The Actress & the Photographer

Chapter 1: Through the Lens

The flashing lights of downtown LA reflected off the rain-soaked streets as you adjusted your camera settings.

At only twenty-one years old, you had already become one of the most sought-after photographers in the entertainment industry.

Magazine covers.

Movie premieres.

Fashion campaigns.

You had shot them all.

Your talent for capturing authentic moments had earned you contracts worth more money than you ever imagined growing up.

Yet despite the success, today felt like any other assignment.

You were hired to photograph the cast of a new film during a press event.

Simple.

Professional.

Nothing special.

At least, that's what you thought.

"Y/N, the actors are arriving."

Your assistant's voice pulled you from your thoughts.

"Perfect," you replied.

You lifted your camera and began shooting as celebrities entered the venue.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Everything was routine until a familiar face stepped through the entrance.

Dark hair.

Confident posture.

A smile that immediately drew attention.

It was Dafne Keen.

The actress had grown up in front of audiences around the world and was now one of Hollywood's rising stars.

You'd seen interviews before.

You'd watched some of her work.

But seeing her in person was different.

For a moment, you almost forgot to press the shutter.

Almost.

Click.

The image appeared on your screen.

Perfect.

Natural.

She wasn't posing.

She was laughing at something someone beside her had said.

It was genuine.

And it looked incredible.

As if sensing your attention, Dafne glanced toward you.

Your eyes met.

Just for a second.

Then she smiled.

Not the celebrity smile she gave reporters.

A real one.

Your stomach did something strange.

"What was that?" you muttered to yourself.

You shook your head.

Focus.

It's work.

Nothing else.

Hours later, the event was wrapping up.

Most of the actors had already left.

You were packing away equipment when a voice suddenly spoke behind you.

"You're the photographer everyone's been talking about?"

You turned.

Dafne stood there with her hands in her jacket pockets.

Up close, she was even more beautiful.

Your brain momentarily forgot how words worked.

Thankfully, it recovered.

"Depends who's talking."

A grin spread across her face.

"Good answer."

You chuckled.

"So, what are they saying?"

"That you're ridiculously talented."

You raised an eyebrow.

"They must have confused me with someone else."

She laughed.

And for some reason, hearing it made your entire day better.

"I saw some of the photos from today," she continued.

"They were amazing."

"Thank you."

"I'm serious."

She pointed toward your camera.

"You make people look comfortable."

You looked down.

"Guess that's because I hate forcing smiles."

"Same."

For a brief moment, neither of you spoke.

The conversation felt surprisingly easy.

Natural.

Like talking to someone you'd known for years.

Then her manager called from across the room.

"Dafne, we need to go."

She looked over her shoulder.

"Coming!"

Before leaving, she turned back to you.

"Maybe we'll work together again someday."

You smiled.

"I'd like that."

She hesitated.

Then she pulled out her phone.

"Actually..."

Your heart skipped.

"Do you have Instagram?"

A second later, she was holding her phone out toward you.

You blinked.

Then laughed.

"That's a smoother line than I expected from a famous actress."

"Oh, shut up."

You exchanged accounts.

Neither of you could stop smiling.

Finally, she started backing toward the exit.

"See you around, photographer."

"See you around, actress."

As she disappeared through the doorway, you looked down at your phone.

A new notification appeared.

Dafne Keen followed you.

You stared at it.

Then shook your head.

No way.

There was absolutely no way your life had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.