I am not the Villainess

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24 

Alfred brought Tatiana and Mia to his small office on the far side of the shop. Tatiana and Alfred sat in front of each other with a wooden and creaky table in between them. 

Mia, on the other hand, sat on a chair just slightly behind Tatiana. She is still confused about what Tatiana is planning, but she does, however, understand her intention. 

Mia is a wise woman. She knows that Tatiana brought her here to recruit her to her side. Tatiana wanted Mia to join her, but she also doesn’t want to force her. She wants her to decide on her own. 

However, Mia doesn’t know what all of this is for. She doesn’t know why Tatiana is doing this and what her goal really is. So, whether Mia will trust Tatiana or not will be based only on what she will learn in this meeting. It’s a matter of how Mia will respond in the end, and Tatiana hopes that it will be good. 

“Who are you?” Alfred started. 

“You can call me J.” Tatiana simply answered. 

J, short for Jane, is her alias. Although she is no longer Jane, she still wanted to keep that identity even if it’s just an alias. Aside from that, that name allows her to feel that she is still herself despite being inside another person’s body. 

“Why are you doing this? That letter...what do you mean by that?” Alfred asked again with a little bit of aggressiveness. His actions show he is not scared, but his face shows otherwise. Despite how much he tried to hide it to not seem that he is intimidated by the person in front of him, Tatiana could see him trembling and sweat in anxiety. 

Tatiana wondered why he feels that way when she’s not even doing anything. Maybe it was because of how they looked right now. 

Contrary to what Tatiana thought, however, Alfred was scared not just because of how they look but also because of the dark aura that surrounds Tatiana. 

Tatiana doesn’t realize this, but she felt so overpowering that whoever would look at her would feel chills to their bones and would rather run away than face her like this. Even Mia felt this overwhelming power from her. 

Wherever that aura may come from, it definitely shows that Tatiana is not to be messed with.

“Alfred Rogers, 42 years old, a father of a 10-year-old girl. Your wife is currently sick and bedridden, and you have a debt of over 100 gold just to pay for her hospitalization. Your business is not going well, obviously, and now, the loan sharks are chasing you while threatening your daughter’s life. Is that correct?”  Tatiana said, ignoring his question.

Alfred gulped in nervousness with Tatiana’s cold and deep voice. Right now, due to the voice-changer in Tatiana's mask, she sounded like a man. 

“Y-yes...but, how did you—” Before he could finish, Tatiana cut her off. 

 “Then, how would you like to start a business with me?”  

Alfred became speechless and looked at her with wide eyes. Mia, who’s quietly listening, looked at Tatiana with surprise as well. 

All of a sudden, Tatiana proposed to start a business. Not to mention, she wanted to have this pitiful man become her business partner.

Just what are you planning, my lady?

“W-what?” 

“Did you not read my letter? I am proposing to become your business partner, Mr. Rogers.” Tatiana, with her back against the chair, had her elbow on the armrest, propping up her chin. 

“I-I don’t understand...why are you proposing this to me? Do you not see the state that I am in?” 

Tatiana smirked, but of course, it couldn’t be seen due to her mask. She had expected this reaction from him, and maybe anyone with common sense would think the same. She knows that even Mia thought of her proposal as an absurd thing. However, Tatiana knows the future of this world. She knows what this man in front of him will soon become. 

“Are you not confident, Mr. Rogers?” 

With Tatiana’s question, Alfred wasn’t able to answer. Of course, he wasn’t confident and he also couldn’t trust Tatiana. He’s already on the verge of complete bankruptcy, and he still has a debt to pay. Trusting someone he had just met would mean he needs to take a big risk. Besides, his business isn’t going well, which means his skills were not enough. How else could he say that he is confident when how he and his shop looks could very much say he is incompetent?

“No...” Alfred whispered and looked down at his hands. 

“That’s a shame because I am confident,” Tatiana said with determination. She leaned forward and placed both hands on the table while she stared at Alfred. Although he can't see it with her mask, he can feel her smiling at him. 

Alfred looked at her confused. 

“You have great potential, Mr. Rogers. Your inventions are great—no, they are remarkable! You deserved to be known to the world, but if you’re not confident enough then how would you do that, right?” Tatiana placed a folder on the table and pushed it towards Alfred. “And that’s where I’ll come in. With your skills and mine, we can start a business like no other, and your name will be known. You’ll be able to pay off your debts and save your family, and live the rest of your life with honor and wealth. Isn’t that what you wanted?” 

Alfred looked at the folder on the table and looked at Tatiana again. 

“Yes...but, I don’t understand why me?”  

Tatiana leaned back on her chair again and crossed her arms. Her head tilted as she stares back at Alfred.  

“It’s simple. As I’ve said, I saw your potential. You are talented, but you lack something—connections. In the business world, talent and knowledge are not enough. You need to have a network and connections that would pull you to the top. But of course, as a commoner, that is difficult to acquire, is it not?” Tatiana paused and open the folder on the table. It is a contract about their partnership.  

“How do I know if I should trust you or not?” Alfred gritted as he looked at the contract in front of him. 

“Business partnership is all about trust. If you will take the risk then that means you have to trust me. But what choice do you have? Aren’t I the last option you have?” 

Alfred clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Although it offended him, she was right. He’s already falling into an abyss and she’s the light that came all of a sudden. She’s her only chance but...can he really take the risk? 

“This world where the rich and powerful rules and the poor and weak suffer, is unfair. But that’s what it is. Do you wish to remain poor and weak or do you want to rise in power and become rich? Isn't the latter a better choice? The world is unfair, but nothing is impossible. I will help you, Alfred Rogers, you can trust me.” Tatiana continued.  

Tatiana understood why Alfred was hesitating, after all, she was just a mysterious stranger who suddenly approached him with an offer that can be doubtful when first heard. But he has to trust her, that’s the only way Tatiana could have Alfred by her side. 

“Then...I will ask one more thing. You‘re powerful enough to conduct a background search on me, yet you are taking a risk by approaching someone like me, an old man who’s drowning in debt and is on the verge of bankruptcy...But what will you gain from this?” Alfred suddenly said after a long silence. 

Tatiana took a while to answer and only stared at him. 

What will I gain? I will gain wealth and power that I will use to protect my family. 

“Just like you... I also want to protect someone, and this partnership will allow me to do that.” She answered. 

Alfred stared at her for a moment and to the contract on the table. He thought about it very carefully.  He thought about every possible case, and he thought about his family.

My wife and my daughter...they need me. If this is indeed the only way I could rise and help them, then I’ll do it. 

With that conviction, Alfred took the pen and signed the contract. 

Tatiana smiled victoriously at this. 

Alfred needs someone like her to become successful like in the novel, and she needs him to build her own power. Once she succeeds, she’ll be able to protect herself and her family with her new-built power. It’s the perfect scenario. 

Tatiana signed the contract as well. She closed the folder and offered her hand to Alfred. He accepted it and shook their hands, officially sealing off their partnership. 

“Thank you, Mr. Rogers. I’m looking forward to working with you.” 

Alfred nodded and they both stood up.  

“I look forward to our partnership too.” 

“I will contact you again after I prepared everything. In the meantime, use this to pay off your debts and pay for your wife’s hospitalization.” Tatiana said and gave him a pouch of gold coins. This was nothing related to their contract. She just wanted to offer this much kindness to him. 

Alfred was shocked when he opened the pouch and looked at Tatiana with disbelief. He wasn’t able to say something due to shock, but Tatiana just patted his shoulder before turning around to walk away. 

Tatiana left the room and Mia followed behind her.  

Alfred, on the other hand, came to his senses and run out of the shop. Though, he’s already too late since Tatiana and Mia had already mounted the carriage. 

Thank you...J. 

He muttered to himself as he watched the carriage leave. 

- 

In the carriage, Mia was quietly staring at Tatiana. 

Tatiana felt this, looked at her, and smiled. 

Mia must have had a lot of questions now, but she still did not dare to ask. Or maybe she’s still processing what to ask. 

The carriage was filled with silence. A while later, Mia finally spoke. 

“My lady...you brought me here...because you wanted me to trust you, right?” Mia asked. 

Tatiana smiled at her and nodded. 

“Yes..." she observed Mia before asking, "So what do you think?” 

Mia looked down at her hands and pondered about it again.  

Mia didn’t find out a lot in tonight’s meeting. Aside from the fact that Tatiana is starting a business with a pitiful man, Mia didn’t know anything else. She doesn’t know why Tatiana wanted to do this, or what her goal really is. 

However, despite that, she knows that she will trust Tatiana. She just has this feeling that urges her to follow Tatiana. Besides, didn’t she promised to protect Tatiana with her life no matter what. 

“I don’t want you to force yourself, Mia. I brought you here to show you and give you a choice, and whatever your choice will be, I will accept it.” Tatiana said softly when Mia didn’t respond for a long time. 

Mia looked up to her and had decided. 

“No, my lady. I will follow you no matter what. It is my duty as your personal maid, and I also wanted to do this.” Mia took a deep breath and continued. “My lady, I may not understand what it is that you desire. I may also not know how a mere maid like me can help you. But I will help you, my lady. To the best of my abilities, I will always be by your side.” 

Mia proclaimed with certainty and determination in her eyes. Her words that she said with sincerity and no hesitations, touched Tatiana’s heart. 

“Thank you, Mia. You don’t know how much that meant to me.” 

That night, Tatiana took a step closer to completing her preparations. She acquired two people on her side who would help her in her plans. 

But this is just the beginning... 

--- 

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