The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2020

Ivy sauntered over, a triumphant twinkle in her eye as she brandished the contract in her hand. “Yep, Giselle, just sealed the deal. I’ll leave you two to chat about the role,” she said, her tone light but the undercurrent of her words cutting through the tension in

the room.

Before she walked away, she turned to Colton with a genuine smile. “Thanks, Colton, for allowing me to be a part of ‘Ballad of Valor.’ I promise I’ll give it my all.”

“What?” Giselle’s shock echoed through the room, her composure crumbling like a house of cards. “You… You’re the fresh talent Colton picked?”

Ivy simply nodded, her smile never wavering. “Didn’t I tell you I was here job hunting, Giselle? Well, this is the job!”

always had a snide remark

that we’ve got the paperwork out of the way, I’ve got to run. Let’s chat later,” Ivy said, unable to suppress the smugness in her voice as she waved the

people, two of whom were lost in their thoughts. Giselle’s face was a mask of envy and confusion. Balfour, a silent observer throughout this unfolding

in front of Colton.

Giselle struggled to process the turn of events. It was bad enough that a newbie had snagged the role she’d coveted, but for that newbie

There was no way Ivy, with her lack of experience and

had to be Balfour. He must have pulled

over the Howard family empire, steering it to greater heights. She had always thought