CHAPTER 272
William smiled slowly as he saw Arianna’s interest. Elizabeth was his trump card. He had done his research on Arianna beforehand, figuring out what she valued most, which gave him the confidence to steer the negotiation in his favour.
This competition was William’s first time leading such a high-profile event, and it had already thrust him into the limelight. His career prospects were promising, with the general manager hinting that bigger projects were on the horizon. He was determined to let nothing—and no one—stand in the way of his ambitions.
Arianna stayed quiet for a moment, her tone softening. “But Ms. Goldman has her standards for taking on a protégé. Can you convince her to personally mentor me?”
William felt triumphant, sensing victory was close.
He lifted his chin slightly and gave a confident nod. “Trust me. I’ve known Ms. Goldman for years. If I strongly recommend you, she won’t refuse.”
His claim was half-true, half-false.
William had known Elizabeth for quite a while, but they weren't friends. Elizabeth was famous for being stubborn and a bit quirky. Dealing with her took a lot of patience, which was something William found difficult, especially since he had faced her fierce temper more times than he wanted to count.
But Arianna didn’t know that, and William had no qualms about bending the truth.
If she signed the contracts and Elizabeth decided against mentoring her, there wouldn’t be much Arianna could do about it.
Arianna’s eyes brightened after hearing William’s assurance.
“It has always been my dream to study under Ms. Goldman. If I have that chance, I’d be willing to compromise. Alright, I’ll go ahead and sign the contracts.”
“Excellent!” William’s smile widened. “I’ve always said you’re a smart woman, Arianna. Only the wise know how to make the best of a situation. A little compromise can make everyone happy.”
He took out a pen, unscrewed the lid, and handed it to her. “Alright, go ahead and sign.”
“Sure.”
Arianna picked up the pen, signed her name on the non-disclosure agreement, and then did the same on the employment contract.
She set the pen down and smiled at William.
“I’m in your capable hands now, Mr. Schuck.”
“No problem at all.”
William grinned as he collected the documents. “When do you plan to start? I’ll inform the staff.”
Arianna thought for a moment. “I’m a bit tired after the competition. Maybe in a few days.”
She paused before adding, “There’s an awards ceremony in two days, right? I’ll wait until then and clock in with Harmony. We’re on good terms, so it’d be nice to start together.”
“You’re very considerate,” William admired. “It’s settled, then.”
He patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll head back to the station and inform the higher-ups. Enjoy your meal, it’s on me.”
Arianna nodded. “Okay. Take care.”
After seeing William out of the room, she returned to her seat, but as she looked at the table full of food, she lost her appetite. She felt nauseous.
They were all such bullies...
Arianna sipped her tea, trying to calm the nausea before standing up to leave the restaurant.
As she stepped outside, she glanced at the clear blue sky. The sun was shining brightly, yet no warmth touched her heart.
Frustration, anger, and a deep sense of injustice roiled within her, spreading through her entire body. She knew these emotions wouldn’t fix the situation, but she was human, after all. It was impossible to remain calm in the face of such blatant unfairness.
At that moment, Arianna felt the need to talk to someone, to unload her heavy heart.
Without thinking, she pulled out her phone and dialled Xander’s number.
It rang for what felt like an eternity before he finally picked up, his familiar voice coming through the line. “Hey.”
Arianna had a flood of things she wanted to tell him, but hearing the weariness in his voice, she stopped herself. She didn’t want to burden him with her problems or ask him to fix anything. She just wanted to hear his voice, to talk to him.
But she knew Xander was quick to pick up on things. One wrong word or a change in her tone might tip him off that something was amiss.
She swallowed hard, doing her best to push down the sadness. When she spoke, her voice was as casual as she could make it. “Are you busy?”
Given the time difference, it was likely past nine in Axlelland.
“Yes,” Xander replied, sounding tired. “I’m in a meeting.”
"Still in a meeting this late?" Arianna asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Did I interrupt? You should get back to it. I—"
"It’s fine," Xander cut her off, his tone softening as though he was shifting in his seat.
"What’s going on? Why’re you calling me this early?"
"Nothing," Arianna replied, her voice dropping to a playful tone. "I just miss you a little."
"Do you know?" He chuckled, his voice warm. "Well, I miss you too."
"Take care of yourself while you're over there, alright? No matter how busy you get, make sure to rest. I’ll be waiting for you to come home."
"I will."
"That’s all," she said with a small smile. "Get back to your meeting. Don’t keep them waiting too long. Bye, Xander."
As soon as she ended the call, Xander stood there, staring at his phone. While he appreciated hearing from her, something about the call seemed off. It wasn’t like Arianna to phone just to say she missed him without a deeper reason behind it.
His thoughts were interrupted as Ronald approached him respectfully. "Mr. King, Mr. Martin from DLE Group is still waiting for you."
"Right," Xander acknowledged, though he didn’t head back to the meeting room immediately. His mind lingered on Arianna.
"Have the competition results come in yet?"
Ronald blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question, then nodded. "Yes, I checked a few hours ago."
"And?"
Ronald exhaled slightly. "Mrs. King didn’t win. She placed second."
Second place.
Did she call him because she was upset about losing the competition and needed his comfort?
Xander stood still for a good half-minute, deep in thought. Without saying a word, he finally turned and made his way back to the meeting room.
