Chapter 23

Jonathan awoke in the middle of the night, instinctively reaching for Cynthia. But to his surprise, the space beside him was empty. He sat up and heard a car starting outside.

He went to the balcony and saw Cynthia driving away from Greenfield Villa. Anger flared in his eyes. This was typical—she used him and then disappeared, disregarding his feelings.

But remembering her intense demeanor earlier, as if she had been releasing pent-up emotions, he realized something was troubling her. "This couldn't just be about a simple interview. Is it about him?" he wondered, a frown creasing his face.

The next morning, when Cynthia arrived at the station, the buzz was all about Lilian. News of Lilian's exclusive interview with Jonathan had spread like wildfire. The exorbitant cost of her dinner—a staggering $326,000—had become the hottest gossip. Even people from other departments stopped by to curry favor with her. Lilian, of course, had been meticulously preparing for the interview.

The interview's production was impressive. Normally, an interview required only a reporter and a camera operator, but this time, over a dozen people were involved, including two assistants dedicated solely to Lilian. The network deployed a full crew to ensure a smooth live broadcast. They even created a special feature called "The Elites," showcasing Jonathan as the first subject. The network's investment in this opportunity was clear.

Although the interview was scheduled for 9:00 AM, Lilian and her team left by 8:00 AM. Just before their departure, Alison arrived, much to everyone's surprise. As head of the station, her heavy workload usually kept her away. But she was there to support Lilian, offering words of encouragement.

"I promise I'll knock this interview out of the park," Lilian said sincerely.

Alison nodded, patting Freddie on the shoulder. "You've really found a gem, Freddie. Just yesterday, BCB called me. I finally got one over on them," she said, her authority evident despite her age (over sixty).

At exactly 8:00 AM, Lilian led her team out. Meanwhile, Cynthia sat at her desk, reviewing her script, while Vivian loudly chatted with nearby coworkers.

"Lilian is amazing! She landed an interview with Mr. Bennett in just two days. Looks like someone else will have to relinquish the title of interview queen!"

"Alison's here, too. It looks like Lilian will definitely be the prime-time host."

"The Golden Microphone competition is coming up soon. There's only one spot available, and it'll probably go to her." Cynthia remained silent, her heart heavy.

Meanwhile, at 8:20 AM, Lilian and her crew arrived at the BJ Building.

As they exited the car, Claude approached. "Hello, are you from the station? I'm Claude, Mr. Bennett's secretary. He sent me to welcome you."

The team followed Claude into the BJ Building, and Lilian's assistants buzzed with excitement.

"Mr. Bennett's secretary is personally greeting us. Lilian is really making a name for herself."

"Right? I wonder if Lilian and Mr. Bennett are friends. This kind of treatment for a regular interview is unheard of."

Lilian overheard their chatter and maintained her gentle smile, though she felt a surge of pride mixed with unease. Just yesterday, neither she nor Cynthia could secure Jonathan's agreement for the interview.

She suspected, after reflection, that he might have been swayed by her talk of mutual benefit. After all, he had openly dismissed Cynthia, even humiliating her in front of everyone. Even if Jonathan had agreed because of his bet with Cynthia, it meant he felt cornered. That was probably why he hadn't specified the interviewer when he called. My stepping in aligns perfectly with what he wants. Regardless of how it plays out, I'm bound to come out on top, Lilian thought.

Claude led them into the conference room. "Mr. Bennett is in a meeting but will join you for the interview as soon as he can. You can use this time to prepare," he said.

Lilian nodded eagerly. "Don't worry. We're ready."

About ten minutes later, the conference room doors opened. Lilian stood, approached Jonathan with a bright smile, and confidently extended her hand. "Mr. Bennett, I'm Lilian, the host for today's interview. We met yesterday, and I'm excited that you agreed to this exclusive. It's truly an honor to be your first interviewer."

But Jonathan showed no interest in shaking her hand. He frowned slightly, and Lilian felt a wave of anxiety.

To avoid prolonged awkwardness, she withdrew her hand. "Mr. Bennett, we're all set. Shall we begin the interview?"

"Hang on," Jonathan replied coldly. "I don't think you're the host we agreed upon, Ms. Sheppard."

A knot tightened in Lilian's stomach. She forced herself to remain calm, attempting to redirect the conversation. "But I mentioned yesterday that Roncrity News Network wants to create a win-win situation with the Bennett Group. We're ready to meet any of your requests moving forward."

She hoped her terms would convince Jonathan, but he remained unmoved. "I lost to Ms. Jones yesterday. She gets the interview as her reward. You were there and should know this better than anyone."

Jonathan's tone was sharp, allowing no room for argument. "I honor my commitments. I only agreed to an interview with Ms. Jones, so she must be the host. If she isn't here, then today's interview is off." With that, he left the room.

Lilian felt her hands grow cold as whispers rippled through the room.

"So, it wasn't Lilian who got the interview with Mr. Bennett."

"Did Mr. Bennett mean Cynthia? Seems like he lost a game to her, which is why he agreed to this interview."

"There's only one Jones at the station, and she really is the queen of interviews. She can nail any interview."

"But this was clearly Cynthia's win—why is Lilian claiming it was hers?"

"This is so embarrassing; getting called out like that in front of everyone."

Lilian felt dizzy but maintained her composure. "I must have misunderstood yesterday. Let's get Ms. Jones instead."

Her assistant quickly called Freddie, explaining the situation. Freddie was shocked and immediately sought out Cynthia. "You completely aced this interview. Why didn't you speak up? You had us all confused, Cynthia."