Chapter 2076: Chapter 2076

“The CFO has provided their assessment of the collaboration with M State,” said the assistant, gesturing towards a document on the left. “That file contains their detailed analysis.”

“Alright, take a breather, guys. I’ll dive into this report.”

Mr. Balfour nodded to his team, and they visibly relaxed.

“Our boss is great in every way. But man, he’s a total workaholic.”

“True. Everyone’s human, right? Even the best of us zone out when we’re overworked.”

“But seeing Mr. Balfour space out? That’s a rare sight.”

Back in the day when Balfour first took over the company, he could pull three all-nighters in a row and still be the sharpest mind in the meetings the next day. The veteran employees respected him through and through.

“Time spares no one…”

If even young Balfour couldn’t burn the midnight oil anymore, what hope was there for the rest of them?

Once the meeting was over, Balfour let out a sigh of relief. Throughout the session, he had struggled to focus like never before.

He kept feeling his phone would buzz any second.

But after the meeting, his phone remained eerily silent.

“Quinton, what’s on the agenda next?”

“You’ve got a one-twenty meet-up with Mr. Weeks and then a quick stop at Mr. Lee’s birthday bash at two-forty. That’s all for today.”

After a moment’s thought, Balfour squinted and said, “Push the meeting with Mr. Weeks back half an hour. I need to step out for a bit, I’ll be back before two.”

Quinton’s initial surprise quickly gave way to action as he nodded and said, “Sure.”

Balfour gestured with two fingers, and Quinton promptly handed over his keys.

Then he left in a hurry, coat unbuttoned as if he was rushing to meet someone.

“Odd, very odd indeed,” Quinton muttered as he watched Balfour’s retreating figure.

Ivy had only glanced at her phone for a moment before diving back into her script, the one that had been mysteriously altered was thankfully switched back.

Colton’s face had darkened when he saw that script.

“No wonder Cedric showed up on set so quickly. Someone had pulled strings to get him here…”

He looked up at Ivy, who was blissfully unaware of the pitfall she had just avoided.

“There’s truth to the saying, ‘Ignorance is bliss.”

Colton ran a tight ship. There was no room for underhanded schemes in his crew. But now, someone had overstepped.

“From now on, the lead actress’s script will be kept in rotation. If there’s any issue, whoever had it last is responsible.”

This would certainly cut down on any behind-the-scenes tampering.

Ivy had a hunch something was up, and if she hadn’t been so diligent with her lines, she would’ve been humiliated in front of everyone.

And the praise Cedric had captured on film wouldn’t have been for her.

One could only imagine the ridicule she would have faced online and the film’s reception had she not been prepared.

As she continued to pore over the script, Ivy sat casually on the floor, rather than on a chair.

“Why not sit on a chair?”

Balfour had just walked in and found Ivy crouching on the ground, looking rather forlorn.

Ivy glanced up, following his long legs until she met his lofty gaze. What was he doing here at this hour?

“I like squatting,” she said simply.