The Manipulated Villainess

The Next Day 

It was already 6 in the night but Nicole was still in a meeting room with some employees from Yang Apparel.

The meeting with the Representative of Aris Group will take place at 3 in the evening of the next day. As such, to finish all the proposal and presentation on time, they have to work overtime. They all do their own work and once in a while, they would discuss some ideas.

When it was almost 7 p.m., Nicole's phone went off and she walked out of the meeting room to answer the call.

"Are you home now?" It was Aston who asked her the question from the other line.

"Not yet. We have an important meeting for tomorrow, so I think I will still have to stay here for a while." She replied and asked, "What about you? Are you still not done?"

"I still have a few scenes. Maybe I will have to sleep here tonight." Aston said with a sigh. "But if you are free tomorrow night, then we can have dinner together. I have shootings scheduled until evening."

"Alright. I think I'll be free if there is no urgent matter." Nicole promptly said and briefly glanced at the meeting room. "I have to go now. I will tell you when I finish my work."

"Alright," Aston said and ended the call.

He was sitting in a deck chair on the filming set. When he glanced up at the sky, the brightness of the stars made him smile. As a person who hates rainy days, he always feels at ease when the weather was clear.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself."

He instantly turned to his left when he heard a voice and saw Anna Park just a few steps away. The latter made her way to him and sat on another deck chair beside him.

"Are you feeling cold?" Aston promptly asked when he observed her.

"I shoot a scene on the pond there," Anna said, pointing at the far left with her chin. "The water is quite cold."

Aston looked to his right and picked up a small blanket. He stood up and covered her with the blanket, bending to match her height. "You should keep yourself warm. It won't be good if you catch a cold." He said with a small smile and returned to his seat.

"You seem to be happy these days," Anna muttered.

"I am. You also improved a lot. Tell me if the schedule is too much. I will talk to the Director to adjust for you." Aston said to Anna.

Anna slightly smiled. "Before I get to know you, I never thought that you would be this considerate. I think I misjudged you."

"Anna - "

"When I first met you, I thought that you are just a typical playboy who loves to enjoy yourself. But these days, you prove me wrong all the time."

"You don't misjudge me, Anna." Aston calmly said. "It's just that... I've changed my ways. That's all."

Anna slightly smiled once again and glanced up at the sky. "Chairwoman Yang is amazing. I really wish to know her well and find out why you are so fascinated by her."

Aston turned to her when he heard her words. "You will also find the right one soon."

"Is that another rejection?" Anna dryly said but it was followed by a light chuckle.

"Kind of." Aston simply said and laughed too.

After a few seconds, they became very quiet and they started to feel awkward. They both sat there, quietly and staring straight at the front.

"I plan to take a break and went abroad after this project." Anna was the one who broke the awkward silence after almost a minute.

Aston darted his eyes to Anna but when he thought of her situation, he had a feeling that it would be good for her. "That's great. You can spend some time for yourself and come back in a better shape." He said in an assuring tone.

"That's what I think too and... that's why I want to thank you for taking care of me at my lowest times. I will never forget that." Anna said, turning to Aston.

"Don't mention it. I hope that you will be happy and smile carefreely again. You know, you're the country's beloved due to your pure smile. I hope you keep that smile forever."

Anna let out a light laughter. "You always have a way with words, Aston Kang."

"I often hear that," Aston remarked with a chuckle and glanced at the far left. "Shall we go? I think the preparation for the next scene is finish."

* * *

The time scheduled for the meeting has finally come. Mario Aris and his assistant, Jony also arrived on time and the meeting was held in the meeting room of the Yang Apparel building.

With some presentations and explanations, the meeting goes on for almost two hours. What's more? Nicole was glad that the shameless Representative at least behaved himself in front of the employees. But still, what he said during the meeting were rarely reasonable. It made her wondered if he really was an MBA graduate from one of the top business schools!

Though she hated to, she settled in her office after to have some tea with the Representative. Well, he asked for this and she can't help but comply!

"You have just two days and I really don't expect such a good preparation," Mario said the moment they took a seat.

"I think you don't understand much about today's meeting but if you say that, maybe I was wrong." Nicole simply said yet she remained formal.

"Your plan for the distribution and export phase is great. I have never seen such a perfect plan. I was quite worried due to the distance between the two countries but after hearing your plan, my worries are gone." Mario remarked, a little smile on his face.

What he mentioned just now was the part they put on the most effort and Nicole slightly raised a brow. From the way he talked during the meeting, he didn't seem to understand but now... that seemed to not be the case. It made her wondered what exactly was on his mind. She finds it so hard to see through him.

Julia Cha walked in and served the tea when silence fell upon her office. The moment the assistant left, Mario's lips curved into a smile again. "Why? Do you think that I'm strange?" He asked.

Nicole tried her best to refrain from frowning. It seems like he had switched to the menacing mode again! "It's good if you know." She simply responded.

Mario slightly chuckled and when he met her chestnut brown eyes, he promptly looked down. "If I had known that Chairwoman Yang is such a beauty, I will surely attend the launching event formally." He said jokingly but he remembered himself staring at her all the time during the event. What's more? He finds her very unique when he met her to sign the deal the day before yesterday. It was why he stayed longer than expected.

"It's impossible to try to reason with you, Mr. Aris." Nicole coldly said. Why can't he behave a bit mature?!

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Mario asked, maintaining his playful manner. Was it because he was used to dealing with women this way? Maybe.

"Yes, but I think you should refrain from asking a personal question." Nicole promptly replied with giving much thought.

Mario smiled at her response. "From what I read, you recently broke up your engagement to the Prime Minister's son. You already find yourself another man? I don't think so unless..." His voice trailed off and he leaned a bit towards Nicole. "Unless you're a playgirl."

Nicole could felt her jaw dropped to the floor! Playgirl he said?! In her eyes, it was him who was a playboy! She squeezed her dress, trying to not let him get the best of her. "I won't answer you anymore. I think it's not worthy."

Mario's eyes twinkled in amusement. It's not worthy? She really knows how to brush him away. He stared at her disappointed face and ended up smiling to himself.

It's just a small chat and he didn't know why it excites him this much. Was it because her response was always beyond his expectations? Maybe. He had never met someone like her.

"You said that you will schedule a date for the final meeting, right? You don't have to hurry this time. You can take your time and I will expect the best." Mario finally said after a few seconds. Now, he was trying his best not to act playful.

"Alright. I will contact you as soon as we confirm the date and time." Nicole promptly responded. She was feeling quite glad that he was finally getting to his sense. 

Then her phone went off and when she looked at the caller ID, she promptly said, "Excuse me." Then she rose from her seat.

"Hello, Leon."

"I have dinner plans tonight."

"Yes. How about this? Join us with Shara. We can dine all together. It will be fun."

"I will tell him. Don't worry."

Though Nicole was standing a few steps away, Mario could still hear what she said. Wasn't Leon her ex-fiance? Dinner plans? What were all these about?! He was quite confused. Not to mention that it really seemed like she had a boyfriend.....