When the reporters finally spoke, they first congratulated Anya, "Ms. Owen, Congratulations on your award." Followed by it, many congratulated her.
Anya just followed a simple psychological tactic. If the opposition is aggressive, one should stay extremely cool. It would make them wonder about their actions and fix their behavior.
When the silence enveloped. "Thank you for your good wishes." Anya plainly responded, flashing a faint smile. She neither looked excited nor irritated at their behavior.
A reporter in front of her asked mildly unliking how they had attacked her with questions. "How do you feel about receiving the award at such a young age?"
Others waited for her to respond and their turn for questioning.
Zane was amused by how Anya controlled the whole crowd with just small actions. He took the trays from her hand and went back to his grandparents.
Anya told Zane was worried hence she hadn't stopped when he tagged her along. Seeing him voluntarily leave, she felt more at ease.
How does she feel about the award?
All her previous awards were kept a low profile so that her identity should be under the wrap. She had thought her identity would be revealed for her new mission. Due to the award, Anya started doubting if she could be in the secret service department.
She was quite confused about her situation regarding her career. They don't have to know about her job, so another effect of the award was that she had become a public figure.
She responded to the question, "That I have to be more mindful of my actions." Being a public figure, her small mistake could be made into sin by the media and netizens. She had no space for any error in the public eyes.
The reporters looked at each other. They were expecting to hear how happy she was. Anyway, another reporter asked the critical question, "Why did you resign from your job? Didn't you know about the award before?"
Anya paused at the question. She had planned to tell as she wanted to give more time to her family and stop risking her life when somebody asked about her resignation.
That way, whoever was behind the trafficking of the scholarly students from the imperial university could let their guard down when she joins the Imperial University.
Now that there was an explosive article saying she wasn't giving time to her husband, Anya had to think of a better and more feasible solution.
"Being a secret service officer, my identity shouldn't be disclosed. But, you all know my name was published as a wanted criminal during a mission. And,"
Anya glanced at Alvin, "My husband wanted to introduce me as his wife. Thus I had to step down."
Alvin: "..."
It was true he wanted to introduce her but he wouldn't have forced her if she wanted to avoid the socialites, business circle, and media.
And he couldn't believe she was trying to divert the topic so that she could end the interview sooner.
Some people looked at Alvin who stood behind, watching his wife in the limelight.
Another reporter asked, focusing on her decisions trying to dig into some interesting news. "You could have served as a normal cop."
Anya looked at the man who questioned her. She responded with a question, "Will you accept a demotion despite being excellent in your job?" There was no way she would go back to cyber security where many were waiting to taunt her and bully her. She wasn't looking for mental torture.
That made sense to everyone. Now that she spoke about her husband, the gossip reporter quickly shifted the topic to Alvin's scandal, "What do you have to say about the news of your husband cheating on you when you were busy with your missions?"
Anya's eyes brushed over the crowd when a soft buzzing of their voices sounded at the question. She plainly responded, "Name and fame come with a price. When there are well-wishers, there will be people who will be jealous of you."
Rob, who was hearing how calmly Anya was handling the interview, felt his mobile buzz in his pockets. He checked the screen and displayed it to Alvin.
'Secretary Harrison, MI.'
Alvin had expected Casper to follow Anya's news closely. A word from her mouth against Gianna or the Matthews family would cost heavily on Matthews Industries.
He signaled Rob to answer the call and watched his wife clearing his news without the need for him.
A reporter tried to twist the matter for Anya, "Are you saying the picture is fake?" They just needed a lie they could prove as wrong.
The picture was true and Alvin having a fling with that woman was true. However, the story woven around the picture was false. So Anya responded back to the untruth of the situation, "How could you make your own story for a picture?"
Alvin had assured her Miles Johnson wasn't going to back up his attack anymore. She wasn't sure how he handled it but trusted him and confidently responded.
The crowd was disappointed. They wanted a money-making story to write about the two new and young sensations of Narnia.
To make it tough for Anya, a reporter asked, stressing each word, "How sure are you that your husband didn't cheat on you?
Anya was unfazed. She appeared there expecting worse. So she was very composed when she flatly responded, "Cent."
Catalina mumbled at how the media was more interested in her resignation and the scandal instead of Anya's achievements. "This is so boring." She went inside and took her husband along.
Rob, who exited the house, reported through his teeth in a low voice, "Casper Matthews is threatening to reveal about Zane's birth if Young madam speaks about Gianna."
Alvin glanced at Rob who was fuming. Rob disliked his parents who distrusted him and abandoned him when he needed them the most. So Casper was just reminding Rob of the other worst side of a father.
Nevertheless, Alvin was calm. More than he or Zane, Anya was more sensitive about Zane living in a constant negative spotlight. He strongly believed she wouldn't speak about the case or Gianna or Matthews family in an interview.
When the reporters failed to dig any dirty secrets about Anya or Alvin, they jumped to Gianna's matter, "Is it true Gianna Sallow tried to kidnap your son?"
Anya stepped back, "No comments." She paused and brushed her eyes on the crowd, "Please don't cause disturbance to the neighbors."
She turned around and walked away while the questions were shooting at her, "Why would Gianna Sallow kidnap her grandson?"
"Didn't you allow your grandmother to meet her grandson?"
"Do the Matthews family members don't get along?"
Zane extended his hand to hold her hand while Alvin mused, "Mrs. Matthews, why don't you consider being my PR?"
Anya gently shrugged her shoulders, reaching for Zane's little hand, "I am very expensive, President Matthews."
Although Zane didn't know what PR meant, he smiled seeing his mother happy. Alvin wrapped his arms around his wife's shoulders and went inside to bid farewell.
…..
At Matthews Industries,
Casper was satisfied hearing Anya back off right after the question about Gianna. He assumed his threat worked and he knew the weakness of Anya and Alvin.
Secretary Harrison was amused at Anya's level-headedness when facing the media for the first time.
However, the reporters in the town could be considered naive compared to the city. So the real taste of the media was when she steps out of the airport and goes to the police agency to give their statements.
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦