CHAPTER 359
Elizabeth smiled softly. "You remind me of myself when I was younger. Even our experiences are quite alike."
Arianna’s eyes widened in surprise. “Ms. Goldman… have you ever thought about leaving Starlight TV?”
Arianna was familiar with Elizabeth’s professional journey, having admired her for years. From what she knew, Elizabeth had always been with Starlight TV.
“Not just thought about it. I've been tempted many times,” Elizabeth corrected with a hint of amusement.
“Really? But why?” Arianna was taken aback.
Elizabeth chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Their priorities didn't align with mine, and frankly, I couldn't stand working with those outdated executives."
The "outdated executives" she referred to were the station's upper management.
Time and again, whenever an issue arose, all they cared about was shifting blame and saving face. They had no hesitation in sacrificing others to protect their interests.
Arianna, sensing the depth behind Elizabeth’s words, asked, "So… why stay then?"
Elizabeth’s smile widened. "Because they couldn’t afford to lose me. They had no choice but to agree to my terms and let me build my team."
Elizabeth glanced out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, her eyes briefly scanning the office space below.
“The anchors and reporters you see here work under my direction. My team operates separately from the general anchor team at Starlight TV. They report to me, and I give them the freedom they deserve. As long as they stay within the boundaries of the law and basic decency, I will always stand by them.”
She paused, then added, “I have five people on my team. Two of them are here today, while the other three are out-handling assignments. They are not bound to the usual nine-to-five schedule. They can come and go as their work requires.”
Arianna’s eyes widened as she took in this new information. She understood now why the lobby appeared so quiet earlier. The anchors had far more autonomy in their roles than she had realized.
She found herself admiring the flexible and refreshing work structure that Elizabeth had put in place. It was a stark contrast to her previous experiences.
Under Clark, the environment had been rigid and controlling. Clark had demanded blind obedience from his employees, and anyone who didn’t conform was harshly reprimanded.
Arianna bit her lip, then asked, “May I ask why you’re sharing this with me, Ms. Goldman?”
Elizabeth smiled, recognizing Arianna’s perceptiveness. “I admire you, Arianna. You’re a talented individual, and your decision to leave would be a loss not just to Starlight TV, but to the industry as a whole. I wanted to express my regret about that.”
Even so, she had already made up her mind to leave.
“That's why I’d like to extend an offer to you, Arianna. Join my team. I’ll guide you personally and give you the freedom to grow. You won’t need to worry about anything because I will ensure you have the support you need.”
Elizabeth didn’t dwell on the superficial benefits—she understood that people driven by ambition weren’t swayed by money or perks. What truly mattered was the chance to ignite that inner passion, to allow someone to chase their goals without barriers.
Arianna had come to Starlight TV that day already disheartened. She knew that, given her recent success and the attention it had garnered, the station would try to keep her—after all, her rise had been quick and public.
Yet, despite her decision to leave, Elizabeth’s words had touched something deep inside her.
Arianna had always been driven by her dreams, and she knew that to move forward, she needed a platform that would support her—not one that would create more obstacles. The past few months had been full of challenges, and she had been attacked from all sides, both within the company and outside.
Had it not been for the support of people like Xander, Ronald, Grandma King, and Aunt Julia, Arianna wasn’t sure she would have made it through.
Her fingers tightened into fists as her emotions stirred, torn between her past struggles and the tempting offer in front of her.
Elizabeth waited patiently, respecting her space, refilling Arianna’s teacup when it was empty, offering her no pressure—only understanding.
Elizabeth didn’t put on airs like some of the higher-ups. She valued talent above all else. Over the years, she had been searching for promising individuals to nurture, understanding that every industry needed fresh blood to thrive and grow.
She had once been hopeful about Harmony, but that had quickly faded. Harmony’s mindset was flawed—she was headed down a dangerous path, and nurturing someone with such a mentality would only lead to disaster.
Initially, Elizabeth hadn’t been very fond of Arianna either.
For one, Arianna was incredibly sharp. People like that often became arrogant and hard to manage.
Secondly, Arianna’s connection to the King family raised doubts. Victoria wasn’t sure if she was truly committed to her career or just going through the motions, relying on her status.
But as time went on, Elizabeth realized she had misjudged Arianna.
Arianna had a genuine passion for her job, and she quickly proved herself in terms of talent and insight. What was even more impressive was her humility and her adherence to principles—a rarity in a field like theirs, where the pursuit of truth could sometimes be overshadowed by personal gain.
Elizabeth had never extended an invitation to anyone to join her team before, so it was unprecedented for her to offer the opportunity to Arianna. Still, it was clear that Arianna had earned it.
Arianna quietly drank three cups of tea before looking up at Elizabeth. Her voice was steady as she asked,
"Are you sure you won't mind if such complications arise again in the future, Ms. Goldman?"
Her words hinted that more challenges would follow.
Elizabeth smiled calmly.
"Not at all."
Arianna then asked, "And what if your reputation is at risk in the future?"
Elizabeth's smile didn’t falter.
"Not at all."
Arianna took a deep breath, weighing her next words carefully.
"Do you understand that my loved ones were in grave danger because of what I did? It could be you next time. Are you sure you’re okay with that?"
The smile on Elizabeth’s face remained unchanged as she answered confidently,
"Not at all."
Arianna closed her eyes for a moment before standing up. She extended her hand to Elizabeth and said,
“Thank you for recognizing my potential, Ms. Goldman. I’m honoured to join your team.”
Elizabeth rose and shook her hand with certainty. "I knew you wouldn’t refuse. Welcome aboard, Mrs. King."
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