Professional Stand-in: Daily Salary of 10,000 US Dollars

5

The next day at work, I was glowing with confidence. Everly Tate, my team leader, walked over and dumped a stack of files in front of me, ordering me to sort them out.

"Ashley, get these done tonight."

Everly, taking advantage of her connection with our department manager, Dexter Harrow, constantly bosses me around. This time, I was not going to put up with it.

Planning to quit soon anyway, I flatly refused her. "This isn't my job. I'm not doing it."

"You!" Everly's face twisted in anger as she stormed off with the files.

"Wow!" my colleagues cheered, giving me a thumbs up.

Offending Everly might cost me a promotion or raise, but I didn't expect her to retaliate so pettily over the next two days, making my life miserable. Dexter called me in for a talk, criticizing everything I did.

"Ashley, you need to think carefully. When your boss assigns you tasks, how can you just refuse? Do you want a 'C' on your performance review?"

Performance reviews were a tool for bosses to control their subordinates. After a moment of silence, not wanting to stir up trouble, I agreed to follow Everly's instructions.

Back at my desk, Everly smugly handed me a pile of invoices and documents to sort out. I didn't refuse and worked diligently until 9 PM.

With the office lights bright and everyone else gone, Dexter approached me from behind. "Ashley, still working, huh?"

I moved away, ignoring him.

He overstepped further, attempting to embrace me!

Panicked, I struggled fiercely, stabbing his head with my high heel.

"Ashley, you're done!" Dexter screamed, clutching his face.

At his shout, I figured since I had already hit him, I might as well make it count. Grabbing my high heel, I beat him wildly as he howled in pain.

Seizing the moment while he was groaning on the ground, I quickly grabbed my bag and dashed out the front door.

The night air was chillingly cold, and I soon calmed down.

I couldn't just sit around and wait for Dexter and Everly to get their way.

Remembering our company's CEO, who also seemed to be Sienna's secret admirer, I took a cab to the address I recalled from the book, heading to the CEO's luxurious villa.

Ryan Pierce, our CEO, was surprised by my sudden visit and frowned. "What are you doing here?"

He appeared cold and arrogant, strikingly handsome. If I hadn't known the plot of the book, I wouldn't have guessed he was so infatuated with Sienna.

I gave him a slight smile. "Mr. Pierce, you hired me because I look like Sienna, didn't you?"

He paused for a moment.

It was Ryan who interviewed me for the final round when I first joined the company, initially applying for a secretary position before being moved to the administration department.

I used to think I had done something wrong to offend him, but now I understood he hired me because of my resemblance to Sienna, yet he moved me to avoid suspicion.

"From today, I can be Sienna's double, acting just as you wish," I smiled, flipping my dark hair. "A thousand dollars an hour.

"Also, Dexter just harassed me. He seems pretty taken with my face."

Ryan's expression changed immediately; in his mind, Sienna was an untouchable goddess, and no one was allowed to tarnish her.

He wouldn't defend me, but he would stand up for a face that resembled Sienna's.

6

The next day, in front of everyone, Dexter rebuked my work, saying my performance review would be a C.

If I got a C three months in a row, I might be fired. Dexter was determined to ruin me.

My colleagues were furious but powerless against him.

Everly, clicking her heels, came over and insincerely advised, "Ashley, don't be too arrogant. Don't offend people easily at work; you have to do whatever your superiors ask."

Then she walked away, head held high.

I ignored her and remained calm. Around 11 AM, the company's OA system suddenly announced Dexter's termination.

The reason was the sexual harassment of a female employee.

Everyone was shocked. We had all assumed I would be the one leaving, but instead, it was Dexter who was shown the door.

The second file revealed that the boss, Ryan, had appointed me as his secretary, instantly elevating my status above Everly's.

Colleagues came to congratulate me while Everly turned pale, muttering, "Impossible... How could this be?"

I walked over to her, my slender fingers tapping on the desk, my voice calm. "You shouldn't be too arrogant. In the workplace, don't make enemies carelessly. You do what your superiors ask of you."

I gathered all the departmental documents and presented them to her. "Sort all these documents today unless you want a 'C' for your performance review."

Everly's face turned beet red, and she forced a smile, saying, "Yes, Ms. Gomez."

Afterward, I reported to Ryan. Initially, he was pretty gentlemanly, but then he began to show hints of flirtation.

Prepared, I approached him like a siren, my long fingers tracing his chest, my words laced with innuendo. "It's not impossible between us, but that would mean betraying your beloved. So much for your love, huh?"

Ryan's expression changed, and he quickly pushed me away.

I smirked inwardly. In the book, Ryan was Sienna's devoted admirer, a typical male side character in such melodramas, always remaining chaste for the heroine, which is why I dared to be so bold around him.

Pride wounded, Ryan retorted, "I have no intention of having sex with you. You're not even worth a finger of Sienna's."

"That's more like it," I replied with a smile, my lips barely moving. "Talking about feelings is such a waste of money."

Subsequently, Ryan began to take me out frequently for meals near the office, not hiding from others, and rumors spread that I was his lover.

Whenever Everly saw me, her legs would shake, and she'd avoid me if possible, but I found an opportunity to have Ryan fire her.

After all, she was a toxic presence in the department and had bullied me repeatedly. I was not the kind to turn the other cheek.

Now that I had the upper hand, it wouldn't matter when Sienna returned.

It was only natural for me to embrace the role of a villainess.