As the sun climbed over the horizon, spreading brilliant rays of light, Clark Phillips was jolted awake by the sunlight piercing through the car window. Instinctively grabbing the camera hanging around his neck, he aimed it at the ivy-covered gate, only to find it still firmly closed, seemingly untouched by anyone.
Glancing at his watch and wiping his face, he became slightly more alert. Stepping out of the car, he stretched and scanned his surroundings. Most of his fellow paparazzi had woken up, their faces etched with disappointment after spending the entire night without capturing any newsworthy material.
"Matthew Horner is too quiet, isn't he?"
Someone approached, snapping a few pictures of the closed gate, complaining, "Shouldn't he be celebrating? Hosting a big party with a bunch of friends, giving us something to shoot!"
Clark turned to him, saying, "Don't forget, he has a girlfriend, Keira Knightley."
The person retorted, "But we haven't seen Matthew Horner and her together like that. They're not still just normally dating, are they?"
"I think…" Clark nodded, "It's possible."
"That's a slap in the face for us American men!" The person appeared quite indignant. "Are British women that prudish?"
As they spoke, the closed gate suddenly swung open. Including the two of them, all the paparazzi raised their cameras, aiming at the gate.
Emerging in sportswear and carrying two garbage bags, Matthew stepped out of his house. Glancing at the paparazzi who had been waiting all night, he crossed the street and after a short walk, disposed of the garbage in the bins, then jogged off with his headphones in.
Paparazzi, unlike journalists, focus more on tailing their subjects without harassing them. There's often an unspoken agreement between them and Hollywood stars, a symbiotic odd couple of sorts.
Seeing Matthew start his morning jog, some paparazzi followed, but Clark stayed put. He had followed Matthew before and knew that the actor's morning run wouldn't yield any valuable news.
Opening the trunk of his car, Clark retrieved a specially made long metal pole and put on rubber gloves. He approached the bin where Matthew had just dumped his trash, using the pole to sift through the garbage, searching for anything of value.
Another colleague, equipped similarly, sifted through a neighboring bin designated for hazardous waste.
After a long search yielding nothing worthwhile, Clark gave up and looked at his colleague, who also shook his head, indicating a lack of useful findings.
However, they had no intention of giving chase. Matthew Horner, with his impressive stamina, would quickly leave them behind if they attempted to follow on foot.
Completing his jog around a secluded park, Matthew looked back to find the paparazzi far behind. He took out his phone, stopped the lively music from Xenia Donne, and dialed Keira Knightley's number.
Adjusting his earphones for better voice transmission, Keira quickly answered, puzzled by the wind noise, "What are you doing?"
Slowing his pace, Matthew replied, "Just jogging. Are you ready? Packed your bags? Should I pick you up after breakfast?"
Keira hesitated before responding, "Let's make it after lunch. I haven't packed yet."
"That works for me," Matthew agreed amicably. "I'll come get you after noon."
He playfully added, "Make sure to dress nicely. There will likely be a lot of paparazzi and journalists. Don't let me outshine you."
Keira didn't take the bait, instead asking, "Is my room ready?"
As Matthew headed back, he reassured her, "Don't worry, Keira. Didn't I show you pictures of the room?"
"I'll be staying there for a long time..." Keira sounded unconvinced, questioning about the security door Matthew had mentioned.
He assured her, "It's not my house; the landlord didn't agree to install it."
After a brief conversation, Matthew hung up and quickly returned home.
Clark had just finished a takeout meal, leaning against his car and smoking idly, occasionally glancing at the ivy-covered wall that separated the outer world from the private one inside. The single-story design of Matthew's house, though it had an attic, lacked balconies or patios, reducing opportunities for snapshots.
Many Hollywood stars, after drinking too much, liked to perform antics on their balconies...
It seemed Matthew Horner had specifically chosen this house to protect its privacy.
Clark had been tailing Matthew since "Pirates of the Caribbean" premiered, noting that Helen Herman and Keira Knightley were the women he interacted with most. The former was his agent—Hollywood stars and their agents wouldn't be foolish enough to get together; the latter was his girlfriend, who seemingly hadn't spent much time with him.
As the sun rose higher, lacking valuable shots, Clark noticed some colleagues leaving while others arrived. Matthew Horner was a star on the rise, with "Pirates of the Caribbean" still in theaters. Anything about him could make the news.
"Hannah..." Clark greeted a familiar female paparazzo, asking, "Weren't you tailing Schwarzenegger? Why come here?"
Hannah explained, "'Terminator 3' is underperforming, lacking enough attention. Arnold Schwarzenegger is past his prime."
She added, "Been here all night?" Seeing Clark nod, she revealed, "You might not have seen it, but on IMDB's most attention-getting stars list this week, Matthew Horner shot up to second place, just behind Johnny Depp!"
"Second place?" Clark was surprised.
IMDB, a hub for movie enthusiasts, had increasingly significant influence. For a star to break into the top five of the most attention-getting list, especially around a film release, was impressive. Matthew Horner's rise to the second spot, thanks to "Pirates of the Caribbean," showed his immense popularity and fan love.
Staying put was the right decision.
Otherwise, one could follow Johnny Depp, but his long-standing fame meant less freshness for media and readers.
Rising stars like Matthew Horner were more newsworthy.
Hannah, seemingly close to Clark, mentioned, "A newspaper is offering five figures for photos of Matthew Horner that could go viral."
Clark shook his head, "I've been following him for days without spotting anything worthwhile."
Hannah suggested waiting, "I've heard Matthew Horner is a very active sportsman. Such people can't stand being alone for long. I bet something interesting will happen soon."
"Hoping so."
As they chatted and waited, patience—a paparazzo's essential quality—was tested. Tailing a star could yield nothing for weeks, but suddenly, a highly valuable piece of news might emerge.
With noon approaching and most paparazzi gone for lunch, Clark and Hannah decided to stay. Just as they discussed where to eat, the closed gate opposite them opened, and Matthew Horner left in a BMW parked by the road, heading towards Interstate 5.
Without hesitation, Clark got into his car, with Hannah joining him in the passenger seat.
"Let's get something valuable..." Clark said as he drove, "and split the reward fifty-fifty."
Hannah agreed without hesitation, "No problem!"
Clark drove quickly, catching up to the black BMW SUV. They followed it through Burbank, then off Interstate 5, weaving through West Hollywood towards Beverly Hills.
"I remember Keira Knightley staying at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, right?" Hannah asked uncertainly.
"That's right!" Clark's excitement was palpable, "Matthew Horner is definitely going to see Keira Knightley."
He speculated, "They haven't seen each other for a while, could it be..."
Hannah suggested, "I know a waiter at the Four Seasons; we might be able to sneak in. Let's try to get inside and capture some exclusive shots!"
"Great!" Clark fully agreed.
For a five-figure reward, the risk was worth it, especially since a hotel isn't private property, posing much less risk than entering someone's home.
As expected, the black BMW SUV soon arrived near the Four Seasons Hotel, pulling into the hotel's driveway and stopping at the entrance.
"Are they not going inside?" Clark felt a pang of disappointment.
As the hotel doors were opened by a doorman, a tall, slim girl with luggage and a backpack emerged – it was Keira Knightley.
Parking their car, they grabbed their cameras and started shooting. Matthew got out of his vehicle, took Keira's luggage, and placed it in the car. After Keira got into the passenger seat, Matthew drove off, heading back the way they came.
"Where are they going?" Hannah snapped photos of the departing car, wondering aloud, "Are they heading to the airport?"
Clark started the car and followed, "No, this isn't the way to the international airport!"
The black BMW was indeed heading back, and as they left Beverly Hills, Clark and Hannah exchanged glances, reaching the same conclusion—they were returning to Matthew's residence in the northern part of Burbank.
Their pursuit wasn't just about capturing a moment; it was about uncovering a potentially bigger story. Whether it was a simple visit or something more, any photo capturing their interaction could become a hot commodity. And in the world of paparazzi, timing and instinct were everything.
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