Ariella had no idea what Everett was up to. She left the private room, changed her clothes, and went downstairs, only to find Everett already waiting for her in the lounge area.
She walked over and stood a few steps away from him, opting not to take a seat. With a composed demeanor, she looked up and expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Carter, for your help earlier."-
It was hard to tell what Everett was thinking. He lit a cigarette and said, "Sit."
Ariella remained standing. After exhaling a puff of smoke, Everett glanced at her and insisted, "Ms. Flores, please sit."
Ariella's eyes widened slightly, displaying obvious surprise and wariness. Everett saw right through her thoughts and spoke frankly, "Finding a woman is easy for me. I don't need to use coercion or heroics. Many people try to get close to me by offering tutoring services. Nowadays, there are too many untrustworthy individuals, so I have to be cautious."
Quickly assessing her options in her mind, Ariella realized that this explained his contradictory behavior. She couldn't assume that her charm had captivated him; it was better to be self-aware.
In the blink of an eye, her expression shifted from realization to embarrassment. Ariella smiled again, pulled out a chair, and sat down, apologizing, "So that's how it is... I apologize, Mr. Carter, for my impulsive behavior. I hope you don't mind."
Everett didn't care about the rapid changes in Ariella's expressions or the sincerity behind her smile. He smiled back at her faintly, allowing her to save face.
Ariella didn't waste any more time. She took out her prepared resume and placed it in front of Everett, but he didn't even glance at it. Indifferently, he remarked, "No need to look at that. I'll give you a one-month trial. If you can teach, just tell me your price."
Ariella smiled and replied, "Our company has a standardized pricing policy. Private negotiations are not allowed. I’ve heard that you've had many tutors before. If you don't mind me asking, were the issues mostly on your end or your child’s?"
Everett looked at Ariella and responded, "Isn't it the parents' right to conduct interviews? Are you implying that I didn’t pass the interviews on purpose?"
Ariella tried not to dismiss thoughts of his questionable 'interview' process and replied with a friendly smile, "Of course not. You're the most 'forward-thinking and responsible parent I've ever met."
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