Chapter 102
Victoria’s POV
“That’s all for today, Miss Taylor.” Quinn’s voice dripped with fake politeness as she handed me the script. “Be sure to keep this copy safe. We wouldn’t want you losing it again, would we?”
I forced a smile that felt like it might crack my face. The moment the studio door closed behind me, I let my perfect posture slump. Three goddamn hours of being treated like some desperate nobody! Me–Victoria Taylor–Hollywood’s rising star and the future Mrs. Alexander Stark.
I stormed through the hallway and pushed through the exit doors, my Christian Louboutins clicking angrily on the pavement.
“How did it go?” Maya asked the second I slid into the backseat.
I threw the script against the opposite door with such force that pages scattered everywhere. “How do you think it went? They made me wait for over an hour! Then that nobody producer treated me like I was auditioning for a student film!
“Victoria, please calm down. This script is important-”
“Calm down?” I whipped around to face her. “Did you see how that Quinn bitch talked to me?”
“They’re testing you,” Maya said, carefully arranging the script pages. “It’s standard procedure after… everything that’s happened.”
“Testing ME? I’m Victoria Taylor! I shouldn’t have to jump through hoops for anyone, especially not for some second–rate producer who thinks she’s hot shit just because she works for Brandon Stark!”
Maya touched my arm. “Take a deep breath. Have some water and try to relax.”
“A small–time producer acting like she’s running the show? Please! Brandon Stark himself didn’t even have an attitude with me!”
“You’re absolutely right!” Maya nodded enthusiastically. “And your performance was incredible. The way you immediately got into character with barely any preparation time? Victoria, your talent just keeps growing.”
“My talent has always been exceptional,” I corrected her, though I felt myself softening under the praise. “You’re just now noticing?”
“No, no, it’s always been exceptional, but now it’s… transcendent. Who cares about Quinn? Remember who you know. You have Brandon Stark’s personal support! Once this film helps you make your comeback, all those people trying to tear you down will be eating their words.”
I leaned back against the leather seat, letting Maya’s flattery soothe my bruised ego. She was right. This was just a temporary setback. With Brandon Stark backing me, I’d be back on top in no time.
I was halfway through a glass of Pinot Noir when I first saw it.
My name, trending at #1 on Twitter. Not unusual in itself–I was often trending for my roles or red carpet appearances. But these hashtags made my blood freeze.
#VictoriaExposed
#Fakelnnocence
#TaylorGate
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Chapter 102
With trembling fingers, I clicked on the first tag. Photos I thought had been destroyed years ago–me at 18 in a Monaco hotel suite, straddling the lap of an Italian director. Another with two male models from my first European shoot, their hands places that made me want to vomit just looking at it now.
“No, no, no,” I whispered, frantically scrolling through post after post. “This
can’t be happening.”
I was everywhere–Twitter, Instagram, entertainment blogs. The carefully cultivated image I’d spent years building was disintegrating before my eyes.
BREAKING: Victoria Taylor’s Good Girl Image SHATTERED
Taylor’s European Escapades: The Photos She Didn’t Want You to See
My fingers flew across the screen as I desperately tried to understand the scope of the disaster. My agent, publicist, the studio–why wasn’t anyone calling me?
As if on cue, my phone lit up with my agency director’s number.
“Patrick,” I gasped, “thank God you called-
“Victoria,” he cut me off, his voice glacial. “I need you at the office. Now.”
“It’s almost midnight,” I said, glancing at the clock.
“And yet somehow these photos of you are working overtime. Get here in thirty minutes or don’t bother coming in at all.”
I jumped up, frantically searching for clothes. In the hallway, I nearly collided with my mother.
“Victoria!” Elizabeth’s perfectly plucked eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Where on earth are you going at this hour?”
“Mom, I can’t talk now. Emergency at the agency. If any reporters or paparazzi show up at the house, don’t open the door and don’t answer any questions. Got it?”
“What? What’s happened? Victoria-
“Just promise me!” I begged, already backing toward the stairs.
“Look,” Patrick said after hours of closed–door meetings, “I’m going to be straight with you, Victoria. This is bad. Really fucking bad.”
“I can explain,” I started, but he held up his hand.
“Save it Those photos are genuinely you, aren’t they?”
I swallowed hard. “Yes, but-”
“Then there’s nothing to explain.” He sighed. “We’ve been trying to contain this all night. It’s not working. Whoever released these has serious resources behind them.”
The sun was rising by the time I stumbled out of the meeting. Maya was waiting for me in the hallway, her usually perfect makeup smudged from her own sleepless night.
“Well?” She jumped to her feet. “What did they say? What’s the plan
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Chapter 102
“There is no plan,” I whispered. “They’re assessing the situation. Translation: they’re going to let me drown.”
“That can’t be right,” Maya insisted. “They’ve
invested too much in you!”
My phone buzzed in my hand. Alexander’s name flashed on the screen.
“It’s Alex,” I whispered, showing her the screen before answering. “Ax?”
“What the actual fuck, Victoria?” His voice was razor–sharp. “My phone’s been blowing up since dawn with reporters asking for comments. You told me those rumors were all lies! Now there are fucking pictures everywhere!”
“Alex, please, you have to believe me,” I pleaded, injecting a sob into my voice. “These aren’t real–they’re all fake. Someone’s trying to destroy me!”
“Don’t insult my intelligence,” he hissed. “Those photos are clearly you. The same mole on your shoulder that I’ve seen a hundred times. You lied to my face, Victoria!”
“No, Alex, please!” Genuine panic seized me now. I couldn’t lose Alexander–not when I needed the Stark connection more than ever. “This will blow over, I promise. I still have Brandon’s support. You could talk to him again, convince him to help me more directly. Brandon will fix this!”
“Brandon?” His voice turned to ice. “You want me to beg Brandon for help again? Do you have any idea how humiliating that was the first time?”
The call disconnected.
I turned to Maya, suddenly desperate. “You need to do something. Call in favors, hire a crisis team, anything! That’s your job!”
Maya took a step back. “Victoria, I’ve been trying all night. I’ve called everyone I know. No one wants to touch this.”
“Try harder!” I shrieked. “What kind of agent are you if you can’t even handle one PR crisis? If you can’t fix this, what good are you
to me?”
“Victoria.” Maya’s voice turned cold. “I understand you’re upset, but this is beyond anything I can control. The director himself has pulled back–what do you expect me to do that he can’t?”
“Wait a second…” My eyes widened. “We need to find someone with enough influence to shut all this down!”
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The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
