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!”

Ivy an unexpected rush of satisfaction. Giselle had always had a snide remark at the ready for lvy, and now she was the one

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

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 drama, wondered what he had done to earn such treatment from

ignoring him completely, even embarrassing him in front of Colton. And now, she had not even spared him

process the turn of events. It was bad enough that a newbie had snagged the role she’d coveted, but for that newbie to be Ivy? The same Ivy who had apparently stolen her man and now her role? How could

a lightbulb brightened her dark thoughts. There was no way Ivy, with her lack of experience and clout,

must

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