âLook, no oneâs trying to rail against Ivy. But with the evidence at hand, there are some doubts about her that might need clearing up.â Balfour frowned in annoyance. âHow can she explain something she didnât do?â
Colton was momentarily speechless. This couple really was cut from the same cloth.
âBut the surveillance footage is as clear as day, and weâre not out to pin anything on anyone unjustly, Mr. Howard. Please understand weâre not keen on stirring up trouble for the sake of it.â
Colton sounded exasperated, as though his decision to side with the others and keep Ivy around was a reluctant compromise.
Balfour just let out a cold laugh.
âColton, I might not know the ins and outs of showbiz, but youâre not exactly a greenhorn, are you?
I told you before, Ivyâs new to the scene. All she wants is to act her heart out. Sheâs still figuring out the ropes, which is why I asked you to keep an eye out for her. Is this your idea of looking after her?â
Balfourâs voice carried a smile, but Colton felt a chill run down his own spine, not daring to meet his gaze.
Balfour had only glanced at the surveillance footage briefly but was confident that the person wasnât Ivy. Same clothes, sure, but the movements were off.
Sensing Balfourâs anger, Ivy remained silent. The feeling of being protected was utterly intoxicating to her.
âYouâre telling me you canât see through the smoke and mirrors here? This kind of drama is not new to other sets. Yet, it seems like itâs your first rodeo with such incidents. Canât you discern the truth?â
Balfourâs barrage of words weighed so heavily on Colton that he couldnât even lift his head, âItâs my fault. Weâve been sailing too smoothly lately. I nearly forgot how chaotic a set can be with backstabbing and framing. Ivyâs definitely been set up!â
Directors like them had to manage more than just perfect shots. They also had to handle the complex web of relationships within the crew. They werenât just there to call action and cut.
In his crew, there were rules against doing anything detrimental to the team. Sure, friction between star actors was normal, and Colton never meddled without cause.
But anything that messed with his film was a different story. It was a matter of principle.
âNow that youâve recognized the issue, Iâll be taking her with me.â
After dropping that line, Balfour grabbed Ivy by the wrist and walked away, not giving a second glance to anyone.
Ivy looked back at the director and then at Balfour.
Was it really okay to just leave like that?
She felt uneasy.
Wouldnât this make her seem guiltier, running away at the first sign of trouble?
Once they were seated in the car, Ivy turned to Balfour with worry in her eyes.
âIs walking away really the best move? Wonât they think Iâm guilty and just trying to escape?â
In her world, fleeing the battlefield was never an option.
She had never considered running away as a method of solving problems.
Seeing Ivy genuinely concerned, Balfour couldnât help but chuckle.
âDid you do it?â
Ivyâs brows knitted together in indignation as she shook her head vigorously. âOf course not! I wasnât even on set this morning, how could I have done such things?â
âSo, what are you worried about? Do you really need to politely inform them youâre heading home for lunch?â
Balfour had a point. Ivy quietly settled back into her seat and buckled up.