Victoria’s POV
A persistent buzzing dragged me from sleep. I rolled over in the plush hotel bed, blindly groping for my phone on the nightstand. 7:13 AM–ridiculously early.
“Hello? I’mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
“Victoria?” Maya’s voice exploded through the speaker. “You need to look at today’s news. Right fucking now.”
I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “What news? Is it about the Diana contract?” A smile tugged at my lips. My successful coup at the Stark Group annual party had already started paying dividends.
“Just check the news,” Maya snapped. “It’s everywhere.”
Alexander stirred beside me. “Who’s calling so early?” he mumbled, propping himself up on one elbow.
I covered the phone with my hand. “Shh, it’s Maya. Something about news coverage. Can you pull up the New York Daily on your phone?”
He nodded sleepily, reaching for his phone..
“Maya, we’re checking now,” I said. “What exactly am I looking for?”
“You’ll know it when you see it,” she replied grimly. “Call me back after you’ve seen it.”
I hung up just as Alexander let out a string of curses beside me. His entire body had gone rigid, his face darkening as he stared at his phone.
“Alex? What is it? What’s-”
I didn’t finish my question. Alexander hurled his phone directly at me, the hard edge catching me painfully in the chest. I gasped,
more from shock than pain.
“What the hell?” I cried, rubbing the spot.
“That’s what I should be asking you!” Alexander snarled. “Is this what you meant by ‘getting close to Brandon‘? Is this your idea of
networking?”
I grabbed his phone, my blood turning to ice as I saw the headline:
STARK AFFAIR: HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS VICTORIA TAYLOR’S SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH BILLIONAIRE CEO BRANDON
STARK EXPOSED
Below it was a photo of Brandon and me at the annual party. The angle made it look like we were gazing into each other’s eyes, his hand on mine as he announced my new position as Diana’s spokesperson.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” I stammered, scrolling frantically through the article. “Alex, you have to believe me!”
The story was worse than I’d expected. It detailed how Brandon had rescued my career after my recent scandals, suggesting our relationship went far beyond professional boundaries. It specifically highlighted the Diana brand spokesperson position, implying I’d earned it on my back rather than through talent.
“Not what it looks like?” Alexander laughed bitterly. “The photo seems pretty damn clear to me. The way you’re looking at him… like
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he’s your personal fucking savior.”
“That’s not- I began, but my words died as 1 continued reading.
Sources close to Stark Entertainment confirm that Taylor has received preferential treatment since joining the agency, with multiple prime opportunities steered her way despite her recent public scandals.
“Alex, please, I pleaded, my voice cracking. “This is all bullshit. You now how the media twists things. Brandon offered me the Diana contract because I’m the perfect fit!
Alexander threw back the covers and climbed out of bed, his fnovements sharp and angry. “The perfect fit? Or was it because you’re fucking him behind my back?”
“I’m not!” I cried. Alex, you know me better than that!”
“Do I?” He cut me off, yanking his dress shirt from the closet. “Because the Victoria I thought I knew wouldn’t look at another man the way you’re looking at Brandon in that photo.”
“It’s a bad angle!” I protested. “I was just grateful for the opportunity Brandon is my boss, nothing more!”
Alexander buttoned his shirt with quick, efficient movements. “You know what’s funny? I actually felt guilty for how things ended between us before. I thought bringing you to Philly, spending time together… that maybe I could make it up to you somehow.”
He jammed his legs into his pants. “What a fucking joke. All this time, you’ve been working your angle with Brandon.”
“No, Alex, please-” I grabbed his arm. My eyes burned with tears that weren’t entirely fake. This scandal could destroy everything I’d worked for. “There’s nothing between Brandon and me. I promise, this is all a misunderstanding. I’ll fix it!”
Alexander yanked his arm from my grasp. “If it’s really a misunderstanding, then fix it. But don’t expect me to hang around while you do.”
He snatched his wallet and phone from the nightstand.
“Where are you going?” I asked, panic rising.
“Out,” he snapped. “I can’t even look at you right now.”
He strode to the door, ignoring my pleas to stay and talk things through.
I stood in the doorway, suddenly aware I was wearing only an oversized T–shirt. With the tabloid story breaking, the last thing I needed was to be caught half–naked in a hotel corridor.
I slipped back inside, leaning against the door. Everything had been going so perfectly. Now it was all falling apart.
I dialed Sophie with shaking hands.
“Hey, Victoria! How’s your honeymoon in Philly? Having fun with Alex?” Her voice was bright, carefree.
“Fun?” I choked out. “Sophie, my life is imploding! Have you seen the news today?”
News? No, I’ve be my parents‘ place. What’s going on?”
“Someone took photos from the Stark Group annual party and sold them to the press. They’re running this whole bullshit story about me having an affair with Brandon!”
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“That’s not a good thing?” Sophie sounded confused. “I thought publicity-
Are you serious right now? I’ni married to Alexander! His family and Brandon’s family are connected! And now there are headlines suggesting I’m sleeping with Brendon to get ahead! Alexander just walked out on me!”
“Okay, okay, calm down, Sophie said quickly. “I didn’t realize it was that bad. What does Brandon say? Has Stark Entertainment
released a statement?”
‘I don’t know! Maya said she’s trying to handle it, but the phones are ringing off the hook. Sophie, you have to help me. This could ruin everything–my career, my engagement, all of it!”
“Victoria, you need to get back to New York immediately. Sophie said firmly. “This isn’t something you can handle from Philly. Brandon will definitely protect himself first–he’s not going to let this hurt his reputation.”
“But what about Alexander? He just stormed out. If I leave now…”
“Forget about Alexander for a minute! He’s pissed, but he’ll get over it once we clear this up. Right now, your career is what’s at stake. You need to come back to New York and do damage control.”
I took a deep breath. Sophie was right. Alexander’s father valued my connections to the Stark Group too much to let him break off our engagement over a tabloid story. But if I didn’t address this scandal quickly, I could lose everything I’d worked for.
“Fine,” decided. “Book me on the next flight out. I’ll start packing.”
“That’s my girl. I’ll text you the details,” Sophie said. “And Victoria? Don’t talk to any press. Not a word until we figure out our
strategy.”
“I know how this works,” I snapped. “Just get me home.”
I hung up and sat on the edge of the bed, my mind racing. How had this happened? Who had taken that photo and sold it to the press? This wasn’t random bad luck—someone had deliberately set out to damage my reputation.
The question was: who?
