Chapter 59 THE SABOTAGE PART 2
Isabella stared at Alexander like she didn't recognize him. Then her face hardened, all the sweetness and flirtation gone, replaced by pure venom.
"Fine." She grabbed her bag from the corner, shoving her tablet inside. "But you're making a mistake. Both of you."
She walked toward the door. Then turned back one last time.
"You're hiding something," she said, pointing at Vivienne, then at Alexander. "I know there's something more going on between you two. I've seen the way you look at each other. Especially you, Alexander."
"Isabella, that's enough," Eliza tried to intervene.
But Isabella talked over her. "And when it comes out, and it will come out, this whole project will crash and burn." She looked directly at Alexander now. "You don't stand a chance against your uncle anyway. Robert's been waiting for you to fail, and you're handing him everything he needs on a silver platter."
The door slammed so hard the walls shook.
Nobody moved or spoke.
Vivienne stood frozen on the green screen, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her hands were still shaking, adrenaline flooding her system with nowhere to go.
Alexander turned to face her. They just looked at each other across the empty studio.
"Everyone take the rest of the day," Alexander said quietly, not breaking eye contact with Vivienne. "We'll resume tomorrow morning."
Eliza hesitated. "Are you sure? We still have two hours scheduled..."
"I'm sure. Go home. All of you."
The crew didn't need to be told twice. They packed up their equipment quickly, avoiding eye contact, pretending they hadn't just witnessed a complete meltdown.
Victor was the last to leave, pausing at the door. "Mr. Hunt? For what it's worth, I think Ms. Cross is doing an incredible job. Isabella was out of line."
"Thanks, Victor," Alexander said.
The door closed behind him, leaving Vivienne and Alexander alone in the vast, empty studio.
The silence was deafening.
Vivienne's legs suddenly felt weak. She sank down onto the edge of the green screen platform, pulling her knees up to her chest. All the anger had drained out of her, leaving behind tiredness so deep it made her bones ache.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "That was unprofessional."
"No." Alexander walked toward her, his footsteps echoing in the empty space. "You had every right to defend yourself. Isabella crossed a line. She's been crossing it since day one."
"You didn't have to fire her."
"I didn't fire her. I gave her a choice." He stopped a few feet away, hands in his pockets. "She made hers."
Vivienne wrapped her arms around her knees, making herself smaller. "Your mother was right. I'm a distraction. I'm causing problems."
"My mother doesn't get to decide what's a distraction and what isn't." His voice was firm. "And you're not the problem here. Isabella was jealous. My mother is controlling. None of that is your fault."
"But it's affecting the project. I know how important this project is to you."
"The project is fine. Better than fine." Alexander moved closer, then lowered himself to sit on the platform beside her, leaving a careful distance between them. "Today's footage is some of the best we've captured. Your performance has been phenomenal."
Vivienne turned her head to look at him. "Isabella didn't seem to think so."
"Isabella was lying." His brown eyes met hers, intense and honest. "You're incredible at this, Vivienne. You're a natural. And it's so real. That's what I wanted. That's what Athena needs."
The compliment should have made her feel better. But all she could think about was Victoria's cold stare, and the ticking clock counting down to the gala.
"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered. "I'm just trying to save my agency."
Alexander was quiet. Then he said, "What are you afraid of?"
Everything. She was afraid of everything. Afraid Victoria would recognize her. Afraid Alexander would find out the truth about Noah. Afraid the life she'd built would come crashing down around her ears. Afraid that she was falling for Alexander all over again.
But she couldn't say any of that. So instead, she said, "I'm afraid of letting you down."
It was only part of the truth, but it was enough.
Alexander's hand moved, like he was about to reach for hers, then stopped. His fingers curled into a fist on his thigh.
"You could never let me down," he said softly. "You've already exceeded every expectation I had."
Vivienne's throat tightened. She looked away, staring at the far wall where the green screen ended.
"Why me?" she asked. "Why did you really choose me for this?"
She felt him tense beside her.
"I told you. You're perfect for the role."
"That's not an answer."
Another long silence. Then Alexander stood abruptly, walking a few paces away. He ran a hand through his hair, his back to her.
"Because when I look at you," he said finally, his voice rough, "I see someone who's survived something impossible. Someone who's rebuilt themselves from the ground up. Someone who's stronger than they realize."
He turned to face her, and the look in his eyes made her breath catch.
"Athena isn't just a warrior. She's a survivor. And so are you."
Vivienne's phone vibrated in her pocket, shattering the moment. She pulled it out, grateful for the interruption.
A text from Rebecca: "Just picked Noah up from school. He misses you. Everything okay?"
Reality crashed back in. This wasn't what she wanted. Truly wanted. She just wanted a peaceful life with her son.
The whole purpose of agreeing to this project was to save CrossLight and be able to secure a good future for him.
Not fall back into a broken love story.
"I should go," Vivienne said, standing up. "It's been a long day."
Alexander nodded, but didn't move to stop her. "Will you be okay?"
"I'm always okay." She grabbed her bag from the bench and headed toward the changing room.
"Vivienne."
Vivienne? At what point did they go from him calling her Ms. Cross to Vivienne?
She stopped but didn't turn around.
"Thank you," Alexander said. "For standing up for yourself today. It was about time."
A bitter smile touched her lips. "I've had practice standing up to people who want to destroy me."
She walked away before he could ask what she meant.
In the changing room, Vivienne stripped off the mocap suit. Her whole body ached from the afternoon's session, the confrontation, and the constant stress of pretending everything was fine.
As she pulled on her regular clothes, she caught sight of herself in the mirror.
Who was she becoming?
Elara Sinclair was dead. Vivienne Cross was a carefully constructed lie she needed to survive. And somewhere in between was a woman who didn't know her true reality anymore.
Her phone vibrated again. Another message from Rebecca: "Also, there's been a weird car parked across the street for the past hour. Black sedan. Tinted windows. Probably nothing but can't be too careful. Right?"
Vivienne's blood ran cold.
Someone was lurking around her apartment.
She grabbed her things and ran out of the studio, her heart racing with a fresh round of panic.
Outside, the late afternoon sun hurt her eyes. She fumbled for her sunglasses, her hands still shaking.
Across the street, leaning against a building, was a strangely dressed woman in a burgundy coat.
She didn't have time to pay her much attention, but the woman was watching her.
The woman pulled out her phone, typed something quickly, then walked away.
Vivienne stood frozen on the sidewalk, watching her disappear around the corner.
Who was that?
Her phone vibrated one more time. Unknown number.
The message made her stomach drop: "Smile for the camera, Vivienne. Or should I say, Elara?"
Attached was a photo. Taken today. In the studio. Of the moment Alexander had sat beside her on the green screen.
Someone inside the studio was sending these messages.
Someone who knew exactly who she was.
And they were getting bolder.