Ivy, accompanied by Joan, arrived at the set only to meet director Tim’s gloomy face that slowly filled with a trace of slight annoyance.
“What happened, Director Tim? Is everything alright?”
Director Tim heaved, exhaling. She sat down on the sofa and stared at Ivy for a while before replying. “What happened yesterday?”
Ivy’s face sank with a frown, unable to comprehend the question. “Nothing unusual.” It was the best answer she could come up with. She sat beside Director Tim, waiting for him to make himself clear.
“Isabelle refused to film without an apology from your manager and a young lady that attacked her yesterday. Ah, this is giving me headaches,” he said, stroking his forehead. “I hate when my plans for filming are distorted.”
Seeing the director in his state, Ivy was even more confused. Why would she refuse to film today? According to the schedule, she had a few solo scenes before Isabelle would join her, and then George would appear at the end of the day’s filming. What the hell happened? Her manager? When did her manager…
“What did my manager do?”
Director Tim raised his head and looked at Ivy incredulously. “You are not aware?”
The feeling of being kept in the dark was perturbing. “No, I’m not aware. What happened?”
Joan cleared her throat and tugged Ivy’s shoulder slightly to signal she had something to say. Ivy shrugged, then looked at her, her face showing a trace of awareness.
“She said your manager abused her, then she ended up in the hospital. Now she’s throwing tantrums.”
Ivy raised her eyebrow. “What? I don’t…” Susan really said she would pick her up in the morning, but she didn’t come as promised. She concluded she would appear on set later in the day, but this… was unexpected.
“Well, um, Ivy, I need to tell you something,” Joan whispered in her ears.
Joan felt a little guilty; Susan was in trouble because of her.
“You have to make your manager apologize to her. I don’t know what she did, but Isabelle stated she was abused,” Director Tim said before glancing at Ivy, who was still trying to comprehend what he said. Why would her manager apologize, for what? She stood up and dialed Susan’s number, but she suddenly appeared.
“What the hell happened,” Ivy questioned the moment she sighted Susan.
Susan sighed, she didn’t know the woman would turn things around like that. “Let me tell you what happened in the presence of Director Tim.”
Susan narrated what happened in the hallway; Director Tim couldn’t help but strike his hand against the wall in anger. How could someone have the guts to stop the film’s progress in such a manner? “I hate actors like her, so audacious.”
Ivy chuckled. She expected this but not the way she pictured it; it was too early to stir up misunderstandings. But she was still unaware it was troubles instead.
“I’m sorry, Ivy, I got you into this. I didn’t know it would result in this,” Joan said apologetically, her face filled with remorse.
“It’s not your fault, you only did what was right. If I were in your place at that moment, I would have done the same thing,” Director Tim said to calm her nerves.
Susan’s face twitched as her memories trailed to her ordeal, and her scalp was tingling. “That woman.”
“Tell me the location of the hospital she is in,” Ivy said to Director Tim. He scrunched his face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, huh, huh.” Ivy understood why he disagreed; he knew people like Isabelle’s tactics very well.
“Director Tim, I insist.”
Director Tim sighed; he too wanted the matter to be resolved as soon as possible as it would take a toll on the film. “Heads up…”
“I know, Director Tim.” She cut him off with a slight smile on her face. She understood the ‘heads up’ he was trying to tell her; he seemed to care about her and also about the film. She wasn’t going to sit back and let things unfold, letting the woman have her way. She was sick of letting others have their way. It was time for her to have her own way.
“I’ll come with you; that woman is insane,” Susan said in disgust. After causing drama last night, she prolonged it until the morning. Who knows if she will continue to dwell on it until Ivy will be kicked out of the cast.
“The hospital is not very far from here,” Director Tim told them.
Susan remembered sighting a hospital on her way to the city. “I think I know it.”
“Let’s go then.” Ivy walked in front, and the other two followed.
The trio entered the car and left the studio, while another car parked at the corner observed their car driving away.
“I didn’t expect her to bravely enter the den. She is quite daring; I give her that,” the man chuckled and picked his phone from his pocket.
“Hello, lollipop,”
“Don’t call me that again; I’m not a child anymore,” the voice from the other end said.
“Things are going as planned,” he said, stroking the steering wheel.
“Just escalate the situation.”
“There’s no need for me to escalate the situation when it is already at a perch; I’ll just watch from the side view and make things move smoothly.”
“Make sure everything points at her; I don’t want her getting away this time,” the voice said sternly.
“Rest assured.” He assured, tapping on the wheels playfully as he smiled devilishly.
Ivy sat in the back seat with Joan, while Susan was driving.
“Do you think if I apologize to her, she would let the matter slide?” Joan asked Ivy, who turned her gaze immediately she said that.
Ivy was slightly annoyed by what Joan said; apologize, for what? If she wasn’t there at that time, maybe Susan would be in the hospital by now.
“Have you gone nuts? Why would you apologize, no, why would we apologize when she clearly started it? She is the bully, not the other way around,” Susan responded abruptly, frowning. From the side mirror, Ivy could see her wrinkled forehead.
“Calm down, Susan. You shouldn’t let a fly bother you.”
“Hmm, true. But what if…” Susan realized Isabelle wouldn’t settle with just an apology without involving those pests…
“What if…”
“Yes, I am aware of her intentions; we are going to meet some guests over there,” Ivy cut her off. Susan must have understood only now. Not managing any artist since Ivy’s hiatus has made her forget the underhand methods many artists used to climb and stomp on others.
Joan sighed and rested her back in the passenger seat; then her phone vibrated in her bag. Pulling out her phone, she saw a text.
*Well done*