Chapter 336 Becoming Her Assistant
Radley’s gaze intensified as he observed Freya. His voice lowered to a soothing, mellow tone. “Do you want to keep her here?”
Freya nodded firmly. “Leah is doing this for me. Without her, today would have been much harder.”
“I’ll speak to the organizing committee about this,” Radley assured her. “They’ve already tarnished your reputation, so they should offer you compensation. Leah bears no malicious. intentions.”
Freya added, “They mentioned releasing an official statement. The previous live broadcast. has already aired, and I hope there won’t be any negative comments about Leah circulating
online.”
“Sure,” he replied in a gentle tone.
She pursed her lips. Whether it was the incident with the silver chain sea snake from yesterday or today’s events, Radley always seemed to arrive just in time to help her.
A protective barrier around Freya’s heart was slowly being pried open.
She gazed at Radley for an extended moment and then chose to set aside those thoughts.
Now wasn’t the time to dwell on this matter; she needed to complete the competition before addressing it.
Freya took Leah back to Villa No. 4.
The day’s events had left everyone in shock, and all the contestants needed time to process everything. The mood among everyone was somber.
On the third floor, inside Freya’s room, Leah sat on a chair.
Encouraged by Freya’s gentle voice, Leah began to recount the complex dynamics of her relationship with Helga.
While their familial ties were genuine, Helga treated Leah as anything but human.
Listening to her story, Freya felt a twinge of heartache. Leah had endured years ensnared in Helga’s psychological manipulations.
“I thought that since she helped my mother with medical expenses, I should tolerate her most of the time. But…” Leah gritted her teeth. She no longer wished to be at Helga’s beck and call, especially when she considered Freya a genuinely good person, someone she was
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deeply grateful to. Helga’s intentions were undeniably harmful.
Freya poured a glass of water for Leah and placed it before her.
“Now that you’ve offended Helga, have you thought about your future plans?” Freya asked.
Leah cradled the warm cup of water, her thoughts filled with Helga’s betrayed expression.
“She won’t let me off easily,” Leah replied with bitterness creeping into her tone, her mother’s medical expenses hanging by a thread.
Freya’s lips pressed together in concern. “Leah, do you still want to be my assistant?”
“Huh? Whether I want to or not, there’s no turning back now,” Leah replied with a dimmed. gaze.
Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances at Helga’s company and the meager salary, it still beat having nothing.
Leah remarked with a bitter smile, “I’m afraid not many companies will dare to hire me after this competition. After all, I am someone who can betray even my cousin, right?”
Freya furrowed her brow and spoke softly, “Your thinking is too extreme. You didn’t betray Helga; she betrayed you first. By your logic, if she were to commit murder, wouldn’t it be considered betrayal if you handed her the knife?”
Leah took a deep breath. “I have no regrets about this.”
Freya nodded. “When I asked you to be my assistant, I didn’t mean for you to return to Helga’s company. As you know, I want to establish a perfume brand for the Monaghan Group. I wanted to ask if you’d be willing to join me as my assistant.”
“What?” Leah looked up suddenly, disbelief in her eyes. “Be your assistant?!”
“Yes,” Freya smiled. “Do you think it would be beneath you?”
“No, it’s not that! Freya, did you only offer me the position because I helped you today? Aren’t masters like you usually hire assistants who are already famous and skilled. perfumers?”
Leah understood that this was different from being an assistant to a company’s CEO.
Assisting someone like Clove was more akin to being an apprentice, where skills would be taught.
She tightly gripped her water cup, sensing a great opportunity but unsure if she could handle it. Nevertheless, the desire burned within her.
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Freya, noticing Leah’s inner turmoil, felt a pang of sympathy. “You are a talented perfumer.”
Leah’s capabilities ranked among the top ten in this competition, and she didn’t understand how Helga had managed to undermine her self-confidence to the point where she believed she was incapable of anything.
“Leah, my
decision isn’t solely based on your help today. The perfume brand I aspire to create must be the absolute best, and I have faith that you can help me achieve that,” Freya said, her tone serious as she locked eyes with Leah.
“Offering you the position of assistant was a preliminary idea because I don’t know you well yet. I’ve only had the chance to experience a few of your perfumes. If you accompany me and gain more experience, as long as you perform well, your future will be promising. Are you willing to join me?”
Freya’s sincerity hung in the air. After a few seconds of silence, tears welled up in Leah’s eyes.
She replied, “I’m willing to.”
Leah understood that this was her golden opportunity, possibly the turning point in her destiny.
Freya nodded, saying, “In that case, you are now the first member of my brand’s team. Concentrate on completing the competition, and leave your mother’s treatment to me. As for Helga, if she bothers you again, you don’t have to pay her any attention.”
Leah nodded, her expression endearing.
After reassuring Leah, Freya escorted her back to her room and then returned to her own, too exhausted to freshen up. She lay in bed until evening.
The organizing committee was aware that the contestants had been deeply affected by the incident and intentionally postponed the competition results announcement until the following day.
Meanwhile, social media platforms were abuzz as everyone witnessed Riley’s scathing verbal takedown of Helga, and the production team cut off the live broadcast.
The incident was more gripping than a TV drama, with many people recording it as short videos and sharing them, while others meticulously documented the details.
Netizens were engaged in endless debates, and the organizing committee officially condemned and boycotted those involved.
Riley and Helga had completely tarnished their reputations.
The next day, the online live broadcast resumed. However, the controversy surrounding
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Riley and Helga showed no signs of fading.
Countless netizens flocked to the Freeman Group’s official social media account to voice. their criticism.
The prevailing sentiment was one of shock and shame over their daughter’s disgraceful actions, with many blaming the chairman of the Freeman Group for not stepping forward to apologize.
Instead, netizens expressed intentions to boycott Ruby Garden.
Unbeknownst to netizens, Ruby Garden had already faced boycotts from various cities, including Vroria, where the Marshall family resided, and Caltun, where the Kaufmanns were
based.
Inken from Hartterre had also joined the boycott, delivering a significant blow to the Freeman Group. Several other groups and the Monaghan family had simultaneously terminated some real estate contracts.
At the Pink Beach, all the contestants had spent a night of rest and gathered here. Eric Warren, the head of the organizing committee, smiled as he urged everyone to put the behind them.
past
He then proceeded to announce the twenty contestants who had advanced to the next round.
Without any surprises, Freya once again claimed the top spot.
After the announcement, Freya and Leah returned to Villa No. 4.
Originally, there were only half as many people in Villa No. 4 after the top fifty qualifying matches.
Now, nearly eleven more contestants were preparing to leave, along with their assistants, totaling twenty-two departures.
As Freya observed everyone packing their bags, their tired and dejected appearances tugged at her heartstrings. Yet, it remained just a competition.
What truly surprised her was the unity and camaraderie displayed as all the contestants. gathered in the living room to bid farewell to one another before the bus arrived.
This solidarity was lacking in previous competitions.
“Despite the numerous incidents in this competition, it seems to have fostered less animosity. among most people,” Leah whispered.
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