CHAPTER 311
Harmony took a deep breath, ready to double down on her attempts to sway the professor. But before she could utter another word, Selby’s cold voice cut through the air.
“Ms. Jackson, please leave.”
Harmony froze, convinced she must have misheard him.
“Pardon?”
Selby, clearly exasperated, didn’t bother repeating himself. Instead, he raised his voice toward the door.
“Escort this woman out.”
The assistant, who had been waiting just outside, stepped in immediately.
“Ms. Jackson, kindly follow me.”
Shock and disbelief painted Harmony’s face as her eyes darted between Selby and his assistant. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. Selby should have been upset with Arianna, not with her.
Desperate to salvage the situation, she turned back to Selby, her tone pleading.
“Professor Cornwell, why are you asking me to leave? I was only trying to give you a friendly warning…”
Selby had initially tried to spare her dignity, but her persistence left him no choice but to address the situation bluntly. His voice was firm as he replied,
“Ms. Jackson, let me clarify a few things for you.”
“First, it’s common decency not to speak ill of a colleague, especially someone who works alongside you.”
“Second,” he continued, his tone growing colder,
“you seem to underestimate both me and Mrs. King. My decision to grant her the interview wasn’t based on a simple gesture of help. She earned this opportunity through professionalism and dedication. She approached me properly—by writing a detailed, five-thousand-word proposal explaining why this interview matters and how it would be handled with integrity. Her sincerity and thoughtful approach impressed me deeply.”
Selby’s sharp gaze locked on Harmony.
“A journalist who can express such warmth and authenticity in her words shows the kind of character I trust to tell a meaningful story. That is why Mrs King, not you, will conduct the interview.”
“You shared plenty of thoughts during our talk, Ms. Jackson, but your words were no different from what countless other reporters have told me. Individuals like you prioritize sensationalism over truth and facts. Tell me, why should I choose you?”
Selby’s tone was calm, yet his words carried a weight that felt like a reprimand to Harmony.
His years in academia had given him a straightforward, no-nonsense manner, and his criticism was logical and precise.
To Harmony, however, it felt like an outright condemnation of her character and abilities. His words pierced her pride, igniting frustration and anger.
She clenched her fists, her face betraying the fury she tried to mask.
Still, she was unwilling to back down. In a sharp, insinuating tone, she replied,
“It seems I misunderstood you, Professor Cornwell. You’re dismissing my efforts simply because of your connection to the Kings. Naturally, Arianna would have your trust since she’s Mrs. King.”
Selby’s gaze sharpened.
Growing up in a place where manners and reason were everything, he usually avoided getting into petty fights. However, when he encountered someone as stubborn as Harmony, he realized that being patient was pointless.
Fixing her with a piercing stare, he said firmly,
“Let me make this clear, Ms. Jackson. My decision has nothing to do with Arianna’s relationship with the Kings. She made no mention of her connections. She approached me as a journalist, presenting her work with sincerity and a commitment to uncovering the truth. That’s why I chose her.”
He paused briefly, then delivered his final verdict with unflinching honesty.
“And the reason I didn’t choose you, Ms. Jackson, is simple: your conduct and approach are unacceptable.”
His gaze hardened. “You repulse me.”
The words struck like a thunderclap, leaving Harmony frozen in shock.
'You repulse me,' Those words echoed in her mind, louder than anything else he had said.
Harmony’s face turned pale, trembling with suppressed fury.
“You…”
Before she could finish, Selby’s assistant stepped forward, her voice firm and resolute.
“Ms. Jackson, please leave immediately, or I’ll have no choice but to call security.”
Harmony’s eyes blazed with rage as she shot a venomous glare at both the assistant and Selby. Her chest heaved as she struggled to contain her anger. After a tense moment, she spun on her heel and stormed out of the office.
\---
Back at Starlight TV, Harmony stood in Clark’s office, her eyes red with feigned emotion as she recounted her story. She exaggerated every detail, painting a vivid picture of how Selby had humiliated her and unfairly insisted on giving the interview to Arianna.
Clark’s face contorted with frustration as her tale unfolded, his expressions shifting rapidly. Finally, he slammed his hand on the desk, his voice filled with indignation.
“Unbelievable… Completely unacceptable!”
Harmony lowered her gaze, allowing tears to gather at the corners of her eyes while secretly revelling in her success.
\*If I can’t have the interview,\* she thought darkly, \*then Arianna won’t have it either.\*
Harmony knew Clark’s disdain for Arianna ran deep, and her words had only stoked his anger further. She was confident that he would take action against Arianna soon. All she had to do was sit back and watch the chaos unfold.
\*After all,\* she mused, \*a clever person knows how to make use of the tools at their disposal. And Clark was the perfect pawn to set her plans in motion.\*
“Utterly useless!”
Carl glared at Harmony, his voice cutting like a knife. “I placed so much trust in you, Ms. Jackson, and this is what I get? You come back empty-handed and expect me to sympathize?”
Harmony froze, stunned by his reaction.
Why was Clark blaming her? Shouldn’t he be directing his anger at Arianna instead?
“Mr. Lewin, Arianna and Professor Cornwell conspired against me—against us! How can you possibly—” Harmony’s voice trembled with indignation as she tried to defend herself.
Clark raised a hand to silence her, his tone sharp and unyielding.
“I don’t want to hear excuses. I want results! You came in here bragging about how Professor Cornwell chose you for the interview, and now you’re telling me he sent you away instead? And you dare to blame someone else for your failure?”
Harmony bit her lip hard, her face paling as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Clark narrowed his eyes, his mind working quickly.
He couldn’t ignore the tension between Harmony and Arianna—it was as clear as day.
While he had his issues with Arianna, he wasn’t blind to Harmony’s attempts to shift the blame and sow discord.
He leaned back in his chair, his voice cold.
“Get out of my office. And don’t come back without something to show for your efforts.”
Harmony’s fists clenched as she left the room, her fury barely contained.
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