Chapter 16 UNSETTLED VICTORIES
Alexander's penthouse was one of a kind, it had sharp angles and smooth surfaces, but less decor. What stood out was the floor-to-ceiling windows framed Manhattan like a painting that changed all the time, with lights now twinkling against the night sky.
The place was spotless, though. It looked like a modern luxury showroom with Italian leather furniture, glass tables that caught the city lights, and abstract art pieces picked out by a designer he only met once.
He walked quietly through the massive room. Even though it was big and expensive, the apartment didn't feel warm. There were no pictures on the walls, or anything personal, except for one framed business award on his credenza.
Alexander had only been home for a little over an hour, but the glass dining table where he had set up his laptop and a stack of reports was still open. As he looked at the projection numbers for Tyranny, the blue light from the screen made shadows on his face.
The soft ping of an email alert made him lose his focus.
He looked at the name of the sender and stopped.
Vivienne Cross.
Alexander sat up straight in his chair, and his heart started to race a little too fast. He opened the email and quickly read the short message.
"I’ve thought about your offer. I’m happy to talk about the terms whenever it’s best for you. Please tell me when and where you want to meet."
He smiled for real, the kind of smile that hadn't been seen in weeks. All at once, the stress that had been building up inside him went away.
Finally, she said yes. After days of silence, after saying no to him the first time they met, and after making him doubt himself, she was in.
He read the message two more times, and each time he felt better. It wasn't just about getting the right face for Tyranny anymore. This was about victory. About getting what he wanted.
He didn't think twice before picking up his phone and calling Jane. He knew she would answer, even though it was 10:07 PM on a Friday.
She answered on the second ring. "Mr. Hunt."
He didn't bother with small talk and said, "She sent the email. Vivienne Cross. She has agreed to talk about the terms."
"Yes, sir. I just saw it come in." Jane's voice echoed in the empty office. Alexander could picture her at her desk, still in her work clothes, and thought she was probably the only person left in the whole building.
"Write a response. Friendly but professional. If that works for her, set up a meeting for Monday at 10 AM in my office." He couldn't stop his voice from sounding energetic. "We need to act fast on this."
"I'll handle it right away."
"Since I have you, what's going on with Whitmore?" Alexander got up from his chair and walked over to the windows. "Has he called again?"
Jane let out a sigh. "Two times today. This afternoon, his assistant called again to ask when we were going to finalize the casting. He's getting more... demanding."
"Email him first thing on Monday. Tell him that we've hired our best talent and that production will start right away." Alexander put his hand on the cold glass, leaving a temporary mark. "Make it sound like this was planned all along."
"Of course." In the background, papers were being shuffled. "Should I say her name?"
"Yes. Add her professional headshot again. Let him see what we've been waiting for."
"Got it." Jane stopped. "About the schedule for motion capture—"
"We've already lost weeks. We need to get going right away." The window showed Alexander's reflection. "Reserve the studio. I want the sessions to start in ten days. We need at least three weeks to get everything we need."
"I'll call them on Monday to book the space and the workers."
"Jane, the Tokyo summit is coming up sooner than we thought." He looked away from the window. "If we miss our time to present, Whitmore will leave and the whole project will fall apart. We can't let that happen."
"I understand the pressure, sir. We won't be late."
Alexander walked over to his desk and opened Vivienne's file on his laptop. "Do we now have her full background check?"
There was a heavy pause on the other end of the line.
"Yes, sir. This afternoon, I put the file on your desk." Jane cleared her throat. "There's nothing major to worry about. It's still the same."
"Okay."
"One thing, though." She spoke in a softer tone. "There are still some holes in her story before she started CrossLight seven years ago. There aren't many records before that point. It's not suspicious, but it is strange."
"What kinds of holes?"
"School records end after her second year of college. Not much of a presence on social media. Some people don't leave much of a digital footprint, but for someone who runs a talent agency..."
"No." Even though Jane couldn't see him, Alexander waved his hand as he spoke. "I'm not worried about her past. I need her now. I need what she can give me now."
"Of course." Again, Jane wasn't sure. "Sir, if I may... Ms. Cross didn't seem very interested in your first meeting. Are you sure she's the right choice now after she showed so much resistance at first? We might want to have backup plans in case—"
"Jane." His voice got harder, and the familiar tone of authority came into play. "Vivienne Cross is just what we need. It doesn't matter that she didn't want to at first. What matters now is that she's agreed."
"I just thought—"
"The decision is made. I don't want to hear any more doubts or second-guessing." He didn't mean for the words to come out so harsh. "We're going ahead with her. That's all there is to it."
Jane's answer came right away and was quiet. "I completely understand, Mr. Hunt. I will have everything ready for the meeting on Monday."
"Okay. That's it for tonight."
Alexander hung up the phone and put it on the table. He stood still for a moment before walking to his home bar, which was a sleek mix of glass and brushed metal. He moved his fingers over a few bottles before choosing an old whiskey that he rarely drank.
He poured two fingers into a crystal tumbler and watched as the amber liquid caught the light. Alexander didn't often drink by himself or celebrate small wins. Hunt Enterprises was built on discipline, not indulgence. But tonight felt different.
Tonight felt deserved.
He took his glass back to the windows and looked out over his territory. Vivienne Cross had finally sent that email and given in. He raised the glass in a silent toast to never giving up.
As he drank, the whiskey burned pleasantly, and warmth spread through his chest. He had been working on this project for months, and the stress from Whitmore, the failed casting sessions, and the short deadlines had taken over his life. And now, at last, everything was coming together.
Alexander went back to his desk and opened his laptop again. He looked at Vivienne's file again and studied her professional headshot.
There was something about her features that attracted him more than just how she looked. It wasn't just that she was pretty, though she was, but there was something in her eyes. Yes, they were deep and smart, but they also had something else.
Something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He stared at her longer than he needed to, following the lines of her face with his eyes. Her face had an intensity that was almost familiar.
Finally, Alexander shut the laptop and drank the rest of his drink. He felt strange as he put the empty glass in the sink. He remembered something about the way she had looked at him during their short meeting at CrossLight.
"Get it together, Alex," he said to himself. "You're thinking too much about this."
He went through his nightly routine without thinking about it: brushing his teeth, changing into sleep pants, and setting his alarm. But even though he was lying in his king-sized bed and looking up at the ceiling, he couldn't stop thinking about Vivienne Cross.
The quiet of the penthouse closed in on him, with only the faint sounds of the city below breaking the silence. He rolled over and punched his pillow into a more comfortable shape, but he still couldn't sleep.
Why did she look familiar? Had they met before at an industry event he couldn't remember? Was it just that she looked like someone he knew from the past?
Alexander shut his eyes and tried to push the thoughts out of his head. This was crazy. She was just another business contact, another piece in the puzzle of Tyranny. That's all.
But as he fell asleep, bits and pieces of images came to him: a woman laughing by the water, dark hair blowing in the wind, and the smell of salty air. Nothing that he could hold on to, just feelings that went away before he could figure them out.
Before he fell asleep, his last conscious thought was of Vivienne's eyes and the strange feeling that he had looked into them before, but why?