FROM WALLFLOWER TO SHOWSTOPPER

CHAPTER NINE

Roman wanted to believe he wasn't hearing right, “Vivian Sliver? Are you sure?” He asked.

“Yes sir, the video was posted from her address." The caller confirmed.

“And the hotel staff who leaked the CCTV footage?”

“We dealt with him as you asked sir”

Roman nodded “Good, keep me informed.”

“Yes sir.”

Roman ended the call clenching his fists, “Vivian that bitch.”

She had threatened to do something to Reyna, but he didn't think she would be so reckless and destructive. For what she had done he'd make sure she paid dearly.

******

Vivian sat poised under the studio lights, she couldn't let this opportunity to play the victim and disgrace Reyna pass by so easily. She was dressed elegantly sitting down with poise, but she schooled her features to look like the innocent girlfriend she was about to play.

This was the country's biggest broadcasting company and most watched reality show, she would definitely get the audience she was looking for.

“Vivian Sliver,” the interviewer began, “thank you for joining us. I know this can’t be easy.”

Vivian only smiled nodding her head. The interviewer leaned forward, asking her questions.

“Vivian, the footage has gone viral, the headlines are brutal. Why haven’t you ended your relationship with the Roman Knight?” The interviewer asked, he was curious, so was the whole city.

Vivian gave a soft, practiced smile. “I can't just end my relationship, because love doesn’t shatter at the first sign of scandal. Roman and I… we’re stronger than a tabloid clip or any video.”

“But it showed him—”

“I know what it showed,” she interrupted gently. “And I also know what people want it to mean. But I trust Roman. We’ve built a life together, and one night in some random video won’t define us.”

She looked straight into the camera. “This is just noise, and we don’t listen to noise. We rise above it.”

The interviewer nodded, impressed. Vivian’s voice remained calm, but her eyes glinted. She hadn’t left Roman and she wouldn't, this scandal was to keep Reyna away from Roman and she would make sure that happened.

She would stand beside him, forever and everyone including Reyna needed to see that.

Vivian Sliver wasn't going anywhere.

“What's your opinion on this drama with Reyna Styles, you have met her before at her recent fashion show, did you suspect that she had anything with your boyfriend at the time”

Vivian gave a knowing look. “I always suspected something, women know these things, we have the instinct. But to see it confirmed? Publicly? That was the biggest shock for me.”

The interviewer shifted. “Do you blame her?”

“I don’t blame women for falling in love, I mean Roman is one of the most eligible men in the country, she probably couldn't resist going after him.” A slight smile. “But I do think it’s… convenient that someone benefits from the chaos, I mean the free press, emotional sympathy and headlines, especially after she just held a fashion show.” Vivian was painting Reyna as the villain

“Are you suggesting Reyna Styles would do this for publicity?” The interviewer questioned brows raised.

“I’m not suggesting anything,” Vivian replied coolly. “All I will say is this, this drama is too much for me to handle but Roman and I cannot be separated by any scandal such as this our love is strong.”

As the interview wrapped up, Vivian stood, shaking hands with the host, her smile still flawless. The cameras stopped rolling, the message she wanted to send had been delivered.

Backstage, her assistant handed her a phone already buzzing with notifications, press outlets quoting her words from the interview, social media posts praising her grace and strength, with which she handled the matter. It was exactly what she wanted.

“You played the victim card perfectly,” her assistant murmured.

Vivian slipped on her sunglasses and replied coolly, “I’m not playing. I am the victim and now the world sees it too.”

She wasn't going to end her relationship. That would be giving Reyna what she wanted.

No, she’d stay right where she was. In the spotlight, in Roman’s arm at the center of everything.

Let Reyna be the other woman, let the world whisper and speculate about her. Vivian had already turned the story in her favor.

Things were going as she planned, Next time Reyna Styles would think twice before looking at what was hers.

But for now, she smiled for the cameras, the perfect girlfriend with flawless control.

Let the games continue.

Reyna sat in the boardroom of Aurora Couture studios, surrounded by her senior team. The tension was suffocating, no one spoke until Evelyn, her head of PR, slid a tablet across the table.

“You need to see this.” She said to her.

Reyna looked down at the tablet. A new headline blared across a fashion industry blog:

“Aurora Couture’s Clean Image Tarnished? Investors React to Leaked Video”

Below it were posts, not just of the short video but now, a full video clip was shared, obviously from the CCTV footage. It showed her and Roman in compromising positions.

“I didn’t even know this existed,” Reyna whispered, the frustration in her voice could be heard.

“We believe a tabloid bought it and leaked it within hours of that first video going viral,” Evelyn explained. “It’s spreading fast. And… it’s not just the press causing issues. Investors are pulling back. Two of our international partners are reconsidering next season’s campaign.”

Reyna’s stomach twisted, this was getting worse.

“We’ve spent five years building a brand that stood for elegance and control,” her CFO added. “This doesn’t align with the image that some of our stakeholders expect.”

“But I am the brand,” Reyna snapped. “And I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Doesn’t matter to them,” Evelyn said gently. “They care about the perception.”

“I can't believe this!” Reyna snapped slamming her fists on her desk. “Damn Roman.”

“Ma'am something on the Reyna Styles × Roman Knight drama is trending, it's a live stream.” Someone exclaimed barging into the boardroom.

“What is it?" Reyna's tone lacked interest, she was absolutely fed up with the whole situation already.

“Mr. Knight is doing a live stream.”

Reyna shot up from her seat. “Can't he rest what horrible problem is he causing for me now?” She asked exasperated, with both hands placed on her hips.

The girl stared up at Reyna unsure of how to tell her what was happening, “On the contrary ma'am Mr. Knight isn't slandering you he is defending you.”

Reyan scoffed, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “Ofcourse, I am sure he is saying the nicest things about me.”

“He is.” The girl assured me by showing her the video on her computer.

Roman was seated in his apartment as he made the live stream. He knew he had to do his own part in clearing up Reyna's image especially after he watched what Vivian said about her in an interview.

“That video you all saw was from five years ago, and it's something that shouldn't be anyone's business except Reyna and I. ” He started saying.

“So I want anyone that's trying to ruin her reputation to stop, I have already made sure all the videos posted were taken down so that this whole drama can come to an end. Please leave Reyna Styles alone, she is a visionary, a creator, and one of the most respected women in her industry. Anyone attempting to weaponize her private life to discredit her work should know this—”

Reyna shut the computer, she was sick of hearing his voice, of him pretending to be a hero. First he leaked the video and now he was acting like the man of the year helping her protect her reputation.

'Pathetic lair.' she thought to herself enraged.

“Mr. Knight's live stream is really helping.” Evelyn chirped elated, “investors are trooping back in and there are new ones too.”

Roman wanted to play god, like he took a part in her success but she wouldn't let him have that joy, she owed Roman Knight nothing.

This was all his fault, and she would make sure he suffered for it, this game he started playing she would end it and win it.

“Evelyn, make a private dinner reservation for me and Roman Knight, it would be nice of me to thank him in person.” She ordered eyes darkening fists clenched, her revenge would be served cold.

He had no idea what was about to hit him.