CHAPTER 317
Could Arianna have been so overwhelmed during her first live broadcast that she had forgotten her script?
If that were the case, it would spell disaster.
Everyone at Starlight Network had high expectations, and a failure on such an important occasion would undoubtedly unleash a storm of backlash.
Arianna felt beads of sweat forming on her back. She didn’t need to see the expressions of those around her to know that their patience was wearing thin.
If she didn’t regain her composure and deliver a flawless performance, her career in broadcasting might end before it truly began.
The director’s voice suddenly barked through her earpiece, laced with frustration.
“What is going on, Arianna? Can’t even manage to read a script smoothly? That’s the bare minimum! Ridiculous!”
He exhaled sharply, his irritation evident, and snapped,
“Once we cut to the commercial in one minute, you’re off the air!”
The words hit like a thunderbolt. Being pulled off mid-broadcast was tantamount to being declared a failure.
Turning to his assistant, the director issued another order, his tone sharp.
“Get the backup anchor ready to take over immediately!”
The assistant nodded briskly, already reaching for the phone.
“I’ll call Harmony to step in.”
Meanwhile, the director motioned to the camera crew.
“Be ready. We’re cutting to a commercial break in thirty seconds.”
The tension in the studio was thick, everyone holding their breath for what would come next.
The cameraman signalled with a quick OK gesture, ready to cut when the time came.
The director’s voice cut through the tense silence, sharp and counting down, “Ten, nine, eight…”
With each number, Arianna felt her heart sink deeper into despair. In an environment where even the slightest misstep was unacceptable, her confidence had been shattered completely.
By the time the director reached “Three, two…” the light in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by the heavy weight of impending failure.
But then—
“Arianna.”
The voice was warm, steady, and so familiar that it startled her. It wasn’t the cold reprimand she had braced herself for through the earpiece. It wasn’t the harsh judgment she’d been expecting.
Her head jerked up, her gaze lifting toward the source of that voice.
Standing just offstage where she could see him was Xander. He had slipped into the studio unnoticed, his commanding presence anchoring her amidst the chaos like a lifeline she hadn’t known she needed.
Arianna’s breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat in shock. He wasn’t supposed to be here—wasn’t he meant to be away finalizing that critical contract? Yet, against all expectations, there he was, standing firm and steady just when she needed him most. At her most vulnerable moment, Xander had appeared like an unshakable pillar of support, his presence radiating a confidence that seemed unbreakable.
His dark eyes locked onto hers, steady and filled with unspoken encouragement that seeped into her soul. The faint smile tugging at his lips radiated warmth, cutting through the tension that had suffocated her moments ago.
“You’ve got this. Do your best,” he said, his voice low yet firm, carrying the weight of a promise she hadn’t realized she needed to hear.
Her chest tightened, not with anxiety but with a sudden, unexpected surge of courage. The trembling in her hands stilled, and her pulse steadied. His presence lit something deep within her—a spark of determination she thought she had lost.
In that instant, Arianna knew she couldn’t let him down, and more importantly, she couldn’t let herself down. She straightened her back, the dim light in her eyes reigniting with quiet resolve.
During her two years abroad, Arianna faced countless challenges, especially when she began working part-time as an anchor.
Those early days were riddled with mistakes, and the consequences were harsh. She was often met with harsh reprimands, deductions in her already meagre wages, or withheld pay altogether. There were times she worked tirelessly for days without earning a single penny, only to dip into her savings to cover medical expenses when exhaustion took its toll.
Encouragement was a foreign concept in those days. No one offered her a kind word or a shred of forgiveness. Not once did anyone say something as simple as
*“You’ve got this.”*
But now, Xander’s unexpected words of reassurance, combined with his unwavering presence, seemed to reach into the depths of her soul, grounding her. The chaos and panic swirling in her mind began to dissipate.
The manuscript she had painstakingly written suddenly came back to her, as if it had been waiting in the shadows for her to find clarity.
While she didn’t possess Xander’s incredible memory, Arianna’s determination and years of effort had given her a sharp recall. Even though she had only reviewed the manuscript a handful of times, the words flowed back to her vividly.
Her delivery steadied, her voice gaining strength and confidence with each passing moment. Slowly but surely, her pace returned to normal, and the broadcast continued without a hitch.
The director, who had been ready to cut to commercials, froze as he watched her smooth recovery. With a quick gesture, he signalled the cameraman to keep rolling.
At that moment, the assistant burst into the studio with Harmony by his side. His eyes widened in surprise at what he saw, but Harmony’s face darkened as she realized her opportunity was slipping away.
The assistant told Harmony to wait a moment before rushing over to the director. “What’s going on? Do you still want Ms. Jackson on the screen?”
The director dismissed him with a wave, his voice confident. “No need for Harmony anymore. Arianna’s impressively pulled herself together. She’s doing just fine. We don’t need to switch her out now.”
The assistant nodded and returned to Harmony, delivering the news with little care. “Ms. Jackson, we won’t be needing you anymore. You’re free to rest.”
Harmony was taken aback, her face flushed with frustration.
Suppressing her fury, she bit back, “Are you kidding me? You’re just toying with me! I’ve got my things to do, you know.”
The assistant, barely fazed, shrugged. “I’m just following the director’s orders, Ms. Jackson. If you’ve got an issue, take it up with him. I have my work to get to. Goodbye.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Harmony seethed, watching him go. *This was supposed to be my moment. How did it go so wrong?*
Her eyes burned with resentment, and she clenched her fists tightly. She had worked too hard to be sidelined like this.
*Arianna… she always gets the breaks. Why does she always come out on top?*
But then her gaze shifted, and she saw Xander standing at the far side of the stage, watching Arianna with such intensity it almost seemed like she was the only person in the room.
He stood with the kind of quiet power that commanded attention, his focus unwavering on Arianna, as if she was his everything.
Harmony’s chest tightened.
The sight of him, the way he was so captivated by Arianna, only fueled the bitterness inside her. She had been so close to securing everything she wanted, but Arianna, once again, had come out victorious.
Her insides boiled with jealousy and resentment.
*Why does she always have to be the one everyone notices?* Harmony's gaze darkened, her mind racing with thoughts she knew she shouldn’t entertain, but the green-eyed monster was already taking hold.
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