Millionaire Secretary, Saving My Villainous Boss

I know my boss is the villainous second lead.

She is conceited, she is malicious, and she is a total bully.

But I still can't bring myself to leave her.

Simply put, she pays me way too much.

After waking up inside a novel, I found myself as the secretary to the resident villainess.

In the original story, she was a nightmare who did nothing but torment the innocent, sweet-but-clueless female lead. When I first read the book, I wanted to jump into the pages and strangle her.

But now that I'm actually here, staring at the six-figure monthly salary hitting my bank account, I've decided to be the most dedicated employee in history.

The villainessDno, the secondary leadDno, my most respected boss, was currently pacing and muttering to herself.

"What should I donate to the charity gala next month? Garrison better not bring that Serenity girl again."

"Zoe, help me out here. I need to make a grand entrance that will leave everyone speechless."

Zoe is me.

Garrison Miller is the CEO and the male lead of this over-the-top romance.

Serenity Rivers is the female lead.

In the original plot, my respected boss donated a third of her company's capital just to get that arrogant CEO's attention.

To her surprise, Garrison only mocked her, calling her a superficial spendthrift and telling her to learn some humility from Serenity.

My boss, Vivienne Sterling, blew a fuse and ordered her assistantDmeDto teach that little brat a lesson.

That led to Garrison's retaliation, the company's bankruptcy, and Vivienne ending up homeless on the streets.

This charity gala was the exact point where her life started spiraling down the drain.

I bit my lip and walked a slow circle around Vivienne.

She came from an elite family, grew up with piano and ballet, had a killer figure, porcelain skin, and hair that looked like it belonged in a shampoo commercial.

Thinking about such a gorgeous, high-maintenance woman becoming a street person made my heart ache, so I instinctively gave her a hug.

"What are you doing?"

Vivienne pushed me away, looking confused. "I asked for an idea, why are you hugging me?"

Oops. I got too caught up in my thoughts and lost control for a second.

I quickly made up an excuse. "I was just... checking how soft you were, boss. What if Mr. Miller gets overwhelmed with emotion and wants to hug you?"

Vivienne's face turned bright red. "What on earth are you talking about?"

An employee earning a hundred grand a month needs to earn her keep.

I stepped into my role as a professional strategist. "Come on, boss. Let's head to the conference room and draft a real business proposal."

Vivienne looked stunned. "..."

Even though I used to be a fan of the original couple in the real world, my life motto is strictly 'look out for number one.' Wherever I am, I have to survive first.

Right now, that means keeping Vivienne's company afloat so I don't lose my meal ticket.

I dragged Vivienne to the planning office.

"What are you doing?"

Vivienne was getting annoyed. "I told you to help me get Garrison's attention, not to make me pull overtime."

"You don't get it, do you?" My brain was working at high speed. "Think about it. What does Serenity have that you don't? Is she richer? More beautiful? Why is he obsessed with her?"

"Because she's... different from every other girl he knows."

"Exactly, boss! So at the charity gala, you need to be different too. While everyone else is just throwing money or jewelry at the problem, you're going to present a unique, sustainable charity project. When the media starts praising your brilliance, Garrison won't be able to ignore you even if he tries."

In the original book, she wore the most expensive dress and donated a fortune, only to be mocked by Garrison for being "out of touch with reality."

Vivienne hesitated. "Will that really work?"

"We won't know until we try, right?"

Money talks.

With one order from Vivienne, hundreds of professional charity proposals landed on her desk like a blizzard.

When she actually focused, Vivienne looked like a completely different personDa sharp, elite girlboss.

"Exquisite! Absolutely high-class!"

I pulled a folder from the mountain of paperwork. "This is the one."

We went over the details and polished the plan together.

As we finalized it, she looked skeptical. "This feels... kind of cheap."

"Boss, think about it. Winning a standing ovation without spending a dime is the ultimate power move. It's unique, it's bold, it's bright."

I kept coaxing her. "How much have you spent on Garrison already? Has it worked? No. So let's try the free approach for once."

She nodded, half-convinced, and we headed out to a high-end steakhouse for dinner.

As the server approached our table, she suddenly let out a small "Ah!"

The girl was in a standard waitress uniform, hair in a ponytail, clutching a menu.

Her face was pale, her lips pressed together, and she stared at Vivienne as if she'd been horribly wronged, yet was stubbornly holding back tears.

Before I could even process what was happening, the girl was pulled into a broad, protective embrace.

"Vivienne Sterling! Is Serenity working a part-time job as a waitress offensive to you now?"

Hearing that name made my whole body stiffen.

Good lord. Serenity Rivers. Even her name sounded like a typical romance heroine.

And the blind, biased man jumping to conclusions... that had to be the male lead, Garrison Miller.

Garrison pulled Serenity behind him like he was protecting a wounded cub. His face was cold, and his voice was a deep, moody growl.

"Vivienne, you'd better stop testing my patience."

"I've warned you before. Serenity is off-limits."

"What are you talking about?" Vivienne snapped, her temper rising. "We just got here. I didn't even recognize her. How am I bullying her?"

We were the customers, and Serenity was the waitress. Instead of serving us, she was acting like we'd slapped her.

Seeing the tension between Vivienne and Garrison, Serenity tugged on Garrison's sleeve and whispered, "Miss Sterling, I'm so sorry. Here is the menu. What would you like to order?"

"Get me a different server!" Vivienne called out. "Where is the manager?"

It was a perfectly reasonable request, but in the ears of a "kind, hardworking, and suffering" heroine, it sounded like a death threat.

Serenity swayed on her feet, looking like she might faint.

Garrison held her tight, his eyes filled with pity. "Vivienne, you really think you can do whatever you want just because your family has money?"

"Fine. I'm buying this steakhouse right now. You're not welcome here. Leave."

Just like that, the restaurant changed owners within thirty minutes, and we were kicked out.

Vivienne sat on the curb, looking defeated. "I made Garrison angry again."

She looked at me like a lost puppy. "What should I do now?"

I squeezed her hand, giving her a "watch this" look.

I pulled out my phone and dialed the city's business bureau, the labor board, and the consumer protection hotline.

My complaints worked like a charm.

Rumor has it that the steakhouse became Garrison's first-ever financial disaster since he started in business.

When Serenity heard about it, she felt so guilty that she started working multiple jobs day and night, claiming she had to pay Garrison back.

Eventually, she collapsed in the middle of a torrential downpour.

That night, Garrison supposedly picked her up in front of a crowd and carried her two miles through the rain to the hospital.

All while his driver followed behind them in a freaking Maserati.

From that day on, Garrison ignored Vivienne entirely. He even put out a public statement:

"I, Garrison Miller, could never love a woman as malicious as Vivienne Sterling."

"If you ever target Serenity again, I will make you pay."

Vivienne was so angry she nearly ended up in the hospital herself.

"I didn't even do anything! Why is everything my fault?"

"Zoe, go find someone to teach that girl a lesson."

Here it comes!

In the original book, Vivienne's downfall started exactly with "teaching Serenity a lesson."

As an employee who values my life, I quickly jumped in with some advice. "Violence solves nothing, boss. In the Art of War, the highest form of victory is outsmarting the enemy. Physical conflict is for losers."

Vivienne looked thoughtful. "Did Sun Tzu say that? What does outsmarting mean? Like, using a better trap so we don't get caught?"

Good god. She's gorgeous, but there's really nothing between those ears, is there?

I decided to pivot.

"Think about it. If our goal is Garrison, we need to focus on Garrison."

"Why did Garrison take that little brat to the hospital?"

Vivienne asked, "Why?"

"Because she was working hard!"

"Think about it, boss. Garrison is a CEO. What does a capitalist love most?"

Vivienne nodded. "Money?"

How vulgar!

"No! Hard work!"

In the original novel, Serenity's personality was her biggest draw.

Even though she was poor, she was diligent, hardworking, and studious. Garrison even met her while she was working at a hotel.

I had the staff prepare all the company's recent performance reports and ordered the department heads to give daily industry briefings.

Vivienne protested.

"When will I have time to go see Garrison then?"

Who cares about him? Your company is about to vanish!

Facing her doubts, I stayed patient and spun a new narrative.

"Look, Serenity works so hard, and that's why Garrison likes her."

"She works sixteen hours a day. Let's start smaller. How about you work ten?"

Vivienne reluctantly agreed. "That actually makes sense. Fine, I'll work ten hours a day."

Under the constant guidance of the department heads, Vivienne was soon buried under a mountain of reports and strategies.

Even Garrison started feeling uneasy and began asking around about what Vivienne was up to.

Just like that, the plot where she bullies Serenity was bypassed.

I finally felt like I could breathe again, until I ran into Serenity at a high-stakes business auction.

"What has Miss Sterling been busy with lately?"

"Work," I told her simply. "Running a company this size isn't easy. You can relax; she won't be bothering you anymore."

If Vivienne doesn't look for Serenity, the main plot shouldn't involve Vivienne, right?

I didn't expect Serenity to look up with those big, tear-filled eyes again. "Are you looking down on me? Fine, I'm poor. I have no money. You guys get to go inside while I'm stuck here as a greeter. Are you satisfied now?"

Me: "???"

Vivienne might look down on her, but what does that have to do with being a greeter at an auction?

As a loyal employee, I couldn't let my boss be slandered.

I told her sternly, "My boss has never thought that, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped obsessing over her."

Serenity watched me with red eyes for a long time before finally walking away.

That afternoon, while the finance department was reporting to Vivienne, Garrison suddenly burst into the office.

He slammed his fist onto her desk.

"Vivienne, what the hell are you trying to do?"

"What am I doing?"

Vivienne looked completely lost. "I'm trying to figure out how these consolidated financial statements actually consolidate?"

"Stop the act!"

Garrison pointed at me and shouted, "Ever since you hired this little henchman, Serenity has been crying all day! Don't tell me it's not your fault!"

Who are you calling a henchman!

I'm the Chief Executive Assistant!

"What does that have to do with me?" Vivienne was stunned. "I've been in the office all week. Check the security cameras! If she cries, it's my fault? If she trips, did I break the sidewalk? If she overeats, did I cook the meal?"

"You're still making excuses!" Garrison was fuming. "Serenity keeps defending you, telling me not to come here. And you? You won't even admit what you did. You're just full of lies."

"But I literally didn't do anything!"

Vivienne felt like her head was going to explode, but she tried to stay calm. "She's not defending me; she's just stating the obviousD"

"Shut up!" Garrison narrowed his eyes. "You're beyond help, Vivienne. I'm done with you. Winter is coming for the Sterling family."

He let out a cold huff and stormed out.

Vivienne was still in a daze. She shook her head hard.

"Anyway... back to the point. How do these consolidated statements work again?"

When Garrison said "winter is coming," he meant he was going to destroy her.

According to the rules of these stories, Garrison would now start targeting Vivienne.

His "targeting" meant announcing a total boycottDno Miller-affiliated companies were allowed to work with the Sterlings, and he even started poaching their rivals.

These tactics were petty and childish.

But to Vivienne, it was a massive humiliation and a crushing blow.

"How could he do this to me? I'm innocent!"

She was on the verge of a breakdown. "It's all that Serenity girl's fault. I'm going to ruin her."

Seeing Vivienne drifting back toward the dark side, I grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Get it together!"

This was an unfair disaster, but compared to the original plot, it was still a light blow.

Vivienne had just started breaking free from the script; I couldn't let her get sucked back in.

"But Garrison misunderstood me."

She cried like a heartbroken child. "He called me malicious. Fine! I'll show him exactly how malicious I can be!"

Honestly? I could see her point.

But no!

Thinking about the future of the Sterling family and Vivienne's tragic end, I gripped her hands and comforted her. "Men are like stray dogs. If you chase them, they run."

"Be the steak instead. Make them beg for a bite."

Vivienne wiped a tear. "That was a solid metaphor."

To distract my boss, I used her credit card to buy premium subscriptions to every streaming site. I made her watch endless dramas where the female lead wins back the man's heart by becoming a powerhouse.

Vivienne stayed up all night watching. Her takeaway was: "Beauty, brains, and a little bit of mystery. That's how you win without even trying."

Well... it's a start!

Beauty was easy. Vivienne was already high-society royalty with top-tier looks. She just needed to ditch the obsession and dress for herself.

The hard part was the brains and mystery.

I brought in the best glam squad in the city. Based on her new "Girlboss" persona, I had them design a sophisticated, regal look for her.

I also hired an image consultant to train her every move.

Over time, Vivienne Sterling became the most famous female CEO in the city.

Take right now, for instance. Vivienne was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, sipping coffee.

Languid. Ethereal.

Every candid photo looked like a magazine cover.

I happily posted a picture on her social media.

Caption: "A quick break after a long day of ruling the world."

Three minutes later, an uninvited guest burst into Vivienne's office.

Following my instructions, Vivienne suppressed her excitement. She stayed calm, holding her coffee with elegant poise.

"Garrison, what a surprise..."

"Vivienne, are you serious right now?"

Me: "..."

Vivienne: "..."

Garrison was livid. "You keep posting these photos just to show off that Serenity is poor? Is this petty mockery really worth it to you?"

Mockery?

A CEO taking a photo with a cup of coffee is mockery?

Vivienne's expression went cold. Garrison threatened her, "You're drinking coffee from the very shop where Serenity works part-time. You took a picture just to brag, and Serenity has been crying all day because of it."

"I'm ordering you to apologize to her, or elseD"

"Security!"

Garrison was dragged out by the guards. Before he left, he shouted, "Vivienne, you'll regret this!"

The Garrison and Serenity of the original book were a classic pair of over-dramatic leads.

It was that kind of story where the male lead has a stomach ache, and he has a doctor friend who says he's never seen the CEO care about a girl this much.

I only read the book because some influencer lied and said it was a masterpiece.

Vivienne threw her coffee in the trash and scoffed. "I get in trouble for drinking coffee now? Garrison has seriously lost his mind!"

Hallelujah!

My boss finally realized the truth.

I struck while the iron was hot. "He's sick. Let him go to a hospital. From now on, the guards aren't even letting him past the lobby."

Stay away from the lead, live a happy life.

To forget one man, you need another.

I quickly "borrowed" a 6'1" academic heartthrob from the local university. I had him delivered to the office under the guise of being the lead researcher for our new green energy project.

This guy was tall, handsome, and built like a mountain. Just standing there, he radiated charm.

He introduced himself politely. "Hello, Miss Sterling. I'm Parker Vance from the university."

Oh boy!

His voice was like velvetDdeep and clean.

He was easily on par with Garrison.

I quickly grabbed his hand and then Vivienne's, forcing them to shake.

I signaled Vivienne with my eyes: "Introduce yourself!"

You're usually so chatty, what happened?

Vivienne actually blushed.

Wow. The villainess was falling for a man who wasn't the male lead. This was cause for celebration!

Excited, I pushed them both into the massive office. "Go on, get to work! This energy project is our biggest profit maker. Don't let me down!"

Professor Vance was a true prodigy. He was brilliant and direct. Within a few days, he identified tiny flaws in the Sterling EV line that no one else had noticed.

Soon, the new Sterling electric vehicle hit the market and was a massive success.

Parker was thrilled. He nervously asked Vivienne, "Should we go out and celebrate?"

He rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "My treat. Anywhere is fine. I'm not picky. Or we could just... go for a walk?"

Vivienne blushed again.

She didn't say much, but she gave a small, silent nod.

Considering Parker was just a professor, Vivienne actually chose a humble, local diner for their date.

The moment they walked in, they saw Serenity.

She was in a simple white tee and black skirt, hair in a ponytail, wearing minimal makeup. She was behind the counter, ringing up a customer.

Seeing Vivienne and Parker, she froze.

She looked Vivienne up and down, then looked at her own scuffed shoes, biting her lip.

In this plain little diner, Vivienne in her tailored suit looked like a diamond, blinding everyone in the room.

"Miss Sterling..."

Serenity gripped the edge of her apron, looking lost, and forced a martyr-like smile.

"This... isn't really a place for people like you."

"Why not?"

Vivienne was confused. "Is there a membership requirement?"

"Only ordinary people come here. A wealthy socialite like you... it puts pressure on the other customers."

Serenity tilted her head up. "People come here to fill their stomachs, not to show off."

"I'm also here to fill my stomach."

Vivienne turned to Parker. "How about you?"

Parker nodded. "Same here."

Serenity noticed Parker and hesitated, seemingly recognizing him.

"Professor Vance, did Miss Sterling...?" She bit her lip and looked down, doing that "I want to say something but I won't" act again.

Then she suddenly spoke up loudly. "Miss Sterling, even if it makes you angry, even if you retaliate against me, I have to say it! Using Professor Vance just because Mr. Miller is ignoring you is an insult to the Professor!"

She stood up straight, losing her timid act, looking like a brave girl standing up to a tyrant.

Serenity looked at Parker, then saw Vivienne's growing anger, and a flash of triumph crossed her eyes.

Vivienne instinctively tried to explain to Parker. "It's not like that, don't listen to herD"

Serenity quickly took a step back, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything."

She looked terrified, as if she'd been threatened.

"Professor Vance, if Miss Sterling likes being with you, you must have your own merits. It couldn't possibly be just to make Mr. Miller jealous."

She looked at Vivienne, then lowered her head, fidgeting with her hands. "I'm so sorry. I've said too much. I hope I didn't cause any trouble."

In just a few minutes, Serenity had played three roles: the brave victim, the righteous truth-teller, and the bullied girl forced to apologize.

Just as Vivienne's temper was about to hit the ceiling, Parker turned and looked directly at Serenity.

Serenity's expression grew even more smug.

Parker spoke slowly. "Who Miss Sterling works with is her business. Who I spend my time with is mine. Now..."

"Can we get our food, Miss Waitress?"

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