The True Boss Awakens

"So what if it's your birthday? I snap my fingers and he comes running." The villainess sent the text right on schedule. Year five of trying to win over the male lead.

Sebastian Vance forgot my birthday. Again. This time, I didn't throw a crying fit like the System suggested. Instead, I texted her back. "Thanks.

You're the only one who remembered my birthday today." She replied instantly. "?" Then my phone blew up. "Wait, did you text the wrong person?" "Are you serious?

You're that pathetic?" "So what do you want for a present?" "Forget it, I'm coming over.

You're allergic to mangoes, so I'll order a strawberry cake." "Ugh, you're such a pain!" When the doorbell rang, I smiled at the empty air. "You only told me to win over the protagonist of this world.

You never said it had to be the male lead, right?" Chapter 1 The usually loud System went dead silent. Then it started stammering. [What… what do you mean?

The target is the male lead, of course! You and Sebastian will definitely have a happy ending!] I let out a dry laugh.

Ever since I moved to the Vance family estate five years ago, the System had been stringing me along. It kept telling me the cold treatment and humiliation were just tests of love.

It promised Sebastian and I would get our happy ending. But now? I didn't want that ending anymore. I ignored the System and got up to open the door. Sebastian stood in the hallway.

His face was twisted with impatience. He shot me a cold glare. "Even if I forgot our plans, you didn't need to play these games. Using Tori to force me to see you?

Chloe, I never knew you were this manipulative." I froze.

I had barely slept for three months, working myself to the bone to achieve a massive breakthrough for Vance Group's AI chips. Sebastian had been thrilled.

He asked what I wanted as a reward. I carefully asked him to save just one evening for me. He agreed instantly. I was ecstatic. I thought we were finally taking a step forward.

Instead, I was left emptyhanded. Just a careless "I forgot." The sharp click of heels echoed behind him.

Tori marched up to the sixth floor, panting slightly as she carried a massive cake box.

She stood between Sebastian and me, her expression strangely complicated. "So you didn't ditch her to hang out with me." Tori looked at him. "You just completely forgot it was Chloe's birthday?" Sebastian frowned. "Why would I remember her birthday?" he asked, as if it was the most absurd question in the world.

Tori turned to look at me. Pity flickered in her eyes. A heavy, awkward silence fell over the hallway. Sebastian looked down his nose at me.

He looked like a king throwing scraps to a beggar. "Since you've been working hard for Vance Group, just tell me what you want.

Name your wish." Chapter 2 I looked up and met his eyes. "Anything?" Sebastian froze. He touched the tip of his nose and looked away. "Of course." [Ahhhh! Did you see that?

He's blushing! Tell him you don't want anything but his time!] [Ask him to spend the day with you! An amusement park! Fireworks!

His affection meter will go through the roof!] I just watched him for two seconds.

I took a deep breath. "Then give me some money." His smile vanished. "What?" I kept my gaze steady. "Give me some money. I need to pay rent." His face darkened.

His jaw ticked. "There are your true colors. And you claimed you weren't after my money." His knuckles popped as he clenched his fists.

He let out a cold laugh. "It's too late, Chloe. Didn't you want to be Mrs.

Vance?" "Then you'll work your fingers to the bone for Vance Group for the rest of your life." He turned and stormed down the hall. Tori stood there.

She held out the massive cake box, her expression unreadable. "Um.

Happy birthday." I forced my mouth into a smile. "I know you just came to laugh at me, but thank you." I shut the door.

The System started wailing again. [Oh my god, what were you doing? He forgot your birthday! He was feeling guilty!

Why didn't you use that to your advantage instead of asking him for cash?] I looked down at the eviction warning from the landlady on my phone. "What else was I supposed to do?

I have to survive." Sebastian had hated me for years.

I worked as the Chief Engineer at Vance Group, but my paycheck was smaller than the janitor's. [But that's just the male lead testing you! He loves you but doesn't realize it yet.

Once you two get married, everything he owns will be yours!] The doorbell rang again. The delivery guy stood in the hall, peeking around nervously.

He held out a cake box. "Ordered by Mr. Vance." [See? I told you he cares about you! He ordered you a cake.] [You pushed him away.

Hurry up and call him to apologize!] I opened the box. The cake was covered in sliced mangoes. I stared at it.

My throat tightened. "Do you remember the day I arrived five years ago?" I asked the empty room. I set up a meeting with Tori at the cafe downstairs.

The System spun in circles inside my head. [Host, are you really sure about this? Are you really going to Mercer Group?

Tori is only taking you in to keep you away from the male lead!] [Once your relationship with him heats up, she'll make your life a living hell!] I pulled on my coat. "At least she'll pay me fairly.

I won't starve to death on the streets." "Plus, Tori fought off all her siblings to become the heir. She's not some brainless spoiled brat.

And besides—" I swallowed the rest of my sentence. Five years ago, I moved to New York alone to find my relatives.

The security guards at the estate looked down their noses at me and threw me out without a second thought. Chapter 3 It was Sebastian who appeared like a savior.

He ripped into the guards and took my terrified self back to the family estate. That was why I endured his coldness for five years. I was addicted to that first sliver of light.

But I also never forgot something else. The person standing next to Sebastian five years ago—the one who held the umbrella and draped a coat over my shivering shoulders—was Tori.

If it hadn't been for that absurd decision five years ago, the three of us wouldn't be in this mess. Tori sat across from me.

She stirred her coffee with agonizing slowness. "Are you really coming to Mercer Group? Why?" "I thought Vance Group was your life.

You basically nailed yourself inside the lab for years. You came whenever Sebastian called.

You were more obedient than their family dog." I took a sip of my coffee. "Because I'm done being a dog." Tori froze. A few seconds passed.

She slid a contract across the table, her expression shifting. "Chloe, I really hate you.

But sometimes, I kind of admire you." "I separate business from personal grudges," she continued. "As a woman, I won't make things hard for you at work." "But when it comes to feelings, we're still rivals." She stood up and held out her hand. "Welcome to Mercer Group." I looked up, gave her a small smile, and took her hand.

Before I showed up, Tori and Sebastian were the main characters of this world. They were childhood sweethearts, from the same old money circles.

Then, five years ago, someone put a hit out on Richard Vance. His driver took the fatal blow for him.

With his dying breath, my father begged the Vance family to take care of his only daughter. So Richard made a public announcement in front of everyone.

He ordered Sebastian to marry me. To take care of me for the rest of my life. Sebastian's face turned livid.

The man who had gently comforted me the night before looked at me with nothing but absolute disgust. I headed back to the Vance Group office.

My assistant, Natalie, immediately started shooting me frantic looks. I frowned in confusion. I pushed open my office door.

Sebastian sat at my desk, his face carved out of ice. "Leaving your post during work hours," he said. "Is this your attitude, Chloe?

Say goodbye to this month's paycheck." I pressed my lips together. I didn't say a word. He let out a mocking sneer. "Oh, I forgot. Without a paycheck, you can't make rent." "What?

Are you going to shamelessly crawl back to the family estate?" [Since when does he ever come down to the R&D department?! He's giving you an out!

And bringing up rent?] [He clearly just wants you to move back to the estate! It's just a clumsy excuse to save face!] All the energy drained out of my bones. Five years.

I couldn't live like this anymore. "Forget it." Both the System and Sebastian froze. "Forget it. Since I violated company policy, I quit." Sebastian shot out of his chair.

His jaw clenched tight enough to snap. "You think playing hard to get is going to make me soft?" "Who do you think you are? You want to quit?

Fine." "Get out, and don't ever think about coming back." He swept his arm across my desk. Folders and pens crashed to the floor.

He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. I quietly knelt down and started picking up the scattered papers. My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Tori.

Chapter 4 [Monday start work for you? I bought you some clothes and sent them to your place. Dress decently for work, don't embarrass me!] I looked at the text and smiled.

On Monday morning, I stood in front of the Mercer Group building. The System was still chattering away. [Host, are you really sure about this? This is Tori's turf.

According to the original plot, the villainess will…] "She will what?" I asked as I walked through the sliding doors. [She will prepare a full set of office supplies for you on your first day, arrange your desk, and even have her assistant buy you breakfast… Wait.

Now that I say it out loud, she doesn't sound like a villainess at all…] I let out a soft laugh. I knew it five years ago. Tori was never some unreasonable, spoiled brat.

If the System hadn't forced us into these rival roles, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way. The elevator doors dinged open.

Before I could step out, Tori was already waiting. She looked me up and down. Her brow furrowed. "Didn't I buy you clothes?

Why are you still wearing this?" I looked down at my faded white buttondown. "Those clothes are too expensive. I—" "Just wear what I give you," she cut me off. "Stop talking.

Follow me. Your office is on the eighteenth floor." I blinked. "Office? I'm just an engineer.

I don't need—" "I say you need it, so you need it," Tori said without looking back. "Mercer Group isn't Vance Group.

I don't stick my Chief Engineer in a cubicle." "Also, your payroll card." She stopped and handed me a sleek bank card. "An advance on three months' salary," she said. "Pay your rent first.

Don't get evicted and embarrass me." I stared down at the card in my palm. My fingers trembled. The System chimed in with a quiet voice. [Host, something feels off.

Isn't that supposed to be the male lead's line?] I sat at my new desk in a daze. Logan, the assistant, poked his head in