Thirty two

Book:Married To My Ex Billionaire Uncle Published:2024-9-11

In front of the venue for the audition, Ivy was still seated in her car with Susan, who was scrolling through her phone.
“The media are still investigating. When they can’t find any new stories to satisfy the netizens, they’ll start assuming who the real imposter is among the two of you.”
“I don’t think they will be able to do that before Irene makes her move.” Ivy was certain of this – Irene won’t just sit back and let herself get scolded by netizens when they eventually find out the truth. She wouldn’t risk it.
“How are you so sure she would divert the attention of the media?” Susan asked, and Ivy waved her hand casually. “I’m sure because she is very manipulative.”
A person who could spend years scheming should be good at handling any issues that arise in the future. Before she came up with a plan to fake her identity, she must have foreseen various results of her actions. She learned that the hard way; only after she was betrayed did she realize Irene bore a grudge against her, and she was certain that Dave was just a tool used to ruin her.
It seems Irene was only aiming at her career as she knew it means a lot to her. Damn mistake of her to fall for someone who was obviously targeting her career.
At exactly 9 am, they both entered the venue. When it got to her turn, Susan whispered in her ear, “I forgot to tell you, he is a big fan of yours.” Ivy turned to face Susan, ‘Big fan.’
As she entered the audition room, her eyes landed on someone in the middle that seemed familiar but she couldn’t remember where she had met him before.
“Ivy Hale, how about I give you a particular scene to act,” Director Tim said with a slight smile.
Ivy returned the smile, “do as you see best.”
The director gestured to his assistant to give Ivy the script. “Open to page 56.” As Ivy heard the page number, she smiled in realization – that was a very challenging scene where the protagonist was placed in a difficult situation. It tested both fighting skill and perseverance. But at first, the protagonist struggled with indecision.
“That’s the scene when Donna’s friend held two students as hostages, a bomb placed on their chests, and a gun pointed at their heads.”
“It seems you don’t have to look at the script to know the scene,” Director Tim approached her as he spoke. “Can I act out the scene with you, if you don’t mind.”
“It’s a pleasure, Director Tim,” Ivy responded. She couldn’t figure out the main reasons for wanting to act the scene with her. They were actors for that purpose. Whatever the reasons, she didn’t care; she was definitely well-prepared.
They were at a good distance from each other, with Director Tim pointing a fake gun at a dummy, waiting for her to start her part.
From where she was, she flung the gun in her hands off a distance and began walking forward, lifting her hands in the air.
Director Tim observed the look in her eyes; it carried a trace of indecision and was clouded by cautiousness. He was a little impressed she got into character quickly, but he still wanted to see more to convince him.
“V, drop the gun,” she said in a low tone still coming closer.
“Stop right there,” Director Tim yelled, threatening to pull the trigger. The character V didn’t care if she died in the process; all she wanted was to make sure lives were not lost.
“I challenge you for a duel; the timer for the bomb shows twenty minutes, so we have only twenty minutes to do this; whoever wins has their way. How about that?” It sounded like her heart was racing from the way she spoke.
‘It seems she could fake a heart race in acting; let’s see what you got in your muscles,’ Director Tim thought. Of course, he knew the next thing was not just to fight; she would have to make sure the dummy was safe because he planned on smashing the dummy. If she didn’t save it in time, then she isn’t worthy of the role. The acting has to feel real and look real.
“I disagree.”
Ivy continued to walk closer slowly, afraid she might anger her friend. “V, please just drop the gun, they are innocent teenagers…”
“I don’t care,” she was cut off abruptly. “Are you trying to outsmart me?” The character frowned as she noticed she was a few distances away and decided to shoot the bomb so they could all die. Director Tim was about to pull the trigger before he felt a strong pain in his wrist. He wasn’t even given enough time to take in what just happened as he felt a side kick from Ivy, or to be precise, ‘Donna,’ because she wasn’t the same woman he saw a while ago. He couldn’t believe he was defeated by the weak-looking woman in front of him; then he remembered he needed to do something, but when his eyes landed on his right hand side, he couldn’t find what he was looking for. The dummy was out of sight…
“Where is the dummy?” he asked, stunned.
“Director Tim, over there,” his assistant pointed.
Now he could see it was at the end of the room, lying at the corner of the wall.
“How did she… How come I didn’t notice.”
He took a good look at the actress standing in front of him; she was back to her normal self, smiling at him as if she didn’t almost break his wrist. He was still feeling the pain from the hit. Director Tim was trained in martial arts, and that was the reason he offered his support, but he didn’t know he would be beaten at his own game. He wanted it to feel real; he certainly got what he wanted.
“I want no other person but you for this role,” he declared, as he couldn’t hold in the excitement in his voice. Many dub him a crazy director because of the way he thinks highly of every film he supervises. He goes too extreme to make a film perfect for his taste, and for ‘Tomboy Donna,’ he found the perfect accomplice that would make the film a hit. She just confirmed his thought she was indeed a crazy actress.
As Ivy turned to leave, Director Tim said, “I am very certain you are the real Ivy Hale of three years ago; no imposter can copy your acting skills even if they succeeded in copying your face.”
Ivy nodded in agreement; that was the main reason she wasn’t trying so hard to prove that.
As she left, the judges couldn’t stop praising her acting, while Director Tim was drifting in imagination. But one thing was clear, he couldn’t wait to begin filming…
“How did it go?”
Ivy stuck her two fingers indicating ‘perfect.’
Susan smiled in satisfaction; she could sense a comparison and fierce competition on its way. But the one who will stand on top is the one with the most perseverance…