Chapter 167: Intimate Photos

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Intimate Photos

On the other end of the line, Bella was organizing her schedule at the computer. When she heard the request, she did not hesitate or ask for the reason. Her response was crisp.

"I do. I have worked with them several times. Their confidentiality and professionalism are beyond reproach. Who do you want them to track?"

"I knew I could count on you," Britney said, exhaling in relief.

"I’ll send you the target’s information in a moment. Loren Li. He is a veterinarian and the son of Baird Fergus, the current CEO of 20th Century Fox.

Have the detective keep an eye on him. Focus on whether he spends time alone with any young women besides Irene. Whether they are dining, shopping, or simply meeting, if there is any suspicious contact, have him photograph it and document it clearly."

"Understood," Bella replied, her voice calm. "How long should the surveillance last? Do you have a specific timeframe in mind?"

"Track him for two weeks. Focus on the periods when Irene is busy with film preparations and unavailable." Britney recalled that Irene was overseeing Elizabeth Swann’s auditions and Henry’s physical training schedule, which would keep her occupied.

"The moment you obtain concrete evidence, tell me immediately. Whatever you do, do not alert him."

"No problem. Should the fees be billed to the company account or paid out of pocket?"

"Use my personal account. Do not let anyone else know about this," Britney instructed.

After ending the call, she sent everything to Bella at once: Loren’s photo, his address, the address of the veterinary clinic where he worked, and a rough description of Ellie’s appearance, all of which she had heard from Vivian.

Once she finished, she leaned back on the sofa, still seething. If Loren dared to cheat, she would make sure Irene had the means to teach him a lesson.

On the other side, Irene was completely unaware of her friend’s covert operation and had no idea that Britney was preparing a surprise for her.

For the next two weeks, Irene was consumed by a whirlwind of activity. At her busiest, she did not even have time to call Loren. When she received his messages reminding her to take care and rest, she would reply with a quick "Okay" and return to her work.

Meanwhile, Britney monitored the detective’s progress closely.

For the first several days, the detective reported that Loren maintained a predictable routine. He went from the veterinary clinic to his apartment, with occasional stops at the supermarket. Everything appeared normal.

Britney began to wonder if she had overreacted. Then, a few days later, the update Bella sent made her bristle with anger.

"Ms. Britney, there has been a new development." When Bella delivered lunch, she also brought a set of photos and a detailed surveillance log.

"Mr. Loren Li has been meeting frequently with a woman named Ellie, the friend from New Zealand you described.

While Ms. Irene is occupied with work, they attend art exhibitions together almost every week and volunteer at the city park to care for stray dogs.

Loren drives Ellie back to her apartment each time. Most importantly, two days ago in the afternoon, Loren and Ellie entered a hotel in downtown Los Angeles and did not leave for two full hours."

That last detail was particularly damning.

In one photo, Loren and Ellie walked side by side through a gallery corridor, both leaning in to examine the same painting. They stood close. Ellie looked up and smiled as she spoke to him, and Loren’s gaze rested on her face with a tenderness that could have melted steel.

In another, they crouched together on the park lawn, feeding stray dogs. Loren’s hand rested casually on Ellie’s shoulder, the gesture natural and intimate.

Looking at the images, Britney was so furious she nearly dropped her cup.

She shot to her feet and paced the lounge, her chest heaving. "That Loren!" she growled.

"He really does have ulterior motives. What ’just friends’? Private art exhibitions, driving her home, spending two hours alone in a hotel? That is not how friends behave."

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She wanted to call Irene immediately and put the evidence in front of her.

But she stopped herself. Irene was in the most critical stage of pre-production. If she told her now, it would shatter her focus and could delay the entire filming schedule.

Britney clenched her fists and forced herself to take a deep breath. No. She could not be impulsive. She needed to choose the right moment—one that would allow Irene to see Loren’s true character without jeopardizing her work.

She told Bella, "Have the detective continue the surveillance. Preserve all evidence: photos, videos, and timestamps. Do not miss anything. Also, check Ellie’s itinerary in Los Angeles. Find out when she is leaving and whether she is genuinely here for a trip."

"Understood, Ms. Britney."

Elizabeth Swann’s audition was scheduled for Friday morning. The afternoon before, just as Irene finished reviewing the next day’s schedule, Shelly pushed the door open with a grave expression. He held a sealed envelope in his hand.

"Irene, there is something I have to tell you," Shelly said, his voice low and his eyes full of hesitation.

"A paparazzo contacted me. They claim to have photos of Loren with a woman who resembles you, standing at the entrance of a hotel. They asked if we wanted to purchase them. The price is not low."

Irene’s pen paused over the paper. Confusion spread across her face.

"Paparazzi? Photos? What are you talking about?" Her mind was still preoccupied with the audition list for tomorrow.

"Could it be a misunderstanding? Loren has been in Los Angeles lately. He spoke to me on the phone yesterday. Why would he go to a hotel?"

"I hope it is a misunderstanding as well, but you should see them," Shelly said, handing her the envelope. His tone was heavy.

"The paparazzo said if we do not respond by four o’clock today, these photos will be in every tabloid by tomorrow morning. At that point, it will not only affect Loren. As his girlfriend, you will be implicated too."

Irene frowned and opened the envelope. Several printed photos slipped out.

The background was a recognizable hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Night had fallen, and the streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement.

Loren wore the beige jacket she had given him. Standing beside him was Ellie. She held Loren’s arm, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

Loren’s arm was around Ellie’s waist, and he had leaned his head close to her cheek. There was no photograph of them kissing, but the ambiguous intimacy was palpable even through the print.

A wave of dizziness washed over Irene. She remembered Loren’s calm expression at the art exhibition, remembered him insisting that Ellie was only a friend from New Zealand, and remembered the "take care and rest" messages he sent when she was too busy to contact him. For a moment, she could not accept that it was real.

Silence filled the dressing room. The only sound was the faint hum of the air conditioner. Shelly watched her expressionless face and did not dare speak. He waited quietly for her decision.