CHAPTER 301
In the conference room, Clark Lewin took his seat at the head of the table, with two seasoned anchors seated on either side of him. Arianna found a spot on his left, while Harmony took a seat directly across from her.
Clark surveyed the group before asking,
“You’re all familiar with one another, aren’t you?”
Each nodded in agreement.
“Good. Let’s jump right in.”
He picked up a small remote and clicked a button, causing the screen at the front of the room to come alive with a news broadcast. Arianna and the others turned their attention to it.
The screen displayed a major news story dominating headlines. It involved Selby Cornwell, the only son of a powerful and wealthy family. A distinguished university professor and well-regarded physicist, Cornwell was now at the centre of a scandal after being accused of sexual misconduct by one of his students, Ms Willow.
The student had levelled the accusation on social media just two days prior, creating an uproar. Cornwell, in response, had categorically denied the allegations, calling them baseless slander.
Adding fuel to the fire, the university publicly defended him, describing him as a man of exceptional moral character and professionalism.
The story had rapidly become the most talked-about news item across all platforms, and netizens were divided on the issue, fiercely debating the truth of the matter.
Clark allowed the weight of the story to settle in, watching as each anchor absorbed the details. Then, he spoke again.
“This situation is attracting immense public interest, and every major news outlet is racing to investigate further. Our station is no exception.”
He leaned forward, eyes sweeping over the group with intensity.
“Your assignment is clear. All four of you will work on this story, digging as deep as possible to uncover new angles. Whoever provides the most comprehensive findings and the best-developed story will be awarded the opportunity to report it.”
Hearing this, the anchors exchanged glances, each with a glint of determination. The story presented a sensational mix of drama—scandals within an elite family, student-teacher dynamics, and questions surrounding professional ethics. Whichever reporter broke new ground on this story had the chance to catapult their career and make a powerful impression.
After a pause, Clark continued, dropping one last piece of motivation.
“Earlier, Ms. Elizabeth Goldman expressed her interest in choosing a successor. Reporting this story successfully could certainly help you stand out to her. Good luck, everyone.”
The gravity of his words sunk in, and the air in the room became charged with silent resolve as each anchor prepared to take on the challenge.
The group answered in unison,
“Understood.”
As Arianna left the conference room, her mind buzzed with thoughts about the story she’d just been assigned. Returning to her desk, she could barely contain her excitement.
This was exactly why she had joined the network—to tackle hard-hitting stories and make her mark. The possibility of catching Elizabeth Goldman's attention as a potential mentor only heightened her resolve.
This challenge was Arianna’s first real shot, and she was determined to seize it.
Meanwhile, Harmony sat back at her workstation, positioned just across from Arianna.
She caught sight of the focused, confident look on Arianna's face and felt an unrelenting surge of irritation.
Her gaze flickered over to the insulated lunch box on Arianna’s desk—a reminder of the breakfast Xander had prepared for her. The thought twisted Harmony’s emotions, and she gritted her teeth, itching to toss that box to the floor.
Suddenly, Harmony’s phone vibrated, and she glanced down at the screen. Seeing the caller ID made her heartbeat quicken slightly.
She glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, then discreetly slipped out of the office, making her way to the secluded stairwell before finally answering. Her tone was low and deferential as she said,
“Hello.”
On the other end of the line, a deep, commanding male voice came through.
“You’ve been back for weeks now, yet there’s still no progress. I'm losing patience.”
The man’s voice turned questioning. “Are you sure Xander’s affections haven’t strayed? Are you certain he’s still in love with you?”
Without missing a beat, Harmony replied, her voice laced with confidence.
“Xander loves me. There’s no doubt.”
She hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing.
“But…Arianna isn’t as simple as I first thought. She’s calculating, and she knows how to keep Xander’s family on her side, especially his grandmother. Xander is fiercely loyal to his family. Right now, his kindness toward Arianna seems to be more about keeping his grandmother happy than anything else, but—”
“The problem is that you’ve mishandled everything!” the voice on the other end snapped, cutting Harmony off mid-sentence.
The harshness in the words stung, and she felt a rush of frustration bubble up inside her.
Yet, she bit back her anger, remembering how crucial it was to maintain the other person’s favour. Her dependence on their influence still held weight.
Harmony closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.
Once her emotions were under control, she continued her voice calm but laced with a trace of quiet determination.
“Just give me more time. I’ll make sure to reclaim my place. I’ll become Xander’s wife, and I’ll be at the head of the King family!”
A sudden, wicked smile curved on Harmony’s lips as a new idea struck her.
The thought of how to play this next card filled her with twisted satisfaction.
“I already have a plan in motion,” she added, her voice tinged with a dark, calculated confidence.
The other person remained silent for a moment, then finally responded.
“I hope you won’t disappoint me again.”
With that, the call ended abruptly. Harmony stared at the phone for a beat, a surge of dissatisfaction flooding her chest. She could feel her pulse quicken with the weight of unspoken promises and unfulfilled ambitions.
As she tucked her phone into her bag, her mind swirled with thoughts of revenge and power. They had all underestimated her. But soon enough, she would show them.
Every last person who had dared to look down on her, who had dismissed her, would pay for their mistakes.
Harmony's smile grew darker. This time, there would be no room for failure. She would make sure of it.
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