CHAPTER 288
At nine sharp the next morning, Arianna stepped into the sleek lobby of Starlight TV, feeling a thrill of excitement. Following directions from the receptionist, she took the elevator to the human resources floor, where an employee awaited her at the elevator doors.
The woman stepped forward with a welcoming smile, extending her hand as she introduced herself, “Good morning, Mrs King. I’m Claire York. I’ll be assisting you with your onboarding process today, and afterwards, I’ll give you a full tour of the station.”
Arianna shook her hand warmly, appreciating the professionalism and ease in Claire’s demeandemeanournk you, Claire.
"Thank you, and please call me Arianna. It’s wonderful to finally be here.”
Claire’s smile widened, and there was a reassuring warmth in her tone as she replied, “We’re delighted to have you on board, Mrs... I mean Arianna. I know it’s a big first day, so I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly for you. Please, follow me, and if you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask.”
As they walked through the hallways, Claire pointed out a few key areas and provided useful tips about the station’s daily routines, creating a comfortable and informative start to Arianna’s new journey.
Claire led Arianna into an office where she sat behind a desk, entered Arianna’s information into the system, and then pulled out two contracts.
“Here are the contracts that require your signature,” Claire explained. “Once these are signed, you’ll be all set to start.”
Arianna carefully reviewed both documents, ensuring everything looked correct, then picked up the pen and signed her name.
Claire took the signed contracts, then handed Arianna her employee badge with a friendly grin.
“Congratulations, Arianna. You’re officially a part of Starlight TV! Welcome aboard.”
Arianna accepted the badge, slipping the lanyard around her neck with a sense of pride. This moment felt like the start of something she had always dreamed of.
Claire gestured toward the door. “Ready for a tour of the station?”
Arianna nodded eagerly. “I'd like that!”
Just as the two were about to step out of the office, the phone on Claire's desk rang, breaking their momentum.
Claire paused, picking up the receiver. Her eyes widened slightly as she listened.
“Oh! Really?”
Her surprised tone drew Arianna’s attention, who glanced back, curious.
Claire continued to listen, nodding as she responded.
“Understood. Yes, I’ll take care of it. Thanks.”
After hanging up, Claire turned to Arianna with an apologetic smile.
“It looks like there’s another new hire starting today as well. She’s on her way now, so we’ll need to wait a few more minutes. Once I’ve completed her onboarding, I’ll take both of you on the tour together.”
Arianna, who had no immediate plans, nodded understandingly. “No problem. I can wait.”
“Thank you,” Claire replied, gesturing to a nearby sofa. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
Arianna took a seat, and Claire handed her a bottle of water.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks,” Arianna said, unscrewing the cap and taking a sip. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a hint of curiosity. She knew Starlight TV had filled their opening through the recent competition, which she had won, so she wondered what position this new colleague might be taking. Could it be a unique hire for a specific role?
A couple of minutes later, a light knock sounded at the office door.
“That must be her,” Claire said, rising to answer it.
Arianna glanced toward the door, her curiosity growing. She watched as Claire opened it, and soon, the new colleague came into view.
As the person stepped into the room, Arianna’s faint smile faltered, fading as recognition dawned.
The woman standing at the door had a soft, unassuming look with simple makeup that highlighted her naturally delicate features. Her expression radiated a familiar, seemingly innocent smile.
It was none other than Harmony.
Arianna’s mind raced—she hadn’t even considered Harmony as a possibility. Harmony had been unusually quiet lately, almost as if she’d vanished. But here she was, appearing as if she had planned it all along.
“Hello, Harmony,” Claire greeted warmly.
Harmony returned the greeting with a smile. “Hello, Ms. York. I apologize for keeping you waiting; the traffic was terrible this morning.”
“Not a problem at all. We hadn’t been waiting long,” Claire assured her, stepping aside to let Harmony in.
Harmony walked further into the room, her eyes finding Arianna sitting on the sofa. She gave a bright, seemingly friendly smile.
“Oh, Arianna, I didn’t expect to see you here too.”
If Arianna hadn’t come to know Harmony’s true nature, she might’ve been taken in by her warm demeanour. The gentle tone and unassuming look almost made it easy to forget the tension that had come to define their interactions.
Arianna managed a polite smile in return, acknowledging Harmony without a word.
Noticing the subtle tension in the air, Claire, who had a sense of the strained history between the two, cleared her throat to help ease the atmosphere and keep things professional.
“Right this way, Harmony. I’ll need to get your information for the registration process,” Claire said, gesturing toward her desk.
Harmony gave a quick nod, “Of course.”
As Claire and Harmony moved to the desk, Arianna casually pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her social media feed, her expression unreadable. Harmony might be officially joining Starlight TV, but Arianna wasn’t about to let herself get worked up over her presence. Giving Harmony that satisfaction was out of the question.
Noticing Arianna’s calm indifference, a subtle flash of irritation crossed Harmony’s eyes. She’d expected Arianna to show at least a hint of unease. But if Arianna was going to pretend to be unfazed, Harmony was determined to test how long that front could hold.
After Claire finished entering Harmony’s details, she handed her a shiny new employee badge and offered a welcoming handshake.
“Welcome to Starlight TV, Harmony. You’re part of the team now.”
Harmony accepted the badge, her eyes shining with a calculating glint. “Thank you, Ms. York. Since today’s a special occasion, how about a photo to mark the start of my journey here? Arianna, would you mind joining us?”
Claire hesitated, sensing the underlying tension between the two women. She started to interject, hoping to spare Arianna from an awkward situation,
“I’m not sure if—”
But to her surprise, Arianna looked up calmly, her gaze steady. “Why not? I’d be happy to.”
Both Claire and Harmony looked taken aback, though Harmony’s reaction was tinged with something darker—her request had been intended to unsettle Arianna, yet here she was agreeing with ease. Harmony’s carefully constructed smile stayed in place, but a flicker of something else—maybe irritation or surprise—passed through her eyes.
Arianna stood, her expression pleasant, and moved to join the impromptu photo.
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