The Manipulated Villainess

It took Nathan a few seconds to process what Aston said to him. Maybe everything he told him was too unexpected. After what seemed to be forever, he finally patted Aston on his left upper arm. "You ask me, so I should help you. You should cut the words 'in return'. I don't like that."

"Will you be okay with that?" Aston promptly asked, thinking of the ill-fated relationship between the two former lovers and now, enemy.

Nathan narrowed his eyes and took another sip of the whisky. "I should face her sooner or later anyway. I think it's better this way. Don't worry. I will talk to her."

"Then I will count on you." Aston said and let out a sigh. "I have so much on my plate, including Lester Yun. But I'm so busy working these days."

"You can be at ease. If there is anyone who could stop Cassandra Lim, then that's me. You can work on your other task but... I'm really curious. You finally met someone and that's Nicole Yang. I wonder what would be the story behind this." Nathan said with a playful smile.

Aston lightly chuckled. "Let's save that for later."

* * *

Nicole really hated how her day started. Now that she had moved to a new house, Aston advised her to take some exercise regularly. It will be good for her weak body. Besides, she was never healthy ever since she was young and that always makes her weak than others in terms of strength.

Like Aston's instruction, she started taking a walk in the morning and get up much early than usual. She didn't exercise often and it was quite tiring for her. She wore some clothes suitable for walking and take a walk in the neighborhood. Aston insisted that it's better to exercise outdoors if possible. Then what she really hated happened.

"It's you, Miss Yang."

She halted when she heard a voice from behind and she turned around, only to see Mario Aris. Was he exercising too? Looking at the way he dressed up, it seemed like it.

"Good morning, Mr. Aris." She simply greeted him and started running, maintaining a normal pace. Mario Aris ran next to her but she wasn't bothered. She just focused on her steps.

"Do you often exercise here?" Mario asked, still keeping up with her pace.

"Does it seem like it?" Nicole simply said, without even sparing him a single glance.

Mario briefly gave him a side glance and then smiled. "No. It's clear that you don't exercise regularly."

Nicole didn't say anything and maintain her pace. Ever since their first encounter, her expression on him was still the same. A good for nothing heir and a playboy who loved to act mysterious.

"It's been many years since I haven't come to this country. Do you know any good place which would be worth visiting? I only have a few weeks left here." Mario asked again, unfazed by the cold shoulder he received.

"No." That's her only response.

"No? Is that possible?"

"Yes."

"And how is that?"

"I have no time to play around and have fun like you."

Mario nodded his head and then turned to her again while still running beside her. "Then, shall we go and check out together?"

Hearing him, Nicole instantly halted and he did the same. "You keep on crossing the line, Mr. Aris. Just what do you want from me?"

"I only wish to know you more. Besides, this is not a business meeting. Can't I talk to you casually?" Mario said. He opened a bottle of water which he held and then drink.

"I'm not interested but you're right. This is not a business meeting, so I have no reason to talk to you." Nicole bluntly said and slightly lowered her head. "Have a good day, Mr. Aris. I'm going back now."

Nicole turned around and ran back towards her house while Mario stared at her with an amusing smile. Then he gulped the water and ran in the direction which leads him to the hotel where he stayed.

The moment Nicole walked inside her house, she called Aston. Before she left to exercise, she sent him a message to notify him.

"Already finish?" Aston asked as soon as he picked up the call. "It's still early."

Nicole slightly frowned. "There's an annoying freak who keeps on pestering me, so I have no choice but to return." She walked inside the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

Aston who was currently exercising in his apartment, instantly halted when he heard her. "An annoying freak? Do you know him?"

"Unfortunately, yes. He is a business partner." Nicole drank the water and took a seat in the chair.

"Are you saying that a male business partner is pestering you? Does he like you?" Aston was quite displeased and he abruptly sat down on the couch. Someone was going after her? Why did he only hear now?!

"Like me?" Nicole gasped and helplessly shook her head. "I think he just loves to play around. A playboy."

"Who is he?" Aston promptly asked. He was feeling quite uncomfortable. In his opinion, it would be more worse if the man in question was a playboy who pestered her for fun!

"You won't know him even if I tell you." Nicole slightly frowned again. "Besides, why are you so serious? This is nothing."

"It's always good to be careful." Aston's voice was suddenly very firm. "I don't want this. I think you should exercise indoors. It will be better."

"Not even many days have passed since you told me that exercising outdoors is better. What has gotten into you?" Nicole bluntly said but... she slightly smiled when one thing crossed her mind. "Are you jealous?"

"Jealous of what? I'm only worried about you." Aston's disappointment was now so evident in his voice and Nicole also understood this.

"Well, you can't exercise with me outdoors due to your special profession but one guy whom you don't even know came and ran with me. It's quite reasonable if you are feeling jealous." Nicole simply explained with a little smile on her face.

"Nicole," Aston uttered and let out a sigh. "Seems like you're having fun." Then he abruptly rose from his seat. "Alright. I will have a night off the day after tomorrow. I won't have to sleep near the filming set. I will exercise with you the next morning. As you know, I'm never scared of rumors or making a relationship public."

Nicole knew that he was telling the truth. In fact, the whole country knows that. He wasn't afraid to be photographed with his date even in the past. He never let anything restrained him. He was very different.

Now, it's her time to abruptly rose from her seat. "Who says I want that? All I want is to exercise at ease and not to be surrounded and bothered by your die-hard fans or that shameless business partner of mine." She bluntly said.

Her frank response made him chuckled. "Are you rejecting me again? I think you plan to make me lose count of how many times you have rejected me." He clicked his tongue and shook his head.

"You can also think that way." Nicole let out a light laughter. "I have to take a shower and go to work. Have a good day, Mr. Min."

"Alright. You too." Aston said and ended the call. Talking to her in the morning always helped him a lot as his days were always tough and tiring.

He puts his phone on the couch and tried to take a shower but... what she said crossed his mind. Who was the freak who bothered her? 

He sat down again to have a good thinking. Shall he just suggest making their relationship public? Maybe that way, men won't be too brave to approach her!

However, one thing troubled him. The step-mother. Her original plan was to make use of him but... why did she suddenly consider withdrawing? Something was not right but he can't figure it out.

*

Mario just arrived at his hotel suite. He was in a good mood but... he frowned when he saw Jony waiting for him.

"Do you really go to that neighbourhood in case you might run to her?" Jony asked him and let out a sigh.

Mario didn't say anything and simply poured a glass of water for himself.

"Mario, this is not the time to fool around. You left again without informing the guards. Your father won't go easy on you if you keep on acting like this." Jony said and stood in front of Mario.

Mario drank the water and then turned to his assistant who was also his friend. "Jony, you know me well than anyone. So, tell me. In your eyes, do I seem to be fooling around now?"

Jony blinked when he noticed Mario's serious expression. "What do you mean?"

Mario sigh and took a seat. "I drive for an hour just to reach that neighbourhood. I wake up so early for that. Do you ever recalled me making such efforts just to fool around with a woman?"