Chapter 2 MR. PERFECTIONIST PART 2

His team knew better than to argue with him. And just took out their phones and tablets and changed his afternoon plans while Alexander waited.

Alexander fixed his tie, but then he realized he was doing it. When was the last time he cared about how he looked before meeting a woman? He tried to push the thought away, but he couldn't shake the excitement that was building in his chest.

Bianca went up the stairs to the control booth. She could see Vivienne standing with her arms crossed and her eyes on the monitors showing the auditions again through the tinted glass.

Bianca knocked softly before going in. "Ms. Cross?"

Vivienne looked back over her shoulder. "So, did he like any of our girls?"

"I thought you could see everything on the screen."

Vivienne pointed to the screen, where Fiona's audition was paused in the middle of her performance. "I haven't even gotten past Fiona yet. I think she's great. She's a little rough around the edges, but she has a lot of potential. She just needs some training and practice."

"Yes, but he didn't pick her."

"What about the rest? Alice? Margaret?"

Bianca moved. "That's why I'm here. Mr. Hunt wants to talk to you."

"Tell him I'll be down in a minute. I want to look over the rest of these auditions first and..."

"No, Ms. Cross." Bianca's voice was now on the edge. "He wants to see you, as in, he wants you for the project."

Vivienne finally turned all the way around, and she couldn't stop herself from laughing. "You're joking."

"I'm not."

"That's crazy, Bianca. You know I don't do cameras."

"I told him. Or tried to. He won't listen." Bianca held on to her clipboard tightly. "He won't stop. He said you're exactly what Tyranny needs."

Vivienne's smile went away. "This isn't a joke."

"Ms. Cross, I'm not kidding. He's waiting downstairs right now. He canceled his next meeting and said he won't leave until he meets you."

"Then he's going to be very disappointed." Vivienne turned back to the screens. "Send him one of our other girls, like Veronica or..."

"He doesn't want Veronica; he wants you." Bianca moved closer. "Please, Ms. Cross. He seems to be a big deal in the business. Do you know what it would mean if we lost this contract because..."

"Because I didn't want to audition?" Vivienne's voice was firm. "That's his fault, not mine."

"I know, but..." Bianca looked sad. "Please. Just go down and tell him yourself. He might finally listen if he hears it from you."

Vivienne looked at the screen for a long time. After that, she let out a sigh. "Okay, but only to make things clear. This is crazy."

"I'm only doing this to stop this craziness," she said as she grabbed her tablet and followed Bianca down the stairs.

They were halfway down the stairs when Vivienne heard a voice coming from below.

That voice.

She stopped to listen and almost lost balance when she realized who it was.

Could that really be who she thought it was? That can't be Alexander Hunt, can it?

Her heart raced. She reached out and took Bianca's clipboard, then turned to the page with the schedule on it.

10:00 AM: Alexander Hunt from Hunt Enterprises is casting for the Tyranny Project.

The words got blurry. Hunt, Alexander. Mr. Hunt. It's the same person?

She tried to take a step, but her legs didn't seem to remember how to walk.

Why is this happening now, after ten years? She thought.

Ten years of buidling a new life for herself, a new face, and a new name. Ten years of telling herself it was all done.

But he had to be here at her agency, even though there were many other agencies in the city.

Bianca hadn't caught on and was still talking about how important and insistent he was.

Vivienne put her hand flat against the wall to steady herself. She just had to stay calm. She wasn't Elara anymore, and that was enough to give her the strength to move on.

"Ms. Cross?" Bianca was getting worried now. "Are you all right?"

Vivienne made herself breathe. She had been through worse. She should be able to stay in the same room with him for five minutes.

"I'm fine," she said in a steady voice. "Okay. Let's get this over with."

She got to the bottom of the stairs and saw him clearly. Tall. Suit in black. And he was even more attractive than she remembered.

She made fists with her shaky hands as she walked forward.

He hadn't seen her yet, and even though she knew he couldn't recognize her, her heart wouldn't stop racing. Her face looked different. Her life was not the same. But seeing him made her feel like she was nineteen again. Like when he stood on that dock in Maine with his arms around her.

Vivienne shut her eyes and then opened them again.

"You're not that girl anymore, Vivienne," she told herself. "That girl is gone. You are now Vivienne Cross, and Alexander Hunt is just another client you are about to turn down."