Chapter 2045


    Chapter 2045


    She felt it-the sting of sadness, the gnaw of jealousy.


    Why did Balfour have to y the caring gentleman to her, then turn around and wrap his arms around


    Giselle?


    Ah, men!


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    After a restless night, Ivy dragged herself through the next day, her spirit seemingly as heavy as lead.


    “Ivy, you’re looking a little under the weather today,” chimed in a co-star, a side character in the TV


    show, barely a blip on the call


    sheet.


    They had shared a scene once, but that was the extent of their acquaintance. Ivy had not expected


    anyone in the crew to take notice of her, especially after the recent scandal that had everyone treating


    her with kid gloves.


    “Thanks for noticing. Just didn’t catch much sleep, that’s all.”


    “Is it the old ‘new bed blues’?” Margot, the inquisitive sidekick, leaned in with a conspiratorial air and


    fished out a tin from her purse. “This is my little insomnia buster. Works like a charm. Here, take it.


    Might help you next time you’re counting sheep.”


    Ivy hesitated but epted the tin gratefully. “Thank you.”


    She did not understand why this colleague seemed so eager to extend kindness her way, but she was


    not about to reject a friendly gesture.


    “By the way, Ivy, what’s the deal with you and Giselle? On day one, she timed her coffee delivery


    precisely-it was so obviously a move aimed at you.”


    The young actress did not have the same opportunistic vibe as the rest of the crew.


    Giselle seemed to rub her the wrong way, and she did not hesitate to voice her suspicions.


    “You’re not a fan of Giselle?” Ivy was taken aback. “But she’s like the darling of the set. Howe you


    don’t like her?”


    Margot furrowed her brow, troubled. “I can’t quite put my finger on it. She’s all smiles but never lets her


    mask slip, not even for a second. It feels inauthentic, kind of eerie. That’s why I keep my distance.”


    Ivy resonated with that; it was the same reason she had been wary of Giselle from the start. It was only


    natural to show emotion. and someone who did not was, indeed, hard to trust.


    “Hey, did you hear?” Margot nced around and whispered, “Word is, she’s a terror to her assistants.


    She treats them like dirt, barking orders and throwing tantrums. Not exactly the sweetheart she ys


    for the cameras.”


    Ivy was taken aback. She had not pegged Giselle for that kind of person. “How do youe by all


    this?”


    “A friend of a friend works at her agency. She vents to me about Giselle’s antics now and then. Trust


    me. It’s the real deal.”


    Maybe there was more truth to the rumors than Ivy had thought.


    After a thoughtful pause, Ivy asked, “But if it’s so bad, why don’t her assistants just quit?”


    “Oh, Ivy, you’re such a greenhorn. They stick around because the pay is better than most. Money talks,


    and it often says ‘endure.” Margot sighed with a blend of pity and resignation.


    Ivy remembered her job-hunting struggles, sending resumes into the void with nothing to show for it.


    If fate had not handed her thatmercial gig, she likely would not be here, on set.


    “Fair point. It’s tough for everyone trying to make it.”


    Margot gave Ivy’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Want more gossip?”


    “What kind of gossip?” Ivy was not one to revel in rumors, but the conversation was a pleasant


    distraction.


    Margot’s voice dropped even lower. “Between us, Giselle’s acting chops aren’t exactly top-tier. The


    director has to coach her one-on-one. And to think, she had the nerve toe into our show and give


    you pointers!”