The Manipulated Villainess

After driving her car for around twenty minutes, Nicole reached a small cafe where she was supposed to meet the former Director.

Despite being the Chairwoman of a large corporation, she never had a driver because she loved to drive herself. She loved having the freedom of being able to drive around wherever she wished. For Nicole Yang, her freedom was very limited compared to all the others.

She entered the cafe and saw the Director who was already waiting for her. The middle-aged man rose from his seat and bowed when he saw his former boss who discarded him.

Only a few days had passed since Director Lee was fired, but judging from his looks, it seemed like it had been ages. It was sure that the pressure and worries got the man which made him aged very fast.

When Nicole saw her former subordinate whose only mistake was being loyal to her, her heart ached as if it had been stabbed by a dagger. She was hesitant to approach the man and stood at a distance for a while but Director Lee made the effort to came to her.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet me, Chairwoman. I know that it's not easy for you. Come and let's talk. We don't have much time." He said to her in a very calm and respectful voice.

His calm voice made Nicole perplexed. Did he not have any grudge against her? How can he still talk to her with respect?

She was the one who threw him out of the company and his job. She was the one who humiliated him and turned him into a laughingstock!

Nicole Yang unconsciously walked to the table and sat on one of the chairs. When she finally gets ahold of herself, she said, "I'm sure that we will be monitored from a distance, so be careful with your actions and even your words."

"I know." Director Lee said. "I expect that much, so don't worry. I won't do anything to get you into trouble, Chairwoman."

"Why do you want to see me? Didn't you hate me for doing such things to you? I..." She paused for a while and narrowed her eyes. "I'm the one who destroyed you." She could barely utter the words as the heavy feeling suffocated her. The more the man treated her well, the more she felt guilty!

"We don't have time for such talks. Please listen to me carefully, Chairwoman." The Director became very serious. "Don't trust anyone apart from yourself. There is another reason why your step-mother wanted me gone."

"What do you mean?" Nicole glanced at the man, hiding her bewilderment not to arouse suspicion as she could feel a pair of eyes watching her from outdoors.

"Go to Moon Orphanage in the countryside and meet a man named Harris Ahn. He will be able to tell you everything. But be careful. Don't rush anything. The Minister of Justice is much scarier than you think." The Director told her, keeping in mind the fact that they were being watched, he said, "I cannot explain everything in such a short time. But please, trust me and do as I said."

"While his health was deteriorating, your father asked me to help you in every way possible. I'm sorry for not being able to do that. I'll be off now. Take care, Chairwoman."

Director Lee rose from his seat and take a few steps towards the door while Nicole was still sitting without a single movement. The Director's words continuously echoed on her ears.

"Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. Be strong and protect yourself." The former Director turned around again to say those words in an attempt to comfort her. He then hurriedly leave the cafe, trying his best to act normal for the devil's spy to see.

Nicole finds herself in a dilemma once again. Going to an orphanage? A countryside on top of that? Not to mention that the devil's men were watching her every move. It seemed like an impossible task!

But Director Lee even risked his life to tell her those things. That alone was proof that it's not something trivial.

She sat in the cafe for minutes, trying to figure out how to make the impossible happen. When she finally sort out some options, she left the cafe and went straight to her home as it was already past working hours.

* * *

"Where would you like to have dinner, Shara?" Leon was currently on his car with his assistant who was also his close childhood friend, Shara Lee.

The two friends grew up together and had a very close relationship. To be more precise, they were the ones who knew each other well than anyone. Despite having the title of master and servant, Leon always treated her very well.

Shara Lee was also skilled in using guns and all types of combats. Ever since she was young, she was trained that way. As such, protecting Leon was the task what her master, Peter Jung, the Prime Minister assigned to her.

"We can go wherever you like." Shara simply replied to Leon with a smile.

"I use to miss the time when we spent our life freely as a student. We always roam around after school and went to many small shops, trying out their dishes." Leon chuckled as he reminisced about their life as a teenager. The duo were always a carefree student despite having excellent grades.

"Same here. But now, we can't even go to such a place. Many people will recognise you right away. Besides... your father won't let us." Shara pointed out how much their lives had changed now that they had become an adult.

Leon thought for a while and then said, "Do you wish to have such time again?"

Shara raised a brow and looked at him. "Of course. But how?"

"It's not hard, but it will take time," Leon said to her with a smile.

He then told his driver to go to the beach on the outskirts of the city which was opposite to a large local market which sell different types of seafood.

"I will wear my spectacles and..." He takes out a grey beret cap from one parcel box and flashed an exciting smile as he shows it to Shara "I will also wear this cap. I can guarantee that no one will recognize me."