EIGHT

"You're calling him Ivan now?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.

I bristled at Wade's accusatory tone, my patience wearing thin as frustration boiled over inside me. "Yes, Wade, I'm calling him Ivan," I snapped back, my voice tinged with irritation. "He wanted me to"

Wade's eyes blazed with fury, his jaw clenched tightly as he took a menacing step towards me. "You're unbelievable, Wendy. Do you have any idea what people would say about you if they ever heard?" he spat, his words laced with venom.

I shook my head, my anger rising to match his own. "You think I don't care what people would say? All that matters is the truth, and the truth is that I am not sleeping with Ivan," I declared, my voice ringing with conviction.

But Wade remained unmoved, his expression hardened with skepticism as he regarded me with a cold, calculating gaze. "And how am I supposed to believe that, huh? You two looked so close, and then he is now Ivan to you" he accused, his voice rising with each word.

I felt my temper flare at his baseless accusations, my hands balling into fists at my sides. "I have nothing to hide, Wade. If you can't trust me, then maybe you never really knew me at all," I shot back, my voice cracking with emotion. "Well, maybe you actually don't. Even though it was short, I thought we were friends, Wade," I muttered under my breath, the words escaping me in a whisper of disbelief.

Wade's expression softened momentarily, a flicker of doubt crossing his features before he shook his head dismissively. "Friends don't keep secrets, Wendy," he replied, his voice tinged with regret.

I felt a pang of hurt at his words, the realization sinking in that perhaps our bond wasn't as strong as I had once believed. "I didn't keep any secrets from you," I insisted, my voice trembling with emotion. "You know what? Believe whatever you want!"

But Wade remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor as he struggled to find the right words. With a heavy heart, I turned away, leaving Wade standing alone in the doorway, his silence echoing in the empty hallway. As I retreated into the sanctuary of my apartment, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever be the same between us again. Remembering what Victoria had said, I wondered if he actually did like me.

....

As I arrived at the office early the next morning, my heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and determination. I had spent most of the night tossing and turning, replaying the events with Wade over and over in my mind. But now, as I stepped into the building, I knew I had to focus on the meeting with Ivan and Director Osse. It was crucial for the project's success, and I couldn't afford any more misunderstandings.

When I approached the conference room, I saw Ivan standing by the window, looking as composed and professional as ever. He turned and gave me a reassuring nod as I entered. "Good morning, Ms. Banks," he greeted me, his tone formal yet kind.

"Good morning, Mr. Milton," I replied, mirroring his professionalism despite the familiarity that had developed between us.

A moment later, Director Osse strode in, his expression set in a deep frown. He barely acknowledged my presence as he took a seat across from me, his demeanor cold and distant.

"Director Osse," Ivan began, taking a seat at the head of the table, "Thank you for joining us. We have some important matters to discuss today."

Osse grunted in response, his eyes flickering briefly to me before focusing on Ivan. "Let's get this over with," he muttered.

Ivan cleared his throat, setting the tone for the meeting. "Firstly, I want to address the incident from the other day. It's clear that there was a significant disagreement during the table read, and it escalated to the point where Director Osse felt the need to leave."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach as the memory of Osse's outburst flashed in my mind. He had been furious that his casting choice wasn't selected, and it was clear he still harbored resentment.

"Director Osse," Ivan continued, "I understand that you were upset about the casting decision. However, we need to move past that and work together for the good of the project."

Osse's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. "I still believe my casting choice was the right one. It's frustrating to have my expertise dismissed so easily."

Ivan remained calm, his gaze steady. "This is not about dismissing anyone's expertise, Director Osse. It's about making the best choices for the story. Ms. Banks' casting decision was based on a thorough evaluation of the actors' performances and how well they fit the characters."

Osse scoffed, shaking his head. "Thorough evaluation, huh? It seemed more like a snap decision to me."

Ivan's expression hardened, and he leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Osse with an intensity that made the air in the room feel charged. "Director Osse," Ivan's voice was calm but carried a weight that silenced any further objections. "I will not tolerate disrespect in this meeting. I am the boss here, and my decisions are based on what is best for the project. Your expertise is valued, but questioning the integrity of our process is unacceptable."

Osse's face reddened, but he didn't interrupt. The authoritative presence of Ivan was unmistakable, and even someone as prideful as Osse couldn't ignore it.

Ivan continued, his tone steady and commanding. "Ms. Banks' casting decision was made after a thorough evaluation of all the candidates. Her vision for the story is paramount, and as collaborators on this project, we must respect that. If you have concerns, you can voice them professionally, but undermining the process will not be tolerated."

There was a heavy silence in the room as Ivan's words hung in the air. Osse shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly feeling the weight of Ivan's authority.

"I understand that you have your own preferences and insights," Ivan said, his tone softening slightly but still firm. "And those will always be taken into account. However, the final decisions rest with Ms. Banks and myself. We are here to create something extraordinary, and that requires us to work together with mutual respect."

Osse exhaled sharply but nodded. "I apologize, Mr. Milton. I spoke out of frustration. I'll respect the process moving forward."

Ivan nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze still piercing. "Thank you, Director Osse. Let's move on."

I couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude and admiration for Ivan. He had defended my decisions and set the tone for how we would move forward. It was clear that he wouldn't let anyone, no matter how prominent, disrupt the project's progress.

The rest of the meeting proceeded more smoothly. We discussed set design, scheduling, and various other aspects of the production. Director Osse, though still visibly frustrated, contributed constructively, and I made sure to acknowledge his points and incorporate his feedback where appropriate.

As we wrapped up, Ivan stood and offered a hand to Osse. "Thank you for your cooperation, Director Osse. I believe we can achieve great things together."

Osse hesitated for a moment before shaking Ivan's hand. "Let's hope so," he muttered.

I stood as well, feeling a sense of relief that the meeting had ended on a more positive note. "Thank you, Mr. Milton," I said, meeting Ivan's gaze with appreciation.

"You're welcome, Ms. Banks," he replied, his eyes softening slightly. "Remember, we're all on the same team. Let's keep moving forward."