"Very bright of you Ms. Grey to have us all gather for you and not bother to appear." Those were the first words, David said to her. The words came out of his mouth so rapidly with a scowl as if he had been waiting since morning to say them to her.
After a six-hour sleep, Ariel was refreshed. She woke up early and donned professional attire. Revising the stuff she had to present today for one last time, she headed for lunch and made it to the hotel's garage where a row of cars awaited them.
Ariel suppressed her smile. She didn't need to check the stats of the system to know her relationship points with him were all in negative. "I think I let the attendant convey to you that I wasn't feeling well."
Ariel stayed in character and maintained an impassive face, nose up and eyes full of arrogance.
David looked her up and down saying in a tone full of distaste. "You look perfectly fine to me."
As everyone from the main presenting team left for the car, Ariel caught David alone for a moment and said in a tone only audible to him. "I have you to thank for sending me the files. Ms. Steverson does not need to worry. President Luiss has entrusted this task to me. I won't fail him, I won't fail our team."
David, clearly not expecting such words from Ariana, was flabbergasted. The Ariana he knew wouldn't ever thank anyone. She would never care for any team. She would be someone who would be quick to discard everyone's collective efforts and claim the prize. President or company welfare was never her concern. She was a selfish person who would put personal benefit over it.
Shock became apparent on his face and he denied it in haste. "I didn't send them."
"Sure thing," Ariana didn't argue. Passing him a brief smile, she made her way to the car and opened up her laptop getting busy with the files, leaving behind an embarrassed David.
David cursed under his breath and made his way to the car making sure to take out his anger on the attendant later on. He wasn't someone who believed people could change in one interaction.
So he still believed she was the same self-interested, arrogant woman she was.
"Why the fuck Luiss had to appoint her for this presentation? I need to bring that man aside and talk some sense to him later on. This woman is not worthy."
...
Staff from other companies gathered in the conference room awaiting their Presidents. President Luiss stayed in a separate hotel from the staff. Reseverd for the VVIP.
As they interacted with those of opposite company, Ariana stayed in the corner keeping to herself. Mostly because she was still observing, afraid to make a mistake. But also it was in line with the original host personality. She was an aloof person who liked to keep to herself.
"Hi, I'm Rosaline. If I'm not wrong, you are Ariana Grey?" A red-headed woman addressed Ariana.
Rosaline. That name rang a bell inside Ariel's head. The knowledge from the two days of binge-reading was still fresh in Ariel's mind.
The opening scene, the one that introduced the antagonist included Rosaline, the secretary of the second male lead. A feud happened between Ariana and Rosaline and to emphasize Arriana's arrogance, it was depicted how she had jeopardized the cooperation between the two companies by getting back at Rosaline at the cost of their partnership.
David hated her even more after that incident.
Needless to say, any chance of something happening between her and Luiss was ruined after this.
"You are correct," Ariana responded in a cool, respectable tone. She was watching her behaviour very stringently. "I like your hair," Ariel said the same words the original Ariana had said in the novel.
"Thank you. Perhaps it was this hair that let me hold onto this job. You know Gerald has a taste for redheads." Rosaline swirled her hair and then commented. "Speaking of which, you aren't bad either. President Luiss must have seen something in you to have you as the only female in his close staff."
Ariana was aware of what she was trying to dig out.
The original Ariana was proud of this thing and Rosaline's words validated her, warming her up to her, and letting Rosaline's later manipulations work easily on her.
"President Luiss is someone who has an eye for talent." Arianna smiled, pretending to appear appeased at Rosaline's praise.
'Let her think I'm going to fall to her manipulation'
A glint of victory flashed across Rosaline eyes that she quickly hid with a look of appreciation towards Arianna. Assuming with a smile that Arriana had failed to notice her subtle emotions, she continued.
"Speaking of which, regarding our company collaboration with yours, President Gerald is hopeful for it's successful. especially the recent stats...." As Rosaline continued on, she threw the bone in Arianna direction, hoping for her to fall for it.
"Oh, really, is that so? I would love to know more." She pretended to have taken the bait and dig out more info.
With her smile becoming even more brilliant, Rosaline continued on, carelessly revealing the sensitive info as if it didn't matter.