The Villains Must Win-Chapter 56: Alexander Vale 6

"If this is what you’re looking for in a secretary, I can do better."

Alexander’s shoulders shook slightly as he chuckled, shaking his head. "I haven’t even seen your résumé."

Celeste waved a hand dismissively. "Trust me, I already gave my résumé to the receptionist downstairs. But I just know that girl is jealous of me—she probably ’forgot’ to pass it to HR. She probably know that I would get the job if she did."

Judith’s jaw clenched. Celeste could practically feel the waves of irritation rolling off her.

Deciding to twist the knife just a little, Celeste murmured under her breath, "I have more breasts and butt, too."

Alexander’s chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh.

Judith’s face turned red.

Alexander, still smiling, turned to his now secretary.

"Judith, inform Mr. Hale that I’ll be canceling our meeting," Alexander said smoothly.

Judith stiffened, her brows knitting together. "What? Why?"

Alexander’s gaze darkened slightly as he frowned. "It’s not your place to question my decisions," he said coolly. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "But if you must know—it’s because I’ll be taking Miss Celeste to lunch."

"And . . ." Alexander’s voice dropped slightly, his amusement cooling into something more serious. "Pack your things. You’re fired. Your severance pay will be handled shortly."

Judith froze.

"W-what?" she sputtered.

Celeste took great pleasure in the way her eyes darted between them, realization dawning.

Red-faced and fuming, Judith spun on her heels and stomped out of the office.

Celeste turned back to Alexander, grinning.

"So," she drawled, "does this mean I’m your secretary now?"

Alexander’s gaze flickered with something unreadable.

"I hope you actually know how to do your job," he murmured, "and not just flash some cleavage and thighs."

Celeste smirked.

"Oh, trust me," she said, voice smooth as silk. "You’ll be very surprised by what I can do."

=== 🖤 ===

"This is a very fancy restaurant," Celeste remarked as they stepped into the exclusive dining hall.

The atmosphere was nothing short of breathtaking—soft golden chandeliers cast a warm glow over plush velvet seating, while floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the city skyline. The entire upper floor of the luxury hotel was reserved for VIPs, ensuring privacy, exclusivity, and a level of service only the ultra-wealthy could afford.

And this? This was where Alexander Vale had brought her for lunch.

Celeste smirked. Well, well, Villain. You sure know how to impress.

Alexander pulled out a chair for her, his movements smooth and effortless. "Is this your first time here?"

She slid into the seat with a playful smile. "That’s right. Unfortunately, none of my past boyfriends could afford a place like this. Much less enter."

Alexander raised a brow, his expression unreadable. Then, with a casualness that didn’t quite hide the sharp edge beneath, he asked—

"Including Ethan Carter?"

Celeste stilled for a fraction of a second.

There it was—that slight tension in his voice, the subtle shift in his posture. Alexander Vale, composed and elegant as ever, didn’t like being compared to Ethan.

Interesting.

She took a moment to admire him. The way his sharp features angled under the dim lighting, how his amber eyes darkened slightly, and the way his jaw clenched ever so subtly—

Damn.

She was getting a little too warm for comfort.

Clearing her throat, Celeste crossed her legs and leaned back, a slow, knowing smile playing on her lips. "That’s right. Ethan might be rich, but he’s not on your level yet."

Alexander’s expression shifted—his eyes gleamed, and a faint smirk tugged at his lips. "And he would never be."

Ah. He liked that.

Celeste bit back a chuckle. The villain of this world was vain, prideful, and dangerously competitive. She wondered—did Alexander truly love Riley?

Or was this just a game to him? A battle of pride where the prize was the woman who had dared to choose another man over him?

From what Celeste knew, Riley had been the only woman who had ever resisted Alexander’s charm during their school years. While other girls tripped over themselves to get his attention, Riley had barely spared him a glance. Instead, she had set her sights on Ethan Carter—a nobody at the time, an underdog in the world of the elite.

And that?

That had caught Alexander’s attention.

A billionaire heir, used to having anything he wanted at the snap of his fingers, overlooked for someone with nothing.

It must have wounded his pride.

Perhaps, at first, it had simply been about proving a point—winning back what he believed should have been his. But over time, did that obsession morph into something deeper? Or was he still just playing the same game, unwilling to accept defeat?

Now, with Riley willingly returning to Ethan’s side, Alexander wasn’t the type to stand by and watch.

No—he would fight.

And Celeste?

She was going to make damn sure that this time, the villain won and she would erase that bad record with Han Feng.

More than that—he was unpredictable. One wrong move, one misstep, and she had no doubt that Alexander Vale could destroy her with nothing more than a calculated whisper.

And yet, Celeste mused, resting her chin on her palm as she watched him—

Wasn’t that part of the thrill?

"Excuse me, I have to take this. Order whatever you like," Alexander said, his tone casual as he pushed back his chair and disappeared into a secluded corner of the restaurant, phone pressed to his ear.

Celeste barely acknowledged his words, too lost in her own thoughts.

That must be one of his more . . . dangerous dealings.

On the surface, Vale Corporation was a titan in the business world—owning everything from real estate empires to BPOs, oil refineries, jewelry enterprises, shipyards, and renewable energy ventures.

But beneath that polished corporate façade?

It was an entirely different beast.

Rumors whispered of weapons smuggling, money laundering, and dealings in the black market. Ethan Carter would eventually use these allegations to take Alexander down, exposing every skeleton buried beneath his billion-dollar empire.

Celeste had no intention of stopping Alexander from being ruthless—she just had to make sure he didn’t get caught.