âReally? Yet she snagged Best Actress? Talk about a stroke of luck.â Ivy had never watched any of Giselleâs TV shows or movies, but after overhearing this tidbit, she made a mental note to binge-watch some of Giselleâs work when she had a free moment.
The two had been chatting up a storm when the crew signaled that everything was ready to roll. The director called for attention, and Ivy quickly touched up her makeup before dashing to her mark.
The brief exchange had brightened Ivyâs spirits considerably.
Back in the zone, Ivyâs scenes unfolded effortlessly. Her grip on the emotional nuances of her character in âBallad of Valorâ was getting stronger by the day, and they were wrapping scenes ahead of schedule.
Colton could not hide his enthusiasm after wrapping up the morningâs shoot. âIvy, youâre hitting your stride. I knew you had it in you, but youâre even better than I imagined. Keep this up!â
Ivy blushed at the high praise, feeling a mix of pride and humility. âYouâre too kind, Director. Iâve still got a ways to go compared to the seasoned pros, but it sure feels great to meet your expectations.â
âI mean every word,â Colton assured her, giving her a thumbs up. âBallad of Valor is going to be the hit of the year!â
Little did he know that very thumbs-up was like a thorn in Giselleâs side.
Just the day before, Giselle had faked fainting to hold onto Balfourâs attention, which had landed her a night in the hospital for observation-commitment to the role, as she saw it. Fresh from her hospital discharge, she was just passing by the âBallad of Valorâ set, hoping to make her presence felt.
Instead, she caught the tail end of Coltonâs praise for Ivy.
It stung to think that Ivy, a complete novice, was seen as a gifted actress while she was deemed unfit in Coltonâs eyes.
Watching Ivy and Colton converse, Giselle turned on her heel and returned to her trailer.
Her assistant and agent exchanged worried glances before following her.
Once inside her trailer, Giselle sat down with a huff, swiping everything off the table in a fit of rage. âIvy has become quite the darling, hasnât she? Charmed the pants off Colton with so little effort. What a scene!â
Her agent, trying to keep things light-hearted, coaxed, âGiselle, why get worked up over her? Weâve got a shoot tomorrow. Stay calm, or itâll show on your skin, and you wonât look as beautiful as usual.â
âWhatâs the point of looking good? Havenât I told you how crucial âBallad of Valorâ is for my career shift?
Why didnât you secure the role for me?â Giselle vented her frustration on her agent.
The agent listened silently. She had done her best, after all.
Giselle had been clear about using âBallad of Valorâ as a pivot away from typecast commercial roles, and her agent had been proactive in liaising with Coltonâs team, even securing an audition.
But what good had it done? Colton had barely concealed his displeasure during Giselleâs audition, dismissing her suitability outright.
Now, Giselle was pinning the blame squarely on her agent.
Swallowing her grievances, the agent could only placate her. âGiselle, even without âBallad of Valor;
there are plenty of other scripts to choose from. Besides, youâre young and beautiful, no rush to change lanes. There are scores of actresses whoâd kill for the âdecorativeâ roles youâve mastered.â