Reborn as the Villainess

Zane sat right next to Eleanor, his back straight, his posture stiff and his expression serious as if he were in a board meeting.

Across the table, Victor was still chatting with Stephen, passionately pitching the project's highlights, while Stephen, frowning, looked increasingly impatient.

Eleanor thought, "They seem utterly exhausted, yet not one has suggested ending this meaningless dinner. She couldn't help but sigh, 'It really isn't easy for anyone. Even someone like Stephen, a business mogul, cannot just walk away as he pleases. Times are tough. Making money these days isn't for the faint-hearted. Wait, that's not right!'

At this moment, Eleanor tapped her head, amused at herself, 'How ridiculous. Here she was, a worn-out, overworked employee, feeling sorry for the wealthy elite. The amount these people earned in an hour was probably more than her monthly paycheck. She really had no business feeling pity for them. She scolded herself inwardly, 'Mind your own affairs. Why get caught up in their problems?

Taking a deep breath, Eleanor pushed aside her jumble of thoughts. She then looked over at Zane, offering him a polite smile. "Thank you for everything today, Zane," she said, raising her glass. "This one's for you."

Zane was startled by the sudden mention of his name. He thought, 'I hadn't really done anything for her today, so why the sudden toast?' Still, his professionalism kicked in quickly, and he smiled, lifting his glass to hers. "Oh, it's nothing. I didn't help you all that much." Eleanor's smile deepened with sincerity. "You're too humble."Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

After the exchange of pleasantries, they downed their drinks in one go.

A rosy

flush crept up Eleanor's cheeks as the alcohol started to take effect. Whether it was the strength of the drink or something else, her eyes began to glisten with a misty sheen. She hovered on the edge of tears, stirring something in the air.

Zane felt his throat tighten, and he swallowed hard. He had his eyes on getting closer to Gloria, but that didn't stop him from appreciating the beauty of the world, and Eleanor, sitting right in front of him, seemed to embody it. Every gesture, every

smile of hers, seemed to land right on the softest part of his heart.

Eleanor, of course, noticed Zane's shameless gaze. A wave of discomfort washed over her, causing her to furrow her brow. A nauseating sensation welled up inside her, making her stomach churn once again. But since Zane had helped her earlier, no matter how queasy she felt, she forced herself to swallow it down, squeezing out a smile. That smile completely captivated Zane once again.

Meanwhile, Victor, sitting next to Stephen, suddenly felt a chill and instinctively pulled his collar tighter. He thought, "This is odd. Did someone lower the AC temperature?'

Stephen was already fuming, watching Eleanor chat with the flamboyant, pink-haired guy. When he saw her turn and smile at the unattractive man beside her, he couldn't hold back his anger any longer: He slammed his fork down onto his plate with a loud bang. He thought, 'Unbelievable. She could flash that dazzling smile at everyone else, but the moment she looked at me, it felt like she was facing a huge burden.'

The oppressive tension was so thick that even Oscar, sitting halfway across the table from Stephen, could feel it. And yet, Eleanor seemed utterly unaware, still engaging in small talk with other men.

Oscar wiped the sweat off his forehead. He thought, 'This really is a disaster.

Oscar saw that Stephen was on the verge of flipping the table, so he quickly stood up and spoke. "Victor, Mr. Lloyd has some thoughts on the role of Megan. Since Lloyd Group is heavily investing in this film, the focus is definitely on bringing home some awards." 10:43 Thu, Nov 14 Kiss

4

Victor had been talking to Stephen for what felt like forever, and it was painfully clear that Stephen was growing more and more impatient. He awkwardly wondered how to handle the situation when Oscar's sudden comment caught his attention. His eyes lit up as if Oscar had just thrown him a lifeline.

"Well, what a coincidence. Our very own Eleanor, who's playing Megan, is right here," Victor said, standing up with a smile and waving her over. "Ellie, come sit next to Mr. Lloyd and hear his thoughts."

Eleanor was in the middle of gnawing on some fried chicken when she heard her name called. She couldn't help but frown at Victor's suggestion. She thought, 'Sure, Megan is an important role, but not important enough for the investors to start giving acting notes, right? 'Besides, shouldn't professionals handle the professional work? What does Stephen, an outsider, know about this?"

Eleanor said, "Victor, I don't think we need to add more demands to this character. Megan is a very pure and straightforward role as it is."

Eleanor's refusal seemed to drop the temperature in the room even further, the atmosphere now carrying a sharp, almost deadly edge.

Sitting next to Stephen, Zane immediately shot to his feet, his face pale. "Ellie, you should come over and listen to Mr. Lloyd's suggestions. Acting isn't something you can just figure out on your own."

Zane couldn't bear sitting next to Stephen any longer. The suffocating pressure made it hard for him to even breathe as if his heart might stop beating at any moment. It was terrifying. If he stayed a second longer, he was sure he'd pass out right there.

With the seat now empty, Eleanor had no choice but to comply. She sighed inwardly, glancing at Stephen, who was at the head of the table. His face was stormy as if he were moments away from unleashing hell. She thought, 'What a headache. Why do I always seem to cross paths with him when he is angry

Now that Zane had vacated the seat, Eleanor had no excuse left. She shuffled over to the chair next to Stephen and forced a smile. She put on her best flattery face. "Mr. Lloyd, I'd love to hear any unique suggestions you have for the role of Megan." The icy, murderous vibe of Stephen dissipated as soon as Eleanor sat down, though his expression remained aloof. "I'm hungry," was all he said.

Eleanor's barely-forced smile froze on her face. She was exasperated, thinking, 'You're hungry? Then eat. Do you think telling me you're hungry will magically fill your stomach? No, wait. What are his suggestions? Can he just get to the point already?' Eleanor gripped her fork tightly, resisting the urge to twist Stephen's head. Taking a deep breath, she picked up the closest bit of celery and placed it on Stephen's plate. "Mr. Lloyd, enjoy."

Eleanor thought, 'Hmph, let's see how he likes that. Isn't he a germaphobe? Doesn't he hate using other people's things? Let's see how he deals with this.'

The others at the table watched in horror as Eleanor used her own fork to serve Stephen. Their hearts nearly stopped, and cold sweat trickled down their backs. They all wondered if Eleanor was trying to get herself killed. But in the next moment, everyone's jaws dropped. Stephen showed no signs of disgust. He lowered his head and ate every piece of the celery Eleanor had served him. After swallowing, he nodded and complimented. "Tastes pretty good."

Everyone was speechless and wondered what had happened to Stephen's severe germaphobia.

Eleanor's eye twitched. She frowned and couldn't help but remind Stephen, "That was my fork. Aren't you bothered by that?"

Stephen swallowed the last bite and lowered his gaze slightly onto Eleanor's lips. They were lush, soft, and inviting as if 10:43 Thu, Nov 14

waiting to be kissed. Upon closer inspection, he even noticed a small, barely visible wound at the corner of her mouth.