Chapter 22 Hale Tower
593 Words
Vivienne panicked for a second, then pulled herself together.
What was she even panicking for? She hadn't done anything wrong.
If it wasn't for Edward, she'd still be holding her sweet girl to sleep right now.
Thinking of that, Vivienne's eyes went cold and sharp.
Rae had been looking at her phone. When she glanced up and caught that look on Vivienne's face, she jumped.
Then she said, "Babe, there's a role at the end of the month that needs exactly that look, that energy. Lock it in, don't forget."
She pulled up the schedule.
Rae was sharp when it came to work, but sometimes she missed the obvious.
Didn't matter.
Vivienne nodded along.
She wasn't going to forget this feeling. As long as Edward was breathing on this earth, she wasn't going to forget.
She was holding it together, but her mind kept dragging her back to Emma dying in front of her.
She lay back, wanted to close her eyes and rest.
But every time she closed them, she saw the estate — every minute of those days after she died.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Breathed deep.
She could almost stop the tears. But she couldn't unclench her fists.
Her nails dug into her palms. She didn't even feel it.
The suffocation came over her, and her eyes burned.
She buried her face in the pillow, and while she could still talk, she told Rae, "I'm gonna rest a bit. We'll text later."
Rae said sure and didn't push.
The second she left, Vivienne's tears came down.
She didn't know how long she cried. But she knew the pillow was soaked through.
A few more days passed, and the audition came.
Rae was busy today. Vivienne went alone.
She stood outside the Hale Enterprises tower, a little dazed.
She'd been here as Edward's executive assistant. She'd been here as his wife. But never as an actress.
She walked to the elevator on instinct.
Before she could press the button, she was ushered away — executive elevator, keycard access only, no visitors.
Vivienne snapped back. She wasn't Mrs. Hale anymore.
She said what she was here for and signed in at the front desk.
When the receptionist saw her name, she blinked. "Ma'am, is this your real name?"
Vivienne caught on immediately, but she just smiled, easy. "Yes. Is something wrong?"
The receptionist shook her head, smiled. "Oh, no. It's just — we used to have someone here with that name. She just looked different."
Vivienne smiled, didn't explain.
Soon, she was at the audition.
She didn't run into Edward on the way.
A little disappointed — she'd been hoping to get a glimpse of Emma.
But then, Edward wouldn't show up at this kind of thing.
Long game. She didn't have the power to take him on yet.
Vivienne shook it off, cleared her head, and focused on the audition.
Her name raised some eyebrows along the way, but it wasn't a big deal.
The body's instinct plus her own comprehension — the audition went smooth, fast.
She thanked them and didn't linger. Headed for the lobby.
Just as she was about to walk out, she heard voices — employees greeting someone.
Edward was here.
She stood at the back of the crowd, didn't let her eyes land on him.
"Emma. Mommy's here." Vivienne whispered it, tears springing up.
Nobody caught that one second.
But in the empty air, she saw Emma's shade turn and look right at her.
A few seconds later, Edward walked off with Emma in tow.
- Writer
