CHAPTER 274
Over the next three days, Arianna stayed at home, spending time with Grandma King, never venturing outside.
During that period, William called her to inform her that she could start working at Starlight TV anytime, as he had already informed the HR department.
It seemed he believed she was content with the situation, and casually asked, “Will you be attending the awards party?”
Initially, William hadn’t invited her, assuming she might feel uncomfortable. However, after seeing her apparent acceptance of the circumstances, he decided to extend the invitation.
Both Harmony and Arianna were exceptionally talented, and nurturing both would be beneficial for the company.
Adding another ally was always better than gaining another opponent.
Arianna responded warmly, as though pleased by the offer.
“How could I turn down such a kind invitation from you, Mr. Schuck? I’m sure there will be senior figures, colleagues, and even representatives from other media outlets. It would be good to meet some of them, especially since I’ll be working with them in the future.”
William, satisfied with her response, smiled.
“Don’t worry, Arianna. You’re sharp and capable, and I’m sure you’ll go far. Alright, I’ll have someone send over the invitation. See you at the event.”
“Thank you very much.”
Before long, the day of the awards dinner arrived. The event was set to begin at eight in the evening.
The competition had garnered a lot of public interest, so the awards dinner was planned on an equally impressive scale. The television station reserved the city’s central stadium for the event, and nearly every prominent figure in the media industry was invited to join in the celebration.
At Grandma King’s insistence, Arianna dressed elegantly for the occasion. Not only did she choose a stunning outfit, but Grandma King also arranged for her driver to take her to the venue in style. It was essential to make a strong impression and maintain her status.
As Arianna stepped out of the car, she noticed Harmony arriving at the same time. Harmony had outdone herself, trading in her usual soft, understated look for something far more striking.
She wore a brilliant, canary-yellow gown that highlighted her pale complexion, giving her an ethereal, almost painting-like beauty.
The moment Harmony exited her car, the gathered reporters instantly turned their attention toward her. Their cameras clicked away rapidly, accompanied by admiring remarks.
"I’ve photographed many women in the media world, but Harmony stands out," one commented.
"She’s stunning," another added.
"Her usual simple, modest style made her look like everyone’s first love, but tonight, she’s on another level. She can pull off both understated elegance and full-on glamour. What’s not to love?"
"And let’s not forget—she’s beautiful inside and out. That footage of her rescuing that child? I’ve watched it countless times. Honestly, if I’d been there, I don’t think I’d have had the courage to act like she did. She was inches away from being seriously hurt."
"Yes, exactly! I was on the edge of my seat watching that video. Harmony always seems so delicate, but who would've thought she'd be so courageous? She deserves the title of the most beautiful rising anchor. Honestly, I can see her following in Ms. Goldman's footsteps."
"Absolutely! And isn’t Ms. Goldman attending tonight's event? There’s a rumour going around that she came specifically to meet Harmony. Who knows? She might even take her on as a protege."
"That would be incredible. If Ms. Goldman takes her under her wing, Harmony’s future is practically guaranteed to be golden."
"Right? It’s the kind of opportunity we can only dream of. But we don’t have her looks, her skills, or her bravery…"
Harmony's smile grew even more radiant as the compliments kept coming. At the photographers' request, she struck several poses, allowing them to capture her from all angles. Once they had taken enough pictures, she thanked them sweetly.
"I appreciate your kind words. I’ll be heading inside now."
As she walked along the red carpet, she caught sight of Arianna out of the corner of her eye. Pausing for a moment, Harmony made her way over.
Arianna, seeing Harmony's approach, stopped as well and looked up at her.
Harmony was the first to break the silence.
"I didn’t expect to see you here, Arianna. I appreciate your understanding and support."
'Understanding'
'Support'
Arianna couldn’t help but notice the carefully chosen words.
Arianna seemed intrigued as she observed Harmony's bright smile. She smiled faintly and replied,
"I hope tonight’s awards ceremony turns out to be a great one. Make sure to keep that smile until the very end."
"Thank you for your kind wishes," Harmony said with visible relief.
"Let’s continue working together like we always have, moving forward."
Arianna gave her a polite smile but remained silent.
Not pressing further, Harmony added, "I need to head backstage to get ready, Arianna. See you later."
"Of course."
With that, Harmony turned and left. The moment she entered backstage, William approached her, pulling her aside.
"Both the general manager and Ms. Goldman have arrived. I’ll take you to meet them now. Ms. Goldman’s presence tonight is significant, and this is your chance to impress."
Harmony nodded a determined smile on her face.
"Understood."
William led her to a VIP lounge. Inside, the general manager and Elizabeth Goldman were seated comfortably, engaged in conversation. When William and Harmony stepped forward, William spoke up first.
"Sir, Ms. Goldman," he greeted them, before gesturing toward Harmony.
"This is Harmony Jackson, the competition’s winner. She shows a lot of promise."
Harmony smiled warmly and introduced herself. "Sir, Ms Goldman, it’s an honour to meet you. My name is Harmony."
Both the general manager and Elizabeth glanced up at her simultaneously.
The general manager gave a nod of approval.
"You’ve made a good impression so far. Keep up the excellent work."
"I will, thank you very much for your encouragement," Harmony responded gratefully.
Elizabeth, known for her composed and commanding presence, studied Arianna with a serious expression. After a pause, she asked,
"Do you have time after the awards dinner?"
As soon as Elizabeth posed the question, a spark of excitement flickered in both William and Harmony’s eyes.
The fact that Elizabeth had taken the initiative to extend an invitation was a clear indication that she was open to giving Harmony a real opportunity.
Harmony felt a surge of happiness but maintained her composure as she responded, "Yes! Yes, of course, I'll have time."
Elizabeth gave her an approving look and replied in a gentle tone, "Then let’s meet for tea afterwards."
"It would be my pleasure," Harmony said, her voice steady despite her excitement.
