CHAPTER 314
A sudden sway of her hand sent Harmony’s cup of coffee spilling down the front of her blouse. She gasped sharply, her voice rising into a scream of frustration.
“AH—!”
Arianna, still seated at her desk, glanced at Harmony with an amused smile that only deepened.
*Now that’s poetic justice,* she thought to herself.
Harmony’s outburst drew the attention of the entire office once again. Embarrassed beyond words, she flushed deeply and bolted out of the office lobby without another word.
\---
The following afternoon, Arianna met Professor Cornwell for an exclusive interview.
The session proceeded without a hitch. As the interview concluded, Arianna rose to her feet and extended a hand toward the professor.
She smiled warmly and said, “Thank you for allowing Starlight TV to interview you, Professor Cornwell. I’ll ensure that your message is reported truthfully to the public.”
Professor Cornwell adjusted his glasses and returned the smile. “I trust you will handle it with care. I look forward to seeing your report.”
After leaving the university, Arianna returned to the Starlight TV office and immediately dove into her work. Sitting at her desk, she reviewed every detail of the interview and began crafting the manuscript.
Her focus was unwavering, and the hours slipped by unnoticed. By the time she looked up, the office was bathed in darkness, her desk lamp the only light illuminating the space.
Arianna glanced at the clock in the corner of her computer screen and was surprised to see it was nearly ten. The silence of the office confirmed that everyone else had already left for the day.
After saving her work and shutting down her computer, Arianna grabbed her bag and headed toward the elevator. The doors slid shut as she stepped inside, and the elevator began its descent.
Unbeknownst to her, a shadowy figure emerged from the dimly lit office lobby, moving silently toward her workstation.
.............
The entrance of the Starlight TV building was shrouded in darkness when Arianna stepped outside. The night was eerily quiet, the commercial district deserted of both people and vehicles after hours. Streetlights flickered faintly in the distance, but their glow did little to cut through the shadows stretching across the pavement.
Arianna pulled her coat tighter around herself as a cold breeze swept through the street, raising goosebumps on her skin. She opened her e-hailing app, her fingers trembling slightly from the chill, and requested a ride. But even after ten minutes, no driver had accepted her request.
Frustration mingled with unease as the silence deepened. The stillness was unnerving. She glanced around, her breath visible in the cold air, and debated whether to start walking.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by the low hum of a car engine. Headlights appeared in the distance, growing brighter as a sleek black car approached. The vehicle slowed and stopped directly in front of her.
Arianna froze, her mind racing. No driver had accepted her request, so why had this car shown up?
Her heartbeat quickened as the tinted window rolled down slowly, revealing a face she knew all too well.
Xander.
His impossibly handsome features were highlighted by the soft glow from the dashboard.
His chiselled jawline, sharp cheekbones, and piercing eyes seemed to look right through her—it was a face that could stop time.
A mischievous smirk played on his lips, adding a touch of playfulness to his usual air of dominance.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” he said, his deep, velvety voice dripping with teasing charm.
“Need a ride? Or maybe just some company for the night?”
Arianna blinked, momentarily stunned by the sight of him.
Anyone else attempting such a line would have come across as nauseating, but Xander had a way of making even the most absurd remarks seem irresistible.
She quickly snapped out of her trance, her lips twitching into a smile.
Without hesitation, she opened the passenger door and slid inside, the warm interior a welcome reprieve from the cold.
“Hey, Handsome,” she quipped, clicking her seatbelt into place, and then Arianna leaned closer, her fingers lightly tracing over Xander's thigh as she whispered, her voice low and sultry,
"Your passenger is ready... take me wherever you want."
Xander glanced at her, his smirk widening. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek, his touch lingering for just a moment.
His voice dropped to a husky whisper as he teased,
“Could you not seduce me right now, Arianna?” Xander murmured, his voice a low, seductive rumble as his fingers brushed lightly against her cheek. His gaze lingered on her lips, dark and smouldering.
“You’re making it *very* hard for me to keep my focus with your inappropriate words ”
Arianna crossed her arms and shot Xander an unimpressed look.
“When have I ever said anything inappropriate? The only reason you think I’m seducing you is because your mind is constantly in the gutter.”
Xander’s lips twitched, a smirk threatening to break through.
“In the gutter?” he echoed, his voice deep and teasing.
“More like filled with thoughts of you. You’ve got me so wrapped up in you that every glance, every word, sets my heart racing.”
Instead of saying more, he reached out and ruffled her hair playfully, his touch lingering for just a moment before he shifted his focus back to the road.
As the car sped through the quiet streets, Arianna sat in silence for a while, her thoughts swirling. Then, a sudden idea crossed her mind, and she turned to Xander with a curious expression.
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