Chapter 89

Vivian's brow furrowed in confusion. Hadn't Damien already introduced her to Sebastian?

Damien sauntered over with a playful smirk, his voice dripping with amusement. "Sebastian, I've been keeping a little secret. Vivian here is actually Katrina. Knowing you're her biggest fan, I deliberately kept quiet - worried you'd be too starstruck to think straight."

"What?" Sebastian's usually composed features shattered into shock, his eyes widening comically.

The realization hit them simultaneously - they'd both been expertly played by Damien. Sebastian's stoic mask completely dissolved, revealing a fascinating parade of emotions - embarrassment, disbelief, and profound regret playing across his chiseled features. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Your screenplay... it's truly remarkable."

The memory of his dismissive behavior during their first meeting with his literary idol now filled him with acute mortification.

Damien, utterly unrepentant, practically vibrated with excitement. "This is perfect!" he exclaimed. "I've hit the jackpot!"

Without hesitation, he produced the contract and confirmed filming dates. The paperwork had been prepared in advance, with generous terms - thirty episodes over four months, with compensation set at five million.

While modest for A-list actresses, it represented top-tier pay for a complete newcomer like Vivian.

Vivian reviewed the document carefully before passing it to Lydia, who settled onto a nearby couch for a meticulous line-by-line examination.

Leaning close, Damien whispered conspiratorially, "Should I thank Mr. Blackwood for keeping you hidden? His oversight allowed me to discover such extraordinary talent."

Glancing subtly at Lydia, Vivian lowered her voice. "Very few people know about this. I'd appreciate your discretion."

"We're divorcing soon, and I prefer to keep him separate from my professional life."

Damien's eyebrows shot up. "Not even your agent knows?"

In their industry, most would leverage any connection to Adrian Blackwood. Serena Whitmore, for instance, knew exactly how to exploit such influential ties. Vivian seemed determined to maintain distance instead.

Was this remarkable independence? Or something more complex - love turned complicated?

After a thoughtful pause, Vivian explained, "I haven't actively concealed anything. My contract has no clauses about relationships or marriage. Since marrying, I simply haven't been present at the company. At this point, mentioning it seems unnecessary."

Though burning with curiosity, Damien tactfully restrained himself. "Understood. My lips are sealed."

Lydia's review was exhaustive. She scrutinized every clause multiple times before finally permitting Vivian's signature.

Post-signing, Damien outlined two critical points. "First, I'll announce your collaboration with Sebastian on Twitter soon, but without mentioning Katrina or our 'Ambermyst' production. After consulting executives, we've decided to keep Katrina's involvement confidential. We'll have NDAs prepared. Given our substantial investment, we're maintaining low profile initially."

Sebastian and Vivian nodded their understanding.