CHAPTER 84

CHAPTER 84

ARIANA’S POV

“Are you sure about this?” Ethan asked again as I fixed the last button on my coat. His reflection behind me in the car window was tense, his brows drawn together. “You know Helen doesn’t meet anyone before the day of the interview, especially when it’s this close. Six days, Ariana. She could twist this into something ugly.”

“I’m sure.” I checked my lipstick in the mirror, pretending my hands weren’t shaking. “It’s not something for us to stress over. What’s the worst that could happen?”

He gave a humorless laugh. “She could cancel on you and end your career with two sentences on social media. You know how she plays.”

That hit harder than I wanted it to. I turned to glare at him. “And you’re telling me this now?”

Ethan lifted his palms. “You said you wanted honesty.”

“Too late for that,” I muttered under my breath, feeling the pressure climb into my chest like smoke. My lungs burned. I tried to push it down, taking a few slow breaths. I couldn’t let him see how rattled I was.

He leaned closer. “You were confident five minutes ago. What happened to that?”

“Don’t start with me, Ethan.” I pushed the car door handle, ready to leave before he got another word in. “Just open the door.”

“You don’t want me opening it for you,” he said evenly. “We’re in her world now. You don’t want to look like you need protection.”

I hesitated, then nodded. He was right. I hated that he was right. “Fine. Stay put then. Watch and learn.”

His mouth twitched. “You’ve got this.”

“I'm better.” I slipped on my shades and stepped out. One of his guards joined me automatically, keeping a polite distance. Ethan rolled up the window, his silhouette fading behind the tinted glass.

I squared my shoulders. “Here we go.”

The broadcasting building loomed above me, glass and steel catching the morning sun. Inside, it was all polished marble floors and sharp lines. Everyone moved with the kind of purpose that made you second-guess your every step.

I walked straight to the front desk, forcing my voice into calm professionalism. “Good morning. I’m here to see Helen Duran.”

The receptionist froze mid-typing, her eyes flicking up to me. I could see the recognition dawning already. Perfect. This was exactly what I didn’t want.

“Wait a second…” she started, her voice climbing with excitement, “you’re—”

“Yes,” I cut her off quickly, lowering my tone. “Ariana Blake. Please keep that between us. I don’t want anyone to know I’m here. Got it?”

Her eyes widened, then she nodded like she’d been handed state secrets. “Of course. Ms. Duran has been expecting you since Mr. Carter came by earlier this week.”

Ethan’s name hit me like a spark. “She’s been expecting me?” I leaned forward slightly, my voice still low. “That’s… interesting.”

“Very.” The woman’s hands fumbled with the phone. “Give me one second.” She spoke quickly into the receiver, nodding, then turned back to me with a nervous smile. “You can go up now. Her office is on the third floor, the last door on the left.”

“Thank you.” I offered her a quick smile and followed the guard toward the stairs. My heels clicked against the floor, echoing far too loudly in the quiet hall. Each step felt like a countdown.

At the third-floor landing, the receptionist from upstairs was already waiting. “Ms. Duran will see you now,” she said softly, opening the glass door.

I stepped inside, and there she was.

Helen Duran.

She was everything I’d heard and more—striking, poised, cold. Her black hair fell straight over her shoulders, her dress matching the sleekness of her office. Every inch of her screamed control.

“Hello,” I said, smiling like I wasn’t nervous. “You must be—”

“Tell your guard to wait outside,” she interrupted without looking up.

I blinked. “Oh.” She was definitely the type who enjoyed power games. “Of course.” I turned to the guard. “Wait outside.”

Once the door shut, I faced her again. “He’s out. Satisfied?”

“Sit.” She gestured toward the chair opposite her, her eyes still on a stack of papers. When she finally looked up, her lips curled slightly. “You look… less impressive in person.”

I almost laughed. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing, but I’m too polite.”

That got her attention. Her gaze sharpened, assessing. The silence that followed was thick enough to touch.

“Bold,” she said finally. “Ethan always had a weakness for bold women. Guess that explains why you think you can talk to me like that in my office.”

I tilted my head. “My confidence has nothing to do with Ethan.” I met her stare head-on. “I’m not here as his shadow, Helen. I’m here because you and I both know you need me as much as I need you. So let’s skip the pretense.”

For a moment, she didn’t move. Then, slowly, she leaned back in her chair. “You think you understand what this is?”

“I know exactly what this is,” I said, voice steady. “You’re planning an ambush on live TV. You’ve made a career of tearing people apart for ratings. But this time, you can’t do that without me. You need my name, my face, my silence. And you know I’ll give you more viewers than your last three guests combined.”

A faint smile tugged at her lips. “You’re either fearless or incredibly foolish.”

“Maybe both,” I said. “But at least I’m honest.”

She stood, walking around her desk. “Tell me, Ariana. What makes you think you’ll survive an interview with me?”

I held her gaze. “Because I don’t scare easily.”

Her steps stopped right in front of me. “Ethan warned me you’d try to play tough,” she said softly. “He said you were stubborn. Emotional. Reckless.”

“Did he also tell you he’s the reason I’m doing this?” My voice sharpened before I could stop it. “He’s the reason my name’s in every headline this week.”

Helen’s brows rose, intrigued. “So it’s personal.”

“Everything is personal,” I said, standing to meet her height. “You want a story? I’ll give you one. But you’ll keep it clean. You’ll get your drama without crossing a line.”

She studied me for several long seconds. Then she smiled, slow and deliberate. “You’re better than I expected. Maybe even smarter.”

“Flattery won’t change anything.”

“Who said it was flattery?” She turned back toward her desk. “You’ll hear from my producer. Don’t make me regret this meeting.”

I exhaled, steadying myself. “You won’t.”

She looked over her shoulder, eyes cold but amused. “Oh, I always regret it, eventually.”

I forced a smile. “Then I’ll make this the exception.”

When I stepped out of the office, the guard straightened immediately. My pulse was still racing, but I lifted my chin high as if I’d won something.

Ethan’s car was waiting by the curb when I emerged from the building. I slid into the passenger seat, closing the door behind me.

“Well?” he asked, eyes searching my face.

“She’s as dangerous as they say,” I replied, finally letting out the breath I’d been holding. “But she’s interested.”

Ethan grinned slightly. “Told you you’d win her over.”

“Don’t get cocky.” I stared out the window, the city blurring past. “Winning her over doesn’t mean surviving her.”

He laughed quietly. “You’ll survive. You always do.”

Maybe. But deep down, I wasn’t sure survival was what I wanted anymore. Not when everything I cared about had already become a battlefield.