Ryan flashed a warm smile as he accepted the fork and knife handed to him by Ivy. It was these little acts of thoughtfulness that made him appreciate her even more.
He didnât necessarily have to develop a romantic interest; someone with her personality would make an awesome friend to hang out with.
âMs. Dunhill,â Ryan began, his voice casual but sincere, âweâre in an era driven by social media buzz, right? So, if our film with Colton gets some extra attention because weâre seen hanging out together, it could be a good thing.â
Ivy frowned slightly, not quite convinced. She got what Ryan was saying, though.
âI get your point, but if we draw too much focus, it might overshadow the work of the whole crew. Thatâs not ideal.â
Despite being relatively new to the scene, Ivy had already learned some of the industryâs unwritten rules after enduring her fair share of setbacks.
Their roles as a couple in the film meant that off-screen interactions were inevitable.
They both wanted the film to be a hit with praises and at the box office, but if fans got too wrapped up in shipping them as a real-life couple, it could complicate things later on.
Ivy hoped her audience would appreciate the movie for its storyline, not just the chemistry between the leads.
If altering the entire film to cater to a portion of the audienceâs preferences leads to a significant deviation from its original direction, it might not be worth the trade-off in the end.
Ryan nodded, understanding. âI totally get where youâre coming from, Ms. Dunhill. But our director hasnât raised any concerns, right? If he thought this was bad for the film, heâd be the first to put a stop to it. I mean, Coltonâs put his heart and soul into this project. He wants it to succeed more than anyone.â
Ivy nodded back. âYou might be right. Maybe Iâm overthinking it.
She was getting the hang of acting, but navigating showbiz was still new territory for her, as it was for Ryan.
Thatâs why they both felt the need to discuss things when they were unsure, to avoid any missteps.
âDonât worry too much, Ms. Dunhill. Letâs just wait and see how things play out online. If thereâs a need to clarify anything, weâll figure it out then,â Ryan reassured her.
âYeah, letâs keep an eye on it,â Ivy agreed, a slight smile gracing her lips. She hadnât expected Ryan to understand the rules of showbiz.
Their conversation wandered from Broadway to modern cinema, and they hit it off even more.
Ivy had initially thought theyâd have little in common, but she was pleasantly surprised. It turned out Ryan was quite in tune with her.
They talked for a long time, both of them having a good time and not realizing that there were paparazzi around.
But their pictures made it online anyway, stirring up excitement again!
âTalk about a match made in heaven! Coltonâs got an eye for talent, thatâs for sure. How many star pairs has he introduced over the years!â
âThe chemistry is real, folks! Is this what it feels like to ship a real-life couple? Not only do they stick together on set, but theyâre also dining out after hours. Ah, Iâm in bliss!â
Many fans were thrilled by this budding âshipâ, while a few of Ryanâs female fans left snarky comments.
âWho is this girl, and how did she land a role in a Colton project? Now sheâs trying to _seduce my idol!â
Ivyâs fans quickly came to her defense, clapping back at the comment.
âWhat did you just say about my girl? As if Ryanâs some prize to be won!â