[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260322F482CA-378":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},378,30,"Chapter 30: \"Mrs. King's Top Priority\"","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Long after they’d said their goodnights and retreated to their separate rooms, a single sentence echoed in Arianna’s ears:\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"From now on, Mrs. King's business is the King family's top priority.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stared at the ceiling. How could he say such a heart-stopping, intimate line with a completely straight face?\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She threw her arms wide and collapsed onto the bed, sinking into the plush comforter. She pulled a pillow over her head and lay there, playing dead, waiting for her frantic heartbeat to settle.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">While showering, she caught a glimpse of herself in the vanity mirror. Her cheeks were flushed a deep, embarrassed rose—the tell-tale sign of someone who had been utterly charmed. Thank God she’d made a quick escape; Maxwell King hadn't seen her looking this pathetic.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After her shower, she sat by the desk to dry her hair. Her phone, resting on the bed, began to chime incessantly, the notification light blinking like a pulse.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna shot a glance at the screen. Just more chatter in the office Slack. She ignored it and went back to combing through her damp hair. It wasn't until she was done that she finally picked it up, only to find the channel had turned into a total war zone. Several messages were tagged @Arianna.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She scrolled back to the top. It wasn't a work-related task force, but the general company chat. Someone had leaked the list of employees being moved to full-time status.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Wait, Arianna Stone from the Business Dept??\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Isn't that batch supposed to wait until next month for their offer letters?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The new product launch last week—their team ran a huge promotional campaign, and it went viral. Sales doubled. You know that catchy slogan everyone is using? That came from her copy. It’s a full-blown internet meme now.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So why only her? What about the rest of them?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"She was the only new hire in that group. Word is, she wrote the copy herself and handled the entire outreach strategy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"@Arianna, you're a legend.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Kiara Bell from R&D got bumped up early too. You guys are absolute beasts. I'm impressed.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Among the chorus of praise, a familiar avatar popped up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Diana James: \"You’re incredible! No wonder the stars looked so dim tonight—you’re outshining all of them! I just did a little light stalking on your social media, and wow, you’re gorgeous. A total heart-stealer!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Diana James: \"More of this, please!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Everyone else in the chat: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">As she scrolled to the very bottom, an out-of-place message broke the flow. Jenna Lawson, clearly annoyed by the fawning, typed aggressively:\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"So, does this mean the ones getting hired are taking us all out to dinner?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Kiara Bell, R&D: \"Why would we do that?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jenna Lawson: \"No reason, just thought it would be nice to share in the good vibes.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Kiara Bell didn't give her an inch: \"Take that up with your own department. I don't even know you; why would I spend my money on you?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Kiara was notorious for being an ice queen. If she didn't like something, she shredded it. Even the bald manager in R&D wasn't safe from her tongue. The chat went deathly silent. Everyone was watching the collision.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jenna Lawson: \"Don't misunderstand, I was talking about my good friend @Arianna. I forgot to tag her earlier. We’re great friends, so I’m used to joking around. No offense intended!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A direct message from Diana James hit the top of her phone screen: \"Jenna Lawson is really... pathetic when she's trying to save face.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna let out a muffled laugh. In the group chat, Kiara had stopped responding. Jenna, however, kept digging her own grave. Feeling the sting of public rejection, she doubled down, tagging Arianna to force a public display of \"friendship.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Hey @Arianna, when are you treating us? Are you free tomorrow?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Come on @Arianna, you pick the place! Let’s have a real celebration!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Diana James drifted back in with a single, cutting message: \"Lol.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna pursed her lips and typed calmly: \"I'm sorry, I don't think... we're actually that close.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jenna Lawson: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Kiara Bell dropped a \"facepalm\" sticker: \"She just got a promotion, not a lottery win. Where on earth are people getting this entitlement to demand a free meal? The audacity is staggering.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A chorus of agreement flooded the chat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Seriously. Even if it was a bonus, the person should decide if they want to pay. Begging for a treat like this makes you look like you’re starving.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Exactly. My last bonus was 500 dollars, and by the time I paid for the group dinner, I was actually in the red. I'd rather have skipped the bonus.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Jenna Lawson stared at the messages, her fingernails digging into her palms until her knuckles turned white. She gripped her phone so hard it shook.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">***\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next morning, the thought of seeing her grandmother kept Arianna buzzing with excitement. Maxwell seemed to sense her mood; he was at her door bright and early.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Arianna, time to wake up,\" he knocked rhythmically. He preferred her childhood nickname, a sharp contrast to his formal \"Mrs. King\" comment from the night before. \"Let's grab breakfast, then we'll head over to see your grandmother.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna scrambled out of bed and darted into the bathroom.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After breakfast, they stopped at a high-end grocery store to pick up supplements and some of her grandmother’s favorite snacks. Her grandmother had a set of teeth that would put a twenty-year-old to shame—she could bite through anything. She was remarkably trendy for her age and insisted on trying whatever the younger generation was into. She had once dragged Arianna through a night market, force-feeding her spicy street-style calamari, loaded chili fries, and flaming-hot wings. Arianna hadn't been able to stop her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna stood in the aisle, tossing boxes of mixed nuts into the cart. She headed toward the bulk section to grab some of her grandmother’s favorite roasted peanuts. When she turned back, she found Maxwell pushing the cart toward her.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was piled high. Several bulky gift boxes were stacked precariously on top, which he was currently steadying with one hand.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"...\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna: \"Why did you buy so much?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"The staff recommended them. They said these are excellent for the elderly.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna looked at the haul. She spotted several items that were duplicates of what she had already grabbed. \"I already picked up that protein powder. You can put yours back.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell refused. \"What you bought is your gesture; what I bought is mine. They’re not the same thing.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Arianna sighed and let it go.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">While they waited in the checkout line, Maxwell remained fixated on his phone, his pale, long fingers gliding over the screen. A moment later, he looked up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"After we leave, let's head to the second floor. There’s a bakery there. We should pick up some pastries for your grandmother. Most seniors have a sweet tooth.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Her grandmother definitely loved pastries. Arianna hesitated. \"Won't they be too sugary?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Not a problem.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Maxwell held his phone up to show her the shop’s catalog he’d been scrolling through. \"I checked. They have an entire line of sugar-free options.\"\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272905805]