
«You made quite the amount, didn't you? Such a great picture, with just the right angle. My boss is a little angry about it, but he's also busy; he couldn't come here and fix the mistakes by himself. He sent me.»
«I... I have nothing else, I swear!»
«I know,» Samantha repeated. «But that's not enough for me. I need a little piece of information from you. The article was published, and the damage was done. It's late to sell me pictures either way, isn't it?»
«What do you want?» he replied, flinching in a vain attempt at running away.
«Don't think about getting out of here before telling me,» Samantha warned him.
«Tell you what?»
«Oh, just a name.»
«I don't know anything... I just took the picture; anything written is someone else's work!»
«I know that already. You don't know how to write, do you? Now... Tell me the name, and you won't see me again. I'll disappear, and you'll continue your life without worries.»
«I don't...»
«Don't start with that. You do know. You know it very well. The name, please.»
Since the man didn't tell her yet, Samantha crossed her arms and lifted her brows.
«Tell me, Roger. It'll be better for everyone. Including your finances. I'm buying the information from you.»
«You wicked woman,» he cursed while scribbling on a piece of paper. «This is the person you're looking for. This is his name and contacts, but he might not reply. He's well-known for the articles he writes...»
«Oh, I'm dying to meet this person. He must be interesting, right? Knowing what words to use to make everyone angry... That's a talent.»
«Uhm... Hey,» the errand girl said, raising her head from the mountains of paper in front of her, «would you like to be on our cover.»
«Cover?» Samantha said. «Me? Are you sure?»
«Oh, you're so pretty! I'm sure you'd be a perfect model!»
While Samantha left, laughing at the joke, Roger, the photographer, glared at the girl.
«Do you know who you've just tried to poach?»
«A pretty woman?»
«Samantha Murphy, the Ice Manager. You're lucky she just laughed it off! Don't you know? She's merciless, especially with competitors... Let's hope she just forgets it...»
«The Ice Manager? That woman?» She couldn't believe it to be true. «You must be wrong!»
Even though she did look strong and confident, she wasn't as icy as rumoured.