Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

Ash was mimniu’s resident photographer, well-known in magazine photography circles. He had been the lead photographer for the cover shoots and magazine features for the last few brand ambassadors.

It wasn’t as if the A-list starlets were ugly. Each one was a vision, and they were all very professional during the shoots. Yet, looking at the final prints, he always felt an indescribable sense of disappointment.

To be blunt, he privately felt that none of them had truly embodied the mimniu style. They were always just presenting themselves to the camera. To put it simply—beautiful, but soulless.

He’d expected the new ambassador to be more of the same. But as they started shooting, looking at the girl through his lens, he had only one thought: ’They found the right one.’

Joanna Kennedy had a wonderful presence and was effortless to communicate with. Perhaps it was because she was a talented actress with big-screen experience, but she could grasp the concept he wanted from a single sentence and express it perfectly.

”Yes, yes, yes! That’s the feeling! Don’t look at me, just be natural. Lewis, turn on the wind machine!” Ash shouted, excitedly pressing the shutter as he directed the staff to provide some assistance.

”Perfect! That look you just gave was excellent, so natural. It seems you need real acting chops for these magazine shoots, hahaha...”

The admiration in Ash’s voice was unmistakable. He reviewed the shots one more time, then said, ”Ms. Joanna, take a break. We’ll start on the next set in a bit.”

”Alright,” Joanna Kennedy replied with a smile, allowing the makeup artist to come over and touch up her makeup.

The next set was a casual chic style. After Joanna Kennedy changed and came back out, the makeup artist studied her for a moment and said, ”Let me tone down your eyeshadow.”

The white cotton sportswear obviously didn’t go with pink eyeshadow. Following the makeup artist’s lead, Joanna Kennedy obediently closed her eyes, her words sweet. ”Thank you for the trouble.”

The makeup artist immediately beamed.

The small brush swept slowly across her eyelid, tickling her slightly. Joanna Kennedy let her mind drift. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Puzzled, she opened her eyes and met a woman’s smiling gaze.

”Director Lawson, is there something you needed to discuss?” Joanna Kennedy asked, sitting up a little straighter, assuming there had been a problem with the earlier shoot.

Leila Lawson was amused by the girl’s earnest expression. ”Don’t be nervous. You did wonderfully just now. You’re a worthy ambassador for mimniu.”

”You flatter me, Director Lawson,” Joanna Kennedy replied humbly, looking a little embarrassed. As she spoke, she unconsciously pressed her full, rosy lips together for a moment.

Leila Lawson’s gaze lingered for an instant, then she quickly looked away and asked nonchalantly, ”Joanna, how was the shoot experience just now? Are you finding everything alright?”

”It’s been great. I have to thank the staff for their cooperation and the photographer for his guidance,” Joanna Kennedy answered, her reply perfectly diplomatic.

Leila Lawson nodded. ”That’s good...”

Her tone was slightly perfunctory. Joanna Kennedy could tell the woman didn’t really care about her answer. She waited a moment, and just as she expected, Leila Lawson changed the subject. ”It’ll be late by the time we finish shooting. How about I treat you to dinner, Joanna?”

”mimniu is holding a banquet soon, and I need to get your input on a few things,” Leila Lawson added with a smile when Joanna Kennedy didn’t immediately respond.

’It’s a perfectly normal invitation,’ Joanna thought. ’We’re both women, she’s the head of the company I’m working with, and we’d be discussing official business.’

Joanna Kennedy considered it for a moment. She couldn’t find any downside, nor did she have a reason to refuse. She answered politely, ”That’s very generous of you, Director Lawson.”

”Of course,” Leila Lawson said, rising to her feet in satisfaction. ”Well then, shall we say tonight?”

”See you tonight,” Joanna Kennedy replied, rising to see her off.

After Leila Lawson left, Joanna Kennedy sat back down, letting the makeup artist resume her work. She closed her eyes, missing the rather complicated look on the makeup artist’s face.

Anyone who worked at mimniu long enough knew more than the outsiders. The last brand ambassador’s contract wasn’t terminated just because they failed to agree on the endorsement fee. The main issue was a failure to come to an agreement on a more... personal level.

Leila Lawson returned to her office in high spirits. But the moment she pushed open the door and saw the man sitting on her sofa, the smile vanished from her face. Her tone became deferential. ”President Valentine, why did you come in person?”

While she was the public face of the renowned luxury fashion brand mimniu, very few people knew that the man before her was the actual controlling shareholder.

Liam Valentine didn’t look up. ”How is the shoot going?”

His tone was unreadable. Leila Lawson answered truthfully, ”Very well. Miss Kennedy’s personal style is an excellent fit for mimniu.” She added, ”As expected, sales of the new collection will reach a new peak.”

The admiration in Leila Lawson’s voice was clear. Liam Valentine chuckled softly. ”So you’re that optimistic about her? I’ve never heard you praise anyone like this before.”

His tone was ambiguous, but Leila Lawson read between the lines. She felt a pang of regret, sighing inwardly at her love life, which was now over before it had even begun. Outwardly, however, she just smiled. ”It’s President Valentine who has the sharp eye.”

She knew that Liam Valentine himself had made the final decision on Joanna Kennedy’s appointment. At first, she’d suspected there was more to their relationship, but after observing for a while and seeing no contact between the two, she had finally felt confident enough to make her move and invite Joanna out.

But now, it was clear that Liam Valentine had some designs on her himself. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made a special trip here just to ask about her.

Antagonizing her boss over a woman went against her principles. Without much hesitation, she said, ”I’ve invited Miss Kennedy to dinner tonight. The location isn’t set yet.”

After speaking, she lowered her head and waited patiently for the man’s answer. Seconds ticked by, the only sound in the room the rhythmic tap of his knuckles on the desk. Just as she was starting to think she had misread the situation, the man finally spoke, his tone neutral.

”Seven o’clock tonight. Imperial Gardens.”

Leila Lawson paused, stunned for a moment, then nodded respectfully. ”Consider it done, President Valentine.”

The rain continued to fall outside, threatening to grow heavier. It lashed against the branches, stripping them of their last remaining dead leaves.

The storm in Aethelburg was affecting the surrounding region, casting a gloomy pall over the weather in Oakhaven as well.

In the town official’s office, the mood was awkward. At the head of the group, Mayor Miller, dressed in a formal suit, picked up his glass as if to take a sip of water. But after meeting the cold gaze of the man across from him, he awkwardly put it down again.

Mayor Miller, a man who had always been a smooth operator, now just wanted to curse someone out. ’His superiors were absolute bastards,’ he thought, ’pushing him out to handle the negotiations.’ Who could have guessed that this young president from Southland would be so difficult to fool? Just one sweep of that icy gaze was enough to make his blood run cold.

”Ahem...” Under pressure from all sides, Mayor Miller went over his prepared lines in his head and forced himself to speak. ”Mr. Lockwood, you may not be aware, but the situation now is quite complex. It’s not that our side is unwilling to begin construction; the main issue is opposition from the local residents.”

”Oakhaven has always been poor. The people have no choice but to leave town to earn a living. The moment they heard mineral deposits had been discovered near their homes, they all started demanding they be mined. We’ve discussed it among ourselves, and mining the ore would not only bring in quick cash, but also provide jobs for the local community. It’s truly a good solution.”