Chapter 256: Gala

The following evening found Vivian being chauffeured to one of the city's most prestigious art museums for its annual gala exhibition opening. She sat rigidly in the back of the town car, fingers fiddling with the dazzling diamond rivière at her throat. Part of her was still in mild disbelief that this was actually her life now - draped in jewels fit for royalty, about to play the role of a high society wife on Mathew Shaw's arm. Just a few weeks prior, she had been a struggling actress barely keeping herself and her niece financially afloat. Now she floated in a strange parallel universe of opulence and unreality. As they pulled up to the museum's entrance, a small crowd of paparazzi and art patrons had already gathered behind velvet ropes, eagerly craning to catch glimpses of the night's guests. Vivian took a steadying breath, squaring her shoulders as Joe opened her door and offered an arm to help her from the car. "Just follow my lead and keep that chin up," he muttered under hi