CHAPTER 313
Arianna’s gaze remained unwavering as she met Clark’s eyes, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. She had learned how to navigate this type of situation long ago.
Her time spent abroad had exposed her to a range of unusual circumstances, but the antics of Clark and Harmony were certainly a new level of absurdity.
Clark’s attempt to present himself as a generous figure, offering her the interview as though it were a great favour, was transparently self-serving.
In truth, he had no choice but to assign her the task, and he was only trying to save face by pretending otherwise.
Arianna’s voice remained composed as she addressed him,
“You took me off the assignment, and I followed your instructions as your subordinate. Now, you expect me to jump back in just because you’re in a bind? That’s not how things work.”
“Arianna!” His fists clenched, and his entire body tensed with fury. “This behaviour is completely inappropriate!”
Arianna appeared unfazed as if his anger didn’t even register with her. She turned and began walking toward the door, her back straight with resolve.
As her hand reached the doorknob, Clark’s voice rose in desperation.
“What do I have to do to get you to do the interview, Arianna? You don’t expect me to beg, do you?”
Arianna paused, her interest piqued for the first time. She slowly turned around, her lips curving slightly as she met his eyes.
“Oh, I think maybe you should try begging.”
Clark stood frozen for a moment, his face reddening with indignation. He hadn’t expected her to speak so boldly, and the audacity of her words left him seething with frustration.
Even though Clark knew Arianna was deliberately playing games with him, he couldn’t simply tell her to leave like before.
After all, she was the anchor Selby wanted for the interview, and the general manager had personally instructed him to ensure everything went smoothly.
At that moment, it hit him—he had been walking right into Arianna’s trap since their earlier encounter. She had planned her moves meticulously and was always one step ahead.
He had underestimated her from the beginning.
Initially, he thought she had only relied on her beauty and her marriage to gain entry into Starlight TV, but now he saw things differently.
Clark clenched his jaw, his pride battling with the reality of the situation. He had no choice but to swallow his ego, despite every instinct telling him not to.
“I…” He hesitated, his lips twitching with frustration, unable to find the right words. Finally, he spoke, as though choking on his pride.
“I’m begging you. Will you do the interview?”
Arianna turned slowly, meeting his eyes with a steady gaze.
She took a moment before speaking, her tone calm but firm.
“Alright. I’ll do the interview.”
Clark stood there, momentarily stunned. He had prepared himself for her to make him beg and then refuse, but to his surprise, she agreed just like that.
What was she playing at now?
His suspicion grew, and he watched her warily, wondering if there was another twist to this.
Arianna sensed his doubt and didn’t shy away from his gaze. She spoke again, her voice measured.
“Mr. Lewin, I didn’t come to Starlight TV for favors. I’m here to pursue my own dreams, to work hard and make something of myself.”
“If you treat me with fairness, just like any other colleague, we can always maintain a professional and cordial relationship. But if you treat me unjustly, as if I’m some sort of threat, I won’t allow myself to be pushed around.”
Arianna knew that entering the workplace meant she would encounter all sorts of personalities. She didn’t intend to make enemies without reason, but if someone deliberately targeted her, she wouldn’t hesitate to stand her ground.
She wanted to make it clear to Clark that she wasn’t someone to be provoked, but also that she wasn’t a pushover willing to be trampled.
Clark stared at her, taken aback by her unexpected words. He hadn’t anticipated this kind of response from her.
Arianna nodded once, turned on her heel, and made her way out of the office.
Even after she was gone, Clark remained motionless for a few moments, still processing her words. It took him some time to fully absorb what she had said, and a new understanding began to form in his mind.
Arianna… seemed far more capable than he had first thought.
It was becoming clearer to him why Selby had insisted on her for the exclusive interview.
Arianna wasn’t someone he could easily dismiss.
...........
Arianna returned to her desk and closed the game she had been playing, opening a new document to begin drafting the manuscript for her interview.
Harmony, freshly back with a cup of coffee, caught a glimpse of Arianna’s screen. A surge of anger boiled up inside her, and she was tempted to throw the coffee right at Arianna’s head.
But she forced herself to maintain composure, even though her resentment was clear. With a mocking tone, she said,
“All you’ve got are these petty tricks, huh? You’re not going anywhere with that approach.”
Arianna paused her typing and turned her attention to Harmony.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a smile played at the corners of her lips as she replied,
“It’s good to see you’re aware of your own limitations. Maybe there’s still hope for you.”
She lowered her gaze for a moment, then added with a smirk, “Would you like me to speak to Mr. Lewin for you? Perhaps you can join me for the interview and observe. You could play the supporting role and learn a thing or two while you’re at it.”
She repeated the very same words Harmony had once used to mock her.
The repeated jabs from Arianna left Harmony feeling dizzy with rage, on the edge of losing control.
In her fury, she carelessly swayed her hand, and her coffee splashed across her clothes, as she wasn’t able to grip the cup tightly enough.
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