Billionaire Villainess (Unedited)

Verona Begins To Take Action (Heavily Edited 11/15/24)

Verona glanced at the clock on her desk, feeling a mixture of anticipation and anxiety swell within her. The hands of the clock ticked slowly, each second amplifying her eagerness. Today was the day she'd put her plan into action. Dressed in her favorite light blue blouse, which accentuated her features, and fitted jeans that highlighted her figure, she felt ready to make an impression on the person she was targeting—Zayden.

Today, she felt emboldened—determined to regain control over her life. If Gabriel was going to keep her in the dark, then perhaps it was time to distract herself with someone else. Zayden was handsome, and according to Nora, Judith seemed incredibly close to him, which only fueled Verona's desire to pull him away. The thought of having Zayden's attention all to herself was thrilling.

With a deep breath, she exited her dorm room, glancing at her reflection in the glass door as she adjusted her hair, smoothing the strands down until they framed her face just right. Confidence was key, she reminded herself. She walked through the bustling university hallways, weaving between groups of students chatting and laughing. The hum of conversation filled the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter. Yet, amidst the noise, her mind was solely focused on finding one person.

As she approached a corner, her heart skipped a beat when she spotted Zayden leaning against the wall, engrossed in his phone. He was alone—an unusual sight in the chaotic campus environment.

Verona grinned; this was her chance.

"Okay, Verona, you've got this," she murmured to herself, her heart racing at the sight of him. With careful steps, she quickened her pace, and as she rounded the corner, she "accidentally" bumped into him.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes that sparkled with faux sincerity.

Zayden looked startled, blinking at her for a moment as if he were processing the sudden interruption. He pushed himself off the wall, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, no problem," he said, his tone flat and dismissive.

Verona took a small step back, feigning embarrassment as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I didn't see you there. I guess I was just caught up in my own thoughts."

"Right." He glanced at her indifferently, then looked back at his phone, seemingly uninterested in continuing the conversation.

"You're Zayden, right?" she continued, unwilling to let the moment slip away. "We met that day at the amusement park. You were with my sister. I can't believe we ran into each other again! I really want to talk to you!" She smiled brightly, hoping to reignite the spark of conversation.

A look of impatience crossed Zayden's face. "Look, I have to go. If you'll excuse me—"

"Wait!" she interjected, her voice rising slightly as she hoped to catch his attention again. "I was just on my way to grab a coffee. Would you like to join me?" she suggested, leaning slightly closer, trying to inject a flirtatious note into her voice.

Zayden raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening as he studied her. "I'm really not interested," he said, his tone now colder, more definitive. "Now, can you please let me by?"

Her confidence wavered as she struggled to maintain her charm in the face of his clear disinterest. "Oh, come on! Judith talks about you all the time. It seems like you two are really close," she said, trying to angle the conversation back in her favor.

As Verona spoke, Zayden's sharp gaze never wavered from her face. The exaggerated innocence in her eyes was almost comical, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of irritation at how rehearsed her behavior seemed. The way she feigned embarrassment, the innocent flutter of her lashes—it was all so calculated. He'd seen this act before, from girls who thought a little charm and a smile would get them what they wanted. But Zayden wasn't one to fall for it.

Her attempt to play the "I'm just a girl, caught up in my own world" routine barely fazed him. He'd been around long enough to recognize when someone was trying to manipulate a conversation, and Verona's every movement screamed that she was trying to lure him in. The way she stepped closer, the fake nervousness in her voice—it all felt too forced.

When she mentioned Judith, Zayden's suspicion flared. He hadn't forgotten the tension that had grown between him and Verona ever since that day at the amusement park.

"Judith talks to you all the time?" he asked, keeping his voice flat, masking the flicker of irritation he felt at her audacity.

Verona maintained her calm demeanor as she lied to him, her heart pounding. "Yes, my sister and I are close, so she spoke to me about you. I was just hoping we could be friends," she said, her tone sweet as she attempted to feign sincerity. "Get to know each other better?"

Zayden shook his head, his expression resolute and unmoved by her attempts. "I have enough friends, thanks. And I really need to get to class." He stepped past her, brushing against her shoulder as he walked away, leaving Verona standing alone in the hallway, the echo of his footsteps growing fainter.

"Ugh," she muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling to the surface. How had it gone so wrong so quickly? Was it really that easy for him to dismiss her?

Verona felt her stomach twist as she watched him walk away, a cocktail of anger and humiliation churning inside her. Why was he so determined to keep her at arm's length? She had approached him with charm and confidence, yet all she had received in return was cold indifference.

This had never happened to her before! No male had ever resisted her!

As she leaned against the wall, she reflected on her failed attempt. Zayden was not only attractive but had a certain magnetism that made it difficult to look away. Perhaps she had underestimated him. He wasn't like the others who had fallen for her charm so easily. She had to be smarter; this wouldn't be her last attempt.

She needed a new strategy—one that would allow her to catch Zayden's attention without scaring him off. Maybe she could enlist Nora's help again. If Zayden was as close to Judith as he appeared, perhaps there was a way to leverage that connection.

That evening, as she sat on her bed, she crafted a plan in her mind. She would need to create opportunities where Zayden would have no choice but to notice her—where they would be forced to interact. She could subtly insert herself into his routine, making it impossible for him to overlook her.

A sly smile crept onto her lips at the thought.