The Million-Dollar Heart

"Country bumpkin?"

Vivienne arched an eyebrow, an expression that hadn't crossed her face in quite some time.

She surveyed Ramona with a critical eye, noting the girl couldn't be more than twenty. With her doll-like features, it was no wonder she had become an overnight sensation.

It wasn't just the push from her handlers behind the scenes; that pretty face was surely a factor.

Withdrawing her gaze, Vivienne's clear eyes shifted to Dorian. "Dorian, what's going on? Didn't we agree that Kala was to be the face of the new perfume line?"

She paused, noting Dorian's evasive look.

She asked, "You're in trouble, why didn't you talk to me?"

"I will explain everything later, Vivienne," Dorian replied, his face showing distress. "Ms. Grimshaw, this is my daughter. Please be respectful."

After he spoke, he turned to face Ramona with a stern expression.

Something was off.

Vivienne tugged at Percival's sleeve, and without a word, he understood. He gestured to Thomas, indicating he should lean in closer.

Ramona, meanwhile, was visibly irked by Percival's blatant disregard for her, his attention solely on Vivienne.

Her voice dripped with jealousy, "Percival, darling, look at them! I wouldn't have taken this ad gig if it wasn't for your sake. Now, they're all ganging up on me."

Her whiny voice grated on Vivienne's nerves.

elegant eyebrows knitted together as she scoffed, "Ms. Grimshaw, are you supposed to be some kind of

"You, you country bumpkin! What right do

of the entire banquet hall to the unfolding scene between Vivienne, Dorian, and

guests murmured among

Who's calling Ms. Hawthorn

known as the perfume maestro Q, not to mention a

as accomplished as Ms. Hawthorn is being called a country bumpkin, what

and Anna chimed in with a smirk, "All this talk of country bumpkins. One would think Ms. Grimshaw was some kind

the restrictions of the setting, Ramona would have slapped Vivienne then and there. Her face flushed with a mix

thought that this woman, once so easily bullied in Havenwood, held so many

said, "You just

just finished bathing

could slice it, making it impossible to discern if

the bathroom flickered twice,

nothing but darkness. Without hesitation, she followed the rope that someone had used to climb in through the

of light. A man cautiously stepped in, making sure Karen was the only other person there before advancing with a syringe aimed at her

Willa, with lightning-fast reflexes, threw a dagger that pinned the intruder's head

the minor disturbance did little

glances around the room. "Strange, where did Ramona go? She wouldn't just leave like that, would

her head with a light-hearted tone, "Why? Were you

her demeanor was

irritation, hurriedly explained, "No, no. I wish she'd leave faster.