Vivian's POV
The call comes two days later. I know from the first three words of Marcus's voice that something is wrong.
"They went another direction." He chooses each word carefully, the way you'd handle something fragile, something that might shatter if he wasn't gentle enough. "It's not about your talent, Vivian. The read was perfect. Everyone in that room agreed on that."
"Then what happened?" I press the phone harder against my ear, like proximity might change the answer.
There's a pause long enough that I already know the truth is going to hurt before he says it. I grip the counter with my free hand, bracing myself as if I need something solid beneath my palm to survive whatever comes next.
"The studio got acquired last month." Marcus exhales, and I can picture him rubbing the b
