CHAPTER 290
Arianna opened her notifications, and a smile crept onto her face when she noticed Xander’s name at the top of her likes.
Not long after, Rochelle liked the post too and promptly commented:
*"Can’t believe that scoundrel beat me to the first like!"*
Laughing, Arianna replied with an eye roll emoji.
Rochelle’s comment gave her pause. Since Xander had come through in a difficult moment for Arianna,
Rochelle’s view of him had softened.
She hadn’t referred to him as a “scoundrel” in quite a while. It made Arianna wonder if anything recent might have shifted Rochelle’s perspective.
Just then, a notification chimed, and she saw it was a message from Rochelle.
*"Dinner tonight?"*
With her brows raised, Arianna typed back,
*“Back in town already?”*
Rochelle had been overseas on a business trip but had shared few details about it.
*"Yep, just flew in late last night."*
Missing her friend, Arianna didn’t hesitate.
*“Sounds great!”*
*"Perfect! What time do you get off work? I’ll come pick you up."*
*"5:30."*
*"Alright, see you then!"*
After locking in their plans, Arianna quickly messaged Aunt Julia to let her know she’d be out for dinner.
Since her workload was light that day, she set her phone down, logged into her computer, and browsed some of the top anchor broadcasts on the station’s intranet, getting a feel for the style and tone the channel preferred.
After about half an hour, she decided to take a quick break. Stretching, she headed to the bathroom, hoping a few moments away from her desk would clear her mind. She slipped into one of the stalls, giving herself a quiet moment.
Soon after, the sound of heels echoed in the bathroom, but Arianna paid little attention until she heard a familiar voice—Harmony, speaking on the phone in a gentle, affectionate tone.
“Yes, I’ve completed everything. It’s all set up,” Harmony said, her voice soft and sweet.
There was a brief pause as she listened.
“Yes, everyone here has been welcoming. And even if anyone felt otherwise, I wouldn’t mind—I only care what *you* think.”
Her tone softened, almost affectionate.
“Please don’t worry about me so much. I’ll take care of myself, I promise.”
Harmony listened again, then let out a soft, girlish laugh.
“Thank you for helping me get here. I’ll work hard, just like I promised you. And since you gave me this opportunity, I’ll prove it.”
Another pause. “But don’t overdo it with work yourself. If you’re not careful, I’ll just have to show up at your office to make sure you’re resting.”
She finished her conversation with a gentle,
“Alright, thanks again,” then chuckled softly before ending the call, clearly amused by whatever memory she was recalling. Arianna waited until the click of Harmony’s heels faded before leaving the stall.
It seemed Harmony hadn’t landed the job on her own. Based on what she’d overheard, someone influential had pulled the strings for her. And from Harmony’s tone, Arianna guessed it was someone she was close to—maybe the man she’d once mentioned, who seemed to dote on her.
Arianna couldn’t quite place why, but something about it all left her feeling uneasy.
---
Later, as she finished up her workday, Arianna walked out of the building and spotted Rochelle’s sleek sports car parked by the entrance, waiting for her.
With a smile, she made her way over, sliding into the passenger seat.
“I’ve missed you, Chelle,” she said warmly.
But Rochelle’s usual smile was absent. Her eyes narrowed as she looked past Arianna, her expression shifting to something unexpectedly serious.
Seeing this change, Arianna turned to follow Rochelle’s gaze. Standing near the station’s front entrance was Harmony.
“What’s up, Chelle?” Arianna asked, surprised by her friend’s reaction.
“What are you looking at?”
Rochelle’s gaze was cold, her voice edged with disapproval.
“What’s she doing here?”
Arianna was puzzled by Rochelle’s tone but answered, “I think her boyfriend pulled some strings for her. Today’s her first day.”
Rochelle’s expression darkened even more. Arianna had rarely seen her friend look so intense, so she pressed, “What’s going on, Rochelle?”
Instead of answering, Rochelle unbuckled her seatbelt, stepped out of the car, and began striding purposefully toward Harmony. Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement as she crossed the lot.
“Rochelle!” Arianna called out, now growing anxious, but Rochelle didn’t look back. Arianna quickly followed, stepping out and hurrying after her friend.
Rochelle approached Harmony with a tall, poised stance, exuding an air of unshakable confidence as she looked down at her.
"It's you!"
Harmony’s expression wavered just slightly before she gave a composed smile.
“Hello… and you are?”
Rochelle’s answer was cool and direct.
“Rochelle Tyrell. John’s wife.”
Arianna halted in surprise, Rochelle’s response catching her off guard. Rochelle rarely mentioned John in public, and hearing her introduce herself in that way was a shock.
Harmony blinked, her face registering fear in surprise. Then, she offered a saccharine smile.
“Oh, John’s wife. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
Rochelle gave a polite smile and extended her hand. Harmony reached out, but the handshake was unexpectedly firm—Rochelle’s grip unyielding.
The handshake was no simple gesture. Harmony immediately felt Rochelle’s strength, her hand beginning to ache. She kept her expression neutral, yet the grip felt more like a test than a greeting.
Harmony tried to pull her hand away, but Rochelle’s grip tightened even further before she abruptly released it. The sudden movement left Harmony slightly off-balance, and she took a quick step back.
Her face reddened, clearly displeased, but Rochelle remained calm, only raising an eyebrow.
“Are you alright?”
Harmony’s smile became tight, her voice hinting at irritation.
“I don’t recall giving you any reason to take offence, Ms Tyrell. Don’t you think this is a little excessive? Or are you here to do the dirty work for your friend so she can keep up her innocent image?”
As she spoke, she glanced pointedly at Arianna, making sure her words were heard by employees leaving the building, who began whispering as they watched the tense scene unfold.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
