Behind The Lens

reets. The morning hum of vespas filled the air as the eternal city began its daily dance. In the heart of thi

rich aroma of espresso mingled with the faint scent of blooming jasmine from her garden. Rome st

ied them, their simplicity, their freedom. For Lily, life had become a carefully c

lla's voice broke

into the room, her tablet in one hand and a croissant in the ot

er best friend and manager. "G

noon. And you have a shoo

pause. "Che Leo?

o's photographed everyone who's anyone. He's brilliant,

in the mood for this. Another photoshoot, anoth

She muttered, taking

ly, this could be huge for your career. His photos are

. "What story do you t

tired, Lily. But this is an opportunity to show the

series of black-and-white photographs. His assistant,

at eleven,

heard of Lily Jolie, the enigmatic actress with a flawless reputation.

teresting? "Che asked, his

nked. "In

s lips."Everyone has a story, Marco.

and precision, canvases and props scattered around, yet every detail meticulously cura

through his lens. By night, he was something far darker, a man with s

the shadows of his second life. Toda

ing lights and setting up props. Lily stepped in, her heels clicking against the polished

y felt d

a deep voice

ce, he was every bit as striking as his reputation suggested. His piercing eyes seemed

e replied, ex

but not overbearing, his gaze never

ntense, but not in an overbearing way. There was a q

s palpable. He moved around her wi

ering the camera to meet her eyes

ed. "I'm not

s voice was calm

spoken to her like that, not as Lily Jolie, the actre

again. "Hold that th

shake the feeling that Che was seeing p

sted. Not physically, but emotionally. She

oday," Che said

one, something that made her pause. But instead of r

ue in his eyes. She was different, he t

w as the city passed by. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoug

er from the driver's

d. "It was

on, Lily. You've never been th

head. "He's j

. "Intense? Sounds like

but deep down, she kn

the balcony of his studio, a cigarette dangling from his l

," he murmur

ng while, he found himself loo