Chapter 100
Summer’s POV
Brandon’s eyebrow shot up at my comment about not wanting special treatment, a dangerous half–smile playing at his lips. “Is my wife trying to avoid nepotism accusations?”
I shot him an irritated glare, sensing the teasing undertone in his voice. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
He smirked, giving my hand a gentle squeeze with a slight sigh. “Nobody even knows about our relationship yet!”
My chest tightened at the reminder. It was my decision to keep our marriage private–something Brandon had agreed to–but hearing him say it out loud made me feel strangely conflicted. I glanced toward the rearview mirror, my eyes meeting James’s for a brief second.
“Well, except for James,” I pointed out quietly.
Brandon’s eyes snapped to the rearview mirror, his gaze hardening into a warning that made James instantly stiffen. The poor assistant’s spine went ramrod straight, though I could sense his inner frustration at being caught in our marital dynamics yet again.
James cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly trying to gather his courage. “Actually, Mrs. Stark, you can pretend I don’t exist. I’m extremely discreet in most situations–practically invisible!”
Hooked at Brandon in surprise before a laugh bubbled out of me. His assistant was genuinely entertaining, and I had to admire how
he owned up to his “situational invisibility” without a hint of embarrassment.
“Alright,” I grinned, “I’ll try to pretend you’re not here.”
The car glided into Stark Entertainment’s underground garage, pulling into what was clearly Brandon’s private parking spot. James hurried out to open Brandon’s door, his professional demeanor firmly back in place.
“Sir, producer Quinn called again, James reported urgently. “Victoria’s throwing a tantrum!”
Brandon’s lips thinned into a hard line. “Keep her waiting.”
I stepped out of the car, shocked at this information. “She’s actually losing it?” This didn’t sound like the Victoria I knew. My sister was a master at image control–she never showed her true colors in public, saving her nastiest behavior for behind closed doors.
“That’s pretty standard for celebrities,” James explained with practiced diplomacy. “Especially when they’re made to wait,
Brandon turned to James. “What about the script we arranged?”
“As instructed, sir. It’s for the spy drama adapted from that historical espionage piece. She’ll be playing the female antagonist–the one who dies quite horribly in the end.”
“And Thomas? I assume he’s still unhappy with our choice?”
James nodded. “He’s making his displeasure known, sir.”
“Find a way to calm him down,” Brandon directed before turning to me. “Let’s go upstairs. I want to show you around—you might be spending a lot of time here in the future,”
Brandon led me through the sleek corridors of Stark Entertainment, eventually bringing me to what looked like a modern control room. Multiple screens displayed different parts of the building, including Studio One, where I could see my sister pacing impatiently.
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“Monitoring room,” Brandon explained. “We can see what’s happening in all the studios from here.
On one of the screens, Victoria was sitting in what appeared to be awaiting room, her body language screaming impatience. Even through the surveillance feed, I could tell she was seething. Her manager sat beside her, constantly checking his watch.
“I can’t believe this,” Victoria hissed, loud enough for the microphones to pick up. “I’ve been waiting for over an hour!
I winced at her entitled attitude. This was the real Victoria–the one only our family usually got to see.
“Let’s go,” she announced suddenly, standing up. “This role is mine anyway. I don’t need to sit around all day.”
Her manager jumped up, grabbing her arm. “Victoria, please! You know Stark Entertainment is a major player. The role might be pretty much guaranteed, but we don’t want to burn bridges. They’re probably just busy–let’s wait a little longer.”
A secretary entered the waiting room just as Victoria was about to respond. “Miss Taylor? Mr. Wilson is ready for you in Studio
One.”
Victoria instantly switched on her public persona, though I could tell from the tightness around her eyes that she was still fuming. The secretary’s neutral expression made me wonder if she’d overheard Victoria’s complaints.
Her manager pulled out an envelope as they prepared to leave. “Please, take this as a token of our appreciation for your assistance,” he said smoothly to the secretary.
“That won’t be necessary,” the woman replied coolly. “I’m just a secretary–I couldn’t possibly influence anything for someone of Miss Taylor’s caliber. Mr. Wilson is here from headquarters, and he’s on a tight schedule.”
Victoria’s smile remained fixed, but I could see the fury behind her eyes. “Of course, Mr. Wilson is a busy man. Please, lead the way.”
I turned to Brandon. “She has no idea, does she?”
Brandon shook his head, that dangerous smile playing at his lips. “Not a clue.”
On another screen, I watched Victoria enter Studio One. The vast space was nearly empty except for three people–James, a woman I assumed was the producer, and a bored–looking guy who might be the assistant director.
“Miss Taylor,” the producer called out without getting up. “I assume you’ve reviewed the script Mr. Wilson sent over? Let’s get started.”
Victoria glanced helplessly at James, who merely gestured for her to proceed.
I could see panic flash across my sister’s face. “She didn’t prepare,” I realized aloud.
“Of course not,” Brandon replied. “Victoria thinks she’s too important for that.”
On screen, Victoria was clearly stalling. “I, um…”
“Miss Taylor,” James interrupted, looking shocked. “Are you not prepared? Mr. Stark specifically asked me to oversee this c personally.”
Victoria’s face went pale. “Mr. Stark? Brandon Stark himself?”
“Naturally,” James confirmed. “This production represents a significant investment. While you’re only playing the second female lead, it’s a substantial role that could overshadow the protagonist if performed correctly. After your recent… difficulties, I assumed you’d appreciate this opportunity.”
Victoria’s expression shifted through shock, panic, and finally calculation.
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“I’m so sorry,” she said, suddenly looking fragile. I haven’t been feeling well, and
“If you’re unwell, perhaps you should go home and rest,” James suggested smoothly. “We can always wait. Though I should mention that Director Thomas already had someone else in mind for this role
“No!” Victoria cut him off desperately. “I just need a few minutes to prepare. Please!”
I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly she summoned tears to the tige of her lashes without letting them fall. She truly was a natural actress–just not in the way she thought.
“Thirty minutes,” James conceded.
Victoria nodded gratefully, then turned to her manager. “The script?
The manager’s panicked expression said it all–they hadn’t brought
Victoria’s face fell as she turned back to James. “Mr. Wilson… could possibly borrow a copy? I left in such a hurry this morning,
and…”
“Unbelievable,” I muttered, watching this disaster unfold.
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