Chapter 48 LITTLE CRACKS
Vivienne sat in her car, her head rested on the steering wheel, engine off. She'd been there for fifteen minutes already, unable to make herself go inside.
Sleep had not come last night. Instead, she'd spent hours staring at her bedroom ceiling, replaying everything. Isabella's obvious flirting. Camille's arrival. Alexander's awkward and unnecessary confession.
"He is a free man...well not completely," she said to herself.
The thought had spiraled in her head all night like a carnival ride she couldn't get off.
It didn't mean anything anyways. Why should she be bothered? Ten years had passed. They were in completely different worlds now. They were completely different people.
A tap on her window made her jump.
Riley stood there, coffee in hand. She looked worried. Vivienne forced a smile and opened the door.
"You look like you could use this more than me," Riley said, offering her cup. "No offense, but you've got some serious bags under those eyes."
"Thanks for the reminder," Vivienne said, but took the coffee gratefully.
"Isabella's already inside," Riley added with an eye roll. "She's talking about some modifications she wants to make to your routine. Fair warning, she seems extra intense today."
Great. Just what she needed.
The studio was already energy filled with the usual morning activity when they walked in. The tech team readied the cameras, Eliza reviewed the day's schedules, and Alexander…
Her heart skipped a bit when she spotted him.
He stood near Victor's workstation, reviewing some footage from the day before, but he glanced in her direction immediately as if he'd sensed her arrival. They locked eyes for one electric moment before Vivienne looked away.
"Ms. Cross!" Isabella's voice was definitely too loud given it was a little past nine in the morning. "You're here. Finally. We need to run through yesterday's sequence with some adjustments."
Isabella wore another perfectly fitted workout outfit, her ponytail high and tight without a single strand out of place. She looked like she'd stepped from the pages of a fitness magazine, while Vivienne felt like she'd been run over by a truck.
"Let me get changed first," Vivienne said, moving toward the dressing area.
Isabella's perfectly manicured hand caught her forearm. "We're already behind schedule. Let's talk through the changes while you change."
The next hour was rather invasive.
It was almost obvious that Isabella had boundary issues, as she hovered over Vivienne who struggled into the mocap suit. She listed off a dozen modifications to their routine. Once on the green screen, it got worse.
"No, no, no!" Isabella grabbed Vivienne's shoulders, positioning her roughly. "Your stance is all wrong. We've been through this a million times. Lower. Like this."
She pushed Vivienne's shoulders down with unnecessary force.
"I've got it," Vivienne said through gritted teeth.
"Really? Because we've been at this for forty minutes and you keep making the same mistakes." Isabella circled her like a predator. "What's the problem? Trouble at home?"
The words carried just enough volume to turn a few heads. Vivienne caught Alexander looking their way, his brow furrowed.
"I don't know why you'd ask something like that," Vivienne said. "Let's just continue."
"If you say so." Isabella flashed that signature fake smile. "Again, from the top."
By mid-morning, Vivienne ached all over and her patience had worn paper thin. Alexander had approached twice, asking if everything was okay, but Vivienne had kept her responses brief. She couldn't look at him without hearing Camille's words replaying in her mind.
During the lunch break, Vivienne escaped to the small break room, seeking a moment alone. She'd just unwrapped her sandwich when Priya slid into the seat across from her.
"Okay, spill," Priya said without preamble. "What happened last night? The crew is gossiping that Camille showed up."
Vivienne's eyes stayed glued to her sandwich. "What are you? And how does everyone already know?"
She'd promised herself to stay calm through the drama. Nothing new could possibly shock her. Not even this.
"Jeff has a big mouth," Priya shrugged. "So it's true?"
"That's ironic, for someone that quiet." Vivienne picked at the crust of her sandwich. "Yes, she came by. It was awkward, but nothing worth remembering."
Priya raised an eyebrow. "That's not what Jeff said. According to him, there was a showdown between Camille and Mr. Hunt, with you caught in the middle."
"That's an exaggeration."
"Is it?" Priya leaned forward. "Because Isabella's been acting like she's marking her territory all morning, and you seem to be avoiding him."
Vivienne sighed, setting down her barely touched lunch. "Fine. Yes, Camille showed up. Yes, it was uncomfortable. And yes, I witnessed something I shouldn't have. That's all."
"You don't know the full story, do you?" Priya asked, her voice softening.
"About?"
"About why he never married her." Priya glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Rumor has it that Camille was cheating, which explains why Alex walked out of the ceremony. She came back six months later expecting him to still want her. But that ship already sailed."
"Camille was cheating?"
"With his cousin, no less. Some people say Alex found out the morning of the wedding. Others say he'd known but was doing it for his mother." Priya shook her head. "Either way, he left her standing there in that ridiculous dress and never looked back."
"Until now," Vivienne said quietly.
"Only because his mother is pushing for a reconciliation. Victoria Hunt won't stop until she gets them married, you know, for business connections and all that." Priya took a sip of her soda. "But anyone with eyes can see he doesn't want her."
Vivienne's mind spiraled again. So he was faithful to Camille until the end. Until she cheated on him. If she hadn't, he would have gone ahead with the wedding.
"Vivienne? You with me?" Priya's voice pulled her back.
"Yes, I'm… I need some air." She stood abruptly, disappearing into the hallway.
The hallway outside the break room was mercifully empty. Vivienne leaned against the wall, trying to steady her breathing. Her mind flashed back to Alexander last night when he'd tried to explain himself.
But why did he feel the need to explain anything to her? She wasn't Elara or the media. She was Vivienne. And it didn't make sense that he'd think he owed her some kind of explanation.
The studio door swung open, interrupting her thoughts. She straightened up immediately, only to find it was Riley.
"There you are! Eliza's looking for you. We're starting again in five."
She didn't need five more minutes. It would only mean more spiraling, so she followed behind Riley back into the studio.
The afternoon session was a blur. Vivienne moved through the motions, her mind completely and unintentionally absent.
Twice, she caught Alexander watching her, which was starting to make her uncomfortable. Maybe he'll stop if I let him explain himself, she thought.
Isabella sensed her distraction and exploited it.
"Focus!" she snapped after Vivienne missed a cue for the third time. "This isn't amateur hour. If you can't handle the basics, maybe we should simplify things for you."
Something in Vivienne snapped. "Maybe if your instructions were clearer instead of being deliberately vague so you can criticize me afterward, we'd make more progress."
The room went quiet. Isabella's eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously.
"I don't think you understand who you're talking to," she said, stepping closer. "Maybe you should ask around."
"Isabella," Alexander intervened. At least he tried to. "That's enough."
"No, I want to hear what Ms. Cross has to say." Isabella crossed her arms. "Since she clearly thinks she knows better."
Vivienne was just at the heat of responding when her phone vibrated loudly in her pocket. She pulled it out, ready to silence it, when she saw Rebecca's name on the screen.
"Excuse me," she said, stepping away from the green screen. "I need to take this."
She moved to a quiet corner. "Rebecca? Is everything okay?"
"I'm sorry to bother you at work," Rebecca's voice was urgent, "but Noah's running a fever. He was fine when I picked him up from school. But now I don't understand the sudden fever. I've tried Tylenol but it's not bringing the temperature down."
"How high?" Vivienne's heart raced.
"102.3 and climbing. He's also complaining about his throat hurting."
The strep was back? That fast? That suddenly?
"I'm coming home right now," Vivienne said, already moving toward her things.
"I didn't mean to disturb you. I should be able to handle this but…"
"No, you did exactly right. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
She hung up and turned to find Alexander behind her, concern etched on his face.
"Everything okay?"
"Noah's sick. I need to go."
"Of course," he said immediately. "I should come too."
"Oh, you're kidding me," Isabella interrupted. "We're in the middle of a shot!"
"My son is sick," Vivienne said, gathering her bag. "I'm leaving."
"This is exactly why working with amateurs is a waste of time," Isabella muttered loud enough for everyone to hear. "No professionalism."
Alexander turned to Isabella, clearly irritated. "That's enough."
Vivienne didn't wait to hear more, or for Alexander who was trailing behind her. She rushed toward the exit, her mind already with Noah. As the door closed behind her, she heard Alexander call her name, but she didn't look back.