Harry had always believed that something was off about Anson.
It wasn't because he was inexperienced or a rookie, but because Anson always played by his own rules. No one could understand how Anson's mind worked, and if you weren't careful, you could easily get caught up in his whirlwind.
So, even if you ended up losing face in front of Anson, it wasn't really something to be ashamed of... right?
Taking a deep breath, and then another, Harry barely managed to keep his cool.
"Why?"
"Why do you want to make a deal with me?"
Harry tried to take control of the situation, refusing to play by Anson's rules. He expected Anson to dodge the question and throw it back at him, but to his surprise, Anson once again broke the mold.
"Because I plan to use you to deal with the other paparazzi."
He... actually answered—
But, is that really okay?
Harry's face was dark with disbelief. "Are you openly treating me like a tool?"
"Yes." Anson smiled broadly.
Harry: …
Anson added, "If you feel like cursing, go ahead."
The curse was on the tip of Harry's tongue, but he swallowed it back down, glaring at Anson. He just didn't want to play along.
Anson continued, "Instead of sugarcoating things, let's be honest. You use me, I use you, and we both get what we want. Sometimes, when everything's laid out on the table, things are simpler. Or would you rather I stab you in the back?"
Harry shot Anson a frustrated look—
He'd already said everything, both good and bad. What else could Harry do? Sure, he'd like to sneak behind Anson's back and betray him, but if they were going to be scheming against each other, Harry wasn't confident he'd win.
So, what now?
Harry's mind was racing, his brain working overtime to find a solution.
In the end, Harry couldn't resist the temptation. "Why don't you tell me more about this deal?"
Anson didn't hold back and went straight to the point. "I need to leave Los Angeles for a while, and I want you to create the illusion that I'm still in the City of Angels. As long as the other paparazzi and the media don't catch on, you've done your job."
In short, a smokescreen.
Harry: … What?
His mind was full of questions, but he focused on the most important one. "And what do I get out of this?"
Anson started counting on his fingers.
"First, you'll know where I'm going."
"Second, you get to outsmart the entire Hollywood media."
"Third, to make it believable, my manager will give you some exclusive photos to keep the spotlight on TMZ."
"And lastly, the most important part: when it's all over, TMZ will have the exclusive story, and you can reveal the magic trick."
"Wow."
"Honestly, I think this is a pretty good deal."
Harry crossed his arms, taking on a defensive posture—
He knew it was a good deal, way better than he expected, almost too good to be true.
But that's exactly why Harry became even more cautious:
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
"But why?"
The reason wasn't actually complicated.
Anson could disappear quietly, but it would be difficult this time.
He could sneak out of Los Angeles in the dead of night and drive to Portland, but in doing so, the paparazzi might notice his absence within hours, causing a big uproar—
Inside and out, they'd dig deep, making a big show of looking for him.
Even though it wasn't the social media age yet, so there wasn't the constant threat of smartphones popping up everywhere; the fuss the paparazzi would create could become tabloid fodder, sparking discussion.
By then, even if Anson was hiding in the Portland suburbs, he wouldn't be able to find peace.
Anson's whereabouts being exposed was one thing; disrupting the filming of "Elephant" was another, and that's something Anson didn't want to happen.
So, the best solution wasn't for him to quietly disappear, but to use TMZ's help, getting Harry and Edgar to create a diversion—
Pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.
Things were about to get interesting.
TMZ, according to Anson's memory, didn't appear until 2005 in his previous life, rising to prominence after repeatedly breaking big stories that were later confirmed. In just a few years, it became a leading gossip outlet.
But now, because of Anson, that butterfly effect, TMZ was appearing three years earlier, and it was being created by someone he knew.
History really was an interesting thing.
In Anson's view, the line between paparazzi and journalists was blurring more and more in the internet age. They were all caught up in the storm of entertainment and fake news, with so-called professionalism and ethics being redefined.
So, Anson had no qualms about working with the paparazzi.
Simply put, it was a matter of mutual benefit.
The paparazzi needed a steady stream of exclusives, and Anson needed a period of time free from distractions to focus on his work.
But this time, Anson wasn't going to give Harry an answer—
He was never one to play nice.
"Because I want to."
The straightforward answer left Harry momentarily speechless.
A smile flickered in Anson's eyes as he delivered his trump card.
"TMZ, that's your website, right?"
"You guys need traffic and exclusives. If I disappear quietly…"
Harry countered, "All the paparazzi in Los Angeles will be on the move."
Anson nodded slightly. "Yes, that's true, but whether or not they find me, TMZ won't have any chance at an exclusive."
Harry: … Damn.
Anson's smile deepened. "So, if you play along, you not only get a series of updates, but also a major exclusive."
Even though Anson was smiling, Harry felt like prey, slowly walking into a trap.
Harry tried to stay sharp. "And what about you? What do you get out of this deal?"
A quiet filming location, an uninterrupted schedule, and a finished "Elephant."
But Anson wasn't going to answer. "We both get what we need. You get what you want, and I get what I want. No need to ask too many questions."
Harry wasn't falling for it. "What if the exclusive you're hiding is bigger than we imagined?"
"Hah." Anson laughed heartily. "Then you'll just have to take a gamble, won't you?"
Harry was about to say something, but Anson shook his head. "No more questions."
"Tick-tock, tick-tock, time's running out."
"Now, it's up to you whether you want to sign a contract with the devil."
As he spoke, Anson started to step back.
Harry's mind was torn in two, with an angel and a devil on his shoulders. Should he trust Anson? Or should he pretend to agree, only to stab Anson in the back and secretly uncover the real exclusive?
All's fair in love and war, right?
But as soon as that thought surfaced, Harry noticed Anson's gaze, a knowing smirk on his face, as if he could see right through Harry's thoughts. That unnerving sense of exposure sent a shiver down Harry's spine.
With that realization, Harry made up his mind—
"Okay."
As soon as the word left his mouth, a rush of regret and excitement, thrill, and anxiety flooded through him. So this is what it feels like to make a deal with the devil?