Chapter 104
Victoria’s POV
1 paced outside Stark Tower, checking my phone obsessively. My ente career hung by a thread, and Alexander had been inside talking to Brandon for over an hour. When he finally emerged, I rushed forward.
“Alex! What happened? Did Brandon agree?”
Alex nodded, his expression unreadable. “He did.”
Relief flooded through me. I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“I knew it! Thank you, thank you!” I kissed him passionately, not caring who saw us.
Alex pushed me away. “Victoria, not here.”
“Sorry. I’m just so happy! So what’s the plan?”
“Don’t celebrate yet,” Alex warned. “He agreed to help, but there’s a condition. You need to sign with Stark Entertainment.”
I froze. “Sign with Stark Entertainment? But I’m already under contract with Horizon.”
“That’s his requirement. My uncle made it clear–he helps family, not strangers. He’s not going to clean up your image just so
another agency can profit.”
Family. That word changed everything. If I signed with his company, I’d be under Brandon Stark’s protection.
“Fine,” I decided immediately. “I’ll break my contract with Horizon right now.”
Alex looked surprised. “Just like that?”
“What’s there to think about? Horizon is practically a boutique agency compared to Stark Entertainment! Brandon Stark runs half of Wall Street. If I’m connected to him, my career won’t just recover–it skyrocket!”
“So you’re in?”
“Tell Brandon I accept. One hundred percent.”
Breaking my contract with Horizon proved harder than expected. My agent’s boss, was infuriatingly smug.
“Victoria, we’ve invested millions in your career,” he reminded me. “Your damaged brand doesn’t invalidate our agreement.”
“With the current publicity, I’m worthless to Horizon.”
“Perhaps. But we’d still take a substantial loss by releasing you.”
“Name your price,” I challenged.
He named a figure so outrageous I nearly choked. “That’s fucking insane!”
This dragged on through multiple meetings, with my parents and Alex eventually joining. Horizon wouldn’t budge–until suddenly, after a mysterious phone call, the boss changed his tune.
1/3
Chapter 104
“We’ve reconsidered. We’re prepared to release you for a reasonable termination fee.”
I knew Brandon must have pulled strings. The
free.
sonable” fee still hurt, but my parents and Alex covered it. By day’s end, I was
Walking into Stark Entertainment felt different this
- e. This was just another audition; this was my salvation.
James Wilson greeted me in the conference room, placing a thick document between us.
“This is your contract. Once signed, we can address your
blicity concerns.”
I reached for a pen immediately. What did details matter when my career was imploding?
“Miss Taylor, you’re signing without reading?” James asked, eyebrow raised.
I flashed my most winning smile. “Mr. Wilson, I trust you completely. Given my situation, I’m grateful anyone would take a chance
on me.”
“While I appreciate your confidence, I must insist you review it first. We’ll
later.”
be
colleagues, and I’d hate for misunderstandings to arise
Something in his tone made me pause. I started reading, and my stomach dropped. By page three, my hands were shaking with rage.
“What the fuck is this?” I slapped the contract down. “These terms are completely one–sided!”
James remained infuriatingly calm. “I believe I suggested you read it first.”
“But you didn’t warn me it would be this bad!” I flipped through frantically. “This isn’t a contract–it’s slavery!”
The terms were brutal: For five years, Stark Entertainment would rebuild my career, but I wouldn’t see a penny from my first year’s earnings. I couldn’t date anyone, couldn’t attend industry events without permission, and if I violated any term, I’d owe them 50% of my potential five–year earnings.
“This contract is invalid. It’s completely unfair!”
“Invalid?” James’s voice hardened. “A signature makes a contract quite valid, regardless of whether you read it. That’s basic business.”
“I’m related to the Stark family,” I tried desperately. “Mr. Stark wouldn’t do this to me!”
“Which Mr. Stark are you referring to?” James asked coolly.
He gathered his papers. “I understand if you need time to reconsider. However, our offer to help with your PR issue was contingent on signing with us. So if you’re declining…”
“Wait!” I called as he reached the door. As brutal as these terms were what choice did I have?
“I’ll sign,” I said through gritted teeth. “But you need to fix my situation immediately. And I want guarantees about my role in the film–significant screen time and the best scenes.”
James smiled thinly. “Follow the rules, and everything will work out fine. Don’t you agree?”
I forced myself to nod. “Yes.”
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Chapter 104
True to their word, Stark Entertainment worked quickly. Within hours, the most damaging photos vanished from major sites. Their social media announced me as their newest talent, and the film’s account revealed details about my character–a complex villain with a tragic backstory.
Most impressively, they proved the explicit photos were actually from a European art film I’d shot years ago. I could finally breathe again.
Mom appeared in my doorway that evening. “Victoria, is everything okay? Did something happen with Brandon?”
“No, Mom, everything’s fine,” I assured her. “Brandon came through, and I’ve signed with Stark Entertainment. It’s all taken care of.”
I didn’t mention the brutal contract terms.
“Alex really came through for me,” I added.
“Of course he did,” Mom sat beside me. “He’s your fiancé. But Victoria, you need to be smarter from now on. Whatever happened in the past needs to stay buried.”
I nodded, thinking about how I’d secured Alex’s cooperation in his office.
“But Mom, we still have a problem with Grandpa’s shares. Summer can’t be allowed to keep them.”
“I know!” Mom’s face hardened. “Your grandfather has lost his mind, but your father and I see clearly. We know who’s truly family.”
“My concern,” she continued, “is that Summer might have already sold those shares.”
I laughed. “Mom, don’t worry. Summer’s not that stupid. She’s spent her entire life coveting Grandpa’s attention and assets. She’s never given up anything–not her toys, not Grandpa and Professor Thompson’s affection, not even Alexander!”
I gripped Mom’s hands tightly. “Now that she finally has those shares, she’ll want to gloat. We’ll find a way to take them back. We absolutely will get those shares back. No matter what it takes.”
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