Chapter 17 Do Chores. The moment Theodore's proposal fell on Ariana's ears, she was caught in a bind. Her heart was at war with itself, struggling to decide the course of action. Theodore's offer was tempting, For a fleeting moment, Ariana found herself on the brink of agreeing to the bet, but then she hesitated. In the back of her mind, Ariana was certain that there was more than what met the eye, and she couldn't help but suspect that there was a trap hidden within the offer. Being a novice in the field of actor agents, she had no experience or connections. How could she compete with Jasper?. “If I'm being very honest, my previous internship experience doesn't qualify me for the job. I have never worked as an agent. I'm afraid that. ” Ariana told Theodore, declining his offer. But Theodore was not one to give up easily. He leaned in closer, his voice soft and coaxing. "I know what you are worried about. The competition in this field is all about resources. But with me by your side, what have you got to fear? Don't worry, I've got everything arranged. Ariana was swayed by Theodore's assurances. Could it be that he was offering to secretly help her win the bet?. If that were the case, she had nothing to worry about. After all, Theodore was still the CEO of the Anderson Group, and even though he wasn't present at the company, he had the power to pull strings behind the scenes. Ariana mulled over the decision in her head. She realized that Theodore. was merely using her as a chess piece to outmaneuver Jasper. She resigned herself to being obedient to Theodore's plan. After all, winning the bet meant she could retrieve her mother's belongings and put Jasper in his place. Convinced, Ariana relented and said, "Alright, I'll give it a try. After reaching an agreement, Ariana said her goodbyes to Theodore and went back to her room. As she walked away, Theodore's demeanor changed from warm and welcoming to icy and calculating, a sinister glint in his eye. Horace, who had been lurking in the shadows, finally emerged and voiced his concerns. "Boss, are you really going to let them run amok like this? Aren't you afraid they'll wreck the Anderson Group?"

Theodore sneered, "The more chaos, the better. I want to see these two former lovebirds go head-to-head. "But Ms. Edwards is young and alone in the company. She won't stand a chance against Jasper," Horace pointed out. Theodore's lips curled into a smirk as he thought back to Ariana's interview. "You never know. Let's just sit back and watch. It could turn out to be quite a spectacle. The next day, Ariana marched into SJ Entertainment with confidence brimming inside of her. She envisioned herself making a grand entrance into the company, with the hope of a fresh start. However, as soon as she stepped inside the establishment, her optimism quickly turned to pessimism. The woman responsible for her check-in appraised Ariana with disdain, her gaze feeling like ice-cold water being dumped on Ariana's enthusiasm. "You must be Ariana Edwards, the new employee Mr. Anderson arranged, right?" said the woman. "I'm Donna Scott, the department manager and. also your supervisor. I'll be arranging your work from now on. " “Ms. Scott. " Ariana tried to put on a brave face and forced a smile, but Donna's hostility was obvious. Donna turned her back to Ariana with a contemptuous snort, leaving Ariana to contemplate how she would be able to survive under such unwelcoming circumstances. Ariana followed Donna nervously, but to her surprise, Donna took her to. the storage room. Confused, Ariana asked, "Why are we here? Donna's lips curled into a sneer as she responded, "A newcomer like you should start with sorting out sundries. It will help you get familiar with the company quickly. And after that, you'll be heading to the underground warehouse to lend a hand. It's the end of the year, and the warehouse is understaffed. " She crossed her arms, her tone dripping with condescension. Ariana was taken aback

This was completely different from what she had anticipated. Wasn't she here to compete with Jasper? Why was she reduced to a charwoman?. Ariana tentatively asked, "Excuse me, but wasn't my position supposed to be an agent?”. Donna's condescending smile grew wider as she replied, her tone thick with disdain, "Oh, I know what your position is supposed to be. But after reading your resume, it's clear that you're just a mere inexperienced newcomer. How can I possibly entrust you with the responsibility of managing our stars?”. Ariana was caught off guard by the unexpected obstacles thrown her way. She looked at Donna with a mix of confusion and disbelief. "But. " she. started to say, only to be cut off abruptly by her unsympathetic supervisor. "What? Do you have something to say?" Donna's voice boomed, causing the heads of other employees to turn and take notice. "Don't waste your time thinking about your position. You're lucky you even got into the company with your subpar resume. And as for your duties, every newcomer starts from the bottom, with no exceptions. If you're not up for it, you can leave. " Donna glared at Ariana with contempt. Ariana knew that arguing with her supervisor on the first day would only make things worse, so she forced herself to agree. "I understand. Can you show me to my desk?". "Over there. Donna pointed at a desk that was nothing more than a flimsy plank of wood propped up by a pile of boxes. “That's your desk from now on. Work hard, remember to talk less and do more," she said with a tone of arrogance. "The workplace is not as simple as you think, even if you have connections. Ariana watched as Donna raised her chin and glanced at her with a look of disgust before tuning on her heel and striding away. Ariana was left alone in the cluttered storage room, her mind racing. Was it Theodore's idea to put her in this menial position? Was he playing some kind of twisted game with her? The more she thought about it, the more her head began to throb