Chapter 11

I stared blankly at the phone on the floor, standing there for a while before I slowly crouched down to pick it up. Vivienne, stop making a fool of yourself. From the very beginning, Alexander’s heart had always been meant for Isabella. He would always support her. As for yesterday’s incident, if Alexander wanted to know the truth, he could have easily sent someone to investigate. But instead, he chose to believe Isabella’s side of the story. Is this what makes a first love so unforgettable for a man? ... "Director Vivienne, Miss Sophie and Miss Ariana are still waiting for you in the lounge." I snapped out of my thoughts as the assistant carefully approached me, offering a reminder. "Alright, I know." I took a deep breath, quickly regaining my composure, and turned, striding toward the lounge. "So, what did CEO Hawthorne say?" Sophie immediately asked as soon as I entered, her voice full of curiosity. Ariana was also looking at me, her expression filled with anticipation. I shook my head, saying nothing more. Ariana sighed. Sophie, however, commented, "I never expected this. I thought CEO Hawthorne was a Romeo, but turns out she’s more of a Lord Byron." "So, what now?" "I’ll go talk to them, see if we can make some minor adjustments, maybe add some props. Ariana, you’ll need to pay extra attention during post-production. I have a clearer idea now, and I’ll send you some sample images later tonight." "Alright." Ariana nodded. I returned to the makeup room and resumed communication with CEO Hawthorne’s team, fine-tuning the makeup and styling. To be honest, I was starting to feel a bit impatient. But as the head of V&R, I knew that success and failure were shared, and I had to take responsibility for my work. If the Brand Endorsement didn’t go well, I, as the leader, would definitely be impacted. But for CEO Hawthorne, the consequences would be far greater. Last time, when CEO Hawthorne and Alexander were photographed together, everything seemed harmonious on the surface, but there were undercurrents of tension beneath it. Lena Ashford, who was touted as the "Next Big Thing" with a massive fan base, had her role as Brand Ambassador snatched away. While Lena’s team accepted compensation from us, they continued to stir up trouble behind the scenes, encouraging her fans to sympathize with her and even starting a public feud on CEO Hawthorne’s Twitter. If this Brand Endorsement fails, CEO Hawthorne would undoubtedly face ridicule, especially since it was her first endorsement since returning to the country—making it particularly significant. In the end, CEO Hawthorne agreed to follow my suggestions. After much effort, we finally resolved the makeup issues and were ready to begin the official shoot. After a busy day, the filming finally wrapped up. I looked up and saw the sky darkening. Stretching lazily, I grabbed my car keys and headed toward the parking lot. "Vivienne." Just as I was nearing the outdoor parking lot, I suddenly heard someone call my name. I turned around and saw Julian Steele standing not far away. I couldn’t help but smile. "Julian, the big star, it’s you! Long time no see. What are you doing here? Got a schedule?" Julian smiled and walked toward me. "I thought I was seeing things for a second, but it really is you. I just have a magazine cover shoot. What’s keeping you so late today?" "Work’s been a bit hectic lately," I said with a smile. "Is it the V&R endorsement ad? I saw it in the news." "Yeah, that’s right. What about you? After the shoot, do you have more work?" "No, I’m taking a break for a few days. The workload was too heavy recently, so I’m just resting now. Come on, let’s grab a meal. We haven’t seen each other in a while." I thought for a moment and said, "I’m afraid I don’t have time tonight. I still need to discuss some work with Zhu Fan." "Is it urgent? If not, we can invite Ariana along." Julian had worked with Ariana before, so they were familiar with each other. "Alright then, I won’t be polite," I agreed with a smile. "By the way, how are Uncle and Aunt Steele doing?" Julian leaned closer, gently plucking a dry leaf from my hair with a soft gaze. "My parents are both in good health. They’ve been asking about you since they haven’t seen you recently. You should come visit them sometime." "Sure, once I’m done with work, I’ll go see Uncle and Aunt Steele," I replied, smiling. I chatted with Julian a bit more, asking if he had any new TV shows coming out. My connection with Julian went way back to our childhood. Back then, my parents had just divorced, and I lived with my grandparents in the countryside. Julian was our next-door neighbor, and we spent a lot of time climbing trees and wading through rivers together, forming a deep bond. Looking back on those days, it felt like everything had happened just yesterday. Later, Julian’s family moved away. They made money through their business and improved their financial situation. For many years after that, I didn’t see Julian again. It wasn’t until he entered the entertainment industry and gained some fame that I recognized him. Last year, we had our official reunion when we collaborated on a different brand. When he learned that my father and grandparents had passed away, Julian was deeply saddened and even visited their graves to pay his respects. I also visited Julian’s house and met his parents. The old neighbors reconnecting was a warm and harmonious reunion. During the New Year, I even went to his house for a meal. But Julian’s work kept him busy, and the last time we met was already half a year ago. As we were chatting and laughing, a man in a black Porsche across the street happened to glance at the outdoor parking lot. His gaze fixed on me with a sharp intensity. That must be Vivienne’s love interest. Even from a distance, it was clear my smile was glowing. The atmosphere in the car grew tense and quiet, the change almost palpable. James glanced at Alexander through the rearview mirror. Following his gaze, Alexander looked out the window, his eyes narrowing. Wasn’t that Mrs. Hawthorne? Who was the man standing next to her? The man was wearing a cap and a mask, completely covered up, and was at the film studio. He must be some kind of celebrity, right? He seemed to be very close to Mrs. Hawthorne. James quietly remarked, "Sir, Miss Blackwood has come out." Alexander responded with a nonchalant "Hmm." James wasn’t sure what to make of that. "Drive to the studio entrance," Alexander instructed. Wouldn’t Mrs. Hawthorne spot them if they drove right up to the entrance? James wondered, but he followed Alexander’s instructions and drove to the studio entrance anyway. As they approached, Julian tilted his head slightly. "Isn’t that your CEO, Hawthorne?" I followed his gaze and saw a black Porsche parked at the studio entrance. The license plate was the same one Alexander usually used. Isabella was standing in front of the car. Alexander had specifically gotten out, said something to Isabella, and she broke into a smile. Then Alexander walked around to the other side, opened the door for Isabella, gently shielding her from the roof with his hand. Once she got in, he rounded the other side and took the back seat. James drove off. He had come to pick up Isabella. A wave of bitterness rose in my chest. But Julian didn’t seem to notice. "My talent agent’s working on a TV show script. I heard the lead female role’s been cast, and it’s Isabella Blackwood. It’s a big-budget project financed by Stellar Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Vanguard Global Enterprises. They even hired Director Calloway to direct. Your CEO, Hawthorne, certainly isn’t holding back when it comes to his girlfriend. I heard the former Brand Ambassador for V&R was Lena Ashford, right?" I pulled at the corners of my mouth, my fists clenched in my sleeves without realizing it. My nails dug into my palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks. My heart felt tight, suffocating. So Alexander had already done so much for Isabella in ways I didn’t know. "Vivienne, Julian, you’re both here." Ariana finished packing and came out of the studio. Seeing Julian, she was surprised. "You’re here for a gig too?" "Yes. It’s been a while since we last met. How about I treat you to a meal? What do you think, beautiful Ariana?" Ariana laughed. "Of course, who would say no to free food?" "Then hop in the car." Arriving at the restaurant Ariana had chosen, the three of them booked a private room. Zhu Fan flipped through the menu in his hands, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Julian. "Julian Steele, the big star. Hmm, do you mind if I order whatever I want?" Julian smiled. "Order whatever you like. It’s not like I can stop you from eating." Julian slid another menu toward me. "Vivienne, you should order too. Don’t be shy." I picked up the menu and selected a few dishes I liked. Julian glanced at what I'd ordered, then looked up at me. "Is that all? I remember you love the Durian Tart here. Why didn’t you order it?" As he spoke, Julian added the Durian Tart to the order. Ariana shifted her gaze between the two of them and, with an ambiguous smile, said, "Wow, you remember that so clearly. Do you remember what I like to eat, too?" Julian chuckled helplessly. "I’ll remember next time." The food came out in courses. During the meal, Julian went to the restroom. Ariana immediately leaned in close to me and whispered, "Are you two... a thing?" I shook my head. "What are you talking about? What makes you think there’s something between us?" "Which eye? Of course, both eyes can see it." "Then you’re seeing things." Seeing my denial, Ariana didn’t press the issue but sighed. "Vivienne, you still don’t have a boyfriend? There must be someone at your company who’s chasing after you. You don’t like any of them? How about I introduce someone to you?" "I have a boyfriend." Indeed, there were employees at the company who had pursued me. There was even a man who had been relentlessly chasing me. To avoid the trouble, I declared to everyone that I already had a boyfriend. Ariana scoffed. "You might be able to fool others, but you can’t fool me. If you really had a boyfriend, why haven’t you brought him out to meet us?" I lowered my gaze. "I’m not lying to you. If there’s a chance, I’ll introduce you to him." I had once considered revealing the news of my stable relationship with Alexander and slowly telling my friends about our marriage plans. But that thought would never come true now. Seeing my expression, Ariana grew suspicious. Could it be that I really did have a boyfriend? But why had he never appeared by my side? Even if we were in a long-distance relationship, it shouldn’t be so silent. Could he be a celebrity? Julian returned from the restroom, and after a while, I also went to the bathroom. "Vivienne?" Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name in the hallway. I turned around, offering a faint smile. "Mr. Victor Sinclair." "Vivienne, it’s really you! Are you eating here too? Alexander is in that private room over there. Do you want to go say hi?" Victor Sinclair pointed toward a nearby room. I glanced over and couldn’t help but recall the scene outside the photo studio. If Alexander was there, was Isabella with him too? As I hesitated, Victor Sinclair had already walked toward the door of the private room. I had no choice but to follow. I took a deep, inconspicuous breath and kept my composure. It was Victor Sinclair who invited me, not the other way around. What was there to fear? They weren’t following Alexander, so what was the threat? Victor Sinclair pushed open the door to the private room, and the lively atmosphere hit me immediately. I paused at the entrance, my gaze casually scanning the room, and quickly spotted Alexander sitting in the center of the couch, Isabella at his side. The two of them seemed wrapped up in their own little world, separate from everyone else. Alexander tilted his head slightly toward Isabella as she whispered something in his ear, a soft, faint smile on his face. Isabella had her arm linked with his, their posture intimate, and then, unexpectedly, she kissed him on the cheek. Alexander stiffened for a moment. That’s when I heard Victor Sinclair’s voice from the doorway. "Alexander, look who’s here!"