Chapter 2355
“Grab a seat. It’s been a while! How have you been?” Ivy greeted Nolan with a warm smile as he walked into the room, bypassing Balfour without so much as a nod.
It was only after a brief exchange of pleasantries with Balfour that Nolan turned to Ivy, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Things are going great. Remember that shaky deal I mentioned last time? Nailed it.”
Ivy’s face lit up at the news. “That’s fantastic! I knew that deal was a tough cookie to crack, but with a team like yours and your charm, I doubted any client could resist.”
Nolan chuckled and casually reached out to ruffle Ivy’s hair. The gesture caught both Ivy and Balfour off guard.
Ivy instinctively ducked away, puzzled by the sudden display of affection, especially with Balfour there, making the moment all the more awkward.
“Ah-thanks, Nolan,” she stammered, suddenly self-conscious. “Just wrapped up a shoot, totally forgot about my hair.”
Nolan kept grinning, offering no explanation for his behavior.
Balfour, meanwhile, had risen to his full height, looming a solid inch over Nolan. His stature alone seemed to fill the room with a silent authority.
Ivy tugged at Balfour’s sleeve, hoping to avoid a scene. Nolan didn’t drop by often, and she didn’t want to spoil the visit.
Catching Ivy’s eye, Balfour acknowledged his quiet defeat. He couldn’t bear to see her upset, not after he’d already let her down once before.
With a resigned sigh, Balfour settled back onto the couch, allowing the conversation to continue without his input. Despite the tension, he stayed put, a silent sentinel.
“And what about you?” Nolan asked, redirecting the focus back to Ivy. “How’s filming been since you got back? I heard your crew cleared their name. No more bullying accusations, right?”
Ivy beamed with pride. “It’s been a breath of fresh air since we went public with the evidence. We’re no longer walking around with that label hanging over us. Just like you said, although not everyone’s a fan, there’s definitely a buzz about the movie now,” she continued. “Before, we were all tight-lipped, worried about any backlash. Now, we’re free to speak our minds.”
Ivy was well aware of the skeptics who thought the controversy was a publicity stunt, but the majority were genuinely excited, especially about her performance. Critics who once spewed venom now praised her acting chops, though she took their words with a grain of salt. For lvy, the real judges were always the audience.
1/2
11:35
As long as there were people willing to pay to see her work, that was all that really mattered.
Ivy couldn’t deny the earlier accusations had made them all look a bit foolish, but she wasn’t about to argue. Sometimes, it’s best to let the work speak for itself.
“You have no idea,” Nolan confided to Ivy, a wave of relief washing over him. “When I mentioned having a junior on Colton’s set, everyone was envious. But after the incident. last time, some people started making sarcastic remarks, and I dare-not say much. I believe in you for sure. But now, after the clarification, that’s all in the past. That’s great!”
Ivy’s relief was palpable, not just for herself, but for her fans too. They now had the vindication they deserved.
11:35
