Ivy felt like a rag doll, her legs weak and her body slumped. Seeing her in such a state, Balfour effortlessly scooped her up in his arms.
Under normal circumstances, her pride would have been bruised being carried like this in front of colleagues. But now, limp as an overcooked noodle, she was powerless to resist. The embarrassment of her outburst left her wishing she could just bury her face in Balfourâs chest.
From the back, no one could tell that Balfour was carrying Ivy as his steps were steady and solid, as if he feared even the slightest jostle might disturb her.
Balfourâs embrace was warm.
Comforted by his presence, Ivy drifted off to sleep. When she awoke, they were already. sitting in his car. She mumbled his name groggily, and he promptly turned on the light and asked, âThirsty? Need some water?â
At her nod, he brought a bottle to her lips..
âWhere are we? Wasnât I at the wrap party just before?â
Ivyâs eyes darted about, and Balfour could tell she was trying to sidestep the awkwardness of the evening. He played along, âWeâre still in the parking lot. You fell asleep, so I didnât drive off. Figured youâd wake up soon enough, and sure enough, here you are.
Now that youâre up, we could actually head back to the party if you want. Theyâre probably still there.
Werenât you the one who wanted to drink them all under the table?â
But Ivy shook her head vigorously, âNo way! I donât want to drink anymore. I was wrong, Balfour, I shouldnât have gone past two drinks. But whoâd have thought Iâd get this smashed? Donât you remember the last time we shared that bottle of imported wine? I had three glasses and was fine. Itâs only because you werenât there that I lost it.â
Her cheeks were still flushed, and as she leaned back in the seat, her gaze at Balfour seemed to sparkle. He leaned in instinctively and covered her lips with his, âThe wine tonight wasnât bad. If you want, we can have another go some other time. But next time, no drinking unless Iâm around, got it?â
He knew the people at the party tonight were all friends and good-natured folks, so a bit of drunkenness was harmless. But Ivy might not be so lucky in other circumstances.
Balfour had become hyper-vigilant about Ivyâs safety since Clara. Whenever she if he could make the time, heâd be there to pick her up personally.
He couldnât relax even with friends like Evadne around. Past lessons had been harsh, and he couldnât bear the thought of Ivy enduring those terrifying moments again.
Ivy nodded, understanding how much he cared. Sometimes they each valued the otherâs life more than their own, and she could appreciate Balfourâs concerns.
âDonât worry. It was because the director and everyone were there, and Evadne was with me. I knew youâd come for me, and thatâs why indulged myself with a few glasses. It wonât happen again.â
After several more promotional events for âBallad of Valorâ, Ivy had a good feeling for the filmâs prospects. It wouldnât disappoint â it was a fitting tribute to the directorâs five years of hard work.
But the filmâs success took everyone by surprise.
It wasnât just a hit; it was a sensation. It became the champion of the summer season, earning critical acclaim and box office gold.
Many came for Ivy and Ryanâs on-screen charm but left emotionally wrecked by the powerful story. It even boosted the economy of the fishing village where it was shot. This success was more than enough to put the minds of the filmâs creators at ease.