Balfour had made it crystal clear to the crew, more than once, that if Ivy got hurt on set one more time, the movie would be dead in the water.
They didnât dare ignore his warning.
After all, Balfour truly had the power to sink their film without a trace.
âYou got a sister? The chick who stepped on your toes online? That counts as a sister?â
Margot never minced her words, especially since sheâd come to think of Ivy as a pal.
After the whole debacle a while back, Ivy insisted they all zip it online, worried about dragging them into her mess.
Even in the thick of it all, Ivy was looking out for her friends.
To Margot, that alone cemented Ivy as a bona fide buddy.
It gnawed at her that she couldnât do more for lvy, even though she was itching to do something online.
Ivy herself seemed unfazed and reassured Margot gently, âMaybe she really needs to talk to me.â
Ivyâs outlook had shifted.
The last time, she had been somewhat hopeful about seeing Tessa. But this time, determined to meet Clara, she only wanted to clear the air. She didnât need their so-called family ties anymore.
With Balfour and those supportive friends by her side, she was no longer the pitiable Ivy who used to watch them from a corner with envy.
At the crewâs repeated requests, they arranged the meeting in the semi-private reception room on set, transparent enough to keep Ivy safe from any foul play.
Before Ivy stepped into the pavilion, Colton asked her worriedly, âDo you really have to do this?â
Patting him on the back like a true bro, Ivy chuckled, âDonât worry. I promise Iâll walk in and walk out on my own two feet.â
Colton swatted her hand away playfully. âJust get on with it, will you?â
The more they got to know Ivy, the more they realized she wasnât as composed as she seemed. Once you got close, sheâd crack the kind of deadpan jokes that gave you goosebumps.
But seeing Ivy open up was a relief to Colton.
The girl who used to keep her heart under lock and key was finally willing to open up and really connect with them.
And for that, Balfour deserved some credit.
At first, Colton worried Balfour was just toying with her. Ivy was serious by nature, and he feared her deep emotional investment would end up hurting her.
But now, it seemed his concerns were unfounded; they were clearly smitten with each other.
Clara couldnât fathom why the crew was treating her like a pariah from the moment she mentioned meeting Ivy, sizing her up with unfriendly gazes.
She had some clout these days and didnât deserve to be scrutinized like a criminal, did she?
Only after ensuring her bag was free of anything that could harm Ivy did they let her in.
This crew was a bunch of oddballs through and through. Even a regular visitor wouldnât be dumped in such a drafty gazebo!
A âmeeting roomâ they said â it was laughable. Was Coltonâs budget so tight he couldnât afford a proper venue?
The thought of being part of Coltonâs film didnât seem so glamorous anymore, and a smug smile crept onto her face.
It seemed fate had its plans â even Ivy was just part of this shabby production after all.
Ivy, flashing a smile, greeted the staff around her before taking a seat opposite Clara.
In broad daylight, without a hint of sun, Clara still sported an oversized pair of sunglasses that covered most of her face.