A Beauty With Multiple Masks

Chapter 20

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?”

behind her. He was looking for an ambassador for his company and had thought Arielle’s outwardly appearance fit

occur to him that she was from the

her unsuitable, or even undesirable, as a brand ambassador since such an

paid little heed toward Shandie’s comments and only

of her sampling drew

from the bitterness, there was

 

made it

snatched the cup back from Arielle, adamant in the view that it

country bumpkin like her

the sponsor apologetically. “I’m sorry, mister. It’s not that your coffee isn’t good, but my sister here

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

everyone is a coffee lover. In that case, I’ll be taking my leave.

nodded at Shandie

his younger

did you have to let your sister drink coffee in front of so many

appeared quite indignant. “It just

could you tell the sponsor in

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

away in annoyance before he regarded Shandie. “It’s almost time, so you should go prepare yourself backstage. Dad and Mom would be waiting out there

she took her pass backstage, while Arielle followed Henrick

 

far behind by a Henrick who looked like he was trying to keep his

would happily

kept her own emotions in check and

shortly

more than usual, primarily because of the presence of Vinson Nightshire as one of the guest-of-honors this

and nail to secure a slot at the event just for the opportunity to get close

Academy; followed by a

host welcomed in the final guest. “Please put your hands together for the CEO of Nightshire Group, Vinson

far to illustrate that more than half of the crowd

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

of the ceremony each year would receive extra attention largely because of Vinson’s expected

to the front of the stage to greet the audience, he suddenly caught

Is that… Arielle?

upon her for awhile before pulling

 

in the seats. “Hello everyone,

audience grew ever more

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