CHAPTER 231
She blinked, taken aback, and then it dawned on her. The realization hit her hard, sending a surge of warmth up to her already flushed cheeks. There was no mistaking what he meant, especially with the way he looked at her.
"You...!" Her voice was a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance. Arianna wanted to be mad, to scold him, but her words got caught in her throat.
"You need to rest and heal," she said, trying to sound stern but failing miserably. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
Xander frowned, clearly not pleased with her response, but he knew when to draw the line. He could see how flustered she was, and pushing her too far would only make her wary of him in the coming days. He wasn’t about to jeopardize the fragile ground he was gaining with her.
"So," he murmured, leaning back slightly, though his eyes never left hers, "you’re saying once I'm fully healed...?"
She gaped at him, struggling to find a suitable reply. His implication was clear, and the brazen confidence in his gaze made her cheeks burn even more.
Arianna opened her mouth to respond, but words failed her, and she snapped it shut again, speechless. He had managed to turn the tables on her so effortlessly that all she could do was stare at him, caught somewhere between mortification and amusement.
"When did I say that? Don't read too much into my words," Arianna shot back, trying to maintain her composure.
Her attempt to control the situation was faltering. Xander's piercing gaze held hers, and for a moment, she was trapped in the intensity of his eyes. He wasn’t about to let her off the hook that easily. His eyes silently challenged her, making it clear that if she didn’t say the right thing, he wouldn’t back down.
"Even if you’re all healed…" She started cautiously, trying to reassert some control over the conversation.
She intended to tell him she still wouldn’t give in to his desires so easily, but the way he looked at her—his eyes daring her to finish the sentence—made her think twice. He looked like a wolf ready to pounce the moment she said something he didn’t like.
She gritted her teeth in frustration. 'This sneaky devil!' she cursed inwardly. He always managed to twist things around in his favour, using every trick to get what he wanted. Her mind raced as she searched for a way to turn the tables.
Then, an idea struck her, and a slow smile spread across her lips. If he wanted to play games, then two could play at that. She decided to throw his words right back at him. Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she opened her mouth to speak.
"It'll depend on your performance!" she declared, with a hint of triumph in her voice.
The tables had turned. Arianna couldn't help but savour the moment of victory. A man might take time to plot his revenge, but a woman could deliver it with a single sentence.
Xander blinked, taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to use his line against him. It was rare to catch him off guard, but she had done it. Arianna seized the opportunity, pushing him away gently, taking care to avoid his injury. She quickly stepped back, creating some distance between them.
With a smirk on her face, she added, "That's my decision, and there will be no appeal!"
He watched her, a mixture of surprise and amusement in his eyes. His gaze stayed on her as she backed away, clearly enjoying this new side of her. Slowly, he leaned back against the headboard, seemingly conceding to her little victory.
"Alright," he said, his voice calm and measured, though there was a glint of determination in his eyes.
"We’ll see how it goes, then."
Arianna felt a surge of satisfaction. She knew this wasn’t over, not by a long shot, but at least for now, she had managed to turn things around. She could see the wheels turning in Xander’s mind, already plotting his next move, but she would deal with that when the time came.
With the matter settled, Arianna felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Xander had given his tacit approval for her to participate in the competition, and that was all that mattered. Now, she could finally focus on preparing herself, pouring all her energy into something she truly cared about.
She turned away from Xander, her heart still racing a little from their heated exchange. There was work to be done, and she was ready to dive in headfirst. This was her chance to reclaim a piece of her dream, and she wasn’t going to let it slip through her fingers.
The competition, at this time,e had a format similar to a reality talent show. It started with an audition round, followed by three elimination rounds that tested various aspects of technical skill and on-air presence.
For the first two rounds, a panel of esteemed anchors and industry professionals would act as judges. However, the final round would involve not just the judges' evaluation but also the viewers’ votes, making it a true test of public appeal.
The role of a news anchor wasn't just about technical skill—it was about engaging with the audience and creating a connection. The competition aimed to find someone who not only had the professional capabilities but also the charisma to capture viewers' hearts and minds.
Arianna, having familiarized herself with the format, knew this was her shot and she had to put her best foot forward. She sat down to craft her resume, knowing it would be the key to making it through the first cut.
With the large number of people participating, only the top 30 would be selected from the auditions. The competition was fierce, and the resume would serve as the initial impression on the judges. It needed to be compelling enough to grab their attention amidst a sea of applicants.
She opened her laptop and began typing out her resume. As she scrolled through her credentials, her heart sank a little. While she had attended a reputable university, her professional experience was far from what the judges might be expecting. She had spent most of her time abroad taking up odd part-time anchoring gigs, with nothing solid to boast about in terms of working at a major television station.
