The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223

“Charlie, aren’t we heading to the airport?”

“Of course.”

Charlie glanced over at her, his smile refined and polite. “But before we go, there’s somewhere I want to take you. Once we get to Newport, I doubt we’ll have the time.”

Soon enough, the car pulled up in front of an exclusive boutique for an independent designér

brand.

Vivian recognized the name instantly.

It was a domestic label, but it strictly catered to high-end bespoke fashion. All their equestrian wear was entirely handcrafted and required booking months in advance. Countless A-listers wore their designs.

Vivian immediately caught on to his intentions. She chuckled, “Looks like I’m getting VIP treatment today.”

“Stop being so formal.”

Charlie sighed in amusement. “We’re the same age. You’re going to make me feel old.”

“Just showing proper respect.” Vivian walked inside beside him. “But I suppose you’re right. Formality does age a person, and since we’re already friends… don’t blame me if I drop the polite act from now on.”

As they spoke, they stepped into the store. Charlie was clearly a regular here. He murmured a few words to the sales associate before turning back to her.

“They just released a new line of ready-to-wear pieces. See if anything catches your eye.”

He was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the morning sunlight streaming through the glass and casting a warm glow over his tall, broad-shouldered frame. He looked every bit the dashing medieval knight.

Vivian openly admired the view for a moment before saying, “Since it’s a business expense, I won’t hold back. You can just write it off anyway.”

Her comment made Charlie burst into laughter.

“Absolutely. Even if I couldn’t expense it, I’d still buy you a gift.”

They hadn’t been browsing for long when the head designer emerged from the back office to personally guide Vivian through the collection.

The designer was incredibly polite, but her frequent glances toward Charlie made it obvious. that she was only giving Vivian this royal treatment out of respect for him.

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Vivian kept her expression neutral, eventually settling on a sleek black equestrian suit

“It’s perfect for you.”

Charlie said genuinely, “Most people go for vibrant colors when picking riding gear, like a bold red. But honestly, red doesn’t do you justice.”

“And black does?”

“Of course. Mysterious, captivating-like a blooming datura flower.”

Vivian laughed and shook her head. “No outfit or description could capture even a fraction of who I am.”

She wore light makeup today, which only enhanced her naturally stunning features, making her look absolutely radiant. It was impossible to look away.

The designer sighed in admiration. “Miss Fairchild, if you weren’t already so successful in your own career, I’d hire you as our brand ambassador on the spot.”

“My modeling fees are awfully high, you know.”

The three of them laughed and chatted, completely unaware of the person walking past the storefront.

Sloan Mercer, with a girl clinging to his arm, suddenly stopped in his tracks, his eyes locked onto the scene inside.

“What’s wrong?”

the girl asked, confused. “Do you know them?”

“No.” Sloan denied it, instantly masking the sharp look in his eyes with an affectionate smile. He tapped her nose playfully. “There’s no rush anyway, we can pick your things up next time. I just remembered I have some business to take care of.”

“Aw…”

The girl pouted. “But I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

She wanted to whine a little more, but noticing the man’s expression cooling down, she quickly caught on and forced a sweet smile. “But it’s fine! The longer I wait, the better the surprise, right? We can grab it tomorrow before we leave.”

“Good girl.”

Sloan offered a casual smile, leading her back to his car.

The moment he settled into the driver’s seat, he pulled out his phone and fired off a voice memo: “Damn, a wild woman really keeps things interesting, huh? How long has she been with you, and she’s already out shopping for riding gear with another guy? Are you losing your touch, man? If you can’t handle her, I’m tapping in.”

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