The Villains Must Win-Chapter 53: Alexander Vale 3

The receptionist still looked a bit taken aback but quickly nodded. "Alright. If you could leave your résumé, I’ll pass it along to HR. If you qualified for the position, we’ll be in touch soon, Miss Hart."

Celeste handed over her impeccably printed résumé, flashing one last charming smile before turning to leave.

She was slightly disappointed she didn’t get to meet Alexander in person, but no matter. The game had only just begun.

As she stepped out of Vale Tower, she let out a deep breath.

Being inside a novel world was definitely different from living off her parents’ investments, pensions, and the cushy trust fund she had in her actual life.

Back home, she had been a professional NEET—lounging in baggy pajamas, binge-watching dramas, and ordering takeout like a queen.

Here? She actually had to work.

A tragedy.

Still, she wasn’t completely helpless. Unlike most transmigrated heroines who had to start from zero, she at least had a financial cushion—the million-dollar severance check Ethan had given her.

The question was, how long would that last?

Considering the past Celeste’s taste for luxury—designer bags, imported perfumes, and five-star dining—it probably wouldn’t last long at all. It was also the reason why she didn’t have any savings.

If not for her rich boyfriends in the past who funded her extravagant lifestyle, Celeste would have been drowning in debt and completely broke.

Celeste pursed her lips, thinking.

I need to be smart about this.

If she was stuck in this world, she wasn’t about to live paycheck to paycheck like some struggling background character. No, if she was going to be here, she was going to thrive.

Step one: Invest.

With that in mind, she made a decision—she would use the money to buy property and rent it out. If she played her cards right, she could build a real estate portfolio and take out loans to buy more and rented it out once she had stable income.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d be stuck in this world, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t about to live in poverty.

Taking a deep breath, she rolled back her shoulders, determination settling in.

"Yosh! Time to hustle this big butt off," she declared to herself before heading straight to the bank.

Because if she was going to rewrite this story, she might as well get rich doing it.

=== 🖤 ===

Days passed, and still, there was no news about the secretary position.

Celeste paced back and forth in her apartment, arms crossed, biting her lip in frustration. The silence was unsettling. She had limited resources and even fewer ways to directly approach Alexander Vale.

How was she supposed to set her grand plans into motion—to make the villain win—if she couldn’t even meet the villain himself?

Maybe it was time to stop waiting.

A slow grin spread across her lips. If Alexander won’t summon me, then I’ll summon myself.

Wasting no time, Celeste bolted to the bathroom, taking the fastest yet most luxurious shower of her life. She emerged fresh and determined, immediately throwing on a crisp white blouse, a fitted pencil skirt, and black stilettos. She tied her fiery red hair into a sleek bun, adjusting a pair of thin-rimmed glasses on her nose for that strict, no-nonsense businesswoman effect.

Even with her naturally seductive features and a body built for temptation, the look transformed her. Now? She looked like a CEO in her own right.

Satisfied, she grabbed her handbag, strutted out the door, and drove straight to Vale Tower.

The moment she arrived, she was met with the usual hustle and bustle—employees going in and out, phones ringing, secretaries typing away, and businessmen looking far too stressed for this early in the morning.

Celeste didn’t bother stopping by the receptionist’s desk this time.

She had one goal: reach the top floor and meet Alexander Vale himself.

Of course, there was one problem.

The top floor required a special keycard for elevator access, and unless she suddenly developed hacking skills overnight, that route was a no-go.

But Celeste? She wasn’t the type to let a little security inconvenience stop her.

She turned on her heel and took the fire exit.

It was a painfully long climb in heels, and halfway through, she regretted every life decision that led to this moment. But by sheer determination (and some very impressive calf strength), she pushed through.

Emerging at one of the upper floors, she casually adjusted her blouse, caught her breath, and strode confidently into the hallway as if she belonged there. freewebnøvel.coɱ

Most of the employees were too absorbed in their work to notice her. Those who did spared only a brief glance before assuming she was just another high-ranking executive. Her outfit screamed "I have a meeting with your boss, and if you question me, you’re fired."

As she climbed higher, the number of employees thinned until, finally—

She stood before a large set of double doors.

The entrance to Alexander Vale’s office.

Unfortunately, between her and those doors stood multiple security guards—all watching her with sharp, unreadable expressions.

Celeste exhaled slowly.

Okay. No big deal. Just a few obstacles to greatness.

She adjusted her glasses, squared her shoulders, and took a step forward.

Time to meet the villain.

Just as Celeste took a step forward, two security guards immediately blocked her path.

"Hold it."

She stopped, blinking up at them with the most innocent, who-me? expression she could muster.

If only I could just slip past these guys . . .

But alas, life wasn’t that easy for the modern gal like her.

Still, she wasn’t one to back down. Flashing her most charming smile, she greeted, "Hello there, gentlemen. Lovely day, isn’t it? I’m here to see Mr. Alexander Vale."

The guards’ expressions didn’t change. They looked like they had been trained by the military, their faces as stiff as stone. One of them barely spared her a glance as he asked, "Name?"

Celeste adjusted her glasses and said smoothly, "Tell him it’s Celeste Hart . . . Ethan Carter’s ex-girlfriend."