POV: VIVIAN
I woke up at five AM on audition day. Couldn't sleep anyway. Had been rehearsing the sides Marcus sent me for three days straight, until I could recite every line in my sleep. This was it. My first real shot in LA. The role that could launch everything.
The role Marcus had promised was "already mine."
I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, practicing the monologue one more time. The character was complex, damaged, exactly the kind of role that won awards if you did it right. I could do it right. I knew I could.
My phone buzzed. Text from Marcus.
"Ready for today? Remember, this is a formality. The director loved your reel. Just don't overthink it."
I texted back: "I'm ready. Thank you for this opportunity."
"You've earned it. See you at the studio. 9 AM sharp."
I had four hours. I showered, did my makeup three times before I was satisfied, changed outfits twice. The audition called for "casual but polished." I settled on jeans and a silk blouse. Expensive enough to look professional, casual enough to seem effortless.
LA traffic was terrible even at eight in the morning. I sat in my Uber, watching the city crawl past, rehearsing lines in my head. The studio was in Culver City, a mid-size production company that specialized in independent films. Exactly the kind of place where careers were made.
Marcus was waiting in the lobby when I arrived. He smiled when he saw me, that calculated smile that never quite reached his eyes.
"Vivian. You look perfect." He kissed both my cheeks, European style. "The director is excited to meet you. This is just a formality, like I said. The role is yours."
"Thank you." I kept my voice steady even though my heart was racing. "I won't let you down."
"I know you won't." He guided me toward the elevator with a hand on my lower back. Possessive. Proprietary. I didn't move away. "Let's go meet David Chen. He's directing. Brilliant guy, very particular, but he already loves you."
The audition room was standard. Camera, table with three people behind it, chair in the middle for me. David Chen stood when we entered. He was younger than I expected, maybe thirty-five, wearing the uniform of LA creatives: expensive jeans, designer t-shirt, glasses that probably cost more than my rent.
"Vivian." He shook my hand. "Marcus has told me wonderful things. I watched your reel three times. You have something special."
"Thank you. I'm honored to be here."
"Let's see what you can do." He gestured to the chair. "Whenever you're ready, start with the monologue from scene twelve."
I sat. Took a breath. Became the character.
The monologue was about loss, about a woman realizing she'd destroyed the one thing that mattered. I channeled every emotion from the past two weeks. The rejection, the humiliation, the rage, the grief. Let it pour out through the words.
When I finished, the room was silent.
David leaned back in his chair. "That was extraordinary."
"Really natural," one of the producers added. "Very authentic emotion."
Marcus was smiling. "Told you."
"Let's run the scene with the male lead." David gestured to someone off camera. "Mark, can you read opposite her?"
We ran three scenes. Each one felt perfect. The chemistry was there, the emotion was raw, everything was clicking. I could feel it. This was mine. This was my moment.
"Vivian, thank you." David stood, shook my hand again. "We'll be in touch very soon. But between you and me, you nailed it."
Marcus walked me out, his hand on my back again. "See? What did I tell you? The role is yours."
"When will they officially offer?"
"End of day. Maybe tomorrow morning. These things take time with lawyers and contracts, but trust me. You got it." He checked his phone. "I have another meeting. Celebrate today, Vivian. You deserve it."
I left the studio feeling like I was floating. Called my mother from the Uber. She screamed with excitement. Called my father. He cried. For the first time since graduation, everything felt like it was coming together.
I posted on Instagram. A photo of the studio exterior, nothing specific, just enough to show I was working.
"Great day at the studio. Grateful for every opportunity. #ActressLife #DreamsDoComeTrue"
The likes came immediately. Supportive comments from theater friends. A few snarky ones from Chase's crowd, but I ignored them.
No post from Chase today. Good. Maybe he was finally moving on too.
I spent the afternoon at a coffee shop, reading the full script Marcus had sent me. The role was even better than I'd thought. Complex, layered, the kind of character that could get festival attention. Oscar buzz if we were lucky.
My phone rang at four PM. Marcus.
"Vivian." His voice was different. Flat. "We need to talk."
My stomach dropped. "What's wrong?"
"Can you come to my office? Now?"
"Marcus, just tell me."
He sighed. "You didn't get the role."
The words didn't make sense. "What? But you said it was mine. David said I nailed it."
"I know. But something happened. The studio, they changed their mind."
"Changed their mind? How? Why?"
"Just come to my office. I'll explain everything."
I got another Uber, traffic even worse now. It took forty-five minutes to get to Beverly Hills. Forty-five minutes of my mind racing, trying to understand what had happened. I'd been perfect. Everyone said so. How could they change their minds?
Marcus's assistant led me straight to his office. He was standing at his window, looking out at the city. Didn't turn around when I entered.
"Marcus, what happened?"
He turned. His face was carefully blank. "The studio was bought this morning. Complete acquisition. The new owners reviewed all pending projects and made changes."
"Bought? By who?"
"Sterling Media Group. Subsidiary of Sterling Industries."
The room tilted. "Chase."
"The new owners decided to go in a different direction with the casting. I tried to fight it, but they own the studio now. They have final say."
I sat down before my legs gave out. "He bought an entire studio to stop me from getting one role?"
"Apparently." Marcus finally sat too, across from me. "Vivian, I'm sorry. I really thought you had this. I wouldn't have promised if I'd known."
"You promised it was mine. You said it was a formality."
"It was. Until Sterling Industries decided to flex its muscles." He ran his hand through his hair, the first time I'd seen him look anything but perfectly composed. "This is bad. If Chase Sterling is actively sabotaging you, it's going to be very hard to place you in roles."
"So what, I just give up? Let him win?"
"No. But we need to be smart. Strategic." He leaned forward. "I have other projects. Smaller roles, but they're something. We build your resume, get you some credits, wait for this drama to die down."
"How long will that take?"
"Honestly? Could be months. Could be years. Depends on how long Chase wants to play this game."
I stood up. Couldn't sit anymore. Couldn't breathe in this office with its perfect view and its promises that meant nothing.
"I need to go."
"Vivian, wait. We should discuss next steps."
"I'll call you tomorrow."
I walked out before he could stop me. Made it to the elevator. Made it to the lobby. Made it outside into the LA sunshine that suddenly felt too bright, too hot, too much.
And that's when I saw them.
Paparazzi. Three of them. Cameras already raised.
"Vivian! Is it true you lost the role?"
"How does it feel to be rejected by Chase Sterling again?"
"Did you know Sterling Industries bought the studio?"
I froze. How did they already know? The acquisition had happened this morning. I'd just found out. How were they here?
"No comment." I put my hand up, trying to block my face.
"Just one photo, Vivian!"
Flashes. So many flashes. I could feel tears starting, tried to hold them back, couldn't. Not here. Not in front of cameras.
I ran. Actually ran down the street, away from Marcus's building, away from the cameras. Could hear them following, still shouting questions.
Found a side street. Ducked into a coffee shop. Locked myself in the bathroom and finally let myself cry.
My phone was exploding. Texts. Notifications. I opened Twitter.
#VivianAshford was trending. Again.
The top tweet was from a gossip account: "BREAKING: Sources say Vivian Ashford lost major film role after Sterling Industries acquired production company. Chase Sterling reportedly made casting changes immediately. #VivianAshford #ChaseSterling #Hollywood"
Below it, photos. Me leaving Marcus's office. Me crying. Me running from paparazzi.
The headline on TMZ: "Vivian Ashford Snubbed: Sterling Heir Strikes Again?"
I scrolled through the comments, hating myself for looking.
"He's destroying her career and I'm here for it."
"This is what happens when you reject a billionaire."
"She brought this on herself."
"Chase Sterling is petty and I love it."
"Imagine thinking you're too good for someone and then watching them ruin your life."
A few people defended me. "This is abuse of power." "Chase is a monster." But they were drowned out by everyone else, everyone who thought this was entertainment, who thought my pain was funny.
I called Sienna. Hadn't talked to her since graduation, but I didn't know who else to call.
She answered on the first ring. "Vivian?"
"He bought a studio, Sienna. He bought an entire studio just to take away one role from me."
"I saw. I'm so sorry."
"How is this legal? How is he allowed to do this?"
"Because he's rich. Because he can." Her voice was soft, sad. "Vivian, this is going to get worse before it gets better. You need to be ready for that."
"I can't fight him. I don't have the resources. I don't have the power."
"Then maybe you need to talk to him. Try to make peace."
"He doesn't want peace. He wants revenge."
"Then give him what he wants."
I hung up. Couldn't hear that. Couldn't consider it.
But sitting in that coffee shop bathroom, watching my career burn before it even started, I didn't know what other choice I had.