Chapter 232

Victoria's POV

A persistent buzzing dragged me from sleep. I rolled over in the plush hotel bed, blindly groping for my phone on the nightstand. 7:13 AM—ridiculously early.

"Hello?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

"Victoria?" Maya's voice exploded through the speaker, sharp and urgent. "You need to look at today's news. Right now. It’s a disaster."

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "What news? Is it about the Diana contract?" A smile tugged at my lips. My successful appearance at the Stark Group annual party had already started paying dividends. "Is the coverage that good?"

"Just check the headlines," Maya snapped. "It's everywhere, and it’s not the kind of publicity we wanted. Call me back after you've seen it."

Alexander stirred beside me. "Who's calling so early?" he mumbled, propping himself up on one elbow.

I covered the phone with my hand. "Shh, it's Maya. Something about the news coverage. Can you pull up the New York Daily on your phone?"

He nodded sleepily, reaching for his device. I waited, my heart beginning to thud against my ribs. I hung up just as Alexander let out a sharp exclamation of disbelief beside me. His entire body had gone rigid, his face darkening as he stared at the screen.

"Alex? What is it? What's going on?"

I didn't finish my question. Alexander practically shoved his phone toward me, his movements jerky and filled with suppressed rage. I caught it, my breath hitching in my throat.

"What the hell?" I whispered, looking at him.

"That's what I should be asking you!" Alexander snarled. "Is this what you meant by 'networking' with Brandon Stark? Is this how you ‘secure’ your future?"

I grabbed the phone, my blood turning to ice as I saw the headline:

STARK’S NEW FAVORITE: ACTRESS VICTORIA TAYLOR’S HIDDEN CONNECTION WITH BILLIONAIRE CEO BRANDON STARK REVEALED

Below it was a photo of Brandon and me at the annual party. The angle was intentionally deceptive; it made it look like we were sharing an intimate, private moment, his hand lingering near mine as he announced my new position as Diana's spokesperson.

"This isn't what it looks like," I stammered, scrolling frantically through the article. "Alex, you have to believe me! This is just a bad photo!"

The story was worse than I'd expected. It detailed how Brandon had "personally revived" my career after my recent scandals, suggesting our relationship was far from strictly professional. It specifically highlighted the Diana brand contract, implying that I had used "unconventional methods" and personal favors to secure the role rather than my actual talent.

"Not what it looks like?" Alexander laughed bitterly, a cold sound that made me flinch. "The photo seems pretty clear to me. The way you're looking at him... like he’s your personal savior, or something more."

"That's not—" I began, but my words died as I continued reading.

Sources close to Stark Entertainment confirm that Taylor has received exclusive treatment since joining the agency, with multiple prime opportunities steered her way through private channels despite her recent public controversies.

"Alex, please," I pleaded, my voice cracking. "This is all fabricated. You know how the media twists things to sell papers. Brandon offered me the Diana contract because I'm the face they need!"

Alexander threw back the covers and climbed out of bed, his movements sharp and angry. "The face they need? Or was it because of what’s happening behind closed doors?"

"I’m not doing anything!" I cried. "Alex, you know me better than that! I would never jeopardize us."

"Do I?" He cut me off, yanking his dress shirt from the closet. "Because the Victoria I thought I knew wouldn't let another man get that close to her. Look at that photo, Victoria. It looks like a betrayal."

"It's a manipulative angle!" I protested, jumping out of bed to follow him. "I was just grateful for the opportunity! Brandon is my boss, my mentor—nothing more!"

Alexander buttoned his shirt with quick, efficient movements. "You know what's funny? I actually felt guilty for how things ended between us before. I thought bringing you here, spending time together... that maybe we could start over."

He pulled on his pants, his eyes avoiding mine. "What a joke. All this time, you've been playing both sides."

"No, Alex, please—" I grabbed his arm. My eyes burned with tears. This scandal could destroy the bridge I’d just rebuilt with the Stark family. "There's nothing between Brandon and me. I promise, this is a calculated attack by the press. I'll fix it!"

Alexander yanked his arm from my grasp. "If it's really a misunderstanding, then fix it. But don't expect me to sit around and watch you play the victim."

He snatched his wallet and phone from the nightstand.

"Where are you going?" I asked, panic rising.

"I need air," he snapped. "I can't even look at you right now without seeing that headline."

He strode to the door, ignoring my pleas to stay and talk. I stood in the center of the room, suddenly aware of how vulnerable I looked in just an oversized T-shirt. With the tabloid story breaking, I felt like the walls were closing in.

I slipped back onto the bed, leaning my head against the headboard. Everything had been going so perfectly. Now it was all falling apart. I dialed Sophie with shaking hands.

"Hey, Victoria! How's Philly? Having fun with Alex?" Her voice was bright, carefree, which only made me feel worse.

"Fun?" I choked out. "Sophie, my world is imploding! Have you seen the news?"

"News? No, I've been offline all morning. What happened?"

"I'm all over the tabloids with Brandon Stark!" I cried.

"Wait, is that a bad thing?" Sophie sounded confused. "I thought you wanted that association—"

"Are you serious? I'm with Alexander! Their families are close friends! And now there are headlines suggesting I’m trading favors with Brandon to get ahead! Alexander just walked out!"

"Okay, okay, calm down," Sophie said quickly, her tone shifting to business mode. "I didn't realize the angle they took. What does Brandon say? Has the agency released a statement?"

"I don't know! Maya is trying to handle it, but it’s a mess. Sophie, you have to help me. This could ruin my reputation and my relationship."

"Victoria, you need to get back to New York immediately," Sophie said firmly. "This isn't something you can fix from a hotel room in Philly. You need to do damage control in person. Brandon will protect his own image first—you need to make sure you’re part of that protection."

"But what about Alexander? If I leave now, it looks like I’m running away."

"Forget about Alexander for a minute! He's angry, but he'll listen to reason once the headlines change. Right now, your career is on the line. Get home."

"I know how this works," I snapped, the adrenaline finally starting to kick in. "Just get my travel sorted."

I hung up and sat on the edge of the bed, my mind racing. How had this happened? Who had taken that photo and sold it with such a poisonous narrative? This wasn't random bad luck—someone had deliberately set out to tear me down just as I reached the top.

The question was: who?

The Billionaire's suaden bhde