The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 549

The conversation had taken a turn, and it was clear that light-hearted banter was off the table.

"Vance, let's cut to the chase." Vivienne bit into a strawberry, savoring the burst of sweet, succulent flavor.

Vance sipped his wine, his gaze shifting between Vivienne and Percival.

"Vivienne, what do you know about Percival here?" He asked, nodding subtly towards Percival.

Vivienne tilted her head, eyeing Percival from head to toe. "Inside out," she declared.

Percival nearly choked on his Chardonnay.

What on earth was she talking about?

Were they not here for a formal discussion?

Vance was clearly taken aback, not expecting such a forthright answer from Vivienne.

Nor had Vivienne expected to say it, but seeing Percival's stern and ascetic demeanor, she just could not help herself.

Not everyone could understand the world of someone who cared about looks like she did.

Vance regained his composure and chuckled. "Well then, you must be familiar with his work. I was wondering if you might be interested in joining him professionally?"

Percival coughed, glancing at Vance.

Was he suggesting Vivienne join the Vanguard Agency?

Vivienne speared another strawberry with her fork, the juice coating her taste buds in satisfaction.

"Director Vance, are you sure you can afford to hire me?"

Her question put Vance in an awkward spot. He flashed a forced smile. "Perhaps the Vanguard Agency does have the means."

"Do you even know who I am?" Vivienne leaned back on the sofa, her features alight with a unique allure.

Vance's smile froze, and he straightened up, his eyes piercing into Vivienne. "Specter Healer, an identity of great interest to my upper echelons. But I'm only interested in one thing."

Vivienne did not respond, her gaze dropping slightly.

"Karen's daughter," Vance said.

Hearing her mother's name, a fierce glint flashed in Vivienne's eyes, and the casual indifference vanished, replaced by an incomprehensible fury.

"My mother and you were not, I believe, acquainted," Vivienne said calmly, her tone laced with an enigmatic edge.

As far as she knew, when her mother was with the Vanguard Agency, her only real ally had been Micah.

Her mother was naturally a loner, not one to seek out friendships, so the term 'friend' applied to very few.

In her mother's stories, Vivienne had never heard of anyone besides Micah.

Even her mother's favorite protégé, Percival, was someone Vivienne had barely met in her childhood, barely remembering his name.

And now Vance, invoking her mother's name, wanted to recruit her into the Vanguard Agency.

Wishful thinking, indeed.