Chapter 2016
Giselle certainly was not about to let Ivy know that she had not landed the leading lady role in the upcoming blockbuster. She had pestered Colton for auditions several times, but he had always been adamant that she was not the right fit, and the role remained uncast.
Lately, rumors had reached her ears that Colton had finally found his star, and the ink was set to dry on the contract today.
She was dying to find out who could possibly outshine her.
“Colton’s movie? You mean ‘Ballad of Valor”?” Giselle asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
“How did you know about that? Oh, right, I haven’t asked you yet. You don’t seem to have much to do with showbiz, so what brings you here today?”
Ivy sensed Giselle’s hostility towards her from their first encounter and did not want to reveal too much. “I’m just job-hunting, trying my luck,” she replied casually.
Giselle scoffed inwardly while maintaining a calm exterior. “Tsk tsk, it’s not like the Howards can’t support you without you having to work a day in her life. What’s Balfour thinking, letting you work?”
Her words were a thinly veiled jab at Balfour, suggesting he was not treating Ivy well. Giselle did not know that Ivy had taken the job of her own accord against Balfour’s wishes.
However, Ivy felt she did not need to explain all that to Giselle, so she remained silent.
Seeing Ivy’s silence, Giselle’s eyes darted around before she spoke again. “Colton’s been working on this film forever, you know. He spent ages polishing the script. I bet ‘Ballad of Valor’ will be a smash hit!”
It was this belief that kept her coming back, even after being rejected. Colton was a top-tier director, and his films were guaranteed blockbusters. All actors involved, big or small, benefited in one way or another.
Despite her current popularity, with scripts pouring in daily, Giselle was always worried about her future. She had carved out a niche as the darling ingenue the moment she entered the industry, and her breakout roles were all as leads in commercial hits.
Thus, the scripts she received were rarely the award-winning kind.
As she grew older, she could feel her prime slipping away. Giselle feared a decline in her reputation and that eventually, no matter how bright her star had once shone, she would fade away in the cutthroat world of entertainment.
She was racing against time, desperate for a role that could redefine her image and secure her standing. Colton’s ‘Ballad of Valor’ was the perfect opportunity, but the part remained elusive despite her persistence.
This could very well be her last chance.
Giselle’s opportunity would vanish if Colton signed with the new talent today.
Ivy could see Giselle’s eagerness for the film and her deep knowledge of it.
However, Colton had told her she was to play the female lead.
Why did Giselle say she was playing the female lead?
Was this some new trend in the industry, a show with two leading females?
Ivy found it all very strange but could not puzzle it out. “Well, then, let’s hope ‘Ballad of Valor’ is a huge success with you in it,” she said, masking her confusion with polite enthusiasm.
