Reborn as the Villainess

Eleanor forced a warm smile. "So, how about I pay you? How much do you want?"

Stephen glanced at Eleanor calmly. "Do you really think I'd ask for money?" There was a flicker of disdain in his gaze as if mocking the absurdity of her offer.

Eleanor pressed her lips together. She thought, 'He really doesn't need money, does he?' Instead, she suggested, "Then when I get famous, I'll endorse your products for free?"

Stephen took a sip of his coffee and looked at Eleanor with a half smile. "Do you really think Lloyd Group is short on influential actors?"

Eleanor was at a loss. Money wasn't an option, and neither was fare. Dealing with Stephen felt like wrangling a moody man through a midlife crisis. Frustrated, she bared her teeth, dropping the pretense of politeness. "You know, secretly filming someone is illegal. I could sue you for violating my image rights. Even if you're a prince, the law should apply equally to everyone."

Eleanor's words were sharp and righteous. If anyone else dared talk to Stephen like that, he could guarantee they'd vanish from Aloria for good. But this was Eleanor. Oddly enough, he found her quite charming like this. A little firecracker, fearless and defiant. It suited her. But Stephen's face remained as impassive as ever. "Feel free to try. Let's see which court would even dare take the case."

Eleanor wasn't naive. She knew full well that with Stephen's status, no one would dare cross him. No way Eleanor could win this fight. But she couldn't swallow her pride either. After all, in her previous life as a veteran in the entertainment world, she'd never been on the losing end like this. Getting trapped? This was a first.

"Fine," she asked, "What do you want then?"

Stephen lifted his gaze to Eleanor, a faint smile playing at the corners of his eyes. He knew that if he kept stringing her along any longer, she'd explode. So, he got straight to the point. "It's simple. There's a banquet in a couple of days, and I need a date." But Eleanor wasn't buying it. She frowned. "You need a date? Who are you kidding?"

Everyone knew Stephen was the most sought-after bachelor in their circles. Any socialite or heiress would want to get close to him. All he had to do was snap his fingers, and he'd have women lining up. The idea that he lacked a date was laughable.

Stephen nodded calmly. "I'm not short on ordinary dates, true. What I'm missing is someone who knows her boundaries and won't cross any lines. As someone from an influential family, you should understand what I mean."

Eleanor started to catch on. In high society, everything appeared harmonious on the surface, but underneath, it was all about power plays and hidden agendas. And at the pinnacle of that world was Stephen, head of the prestigious Lloyd family. Everyone wanted a piece of that fortune.

The same logic applied to Stephen's dates. These women didn't just want a glamorous evening. They wanted a stake in his life. For some, money wasn't enough; they wanted more-much more. In this light, finding a partner who knew how to toe the line suddenly made much more sense.

Seeing Eleanor deep in thought, Stephen decided to stoke the fire. "At events like these, it's impossible to avoid running into family elders. If I show up alone, I'll get cornered into awkward matchmaking. Since it's family, I can't simply brush them off, but it's a headache nonetheless.

Qur arrangement would be strictly business. You help me sidestep the unnecessary hassle, and I'll delete the video. Fair trade."

Eleanor couldn't help but nod. His words seemed harmless. But something deep down kept nagging at her, like she wasOriginal content from NôvelDrama.Org.

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Kiss

walking into a trap. "So, you're saying it's really that simple? Just one time as your date, and that's it? Or do hidden agenda?" you

have some

Stephen shrugged, his expression casual. "I thought I mentioned before. Since you don't agree with the engagement our grandfathers arranged, I'm not going to push for it either. Sure, the bracelet won't come off for now, so you're technically still my fiancée, but we can just act as old family friends for the time being."

Stephen paused, then added, "Of course, you're free to keep doubting me. But in that case, I'll just send the video to Andrew and see how much he's willing to pay me for the emotional distress I endured last night. You know I'm a businessman, not a philanthropist."

At that, Eleanor panicked and quickly waved her hands to stop Stephen. "No, no, no. I believe you. I believe you, okay?" If that video got into Andrew's hands, she didn't know what he'd think of her. Thinking it over, Stephen's logic did seem sound. With his status and influence, he had no reason to get entangled with a student like her.

"Alright," Eleanor finally agreed. "I'll go with you as your date to this banquet, but after that, you delete the video as promised."

Stephen nodded. "Deal." He smiled, thinking, 'I can't rush things, or she'll run off. Standing up, he glanced at Eleanor. "Let's go. I need to visit the set to meet Victor, and I'll drop you off on the way."

"Oh, okay," Eleanor replied.

It was the same familiar Bentley. In the back seat, Oscar was briefing Stephen on the company's progress, occasionally handing him documents to sign. Meanwhile, Eleanor sat quietly gazing out the window. Once the important matters had been handled, Oscar moved on to the current situation.

He reported, "Mr. Lloyd, I just spoke with Zane's agent. He doesn't have much screen time left in this film, so once it wraps, he can seamlessly transition to the next project. Coincidentally, another production nearby is also backed by Lloyd Group. We could place him in that one if you think it's worth arranging

Eleanor was just about to yawn out of boredom but choked it back at the last second. She thought, 'Wait, is Oscar suggesting that Zane could land a role just because the company invested in the project? Ethical concerns aside, from an actor's perspective, this would be a huge opportunity for Zane's career!

However, Stephen refused outright. "There is no need for special treatment. Lloyd Group doesn't foster deadweight."

Oscar nodded. "Understood, Mr. Lloyd."

Eleanor's eyes widened in disbelief. 'No way,' she screamed inwardly. "Can I say something?" she asked, raising her hand timidly with a forced, ingratiating smile.

Stephen glanced at Eleanor. "Go ahead."

Clearing her throat, Eleanor tried to sound righteous. "Well, I just think that since the opportunity is there, it'd be a shame to waste it. Why not let Zane take the role? I think he's actually quite talented."

It was painful for Eleanor to say that. She had never once begged anyone for her own roles, and here she was, pleading on behalf of someone else. If it weren't for the fact that Zane had once saved her life, she wouldn't have bothered with this at all. But as Eleanor finished speaking, Stephen's expression grew grim.