The Manipulated Villainess

When Nicole Yang was informed of the location for the dinner meeting, it was almost lunchtime. Her schedule was quite free for the day which she was really grateful for.

After an exhausting and boring party the other night, she wished for nothing else but a good rest. It was why the news of the dinner meeting frustrated her. She thought that she would be able to go home early which was a very rare chance to came by! Then her phone went off.

She looked at the caller ID and felt uncomfortable at once. What did she want at this time? She pursed her lips and answered the call with reluctance.

"Mother." She greeted as always.

"I forgot to inform you earlier but we are supposed to have lunch with Leon and his father today. Can you make some time?" The calm voice of Garcia Han echoed on her ears.

Why did the devil ask her as if she cared about her opinion? Nicole was a bit taken aback but quickly concluded that there must be someone around her. She would usually tell her decisions that were already made.

"Yes. Send me the address." Refusing the devil? That's the last thing she would do.

She received the address right away and realized that she didn't have much time. She instantly grabbed her bag and her car keys and leave her office.

The sudden lunch meeting troubled Nicole all the way to her destination. She can't help but she had a bad feeling about this. On top of that, her fiance and his father will also be there. She doubts that it was a simple meeting.

She glanced at her wristwatch and noticed that she was almost late, which caused her to speed up as fast as the law allowed.

She entered one luxurious restaurant and stood before a private room. Once again, she glanced at her watch and heave a sigh of relief. She was not late.

"You're here." Garcia Han was the first to talk to her when she walked inside the room. Leon Jung and his father, Peter Jung were also sitting opposite to the stepmother.

"Sorry for being late." She apologized and make her way to the chair reserved for her.

"Don't be sorry. We know that you are informed late." Peter Jung, the Prime Minister said to her with a smile.

She didn't even bother to look at her fiance who was staring at her the whole time and take a seat next to her step-mother.

"You must be very busy. Running a big corporation like Yang Group will not be an easy task." The Prime Minister said to her. Those who don't know the true nature of this man will surely think that the Prime Minister truly cared about his son's fiancee!

"It's not that hard. My employees are the one who did all the job." Nicole replied in a respectful tone like she always did in the past.

Even though the Prime Minister had a good reputation and was very famous among the people, she knows very well how the man was just a wolf in sheep clothing. All he cared about was wealth and fame and he would do anything to achieve his goals.

They ordered some dishes and the small talk goes on for a while; but the longer the talk was, the more Nicole felt nervous.

From her experience, she was well aware of how her stepmother was a ticking bomb that could explode any minute. She was the perfect example of the calm before the storm.

"Why don't you just talk to me comfortably? We are not even strangers." Peter Jung's words instantly paused Nicole who was in the middle of cutting a steak. She narrowed her eyes, wondering how to respond.

Leon Jung glanced at her and saw through her. His father had made her more uncomfortable by saying that. He was about to speak up but Nicole beat him at that.

"How can I do that when you're the respected Prime Minister of our country?" She forced a little smile, knowing that her stepmother monitored all her movements.

"But I'll soon be your father-in-law." The Prime Minister's response came as quick as lightning which made her felt the pressure more. She felt as if she was being cornered with no way out.

"Give her some time, Father. Nicole is always shy and aloof, so she will need time. She can naturally learn it after we got married." Leon came to her rescue this time. He could feel the displeased gaze of his father but he ignored him and act innocent.

Nicole inwardly sighed and desperately hoped that this seemingly pleasant but tense dinner would end soon.

Garcia Han who keenly listened to their conversations examined her future son-in-law and chuckled to herself. He's really something. She then shifted her gaze to the father who was also her political ally and decided to break the silence.

"You must be curious about the purpose of this lunch. Me and the Prime Minister thought that it would be best if you get married soon." She finally said the reason which earned her a surprised expression from the couple.

'There goes the bomb' was the first thing that appeared on Nicole's mind when she heard the devil declaration. She almost choked on her food when she heard the devil! She repeatedly cough and her fiance was quick to give her a glass of water. "Thanks." She muttered to him.

"They must be very shocked." The Prime Minister let out a laughter. "It's understandable but you are already engaged for a year." He reminded Nicole and Leon.

"It would be best if you get married after -"

"I don't think it's possible for now." Leon cut off the stepmother. He glanced at Nicole and clenched his fist when he saw her nervous expression.

Ignoring his father threatening gaze, he continued, "I need to prepare for a prestigious exhibition which will be held a few months later. You might not be aware of this but this opportunity is once in a lifetime and to be able to participate in this event is the dream of all potter. I need to concentrate on that." He refused to mention Nicole, knowing that it will only bring her a burden.

He faked an innocent smile and said to the stepmother, "Postponing for a year will bring us no harm, isn't it? It's not like we will break up."

Garcia Han understands the hidden message behind Leon's seemingly harmless words. 'It's not like we can break up on our own accord even if we wish to.' That's the hidden message. But if other people hear their conversation, they would surely think that the couple were so in love that they were confident in their relationship!

The step-mother was boiling with anger on the inside but for the sake of her reputation, she forced a smile. "I suppose. You're still young anyway." She was forced to say the things that she doesn't mean and it was killing her inside!

"What about you, Mr. Jung?" She asked the father with a fake smile.

"Well, it's fine if you're okay with it." The Prime Minister bluntly replied even though he was feeling the exact thing that Garcia Han felt on the inside.

Nicole was taken aback by the change of situation. She thought that she would finally be getting married to the man she doesn't like. Though they cannot break off the engagement on their own, it's a relief that they at least get to postpone the marriage!

"It's great that we all agreed to it." Leon smiled, still refusing to ask Nicole's opinion. He deliberately excluded her. "I already told Nicole that I will take her to my museum today evening and we will have dinner together after that." He glanced at Nicole who gave her a strange look and he immediately looked away from her again.

"If you can excuse us, we will leave for our date now." He rose from his seat, not even waiting for the response of the two politicians.

"Let's go, Nicole." He grabbed her on the wrist and practically pulled her out of the room.....