âCome watch the security footage with me, Ivy. I want to hear a plausible story,â said Colton, his tone a mix of concern and suspicion.
Ivyâs mind was clouded with confusion, and she followed him to the monitor.
The grainy video showed the inside of Dianaâs dressing room. On the screen, someone wearing familiar attire was opening Dianaâs door, glancing around with a furtiveness that didnât sit right.
Colton tapped the screen, âSee anything off about this?â
Thinking it was some kind of test, Ivy pointed out her observations, âFirst, that outfit looks familiar.
Secondly, whyâs that person peeking around before slipping into Dianaâs room? Itâs like sheâs sneaking in⦠Did Diana lose something?â
Colton lit a cigarette, a silent cue for her to look closer.
âJust familiar?â he prodded.
Upon closer inspection, Ivyâs heart sank. The person in the video was wearing the same clothes she had on today!
âI need an explanation, Ivy,â Colton said, taking a drag from his cigarette.
Ivy felt the absurdity of it all. What was there to explain?
She hadnât been near Dianaâs dressing room. What did she know about someone else wearing her outfit in the video?
To make matters worse, the person had dodged the camera so her face wasnât captured.
âWhat do you want me to explain, Colton? Did you call me back here because you think itâs me? But I didnât do anything. I have no reason to steal from anyone.â
Ivyâs face twisted in anger. She never imagined sheâd be pegged as the setâs thief.
âIf it was just a stolen item, thatâd be one thing. But Dianaâs hurt her foot! A thumbtack was found in her shoe!â piped up a voice from the crowd, a woman who had always made snide remarks about Ivy.
âDianaâs injured, not just missing stuff?â Ivy sought confirmation from Colton.
âYeah, sheâs hurt. And itâs going to delay todayâs shoot,â Colton replied with a frown.
âI feel sorry for her injury. But even if Dianaâs foot is injured, thatâs got nothing to do with me,â Ivy insisted..
âHow do you explain the person on camera, wearing your clothes, having a similar build to you?â asked the cameraman, not out of spite for Ivy but tired of the drama that was disrupting the shoot.
His point was valid. A peaceful set was beneficial for everyone, and yet, here they were dealing with an incident that had even led to an injury.
âI donât know what to say. I donât think I should have to explain because I never set foot in Dianaâs dressing room! How can I explain something I didnât do?â
Ivy was at a loss, condemned by all around her.
âIâll tell you what I think,â someone chimed in with malice, âYouâre jealous of Dianaâs rising popularity, afraid sheâll outshine you. So you wanted to hurt her, mess up her filming schedule.â
Those who already disliked Ivy were now eagerly slinging mud her way.
âThough Iâm a newcomer, I would never stoop to such actions. Everyone has their own path, and I donât believe Diana gaining popularity means Iâll lose my audience. All I want is to interpret my role wholeheartedly. I donât play dirty,â Ivy retorted with integrity, leaving her accuser red-faced and speechless.
âColton, do you really think Iâm capable of this?â she asked, her voice steady despite the accusations.
She didnât care about the others who didnât know her. But if Colton doubted her too, she would be totally disappointed.
In this cast, she hoped there was at least one person who trusted her.
âI get where youâre coming from, Ivy. But this is what the security footage shows. I need you to give everyone an explanation, and I owe one to the backers too,â Colton said, his frustration evident.
Ivy could hear the reluctance in his voice, but it didnât relieve her disappointment.
This was about trust.