Chapter 39 The Girl Was Putting Him On The Spot
"Carlton, what are you talking about?" Moses closed the door and walked over to grab the tablet from him.
"Hey, I am not finished yet." Carlton complained. Seeing his brother was unhappy, he continued, "I'm investigating her, and I've got to find out who she really is first."
"She is not the point." Moses said in a muffled voice, "The problem is on Lloyd."
Carlton looked at his younger brother and snorted, "You are really protective of her."
Moses said with a frown, "How can you say that? Miss Gibson is really professional."
Carlton pouted and said, "Tomorrow, I will go to the studio with you to see what her true colors are."
Moses said, "Our studio does not allow outsiders."
"I have a solution." As Carlton was speaking, he leaned forward and squinted at Moses's face. "This Ebony, don't tell me you have a thing for her."
"How is that possible?" Moses flushed, quickly explaining, "I just admire her professional skills. Although we are both newcomers, she has way better acting skills than I do. Working with her can be more nervous than working with those veteran actors."
Carlton gave a snort of indifference, and said, "We'll see when I meet her tomorrow."
--
The next day, Ebony felt something was not right as soon as she arrived at the studio.
When director Bass saw her, he said loudly, "Ebony, come here."
Ebony hurriedly trotted over, and then saw a man standing in front of director Bass.
The man was about twenty years old, handsome, wearing a delicate suit. By his features, he made people feel there was an air of unruliness on him.
"This is Carlton Smith, and Mr. Smith has decided to invest one million dollars for our film crew." Director Bass squinted with a big smile as he spoke. Then he pointed at Ebony, saying to Carlton, "This is the heroine of our play - Ebony Gibson."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Gibson." Carlton stretched out his hand with a smile.
Ebony shook hands with him.
It was just a light touch. They let go of each other's hand immediately.
Carlton continued, "Director Bass, I'd like to take a tour of the studio. Is that OK?"
"Yes, of course, this way please."
After the two left, Ebony walked to the make-up artist.
Moses also came as the make-up was halfway through. He talked to Ebony enthusiastically, "Miss Gibson, have you had breakfast?"
Ebony said casually, "I have."
Moses suddenly looked at the back, "That man seems to be a new investor of our studio. I really didn't expect that we can still attract new sponsorship, since filming has already started. I wonder if our director will rent a changing room and make-up room with the money. It's not convenient to always put on make-up in a corner like this. Besides, it's not convenient for men and women to change clothes if we don't have a changing room. 
Ebony smiled but didn't reply.
Seeing she seemed not to be interested, Moses didn't say anything more.
After a while, filming officially started. When Ebony walked around to check the shooting location, she found that the investor was still there, and he even took the director's seat.
Ebony thought to herself, "Don't tell me this layman is going to direct shooting."
Fortunately, after they started to shoot, the investor didn't intervene anything.
Except that Moses made two tiny mistakes during the whole performance, she finished pretty much everything on the first try. 
During the noon break, director Bass suddenly announced a piece of good news, saying that he had rented a large house nearby. In the future, there would be a clothing room, a make-up room, and two separate changing rooms - one was for boys, and the other one was for girls.
Everyone was very happy. Moses walked to Ebony's side and said meaningfully, "It will be more convenient to change clothes in the future, and there is no need to borrow a room from others."
Ebony glanced at Moses, then looked at Carlton, who resembled him a lot. She replied with a faint sneer, "Mr. Smith was really thoughtful."
Moses was stunned, just as he was about to say something, Ebony had already turned around and went to the other side with an indifferent expression.
Ebony was indeed unhappy. Anyone would feel upset if others got defensive about them for no good reason. 
In the afternoon,  Moses truly felt what consequence it would be if Ebony was upset.
During the shooting in the morning, Ebony had been accommodating him. She would guide him if he didn't do well when going through the plot, and she would even rewrite the scripts to cover his flaws in acting.
But in the afternoon, all these favors were gone. Not only that, Ebony increased difficulty. The quick changes of her emotions in acting were not something Moses could handle.
It had been an hour, yet they hadn't finished one scene. Director Bass was very dissatisfied.
How come he dropped the ball while the new investor was watching?
"Moses, come here." Director Bass called Moses over, with a stern face, suppressing his anger to analyze the play with him.
Carlton frowned at the side. Seeing his younger brother was criticized big time, he felt bad, and then he noticed Ebony.
Carlton was very sure that the girl was deliberately put his brother on the spot.
The gap of his acting in the morning and afternoon stood in sharp contrast.
According to the progress of yesterday, it should have been five scenes in schedule for this afternoon.
As a result, by 9 o'clock in the evening, they hadn't even finished three scenes.
Director Bass had no option but to call it a day unpleasantly.
As soon as the director told to wrap up, Ebony went to the changing room to change clothes. When she came out, she saw Moses just coming in with his head down.
"Ebony..." Moses wanted to say hello.
Ebony didn't respond, and passed him directly.
The child should learn a lesson.
--
After Lloyd finished shooting, he acknowledged Lionel, took the script, and went back to the lounge.
Lloyd opened the door, seeing the lights were on inside. He raised his eyebrows, looking around, and he saw Ebony was on the sofa, with her legs crossed, playing with her phone.
He walked in, closed the door, and asked casually, "To change clothes?"
"No." Ebony put away the phone, stood up, took out a key from her pocket, and handed it to Lloyd.
Lloyd looked at the spare key and asked, "What is this for?"
Seeing that he didn't take it, Ebony put the key on the coffee table and said, "We rented a large changing room nearby, so we don't need to use this one anymore."
Lloyd frowned.
Ebony put her hands in the pockets, and casually said, "I am here just to tell you in person and return the key to you. I appreciate your kindness. I gotta go. Bye."
With that, she walked past Lloyd.
Suddenly, the man grabbed her arm.
Ebony paused for a second and turned to look at him, "Mr. Vasquez, is there anything else?"
Lloyd looked at her deeply, and shortly after he said, "Do you want to go to Sleeldale together the day after tomorrow?"
The day after tomorrow is the third recording of "Travel 5+1", and the destination is Sleeldale.
Ebony asked in confusion, "Why do we go together?"
Lloyd hesitated and came up with a reason, "We will be on the same route."
Ebony laughed, pushed his hand away, shook her head and said, "I don't think so."
After speaking, she walked past him and exited the lounge.
Looking at the door of the lounge was closed again, Lloyd stood there awkwardly.