The Stand-In Who Burned the Script novel Chapter 265

Chapter 265

Vivian didn’t tell her how she knew.

Chapter 265

Right on cue, the bartender finished mixing a new drink. It looked significantly stronger than the last one, the amber liquid swirling in the glass, promising to wash away all troubles with a single sip.

Vivian picked it up and downed it in one go before the bartender even had a chance to stop her.

“That drink…”

“What’s wrong? Am I not supposed to drink it like that?”

“No, it just packs a serious punch.”

Scarlett waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, she has a high tolerance. Come on, answer me. Start talking.”

Vivian leaned in a little closer, her clear eyes gleaming like amber. “Don’t you know that people need to maintain a sense of distance and mystery, otherwise they lose interest? So, keep staying curious about me, okay?”

She flashed a captivating smile and stood up to leave.

“I have some business to take care of. Have fun figuring it out.”

It took a long moment after Vivian left for Scarlett to snap back to reality. She placed a hand over her heart. “Damn, that woman is lethal.”

Since she had been drinking, Vivian called a designated driver and headed straight to Sterling Enterprises.

It wasn’t quitting time yet.

The roads were still packed with a seemingly endless stream of rushing traffic.

Vivian leaned against the car window, her loose, flowing hair partially hiding her stunning face. Her eyes were open, but it was impossible to tell what she was thinking about.

Upon arriving at the building, the driver parked the car in the garage.

She headed inside.

In the grand lobby, Vivian was surprised to spot Sloan Mercer.

She had no idea what he was doing there. It was a rare sight to see him completely alone, without a female companion draped over his arm.

He spotted her too and sauntered over with his signature playboy swagger, letting out an appreciative whistle. “Gorgeous, what brings you here?”

Vivian answered his question with one of her own. “You’re looking for my Silas?”

“Your Silas?”

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Chapter 265

subordinates do all the actual work.”

Forget the rumors about his deep, undying love for Grace.

Even a notorious playboy like Sloan Mercer would pull off similar stunts when chasing a woman, wouldn’t he?

Vivian narrowed her eyes slightly. The dim lighting of the bar cast a hazy shadow over her gaze, masking her true emotions.

After a long moment.

She downed the rest of her drink in one go.

“So… he never really liked Grace all that much. She was just a girl who happened to be around, their families were close, and it was simply the path of least resistance.”

If he had truly been madly in love with her, they would have gotten together ages ago.

He wouldn’t have waited until Old Mr. Sterling forced a marriage proposal to finally confess.

Scarlett pushed their empty glasses toward the bartender for a refill, nodding in agreement. “Exactly. He treats me well too, because I fall under that ‘protective’ umbrella. But even though I’m lightyears better than Grace, he’d never choose me.”

In reality, Scarlett’s wild behavior and bold lifestyle made her exactly the kind of ‘troublesome woman’ Silas avoided.

Vivian suddenly broke into a stunning, radiant smile that could steal the breath from a room.

Scarlett held her hands up in surrender. “Don’t go flashing those bedroom eyes at me. I’m not Silas, and I don’t have what you’re looking for.”

The area around them was dark. Only the cleaning staff were tidying up, while the regular employees were still in the back office.

Vivian’s mood suddenly brightened, better than it had been all day.

“Hey.”

Scarlett patted her shoulder, a probing look in her eyes. “You still haven’t told me. How exactly did you find out about Geoffrey’s little secret?”

Chapter 265

Vivian didn’t tell her how she knew.

Chapter 265

Right on cue, the bartender finished mixing a new drink. It looked significantly stronger than the last one, the amber liquid swirling in the glass, promising to wash away all troubles with a single sip.

Vivian picked it up and downed it in one go before the bartender even had a chance to stop her.

“That drink…”

“What’s wrong? Am I not supposed to drink it like that?”

“No, it just packs a serious punch.”

Scarlett waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine, she has a high tolerance. Come on, answer me. Start talking.”

Vivian leaned in a little closer, her clear eyes gleaming like amber. “Don’t you know that people need to maintain a sense of distance and mystery, otherwise they lose interest? So, keep staying curious about me, okay?”

She flashed a captivating smile and stood up to leave.

“I have some business to take care of. Have fun figuring it out.”

It took a long moment after Vivian left for Scarlett to snap back to reality. She placed a hand over her heart. “Damn, that woman is lethal.”

Since she had been drinking, Vivian called a designated driver and headed straight to Sterling Enterprises.

It wasn’t quitting time yet.

The roads were still packed with a seemingly endless stream of rushing traffic.

Vivian leaned against the car window, her loose, flowing hair partially hiding her stunning face. Her eyes were open, but it was impossible to tell what she was thinking about.

Upon arriving at the building, the driver parked the car in the garage.

She headed inside.

In the grand lobby, Vivian was surprised to spot Sloan Mercer.

She had no idea what he was doing there. It was a rare sight to see him completely alone, without a female companion draped over his arm.

He spotted her too and sauntered over with his signature playboy swagger, letting out an appreciative whistle. “Gorgeous, what brings you here?”

Vivian answered his question with one of her own. “You’re looking for my

Silas?”

“Your Silas?”

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Chapter 265

Sloan chuckled, clearly amused. “Yeah, I’m looking for your Silas, but he’s not around.”

“That’s because he doesn’t want to see you.”

Neither of them noticed that the moment Vivian uttered those words, a man walking in through the side entrance locked eyes on them.

Perhaps because they were both exceptionally attractive, Silas spotted them instantly. They stood in relaxed, comfortable postures, smiles dancing on their faces, completely engaged in a joyful

conversation.

He ground his teeth imperceptibly, his voice going dangerously low. “Go tell her to come upstairs. Tell her I have a meeting in five minutes!”

“Mr. Sterling, in five minutes…” you don’t have a meeting.

Under the man’s lethal glare, Simon Young wisely swallowed the rest of his sentence.

On the other side of the lobby, both Vivian and Sloan had their backs to the side entrance and completely missed the man’s brief appearance and departure.

Sloan unabashedly admired the face in front of him. She was truly breathtaking.

He had seen countless beautiful women in his life, but a beauty this vibrant and alive was a first.

“Sloan.”

Vivian threw him a lazy glance. “Reel it in.”

“Why should I?”

Sloan wasn’t the least bit embarrassed by being called out. Instead, he raised a flirtatious brow. “I appreciate all beautiful things. Flowers, people-they grow just to be admired. Just because I’m looking doesn’t mean I’m trying to take advantage of you. It’s called appreciation. Get it?”

Vivian let out a soft ‘oh. “Is it because you’ve never seen a woman more beautiful than me?”

Well, that was…

Incredibly narcissistic.

But Sloan gave her a confirming nod, his flirtatious playboy eyes crinkling at the corners. “The most beautiful, the most shameless, and the one who disregards me the most.”

Vivian took it as a compliment, nodding with exaggerated seriousness.

“Then make sure you don’t fall in love with me.”

“What if I already have?”

“Then suffer in silence.”

“I can’t. I’m already counting the seconds since I last saw you.” Sloan sighed, striking a dramatic, debonair pose. “But you better keep up this attitude of not giving me the time of day. Because if you give me a second glance, my feelings might just fade away.”

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