The Kiss that Sparked it All

Chapter 2026

Balfour picked up his coffee mug and took a sip. “No, it didn’t go under. I stepped in and bought it out before it could.”

“Really?” Giselle’s face lit up with delight. “Does that mean we can still get it? Balfour, when can you take me on a factory tour?”

While they chatted, Ivy’s gaze never left her smartphone, her fingers flicking across the screen in silent concentration.

These stories from their shared past did not include her; she had no comments to add. Aside from scrolling through her phone, she could not think of anything else to do.

Giselle’s topic of conversation seemed designed to put distance between Ivy and the two of them.

She was making it clear that she and Balfour were childhood friends, the perfect match.

Engrossed in her phone, a notification drew Ivy’s attention-Nolan had sent her a message.

[Heard you landed a role in Colton’s new movie, congrats!]

first reaction was to wonder how Nolan knew about this, but then it clicked. Colton had cast her after seeing the Harris Group commercial, so Nolan must have caught wind of it,

Ivy replied,

Speaking of which, I owe you one. I’d never have gotten this role

did great. Remember me when you’re

even sure if I can pull this off. If I bomb, it’s curtains

fantastic. I

worries she

with Nolan, however, eased her mind considerably.

was that Balfour had been eyeing her with a cold

the phone from her grasp, and after seeing the exchange between her and Nolan, his expression turned even darker.

preferred to message Nolan rather than share with him, the person sitting right in front of

out to retrieve her phone, but he dodged

phone and set it aside. “No phones at the dinner

haven’t finished replying.” Ivy thought it rude not to respond to Nolan since he had helped her, so she

expression was intimidating. “Fine, let’s eat