The Villainess and Me

As Christmas approaches, some of my colleagues have already begun their Christmas holidays with their loved ones. But for me, I don't particularly enjoy Christmas as it brings back memories of my past.

"Adriana Pierce!"

I was jolted back to reality when someone called my name. I looked around and was surprised to see Stacy approaching me with a scowl on her face. She was the one who called me.

Stacy is one of my colleagues who acts like she owns our workplace. She dresses like a wealthy lady, even in her job, she doesn't do her reports correctly. I always end up revising her reports and passing them to our department head. Unfortunately, her uncle happens to be the head of our department, so I have no choice.

"Here she goes..." I muttered under my breath as I looked at her.

"Next week is Christmas, yet you're still working nonstop, Ms. Pierce," one of my co-workers remarked.

I forced a smile at the comment.

"Anyway, I don't think you have plans this evening. I will give you my work instead so I can finish up. And," Stacy chuckled a little, "you can also help me out this Christmas season."

Even though I didn't want to do it, I don't want any trouble, so I agreed.

After they left, I finished Stacy's report before starting on mine. Fortunately, I knew all of Stacy's tasks because I always end up doing them for her. Every Friday, we have to submit a report to our department head for evaluation.

"Aren't you going home yet, Adriana?" one of my co-worker's, whom I wasn't very close to, asked.

I just nodded and spoke, "I still have to finish my report for tomorrow."

She smiled widely and sat on the chair next to my cubicle. "Well, I thought you might be bored this week," she said.

"We all know that you don't celebrate Christmas or take a Christmas vacation," she added.

It's a known fact in our workplace, and I'm okay with it because it's true.

"Do you like to read books, Adriana?" she asked, furrowing her brows.

"Not really," I replied, adding, "Why?"

"You might need this later on for a break," she said, handing me the book she had earlier.

It was an old hardcover book with just the right number of pages. I accepted it and examined the front cover carefully.

I suddenly felt strange because the book had no title.

"Why doesn't this book have a title?" I asked her, but I didn't notice that she had already left.

When I looked around, she was no longer in our office.

Some of our co-workers looked at me strangely because I suddenly stood up and seemed to be searching for something. I just smiled awkwardly and sat back down.

"Weird. She left so quickly," I sighed, "I don't even know what the title of this book is."

I shrugged and placed the book on the side of my computer before continuing my work.

While typing my report, I couldn't help but be curious about the book my co-worker gave me, whose name I didn't even know.

When I looked around, there were still some of us working overtime in the office, so I checked the time and saw that it was already 10 PM. I decided to read the book to pass the time.

I looked at the front cover and searched for the title, but there was none. When I turned the book and looked at the back cover, there was a synopsis written.

My eyebrows furrowed as I read the synopsis, and I was shocked to see my whole name mentioned in it!

I brought the back of the book closer to my face just to see if it was really my name.

Adriana Pierce!

I frowned as I stared at my name.

"I have a bad feeling about this book," I whispered softly.

I read the synopsis, but I felt my blood boil as I read about the female and male protagonists.

According to the synopsis, this book is just a typical story from the romantic novels I read. The male protagonist is arranged to be married to someone else since childhood, and there are people who oppose his relationship with the heroine.

"This better be a good book," I whispered weakly and started reading.

I hadn't even noticed that it was already 1 AM when I finished reading it.

My eyes widened as I hastily placed the book inside my tote bag.

First, I printed Stacy's report and then mine so I would be done for the day.

When I looked around, my co-workers were sleeping in their cubicles, and some were even sleeping on the long sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window.

After printing, I took a sip of water, feeling tired. I decided to rest in my cubicle for a while.

I leaned on my swivel chair and closed my eyes, thinking about the book I had just read.

It was annoying because my name was in it. My whole name, actually. But that's not all!

The problem was that the character in the book who had the same name as me was the villainess!

I shook my head as I felt dizzy.

I tried to open my eyes slightly, but all I felt was drowsiness.

Maybe I'm just tired.

I rested my head on my desk and closed my eyes as darkness enveloped me.

"Miss! Wake up!!" Strange.

I seemed to hear a woman's voice shouting and knocking outside my door. But shouting in the office is not allowed. What is she screaming about?

I was about to go back to sleep when I heard another knock on my door.

Wait... What? Door?

I frowned as I opened my eyes abruptly, sat up, and saw the unfamiliar surroundings.

What's this? I just fell asleep at my cubicle, but why am I here in a... bed?

My eyes widened as I looked around, confused.

Why am I here? Who brought me here?

I jumped in shock as there was a sudden knock on the door. I didn't know whether to open the door or not.

I stared at my hands, and my eyes widened as I saw that my skin was soft, white, and tender. But I'm not that fair-skinned. When I woke up, my skin changed?

What happened!?

I pinched both my cheeks and smiled as I felt them soft too, but I winced when I felt pain.

"Miss!!!" I sighed as I walked quickly and opened the door.

My eyes widened as a fist almost hit my face.

"Miss, I hope you would have opened the door earlier. I almost hit you with my fist," an old woman, dressed casually, said as she smiled awkwardly.

I just looked at her strangely, not knowing what to say.

"Uh... well, I mean. Your father is calling you," she said.

"Father?" I asked, puzzled.

Is he the mastermind behind why I'm here? This damn-

"Your father, Miss," she clarified, "Anyway, are you okay, Miss Adriana?"

I shook my head and closed the door, indicating that I would follow her.

I held my head. I was confused about what had happened. What happened to me!?

I felt like my head was spinning. I felt as if something had entered my mind. My eyes widened as I made a discovery.

I'm actually inside the book. The book that one of my colleagues gave me to read!

I was happy at first, but...

I became the villainess character in the book! That pitiful character is me! The character who has the same name as me!

***