Elliott Court was engrossed in watching the surf competition before him, yet his mind seemed elsewhere, his peripheral vision constantly scanning the beach, trying to locate his target.
As a paparazzo, he naturally had to be well-versed in the movements of his subjects. Every winter, shooting on the island was an invaluable treat. On one hand, the limited space on the island made clandestine photography much easier; on the other hand, there was no need to search deliberately, as actors, models, directors, singers, and more could be found almost anywhere.
Just the previous week, he had captured shots of Leonardo DiCaprio and a group of Victoria's Secret models reveling on a yacht at sea, the three-day-long party attracting a considerable amount of attention. And now, in this week, he had snapped images of Jessica Alba on vacation with her husband and daughter.
Take Hawaii, for example. Sometimes, a leisurely stroll along the bustling Waikiki Beach, a haven for tourists, was enough to capture the public figures enjoying their vacations. It was the largest tourist congregation spot on the whole of Oahu Island, posing no challenge for photography.
Furthermore, Hawaii was the hometown of the current President, Barack Obama. Every year, he would allocate about a week to return to his hometown for vacation. Even if he couldn't photograph celebrities from the entertainment industry, capturing a glimpse of the President on vacation was still a noteworthy achievement.
Simple work, golden sunlight, lazy afternoons, a leisurely life... For Elliott, this candid photography work on the island was his vacation throughout the year.
However, today Elliott had a special task at hand.
He had received a tip that Scarlett Johansson had flown to Hawaii for a vacation after wrapping up filming for "The Avengers".
Just two days ago, Ryan Reynolds had announced through his PR team that he and Scarlett were ending their brief two-year marriage with mutual well-wishes, hoping the best for each other. Subsequently, Scarlett's team confirmed the news as well, stating that the two were parting amicably, having engaged in heartfelt discussions and jointly deciding to terminate their marriage.
Clearly, the journalists weren't readily buying into the narrative.
Every time a marriage ended, both parties maintained a facade of parting on good terms, even sending each other best wishes despite the separation. But everyone knew that behind the cracks in the marital facade, there must be some melodrama. Like the past scandals involving Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie, with their tangled web of infidelity; or the suspicion surrounding Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's split involving the Church of Scientology.
This time was no exception.
Speculations were rampant. Was it possible that Ryan had sparked some chemistry with Blake Lively during the filming of "Green Lantern"? Especially considering that Blake had just broken up with her co-star and boyfriend from "Gossip Girl", Penn Badgley, in September! The timing seemed almost too coincidental, didn't it?
Or perhaps something had stirred between Scarlett and Sean Penn? In October, Sean had paid a visit to the set of "The Avengers", caught by paparazzi at the time. People were all speculating – was Sean pursuing Scarlett? Yet, this speculation remained unverified, as the ensemble cast of the film was vast, and Sean's visit could have been for anyone. But now that Scarlett was divorcing, was this cloud of doubt about to rise again?
This was undoubtedly the hottest topic of the moment. Countless paparazzi had swarmed in, hoping to unearth the truth behind the shattered marriage.
When Elliott learned that Scarlett Johansson had come to Oahu Island for vacation, there was no way he would miss out. What was even more intriguing was that just last weekend, he had captured images of Blake Lively. His initial reaction was, could Blake be here specifically to chase after Leonardo? He had been her childhood crush, and she had openly expressed her admiration and adoration for him in multiple interviews.
However, now things seemed even more intriguing. Elliott firmly believed that within this tangle of chaos, the truth was surely hidden. The reason he had come to Sunset Beach today was because he had heard Scarlett was here to watch the surf competition.
Unfortunately, the beach was teeming with people, making it a challenge to spot Scarlett. He decided to take a breather and then resume his search. At the moment, faces seemed to blur together, making it difficult to distinguish anyone.
For a paparazzo, any leisure activity was a luxury. He had never tried surfing nor had any interest in it. The captivating surf competition before him was even less appealing than the bikini-clad girl beside him engrossed in her book, despite her slightly bookish aura.
As his gaze wandered, Elliott's eyes inadvertently froze. Why did that face just now look so familiar? He shifted his gaze back and, after a brief search through the crowd, without exerting much effort, he spotted the man.
The man who had surprised him with his unexpected behavior after the Emmy Awards; the rookie who had left him bewildered, unable to get any interview despite him paying for the taxi; the newbie who had managed to ruffle his feathers yet remained too reticent to question, a rising star akin to a comet!
It was him, Renly Hall.
Elliott found this newcomer rather peculiar. He wasn't the type to be flashy or dazzling, nor was he the center of attention. Instead, there was a serene and introverted elegance about him. This quality wasn't as ostentatious as Brad Pitt, as cocky as Robert Downey Jr., or as sharp as Marlon Brando. Even amid the fervor and clamor of the beach, he could effortlessly command attention, drawing gazes toward him involuntarily.
Just like at this moment. He was accompanied by two friends, one exuding sunny cheerfulness with a bright smile, the embodiment of a carefree surfer; the other possessed a chilling aura, with chiseled facial features and a towering, robust figure, emanating a compelling sense of dominance. On this beach, both figures easily attracted attention from onlookers. Yet, when Elliott turned his gaze, the first thing he saw was Renly Hall.
So, why was Renly here? Wait, wasn't that Paul Walker?
Click. Elliott quickly pressed the shutter, inconspicuously capturing the scene. Indeed, island work was always this relaxed – unexpected surprises could happen in an instant.
Lowering his head to inspect his recent shots, for some reason, he felt that the results were average. He hadn't captured the sparkle in Renly's eyes, the arch of his brows, or the lightness of his smile. Instead, the entire image seemed rigid. Was it due to lighting? Elliott turned again, aiming at Renly and Paul, pressing the shutter once more.
And who was that person next to them? An actor? Why was there no impression? Was Renly Hall on Oahu Island due to the completion of "Fast 5"? There were rumors that Renly got along remarkably well with the crew, and now, seeing it firsthand, it seemed true. Renly and Paul were actually here together for surfing. Paul's enthusiasm for surfing was widely known in Hollywood.
So, did Renly's presence have any connection to Scarlett and Ryan's tabloid news?
Elliott meticulously combed through the information in his mind, but he found no direct link. They seemed completely unrelated by a long shot. However, that didn't mean it was impossible! This was Hollywood, a place overflowing with handsome men and beautiful women. Any encounter could potentially spark a flame. In Hollywood, talking about love was almost as commonplace as drinking water or eating.
Not long ago in Toronto, there had been rumors about Renly and Natalie Portman. Although later confirmed as a misunderstanding, people always welcomed delightful news. Elliott couldn't help but imagine a scene where Renly stood side by side with Scarlett, instantly finding it amusing. In the span of a breath, he had concocted an entire romance novel.
If this were true, he would have unearthed a sensational piece of news.
Love at first sight between Renly and Scarlett? Scarlett having an affair within her marriage and leaving Ryan? The sensual Black Widow falling for the dashing young newcomer? Scarlett being fickle while Ryan lost in the handsomeness department? Merely forty-eight hours after the divorce, Scarlett couldn't wait to rush to the island to meet her new lover? How did these two even meet? Was it a case of love at first sight, a cosmic collision? Or could it be... Renly and Ryan had their eyes on each other? And then, both abandoning Scarlett?
Exciting. It was truly exciting!
Elliott couldn't resist turning his head again, capturing the precious moment with his camera. Even if he couldn't later capture photos of Renly and Scarlett meeting secretly, he could still potentially uncover the truth from the slightest hints in the images. A prop, a bracelet, an article of clothing, even a shade of lipstick... all of these could be potential evidence!
Lifting his gaze, Elliott's eyes met those of Renly. They were about fifteen paces apart, a significant distance, yet Elliott felt utterly trapped by that gaze. It was like a snare, inescapable.
Oh no, he had been caught.
Elliott's heart skipped a beat deep within. However, there was no hesitation in his shutter release. He pressed it without delay. Their eyes locked, Elliott's covert photography exposed. He felt a slight pang of regret, but after the initial unease, he quickly regained his composure.
In the clash between paparazzo and artist, the latter always emerged victorious.
Paparazzi could shoot without restraint. The only reason they needed to conceal their actions was to catch someone off guard and capture precious moments. However, if their actions were exposed, it didn't matter. Most of the time, paparazzi operated openly, and it could even be said they acted recklessly.
Artists evading paparazzi became meme-worthy on the internet – an assortment of odd evasion poses. If artists confronted paparazzi head-on, the latter might even intentionally provoke them, creating news. And in the case of physical violence, it would always be the assailant at fault. If artists swore at paparazzi, their words would be published for the public to see. Moreover, paparazzi, seeking revenge against artists, could release unflattering photos, potentially damaging the carefully crafted public image.
Adding to this, the protection of freedom of the press by the law, especially when it came to public figures who couldn't counterattack, paparazzi were virtually fearless.
So, Elliott had no reason to be afraid.