CHAPTER 312
Clark couldn’t help but scoff at the thought of Harmony attempting to manipulate him. The sheer audacity of it was almost amusing.
In his eyes, neither Harmony nor the others seemed to hold even an ounce of respect for him.
At first, he believed Harmony had potential—someone he could mould and guide—but it was now painfully clear how wrong he had been.
“Leave,” he said sharply, cutting off any further conversation.
“Take some time to reflect on your actions. And send Arianna in on your way out.”
Without sparing her another glance, Clark dismissed her outright.
Harmony's face showed a blend of embarrassment and annoyance. She was fully aware that being impatient could mess up even the best-made plans. However, after all the challenges she had faced throughout the years, this moment seemed trivial in comparison.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, then another. When she opened them again, her features were calm, and she managed to summon a practised composed smile. Her voice was soft but steady as she said,
“Understood, Mr. Lewin.”
............
Back at their shared workstation, Harmony spoke in a cold, clipped tone to Arianna.
“Mr. Lewin wants to see you in his office, Arianna.”
Arianna was at her computer, idly playing a game. She didn’t respond, nor did she bother to look at Harmony.
This left Harmony wondering whether Arianna genuinely hadn’t heard her or if she was deliberately ignoring her.
The anger that Harmony had worked so hard to suppress bubbled back to the surface. After swallowing her frustration, she repeated, louder this time,
“Arianna, Mr. Lewin asked for you. Go to his office!”
Arianna remained unbothered, her indifference only fueling Harmony’s irritation.
Certain now that Arianna was deliberately ignoring her, Harmony’s frustration boiled over.
Her nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists tightly, her composure slipping away with every passing second.
Finally, she could no longer hold back, and her voice rang out sharply, almost a shout.
“Ariana!”
The sudden outburst reverberated through the office, drawing the attention of everyone around them. Curious glances turned toward the two women, and an awkward silence settled over the room.
Arianna’s fingers paused on her keyboard, and she finally looked up, her dark eyes meeting Harmony’s fiery gaze. Her expression shifted as a slow, amused smile crept across her face, calm and self-assured.
“Oh, I heard you,” she said, her tone light but laced with subtle amusement.
“You…” Harmony’s face turned crimson, her anger radiating off her in waves. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to keep herself from losing control entirely.
Arianna rose from her chair with deliberate grace, pushing it back with an air of casual confidence. She strolled toward Harmony, her steps unhurried, her smile deepening as though she were savouring every moment of Harmony’s fury.
“You look stunning when you’re angry, Harmony,” Arianna said, her voice soft yet cutting.
“It’s truly a sight to behold.”
Harmony’s body stiffened, her voice trembling with barely suppressed rage.
“Why you...!” Her teeth clenched so hard she could feel the ache in her jaw.
Arianna raised an eyebrow, her posture relaxed, and offered a nonchalant shrug.
“What?” she said, her tone almost teasing, before turning and walking toward the office, leaving Harmony standing there, seething and gripping her pen so tightly it seemed on the verge of snapping in two.
Harmony’s gaze burned into Arianna’s back. Her grip on the pen in her hand tightened so much that it nearly snapped in two.
.....
Arianna knocked lightly on the door, the soft rhythm of her fingers against the wood breaking the silence of the hallway.
“Come in,” Clark’s voice called from within.
The door opened with a gentle creak, and Arianna stepped inside. Her posture was poised, her steps measured, the quiet click of her heels tapping against the polished floor. The office was bathed in a muted glow from the sunlight filtering through the blinds, casting faint shadows across Clark’s sharp features.
Seated behind his desk, Clark leaned back slightly, his expression carefully neutral but with a hint of scrutiny in his narrowed eyes.
His fingers tapped idly against the armrest of his chair before he folded his arms across his chest, a gesture of controlled authority.
When he finally spoke, his tone carried a forced generosity, one that made it clear he believed he was doing her a favor.
“I’m giving you an opportunity here, Arianna,” he said, his words deliberate.
“You’ll handle the interview with Professor Cornwell.”
The air in the room seemed to shift slightly, heavy with unspoken tension. He framed his offer as though it were some grand gesture, but Arianna recognized the manipulation behind it.
Her eyes didn’t waver as she looked at him. Instead, a subtle smile began to play on her lips, one that hinted at quiet confidence.
She had encountered men like Clark before, those who wielded authority as though it were a weapon.
She met his gaze steadily, her calm demeanor unshaken. There was no need for her to respond immediately; she already understood the game he was trying to play.
Clark couldn’t deny that Arianna had a way about her. Her appearance, particularly the warmth in her smile, was effortlessly captivating.
It was the kind of smile that seemed to pull at one’s heartstrings without warning.
Despite his disdain for Arianna, Clark found himself momentarily mesmerized. For a brief moment, his usual scorn for her melted away under the spell of her charm.
But that fleeting admiration quickly turned to smugness. He believed he had her right where he wanted her—her opportunity to interview Professor Cornwell had been generously handed to her, after all.
However, that feeling of superiority evaporated the moment Arianna spoke.
"I won’t do the interview," she said, her tone calm but firm.
Clark blinked, stunned. He couldn’t believe his ears.
“What did you say?”
Arianna’s smile remained, but there was no hint of hesitation in her voice as she repeated herself.
“I said, I won’t do the interview, Mr. Lewin.”
She delivered the words so sweetly, yet the weight of them was unmistakable.
Clark’s shock was palpable. The audacity of her refusal left him speechless for a moment.
Was she turning down an opportunity most people would kill for?
“You…” His voice faltered as his frustration began to build. “You’re turning down a chance that everyone else would beg for?”
Arianna chuckled, a sound full of light amusement, before answering,
“Mr Lewin, you announced my removal from the assignment in front of everyone; and now you suddenly changed your mind and expected me to jump at the chance? How do you think your subordinates would feel if you keep flip-flopping on decisions?”
Her words hit Clark hard, and for a moment, he was completely taken aback.
She was right.
His authority was in question now, and he couldn’t hide it.
“I have work to get back to,” Arianna added with a polite smile, turning to walk away.
“Hold on!” Clark stood, his voice growing louder, but his expression was more frustrated than commanding.
“I’m your superior, Arianna! As my subordinate, you need to follow my orders. You don’t get to decide!”
Arianna paused and glanced back at Clark, her calm demeanour never faltering as she took in his outburst.
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