Chapter 108

Vivian had mastered the art of concealing her emotions so thoroughly that even Lydia, her dearest confidante, remained unaware of the storm raging within her.

Her fingers hovered over the apartment keypad. At the last second, she turned to face Lydia with hesitant eyes. "Would you... come in for coffee?" The unspoken plea in her voice was unmistakable.

Their eyes met, and in that silent exchange, years of unspoken tensions dissolved. Lydia crossed the threshold, her tone firm yet gentle. "No more walls between us. Whatever comes, we face it together. Promise me?"

Perched on the edge of her velvet sofa, Vivian unraveled the tangled web surrounding Eleanor. When Adrian's name surfaced, she hastily labeled him "just an acquaintance." Her fingers wrestled with a stubborn water bottle cap before she sighed. "I need to repay this... acquaintance. The debt's become this awkward barrier between us."

Lydia's brow furrowed in thought. "My recent property investment has me cash-strapped..." Suddenly, she snapped her fingers. "Wait! Ivory Phoenix Productions is scrambling for ghostwriters. Their client's impossible to please, but the pay's spectacular. Maybe your solution?"

With practiced ease, Lydia pulled up the production company's sleek website and the head developer's LinkedIn profile. Vivian studied the screen, nodding slowly. "This could work."

"They're new but well-funded," Lydia confirmed, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. "The owner's an old contact. They haven't attracted A-list writers yet, but their compensation packages are generous."

Vivian's lips pressed into a tight line. Noticing her hesitation, Lydia tapped her cigarette against a crystal ashtray. "Let me guess - you're protective of your Vivian Hartley byline. Not keen on cheapening it for quick cash?"

"Here's the play," Lydia continued, crossing her legs. "Create a fresh alias. I'll get you an audition script. The rate won't match your usual, but it'll cover your immediate needs."

Relief washed over Vivian's features. "Lydia, I don't know how to thank you."

Within minutes, a new WhatsApp account materialized. Lydia waved away the gratitude. "Please, you're not just my writer - you're family. Besides," she added with a wink, "if financial stress delays our shoot, we both lose. These scripts are formulaic - more product than art. With your talent? Child's play."

True to her word, Lydia forwarded Vivian's contact to Ivory Phoenix. Within the hour, sample materials arrived with surprising instructions: "Study Vivian Hartley's style - our client adores her work." The irony wasn't lost on either woman.

As Lydia gathered her things, she shot Vivian a look. "Dive into those samples. My phone's always on."

"Will do," Vivian replied, already reaching for her laptop.

The soft click of the door marked the beginning of a new chapter.