Supporting Role

Nathaniel dropped his phone onto the plush velvet cushion, his face flushed red with indignation. "She picked up the phone just to scream at me!" he complained loudly, waving the device in the air. "She specifically yelled at me before blocking my number! That is Vivienne for you!"

The Davenport family sat in the opulent living room, their expressions dark and stormy. The luxurious surroundings offered no comfort against the crushing reality of their current situation.

"Why us?" Harrison grumbled, loosening his tie with an irritated tug. "Why did we end up dealing with Vivienne of all people?"

Declan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Mom, Dad, she flipped thirty percent of our business to our rivals. We cannot let this slide. We need a way to hit back."

Richard rubbed his forehead, the lines around his eyes deepening. "She did not come back with us. She has Desmond’s muscle watching her back now. She is ghosting all our calls, and we cannot even get close to her physically. What is the move?"

Camilla chewed on her lower lip, turning her wide, innocent eyes toward Harrison. "Harry, she is still under contract with your label. You are her boss. Can you not make her listen?"

"I can book her for jobs, and that is about it," Harrison muttered.

Nathaniel paused his pacing, his eyes suddenly lighting up with malicious glee. "Wait. That is it! We might not get those shares back right now, and we cannot mess with her while Desmond has her covered. But work—there is a way to get even with her through that!"

The family leaned in, their frustration momentarily replaced by eager curiosity.

Nathaniel flashed a cunning smile. "Camilla is about to do that wilderness survival program, right? Harry, you need to force Vivienne to join the cast. Trick her into signing a rigid contract to play the villain on the show. We make her look malicious and unhinged, while Camilla looks like a saintly star. The viewers will tear Vivienne’s reputation apart, and the internet will bully her right out of the industry."

Harrison slowly nodded, a cruel smirk forming on his lips. "That could work. There is another girl from my label scheduled for the show. I will bump her and slot Vivienne in."

With the trap set, Harrison borrowed a burner phone from one of the maids and dialed Vivienne’s number.

Miles away in Desmond’s cliffside mansion, Vivienne answered the unfamiliar number with icy detachment. "Hello?"

"It is me, Harry. Just hear me out. We need to talk business," Harrison said, keeping his tone deceptively smooth.

Vivienne narrowed her eyes, instantly recalling the suffocating five-year deal she had signed with Harrison’s company back when Camilla first dragged her into showbiz. She was only one year into the agreement, leaving four agonizing years on the clock. The penalty clause was staggering. She would owe twenty million dollars for each remaining year if she breached the terms. An eighty-million-dollar termination penalty hung over her head.

"So, what is the gig?" she asked, her voice sharp and impatient.

"You are joining Camilla on a wilderness survival program," Harrison instructed. "Your sole job is to give Camilla a hard time and keep her name trending in the media. You play the bad guy."

Instead of panicking, a cool chuckle escaped Vivienne’s lips. "Sure, I will go on the show. But forget about bullying Camilla. That was not in my original contract."

Harrison’s voice hardened. "You want me to freeze your career? I will shelve you."

"Do it. Money is not an issue for me anymore. I will be just fine even if you block me from every studio in town," she shot back.

"You..." Harrison gritted his teeth, his temper flaring.

Vivienne leaned back against the plush pillows of her king-sized bed, calculating her next move. A ruined reputation meant nothing to her, but that oppressive contract was a chain she needed to break. "I will do your show," she offered smoothly. "I will play the villain. But once the filming concludes, our professional relationship is permanently severed. The contract is dropped, and no fines will be levied."

Harrison fell silent on the other end of the line, weighing the options.

"If you leave me hanging after the show, I will get slammed online anyway," Vivienne pushed, maintaining her casual tone. "My reputation will be trashed, and I will not be worth a single dime to your label. You might as well let me walk."

Harrison realized she was right. A universally hated star was a liability. "Fine," he snapped. "Unblock me on your main phone, and I will send over the details."

"First, I want it in writing," Vivienne demanded. "Once the show is taped, we are through. Legally bound and penalty-free."

Grinding his teeth so hard his jaw popped, Harrison caved. "Done."

The very next day, a courier arrived at the mansion with two thick envelopes. One contained the binding agreement for the survival show, explicitly outlining her role as the antagonistic foil designed to make Camilla shine. The second was her golden ticket—the termination documents. Vivienne scrutinized every single line with a lawyer from a top-tier firm, signed the pages, and had them notarized on the spot. Her freedom was legally secured.

With the paperwork handled, she immediately shifted her focus to rigorous preparation. She researched the production, noting it was a brutal 24/7 livestreamed survival challenge in an old-growth forest. Without hesitation, she headed straight to an elite outdoor outfitter. She meticulously stocked up on practical survival gadgets. She purchased a high-grade carbon steel pocket knife, a comprehensive wilderness first-aid kit, durable waterproof gear, and a compact, lightweight tent.

Returning to the mansion, she ramped up her physical workouts, pushing her stamina and strength to peak condition. She ran miles on the treadmill and ran through bodyweight circuits until her muscles burned. She knew the wilderness would offer no mercy.

When the designated day of the shoot arrived, Vivienne grabbed her packed luggage and allowed Desmond's bodyguards to escort her to the city-center meeting spot.

She arrived a full thirty minutes ahead of her scheduled call time. Yet, as she stepped out of the sleek SUV, she noticed the entire cast and crew already fully assembled, cameras rolling, and crew members bustling about.

Harrison’s deliberate sabotage clicked in her mind instantly. He had fed her the wrong time to make her look like a lazy, unprofessional diva right from the start.

Hauling her heavy suitcase, Vivienne strode toward the group. The contrast between her and the rest of the cast was glaringly stark.

Camilla stood in the center of the gathering, draped in a pristine, flowing white dress and precarious designer stilettos, looking ready for a luxury resort rather than a jungle. Bianca Navarro, a pop singer from a trending girl band, sported a frilly pink ensemble with matching wedge heels. The male cast members—A-list actor Donovan Hayes, popular celebrity Gavin Fletcher, and Nathaniel Davenport—were decked out in stylish, expensive streetwear that offered zero practical use.

Vivienne, on the other hand, arrived dressed for utility. A giant, wide-brimmed green sun hat shielded her face. She wore a durable, dark green windbreaker, tough black cargo pants lined with reinforced pockets, and heavy-duty hiking boots. She gripped a sturdy hiking pole in her right hand.

"Who is the ninja hiding under the massive hat?" Bianca asked, crossing her arms and giving Vivienne a judgmental side-eye.

Vivienne casually flipped up the brim of her hat, revealing a face devoid of makeup yet still stunningly striking.

The moment her face appeared on the livestream feed, the chat exploded with vitriol. Millions of viewers flooded the screen with rapid-fire comments.

[Unbelievable! I thought we were waiting on a massive A-lister. It is just drama queen Vivienne. She is such a show-off, making everyone wait for her like that.]

[How arrogant can one person be? She thinks she owns the production.]

[What is with the giant suitcase and the ridiculous outfit? She looks like she is prepping for an apocalypse.]

[She is trying so hard to look 'prepared' to make the others look bad. Such a venomous snake!]

[Why did they even invite her? Everyone knows Devil Vivienne manufactured all that fake drama with Camilla three months ago!]

[She better keep her toxic hands off our angel Camilla, or we will ruin her!]

Vivienne ignored the glaring cameras and walked directly toward the group.

Seizing the golden opportunity to play the gracious victim, Camilla stepped forward. A gentle, saintly smile spread across her face as she extended a welcoming hand. "Vivienne, you are finally here. We have been waiting for you for quite some time. Let's bury the hatchet and just get along for the sake of the show... Ah!"

Without missing a single beat, Vivienne stepped forward and physically nudged Camilla aside with a firm bump of her shoulder. The impact sent the pristine girl stumbling awkwardly backward, her ankles wobbling precariously in her ridiculous stilettos before Nathaniel caught her.

Vivienne casually claimed the exact spot Camilla had just occupied, enjoying the cool shadow cast by a nearby tree. She turned back to Camilla, flashing a sly, unbothered grin. "I like this spot. It is shady. You do not mind, right?"

Internally, Vivienne praised her own flawless execution. She was fulfilling her villain contract within seconds of arriving on set. How professional of her.

Nathaniel steadied his sister, his face twisting in rage as he glared daggers at Vivienne. "You have gone way too far, Vivienne!" he snapped, stepping forward.

Camilla strategically grabbed Nathaniel’s arm, pulling him back. She shook her head, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears. Mastering her role as the forgiving martyr, she murmured softly, "Do not blame Vivienne, Nate. She did not mean it. I was just clumsy and lost my balance in these heels."

The livestream chat erupted into a frenzy of pure hatred.

[What the hell! Vivienne blatantly shoved Camilla out of the way!]

[She did that on purpose! Kick Devil Vivienne off the show right now!]

[Camilla is way too kind. She just got physically bullied and is still defending that snake. Protect our pure angel!]

[My heart breaks for Camilla. Vivienne is actual trash.]

The other guests shifted uncomfortably, subtly inching away from Vivienne. None of them wanted to be the next target of her unprovoked hostility.

Seeing that the drama had peaked perfectly for the cameras, Director Preston Cole grabbed his megaphone and stepped to the front of the group.

"Alright, listen up, everyone!" Preston announced, his voice booming over the chatter. "Here are the rules for 'Jungle Survival.' You are spending one full week in an old-growth forest. You receive zero outside help from the crew. We provide absolutely no food. You forage, or you starve."

The cast exchanged nervous glances, but Preston was not finished.

"Furthermore," he continued, gesturing to a row of standard-issue bags. "You cannot take your luxury luggage into the forest. We are providing each of you with a single hiking bag. You can bring whatever you want, but it all has to fit inside that one bag. No electronic equipment. No communication tools. Other than that, you are free to pack your choices. Remember to smile, because we are livestreaming twenty-four-seven. Grab your backpacks, pack your gear, and let's roll."

Vivienne grabbed a hiking bag from a staff member, popped open her massive suitcase right on the pavement, and initiated her packing process with military precision.

She swiftly packed a high-beam flashlight, her pocket knife, waterproof matches, a durable metal water bottle, basic cooking utensils, a heavy-duty raincoat, and a comprehensive first-aid kit. She added basic toiletries and a specialized outdoor sanitation kit. Reaching into the bottom of her suitcase, she pulled out seven sets of undergarments and three simple T-shirts, all tightly compressed inside vacuum-sealed bags to minimize their footprint. The windbreaker she wore would suffice for outerwear.

She had originally purchased high-calorie protein snacks, but adhering to the director's strict rule about foraging, she left them behind. Survival meant surviving.

Finally, she strapped the tightly rolled, lightweight tent to the exterior loops of the hiking bag. Lifting the pack by the top handle, she gauged the weight. Thirty pounds. Manageable and highly efficient. She stood up, fully packed and ready to go while the other five guests were still staring at their open suitcases in utter confusion.

Camilla knelt beside her massive designer trunk, surrounded by piles of glamorous clothing, wide-brimmed fashion hats, and an absurd amount of skincare bottles. She managed to shove a few delicate dresses and useless stilettos into her hiking bag, but when she tried to add her bulky cosmetic cases, the zipper refused to budge.

Pouting, she turned to Nathaniel, batting her eyelashes pitifully. "Nate, I cannot fit my skincare routines in here. Can you help me carry them?"

"Sure, toss them in my bag. I do not have much stuff anyway," Nathaniel replied, eager to play the hero.

Camilla proceeded to stuff an array of heavy glass serum bottles and makeup palettes into Nathaniel's bag, completely ignoring the fundamental concept of survival gear.

Preston Cole watched the chaotic packing session with growing exasperation. Before the shoot, he had emailed every guest a detailed list of recommended survival tools. "I highly suggest bringing long-sleeved clothing, durable pants, and actual survival tools," he reminded them, his tone firm but polite.

Camilla and Nathaniel barely registered his warning. They arrogantly assumed the production crew was bluffing to build tension for the viewers. In their minds, no network would actually let their stars starve or sleep in the dirt. They figured the crew would secretly cater to their luxurious needs off-camera once the sun went down. Camilla wanted to ensure she looked stunning in every frame, prioritizing her viewer popularity over practical survival.

Once the packing concluded, the crew directed the cast to split into designated off-road vehicles for the journey to the drop point.

Camilla and Nathaniel quickly claimed the first vehicle. Gavin and Bianca paired up and took the second.

Vivienne was left with the aloof A-list actor, Donovan Hayes. They climbed into the backseat of the third vehicle. The moment the doors shut, Donovan crossed his arms, leaned his head against the window, and closed his eyes, making it glaringly clear he intended to ignore her existence for the duration of the trip.

Vivienne did not bother forcing a meaningless conversation. She had no interest in making friends. Settling into the seat, she rested her hands on her lap and sat back in complete silence. She utilized the remaining travel time to mentally consolidate her wilderness survival skills, picturing the harsh terrain ahead, leaving the raging internet audience eagerly anticipating her inevitable downfall in the wild.