Chapter 234

Victoria's POV

The streets of Manhattan blurred past my window as we drove toward Stark Entertainment headquarters. Maya had arranged an elaborate decoy to throw off any paparazzi, but something went wrong. As soon as I stepped out of the car, a sea of cameras and shouting reporters surged forward, blocking the entrance.

"Ms. Taylor! Over here!"

"Can you comment on the scandal?"

The pressure was overwhelming. I tried to push through, but the crowd was too dense. Someone jostled my shoulder, and I lost my footing. I gasped as I tumbled to the ground, the rough pavement scraping against my palms. In the chaos, I felt the weight of the crowd pressing in on me, and I heard the sickening sound of my delicate silk blouse snagging and giving way at the shoulder.

Flashbulbs exploded in my face, capturing my every moment of distress. I felt utterly exposed, not just because of my disheveled appearance, but because of the predatory way the cameras lingered on my fall. Security finally reached me, pulling me up and shielding me from the relentless lenses, but the damage was done.

I hurried inside the building, my heart hammering against my ribs. Maya was waiting in the lobby, her face pale.

"Victoria! Are you okay?" she whispered, quickly draping her own coat over my trembling shoulders to hide the tear in my blouse.

"I'm fine," I snapped, though my voice shook. "Just get me to the meeting."

As we walked toward the elevator, I could still feel the phantom weight of the crowd and the sting of humiliation. I had spent years building my image, and in a matter of seconds, it had been dragged through the dirt. But as the elevator doors closed, my shame began to harden into a cold, sharp rage. Someone would pay for this.