The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258

She gritted her teeth. “This is playing dirty!”

Chapter 258

“In business, playing dirty is standard practice.”

Vivian ran a hand through her hair, laying out her orders calmly. “Here’s the plan. Cooperate with whatever inspections they need. Non-essential staff can go home and rest. Treat it as paid time off; salaries will be issued as usual. Also, go find this so-called witness and bring her to me.”

“Understood.”

Footsteps echoed everywhere; the entire office was on edge.

As the person in charge, Vivian was the last to be questioned. She answered everything methodically. only adding a slow, deliberate point at the very end.

“I respect the job you have to do, but you need to see things from my side as well. Who’s going to cover the financial losses from all this chaos? Am I just supposed to swallow this completely? You can’t turn innocent bystanders into new victims just to protect a supposed victim’s rights.”

The two officials exchanged a glance, their attitudes softening considerably.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Fairchild. We will uncover the truth as quickly as possible and ensure justice is served.”

They had initially planned to slap an immediate seal on the company doors. Perhaps Vivian’s words worked, because they ultimately just issued a notice suspending Astra Media’s operations pending the investigation results.

Once the investigators left, the storm online continued to rage.

It took Zoe a significant amount of effort to track down the young girl’s address.

The old district. Dilapidated streets packed with noisy crowds. After navigating through a maze of narrow alleys, they looked up to see laundry hanging from a balcony, swaying precariously in the

wind.

“She lives alone?”

“I think so.”

Zoe walked ahead to lead the way, briefing Vivian as they moved. “The girl isn’t a local. She’s only twenty-one. Dropped out of college to start working. Her gig at the studio was actually set up by a senior who had a crush on her.”

Vivian nodded, remaining silent.

They found the apartment block and climbed the stairs.

Fourth floor.

In a building this old, the walls and floors were caked in unspeakable grime. A nauseating odor seeped out from somewhere, forcing an involuntary grimace.

The apartment door was wide open. Luggage sat by the entrance.

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The rustling sounds from inside suggested she was packing to leave.

Vivian and Zoe flanked the doorway, implicitly agreeing not to step inside.

A few minutes later, a slender figure walked into view.

The girl was holding a woven tote bag. The moment she spotted Vivian and Zoe at the door, panic washed over her face. She instinctively backed up two steps before realizing she was trapped.

“Ms… Ms. Hunt.”

Zoe’s public title was Executive General Manager. Anyone who had done business with Astra Media recognized her.

“Sienna Jones.”

Zoe enunciated every syllable of her name.

She shot a glance at Vivian before gesturing to the terrified girl. “Since we took the time to find you today, you obviously aren’t walking out that door. Let’s have a chat, shall we?”

Sienna clamped her lips shut tightly. It took a long time before her grip finally loosened.

Thud.

The woven bag dropped to the floor.

Her rented apartment was tiny. There were only two small stools and a single beanbag chair.

Zoe placed a stool in front of Vivian for her to sit on, taking the seat directly across from Sienna.

“Care to explain the online leaks? I think you owe us an explanation. Or would you prefer we skip the chat and sue you directly? Pick one.”