A Beauty With Multiple Masks

Chapter 20

Inside Arielle’s room.

Arielle felt neither unhappy nor unsettled in any way as she surveyed the modestly decorated interior of the hotel room.

Never mind that she had temporarily fallen out of favor with Henrick, her very presence had already thrown this family into disarray, and amidst the ensuing chaos, she reckoned that she would surely find the truth which she sought!

The ceremony would begin in half-an-hour.

Before leaving the room behind, Arielle went before the mirror to straighten out her disheveled hair.

The girl staring back at her in the reflection looked unbelievably fetching, coltish and acquiescent, but only she herself knew this to be a mere facade.

A wolf masquerading in sheep skin bit faster, more incisively and viciously, and left no chances for its enemies.

The venue for the ceremony was extravagantly luxurious, with the aroma of coffee from the sampling stations of the various sponsoring roasters saturating the air inside.

Shandie picked up a cuppa the moment she entered and took a whiff from it before tilting her head toward Henrick. “This is pretty good, smells full-bodied. And judging from its form, I reckon that it should be from… Corleon.”

The sponsor at the side approached appreciatively when he incidentally overheard her. “You’ve a good eye, Miss. Our beans are indeed sourced from Corleon.”

The man’s effusive praise for Shandie made Henrick’s heart swell with joy as he looked proudly at her.

While Shandie was basking in her moment of glory, she lifted her head to see that sponsor looking absolutely mesmerized by Arielle.

Shandie had no doubt that the man would start drooling were he to carry on ogling, and that irked her to no end.

Although Shandie was a little over twenty just as Arielle was, the former still came across as a young lass who had yet to shake off her own girlishness.

In a few more years, there would be no telling whether Shandie herself would even be fit enough to be a complementary leaf to the ravishing rose that Arielle could become.

The very thought of that had Shandie gnashing her teeth and wishing for Arielle to disappear.

She thought that a country girl like Arielle should not show up and mess up her life like this!

Shandie took two steps to her left to block off the man’s line of sight, and harbored deviousness in her eyes when she picked up a cup of coffee in the same motion.

She shoved the beverage into Arielle’s hands and said, “Have a taste of their coffee too, Arielle. I thought it’s rather decent.”

Before Arielle could respond, Shandie pressed a hand to her own mouth as if she had hit upon a realization. “I forgot that you’ve always stayed in the countryside… so you must not have taken coffee before, haven’t you?”

He was looking for an ambassador for his company

to him that she was from

the girl was, he deemed her unsuitable, or even undesirable, as a brand ambassador since such an appointment would

Shandie’s comments and only wished to taste it

result of her sampling drew

buds and apart from the bitterness, there was little complexity to the aftertaste – The

it out

the view that it was Arielle

bumpkin like her know about

and that greatly pleased her. The latter then turned to the sponsor apologetically. “I’m sorry, mister. It’s not

that Arielle, who did not understand his product at all, should not be up for

smilingly. “That’s okay, since not everyone is a coffee lover.

sponsor nodded at Shandie before

man depart, believing his younger daughter to be far more capable than

Cindy purposefully chided, “Really, Shannie. Why did you have to let your sister drink coffee

indignant. “It

girl had always been forgetful, but Arielle, how could you tell the sponsor

her gaze apologetically. “I’m sorry, Dad. Don’t

regarded Shandie. “It’s almost time, so you should go prepare yourself backstage. Dad and Mom would be waiting out there for you to receive

waved to Cindy before she took her pass backstage, while Arielle followed Henrick and Cindy

a Henrick who looked like he was trying to keep his distance from something repugnant, acting as if

was her dad. A good father who would happily toss her aside once she

kept her own emotions

commenced shortly after

on the day was more than usual, primarily because of the presence of

a slot at the event just

the host; starting with one of the founders of Crown Coffee Academy; followed by a renowned barista in the industry; and then Rain Evans, who

guest. “Please put your hands together for the

of his name ignited went far to illustrate that more than half of the crowd were here for

mounted video cameras were promptly directed toward the door leading backstage. At the end of the ceremony, the technicians would edit the footage and post it

ceremony each year would receive

stage to greet the audience, he

Is that… Arielle?

gaze lingered upon her for awhile before

gathered in the seats.

the audience grew