CHAPTER 360
Arianna walked out of the Starlight TV building, feeling both relieved and excited. Just as she was about to dial Xander to share her news, her phone started ringing.
She looked at the screen and noticed it was Xander calling. A grin appeared on her face as she picked up the phone, saying happily,
"You got me! I was just about to call you!"
On the other end, Xander’s warm laugh echoed, making Arianna's heart flutter with a familiar comfort. He always had that effect on her.
After a moment, he asked,
"Are you at the hospital?"
He remembered her mention of bringing chicken soup for him earlier.
Arianna shook her head slightly, "No, I’m at Starlight TV."
"Oh? Are you handing in your resignation?"
Arianna chuckled at how easily Xander could read her.
"Yes, I am. And I had a bit of an... incident with Harmony. I took her down eight times, dislocated her chin and both her arms."
She recounted the entire ordeal with a casual tone, almost amused by it now.
There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a nonchalant,
"Mm."
His response was so understated that it left Arianna momentarily speechless.
Arianna raised an eyebrow and teased,
"Aren’t you upset? Harmony was your childhood friend, after all."
Xander responded quickly, his voice steady.
"I am upset."
Arianna felt a brief moment of tension in her chest.
But before she could process it, Xander's voice came through again,
"Does your hand hurt after everything?"
Relief washed over Arianna as she realized he was concerned about her well-being, not about Harmony.
Arianna let out a soft laugh and felt the weight lift off her shoulders.
"Ms. Goldman invited me to join her team earlier, and I accepted. I'll be working with her from now on!"
"That's great! You've achieved another one of your goals," Xander said, his tone warm and genuine. The joy in her voice was infectious, and he couldn't help but share in her excitement.
Arianna straightened a little, feeling a surge of pride. "Looks like you’ll be treating me to dinner tonight."
"Of course, it’s my pleasure. I’ll pick you up. Wait for me at the entrance," Xander replied, his voice light with amusement.
"Alright!" Arianna agreed with a smile before hanging up.
She made her way to the nearby convenience store, found a seat outside, and began scrolling through her phone, her smile lingering as she waited for him.
............
Harmony retreated to the restroom and hid inside a stall to fix her dishevelled appearance.
Outside, two employees entered and began touching up their makeup, gossiping as they did so.
The first employee spoke, "Did you hear? Arianna was invited by Ms. Goldman to join her team."
"Really?" the second one replied, shocked.
"That's incredible! Getting into Ms. Goldman’s team is so difficult. So many anchors have tried, but they were all sent away without a second thought."
"It's true. I saw Ms. Goldman escorting Arianna to her office earlier. HR confirmed they've already signed the contract, and there will be an official announcement soon."
"That’s unbelievable! Arianna’s the first rookie to catch Ms. Goldman’s attention so quickly. The other five had to work for at least five years and prove themselves with multiple projects before they even had a chance!"
"Right? But Arianna does have the skills. Just look at how she's made a name for herself after this one incident. Now, even other stations are trying to recruit her."
Arianna overheard the two employees continue their conversation as they walked away.
“We’re lucky Ms. Goldman saw Arianna’s potential and decided to take her under her wing. She’s a fantastic addition to the team, and no one else will be able to match her in the future!”
“Speaking of which, Arianna and Harmony started here around the same time, but Arianna has proven herself, while Harmony hasn't shown much. Some say Harmony only got in because of people backing her at the station. I’m starting to believe it.”
“I believe that too. Remember the rumours about Arianna using her husband to get the job? It’s funny, now it seems Harmony might have been the one using connections all along.”
The two women laughed as they spoke, clearly entertained by the comparison.
Arianna’s face darkened as she stood in the restroom, her fists clenched in anger. How dare they mock her?
It was Arianna, after all, who had put her in this humiliating position.
Once the women had left, Harmony stepped out of the restroom, her expression hard. She let her hair fall forward to cover her bruised face.
She had already taken leave earlier and planned to rest at her apartment. There was no way she could face anyone in this condition without being the subject of cruel gossip.
However, as she stepped out of the building, she noticed a car parked nearby. A man stepped out of it and her heart skipped a beat when she recognized him.
It was Xander.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black shirt and trousers, his tall, slender frame exuded an undeniable charm. His sharp features were enhanced by the cool confidence he radiated as he smiled and walked toward her.
Harmony’s heart raced at the sight of him.
She had been captivated by him ever since she was a child, and that feeling never faded with time. She still found herself drawn to him, just as she had back then.
Without thinking, she began to move towards him, her feet carrying her forward.
However, after only two steps, she saw Xander turn away and head toward the entrance of the nearby convenience store. He approached a woman sitting outside, standing before her with a smile.
Arianna looked up and returned his smile.
Xander leaned down, planting a soft kiss on her cheek before wrapping his strong arms around her slender waist. He helped her stand, and with a gentle embrace, he guided her toward the car.
Their movements were effortlessly affectionate as if the bond between them was one only they shared, a closeness that seemed so natural and exclusive.
Harmony stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the car as it disappeared down the street, taking Xander and the woman with it. Her heart raced, her mind reeling from the intimate moment she had just witnessed.
Their closeness, the ease with which they interacted, seemed so natural, so effortless—everything she had never experienced with him. The soft kiss on her cheek, his arm around her waist, the way they moved together—it was all so tender, but it wasn’t for her.
She felt a sharp pang in her chest as the car faded from view, leaving her standing there, paralyzed by the overwhelming flood of emotions she could hardly process.
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