CHAPTER 255
Arianna's expression didn’t falter for a second as she replied without hesitation,
“Deal.”
Jane's eyes gleamed with smug satisfaction. She had overheard the judges praising Arianna earlier, and her taunt had been calculated to provoke her. What she didn’t expect was for Arianna to agree so quickly.
If Arianna wanted attention, Jane was determined to give her some — and she fully intended to make sure Arianna got her moment in the spotlight, barking in front of Starlight TV.
Jane’s mood improved just thinking about it, and the irritation she had been feeling dissipated completely.
Linking arms with Harmony, Jane smiled sweetly,
“Come on, Harmony. Coffee’s on me.”
Harm glanced anxiously at Arianna but was swept along by Jane and the others before she had a chance to say anything.
Meanwhile, Arianna’s lips curved into a slight smile as she quietly headed toward the café on her own.
Elsie Jones, the contestant who had earlier clashed with Jane, couldn’t help but approach Arianna, intrigued by her calm demeanour.
“Arianna, are you that confident you’ll get first place?” Elsie asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
“You did great, but Harmony was just as good. It’s a fifty-fifty chance. And trust me, if you lose, Jane won’t let you off easy — she’ll make sure you’re humiliated.”
Arianna gave her a brief look and responded calmly, "I’m sure she will, but thanks for the heads-up."
She left it at that, offering no further explanation.
Realizing Arianna wasn’t going to share more, Elsie shrugged but added candidly,
“Well, I’m rooting for you. I can’t wait to see Jane barking like a dog!”
Arianna didn't continue the conversation, as she wasn’t one for gossip, especially about people behind their backs. Besides, she and Elsie weren’t close enough for that kind of casual chatter.
She simply offered a polite smile and left it at that.
The contestants made their way to the café, and Arianna chose a quiet spot in the corner, away from the others.
At another table, Harmony sat with Jane and a few others, engaged in animated conversation.
Suddenly, a commotion near the café entrance drew everyone’s attention. It seemed someone important had arrived, and the room buzzed with curiosity.
Arianna engrossed in her phone, didn’t notice the approaching footsteps until they were right beside her table. Looking up, she saw a man in his 50s or 60s standing in front of her. He had a stocky build, complete with a noticeable beer belly, but carried himself with an air of authority.
Arianna didn’t recognize him.
He spoke first, breaking the silence. “You’re Arianna, correct?”
Arianna nodded politely. “Yes, that’s me. And you are?”
“I’m the general manager of this station,” he said simply.
The general manager of Starlight TV—the highest authority there.
Arianna blinked, surprised, but quickly stood up and offered a respectful greeting.
“Hello, Sir.”
He nodded in return. “Hello.”
After a brief pause, Arianna asked, “Is there something I can help you with?”
“Could you step outside with me for a moment?” he requested.
Step outside? Arianna wondered if there was an issue with the competition.
Seeing that the general manager had already turned and walked out, Arianna felt it wasn’t the right moment to ask more questions. She quietly followed behind him.
They exited the café and took the elevator upstairs to his office.
Once inside, the general manager walked over to the sofa and sat down. Gesturing to the seat opposite him, he said,
“Please, have a seat.”
Arianna sat cautiously, still unsure of the reason behind the meeting. Finally, she asked,
“If I may ask, is there a reason you called me up here? Does it have something to do with the competition?”
The general manager smiled at her directness.
“Relax, there's no need to be anxious. I saw your performance in the first round and just wanted to meet you.”
Arianna’s initial nerves started to fade. She had assumed something serious was going on based on his demeanour earlier.
The general manager continued, “It’s been a while since we’ve had any fresh talent in the station, and I must say, this year’s group isn’t bad at all. But you, in particular, caught my eye, even though you’re relatively new. You haven’t had any formal training or work experience in this field, right?”
It was no surprise that the general manager had reviewed her background.
Arianna nodded, answering honestly,
“No formal training, but I did a lot of freelance work while I was abroad. Most of the jobs involved filling in for breaking news reports. It was temporary work, but I suppose that gave me some practical experience.”
“Interesting,” the general manager said, clearly impressed.
“I have high hopes for you, Arianna. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you, Sir,” Arianna responded, grateful for his encouragement.
.........
Arianna took the elevator downstairs just as it was time for the results to be announced. A group of contestants exited the café and headed toward the newsroom at the same time.
As she made her way there, she crossed paths with Jane, who no longer wore her usual smug expression. Instead, she raised an eyebrow, clearly confident of her upcoming victory.
“Don’t forget our bet if you lose. It’s going to look bad if Mrs. King turns out to be a sore loser in front of everyone!”
Arianna met Jane’s gaze, her voice steady as she emphasized each word, “You might want to remember that for yourself. Don’t be the one sulking when you lose.”
Without waiting for a response, she walked past Jane, not giving her a second glance.
