Chapter 15

Everyone turned to look at Lilian, and the room fell silent. She stood in a crisp white shirt, a flowing khaki skirt, and stylish white heels—a decidedly corporate look. The lace trim on her shirt collar and sleeves softened her appearance, making her seem gentle and approachable.

Her face wasn't stunning, but her features were pleasing. Her warm smile was friendly and innocent, like a little bunny, prompting a strong urge in others to protect her.

Cynthia squinted at Lilian. Her beautiful eyes, however, were as cold as ice.

"I'm new here and just getting started, so I hope everyone can help me," Lilian said, giving a slight bow. Despite an impressive resume, she maintained a humble demeanor, instantly winning over her colleagues.

After some friendly exchanges, Lilian approached Cynthia last. "Cynthia, we're colleagues. I'm still figuring things out, so please help me."

Surprise rippled across the faces of those around them. Vivian interjected, "Do you two know each other?"

With a bright smile, Lilian added, "Cynthia and I were high school classmates and used to be best friends."

Cynthia forced a smile, but her eyes remained icy. "We were classmates, but I wouldn't call us best friends."

Lilian's smile faltered, and she looked down. "You're right. I don't deserve to call myself your friend. My background doesn't match up. I realize that now."

An uncomfortable silence descended. Lilian bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, making her appear genuinely pitiful—a sight no one could ignore.

Just then, Vivian stepped in, her expression tinged with disgust. "Cynthia, what's there to be arrogant about? Lilian is a top student from Coluria University. Calling you her friend should be a compliment, but you don't seem to appreciate it."

Vivian then took Lilian's arm. "Forget her. She's not liked around here. We're all your friends now."

Freddie, feeling awkward, quickly added, "Lilian, why don't you hang out with Vivian for now? Oh, and the news department has a meeting at nine."

As Lilian walked away, surrounded by a crowd, Cynthia felt a pang of discomfort but quickly composed herself. Lilian was a master at masking her true self; otherwise, Cynthia wouldn't have been fooled for three years in high school.

Lilian always played the vulnerable card to garner sympathy, using the "damsel in distress" tactic to secure allies. Her mention of humble beginnings was intended to make everyone believe Cynthia was condescending, prompting Vivian's defense.

Cynthia could hold her own, but defending herself in front of a crowd eager to see her fail wasn't appealing. She knew their biases wouldn't change regardless of her explanation.

In truth, she didn't have the best reputation at the station. She'd attempted to mend relationships among her colleagues but found it a lost cause. Their interests clashed, and her efforts only resulted in accusations of scheming. For the past year, she'd focused on herself, ignoring the gossip.

Despite a successful career this past year, she felt unhappy with the station's tangled web of office politics. Becoming a news anchor was a childhood dream, but leaving didn't mean she was helpless.

Her diverse interests and skills ensured her financial security. Her investment dividends from QUEEN alone had already secured her financial freedom.

(The following section needs significant improvement. The original text is extremely fragmented and grammatically incorrect. I've done my best to reconstruct it, but more context is needed for complete accuracy.)

The next section began with the conference room meeting. Linda would complete her handover in a week and leave the station; they needed to select a new prime-time anchor.

Vive jumped in, "I think Lilian would be a fantastic choice. I saw some footage of her from BNC, and she's amazing. She even thrived as an international anchor at BNC, seamlessly switching between Anmerian and Chusian!"

Predictably, someone countered, "Great, but remember this position was originally intended for Cynthia. She has the most advertising contracts and is the most popular among us."

Vivian retorted, "Our news department isn't just about ads. We need someone with solid professional skills. If we only care about commercials, everyone will stop focusing on delivering the news and start chasing advertisers." This comment was clearly aimed at Cynthia.

Cynthia responded, unfazed, "I was at the Skyer Group business banquet the other night and overheard some staff talking. They mentioned a girl at our station, with monolids, who is always hanging around Mr. Leach. I saw Ms. Leach sitting on his lap, behaving intimately. She slapped the girl, and it seems Mr. and Ms. Leach might be getting a divorce. So, is there really someone like that at our station?"

Immediately, someone shot back, "Cynthia, don't make accusations without proof!"

Cynthia retorted, "The station is huge, and there's more than one girl with monolids. We should focus on the news; chasing advertisers can backfire badly. Mrs. Leach is ruthless. There was once a secretary from Skyer Group who tried to cozy up to Mr. Leach; she ended up being thrown out of the building, clothes ripped off."

Someone added, "I messaged Mrs. Leach on WhatsApp after the last dinner, and yesterday she asked me about that girl with"

The conversation shifted to panic. "What did you tell her? Her question exposed her vulnerability."

Everyone exchanged glances, intrigued yet tense. Vivian, however, was focused on herself. She thought she had escaped a previous encounter unnoticed, but now realized Sophia Leach remembered her.

Cynthia watched Vivian with a knowing smile. Just as Vivian braced for the worst, Cynthia finally said, "This is about our station's reputation. Since I didn't sort this out, I didn't say anything. Honestly, I'd almost forgotten about it until now." This was likely a reference to the earlier conversation about the "girl with monolids" and potential implications for securing advertisers.

Diana's face showed concern; her look at Cynthia now carried wariness. Cynthia was clearly playing a deeper game. She knew Vivian was on Mrs. Leach's radar and had said nothing, using this information as leverage. Now, Diana felt helpless.

Resigned, Diana sank back into her seat in silence.