The twist that no one expected

'Hello X, I'm interested in your proposition. But are you someone from the industry? If you want to sabotage Jessica's song then you must have a way to gain access to her.'

Iris read the message she received from the user called DestroyJessica. The reply had come far too late for her liking. She typed out a response and hit send.

'Aren't you also someone connected to the industry? Let's just say I know people who can sabotage her performance. But I'll require your help sourcing some items that I can't allow to be linked to my name.'

'Dear X, you sound sincere but the intention you're pitching is called a crime. You could be a fan of Jessica, maybe even Jessica herself, trying to trap me into committing a crime. Thanks but no thanks. Try somewhere else <3'

Iris' already bad mood was ruined further by the stupid person making assumptions about her. She was feeling desperate and pressured by the upcoming live concert where she had no doubt Jessica was going to perform better than her. If Iris was going to fail then so was Jessica. There had to be a way to convince the person behind the account of DestroyJessica.

'What kind of a hate account are you anyway? If you truly hate Jessica then you would do anything to destroy her! I'm not some dumb fan trying to troll you. What do you want? Money? Favours? I can prove to you that I will go to any lengths to ruin her.'

Iris received a reply that was more receptive than the last.

'Dear X, I was struck by a sudden realisation that this concert can be the noose that hangs her career or the springboard that launches her to stardom. I don't want to see her succeed. It makes me want to take a risk and find out if you're really serious about this. How about we exchange contacts and have a short conversation?'

Iris couldn't risk them finding out it was her behind the anonymous account.

'I have a confession to make. I'm somebody big in the industry. You've heard my name and you know who I am. So obviously, I can't give you my contact information and reveal my identity to you. Is there any other way I can prove myself?'

'Now I'm truly surprised! I can't believe I'm potentially in the dms of someone famous.'

Iris smiled. The hater had no idea just who they were talking to. If they found out, it would probably feel to them like they'd won a lottery.

'If you understand how lucky you are, you know that this opportunity won't come by again. Join hands with me. We can take her down!'

'Unfortunately for us, I'm not dumb. If I get into trouble for this then we go down together. No amount of hate for Jessica is worth going to jail for. All you have to do us is tell me who you are and we can begin plotting together.'

Did she really have to do this? For the sake of taking down Jessica, Iris had to take the risk.

'I'll dm you from my main account.'

_______

Ji-ho had a face mask on as she waited for the hater to message her. Who could this allegedly famous person be? Creating the DestroyJessica account had been an idea that sprang from wanting to manage the anti-fan propaganda in such a manner that she could be prepared for the attacks before they came. Ji-ho was thus the proud leader of her own haters and it had allowed her to gather the troublemakers under one banner.

But that wasn't the main purpose of the account. Her intention was something more sinister but only towards those who hated Sun Young-mi. Ji-ho was going to surround herself with enemies and gather the proof she needed that would send them all to prison. It was a rather ambitious plan but she knew it was working. How? Her laptop screen displayed the notification of a new message. It was from @IrisHeart

"Such a big fish I've caught!" Ji-ho said with satisfaction. Iris had just sealed her fate by sending the message from her main account.

____

It was a lovely morning where Seung-ho was vacationing. The weather was warm and the sun was shining bright on the elegant man seated by a vintage glass table. Spread out on the table was a luxurious breakfast that he still hadn't touched.

The headline of an unopened newspaper on the table mourned the death of Marc Beaumont, a professional auto racer who had won many cups for the country. The unfortunate man had accidentally fallen off a cliff while taking his dog for a walk. There were no witnesses to the accident which had occurred during the previous evening.

Seung-ho held the paper up and read the headline that had taken the country by storm. His deep-set eyes were the colour of dark amber when the sun light hit them just right. In the distance, the sound of police sirens were a jarring interruption to the peaceful corner of the sleepy town that the actor had occupied. But that did not disturb him.

His gaze flickered to the phone when it began ringing. It was his mother.

"Seung-ho, your father and I plan on visiting the rose garden today. What time is your flight?"

"One thirty in the noon."

A hotel staff unobtrusively poured out a cup of freshly brewed coffee for the actor before retreating into a side door. Seung-ho lifted the white and gold cup to his lips while his father talked about the tragedy they'd all read about in the news.

"His villa is not very far from the hotel you're staying at, son. Weren't you planning on taking a hike around the same place? I'm glad you didn't go. If those cliffs are so easy to fall off then they should just put railings-"

The actor heard his father's voice in the background, telling his mother to hurry up or they were going to be late for a morning wine tasting event.

"Son, take care of yourself. Call me when you get back home, alright."

"I will. Enjoy your day with father."

Seung-ho hung up the call and finished his coffee.