The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Vivian was practically the last person to leave the office. She got home at eight o’clock, and the moment she pushed the door open, darkness swallowed her.

She stood at the threshold for a long moment before stepping inside.

And closing the door.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, neon lights and the night skyline reflected against the glass. The bustling metropolis looked like a slumbering beast-seemingly docile, yet exuding a dark, oppressive aura.

Dropping onto the sofa, Vivian closed her eyes.

An unknown amount of time passed before a noise at the door startled her.

Zoe pushed her way in and instinctively frowned at the pitch-black apartment.

She flicked the switch, flooding the room with brilliant light.

“Vivian?”

Spotting the woman resting on the sofa with her eyes shut, Zoe quickly dropped her bags and hurried over. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”

Vivian opened her eyes and broke into a soft smile upon seeing her.

“No, just a little tired.”

Truthfully, she hadn’t done much over the past two days, but the constant state of high alert made her feel completely drained.

Propping herself up, she sat straight.

“Is it done?”

“Yes.”

Zoe pulled a document from her bag. “Here’s the contract. Julian has already signed it.”

Several reporters had shown up at the hospital that afternoon. Their carrot-and-stick tactics essentially nailed Julian to a moral cross. If he didn’t hand the project over to Astra Media, it would explicitly prove he was abusing his power to solicit illicit favors.

Furthermore, he had a wife and children. If this blew up even a tiny bit, he wouldn’t be able to survive the fallout.

Thinking of how he was forced to swallow his grievance in silence made Zoe want to laugh out loud.

“It’s all thanks to you having someone take those photos in advance, Vivian, or this might not

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Chapter 69

have gone so smoothly.”

“I was just planning ahead. Pour me a glass of water, please.”

Zoe had just bought some bottled water, so she turned around, grabbed a bottle, and unscrewed the cap for her.

Vivian took a sip and continued, “If he hadn’t come to dinner with filthy intentions, I never would have resorted to such methods. It’s a shame…”

What kind of decent man would be spurred into action by a few simple words from Amara?

“From the look on his face today, I doubt he’ll be dealing with us directly moving forward. Vivian, are you planning to oversee this project personally?”

Zoe knew that Vivian didn’t actually enjoy this industry.

But since it was the company her late mother had left behind, she had no choice but to carry the burden on her shoulders.

“Yes.” Vivian’s slender fingers traced the rim of the bottle, her distant gaze fixed on nothing in particular. “At least until things stabilize. But I have other things to deal with after that, so I’ll be relying heavily on you. Oh, right…”.

She looked up. “I want you to pull a comprehensive background check on Silas Sterling.”

Zoe was stunned. “Are you really planning to marry him?”

“Whether I marry him or not is up in the air.”

A faint, almost imperceptible hint of amusement touched the woman’s face. “But Grandpa Sterling offered far too much to turn down. If I want those assets, tangling with the Sterling family is inevitable. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. It’s best to study my opponent first, wouldn’t you agree?”

Zoe nodded in understanding. “I get it.”

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