The CEO Who Couldn't Read My Mind

Veronica Albright was trying to game the system, and for three years, she'd been running her campaign on me, believing I was the designated male lead.

She sent me wire transfers, cash, and even bought me a condo.

I took it all with a poker face.

Inside my head, I heard her frustration: [Seriously? Still stuck at zero? Maybe Im not giving him enough.]

I pretended I didn't know a thing.

So, the money kept coming.

Until one day, she finally figured out she had the wrong man.

1
My childhood was the kind of poor that made me pray every night: "If only money would rain from the sky."

Then I met Veronica.

And it actually did.

2

I started at Albright Global on the same day as another guy.

His name was Jasper Evans. Mine was Rhys Easton.

The names were close enough to be confusing on a filing cabinet.

Jasper had bright eyes and a clean-cut, decent look. But he was energetic and aggressive, always volunteering for the toughest assignments.

He was the perfect, hard-working, go-getter protagonist from a commercial fiction novel.

3

The last day of that month, the company CEO, Veronica Albright, suddenly called the new interns to her office.

Jasper and I stood opposite each other, staring at the intimidating presence behind the obsidian desk.

Veronica leaned back in her black leather chair, her gaze sharp, radiating an intense, suffocating pressure. Was this the face I saw plastered on Forbes and Fortune?

Noble, ice-cold, and terrifyingly brilliant.

Her brow furrowed, and her eyes flickered between us before finally resting on me.

Just as I was preparing for the worsta spectacular firingI heard her inner monologue:

[Shoot. I forgot the protagonists name. Something J.E.?]

[Well, the one on the right is definitely hotter. That has to be the main character. And hes described as being ridiculously poor, which checks all the boxes. Yes. Its him.]

I was the one on the right.

On the last day of July, I was diagnosed as the male lead in a CEO romance story, purely because of my alarming lack of funds.

4

For a moment, I convinced myself I was hallucinating.

But Veronicas bizarre internal commentary kept getting louder and clearer.

I clenched my jaw, reciting the periodic table in my mind, trying to anchor myself in reality. Fake. All fake. This is what happens when I skip lunch.

Veronicas intense aura softened, and she adopted a casual, effortless pose. "Only one of you is going to be kept on."

"Rhys Easton, the one on the right. You're staying. The other can go process his termination papers."

I gaped at her.

Her inner voice was edged with triumph: [That should definitely give him a great first impression of my power.]

No, wait. If you kept both of us, Id be impressed too! This just makes the company look cheap.

I glanced over at Jasper. His eyes were wide with disbelief, glistening with frustrated tears.

I hesitated, then decided to test the waters. "Jasper's work is... as strong as mine, maybe stronger."

If the mind-reading was real, Jasper and I could both stay. If it was fake, I might as well quit anyway; my brain was clearly broken.

Veronicas delicate brows pinched together. My heart hitched.

The next second, her expression relaxed. "Fine. You can both stay."

Holy hell. I think I just got the real-deal mind-reading power.

5

As we left Veronicas office, Jasper bit out, his voice shaking, "Don't you dare be smug, Rhys. I'll make you pay for this favor someday."

Then he stormed off.

That. That bizarre, dramatic exit.

Case closed. Jasper was the real protagonist.

And I was just a particularly impoverished, slightly-too-handsome side character.

Damn it.

6

I had planned to wait until my contract was finalized before telling Veronica the truth. The severance package would be much more substantial then.

The very next morning, Veronica called me back to her office to announce a raise.

I opened my mouth to politely decline.

She lowered her gaze, her eyes glinting. "Double your salary."

"Yes, thank you, Veronica," I said immediately.

I couldn't even imagine the size of the severance check I was building toward.

7

To prove he was superior, Jasper threw himself into work, practically living at the office.

I sighed at him. "Jasper, you've become everything I ever hated."

He took a savage bite of his bagel, his expression feral. "Just wait! I'll make everyone see who the real talent is!"

Wow. Such noble protagonist talk.

He would never know the only reason he lost to me was that my childhood home was basically a dirt floor.

Next time, buddy. I promise Ill let you win.

8

Three days later, Veronica called me in again.

Her dark eyes were heavy, fixed on me without speaking.

Not this again...

Her inner voice provided the commentary: [Why hasn't the progress bar moved? I've seen him twice now. Falling in love with me should be as simple as breathing, shouldn't it?]

Ha. Unhinged.

After a long pause, Veronica said smoothly, "Rhys, your aptitude is strong. My current Executive Assistant is stepping down; you will take over his duties."

Her inner thoughts, however, were entirely different: [The first two meetings were too brief; my impression wasn't deep enough. Being my secretaryseeing me every dayhow can he not fall madly in love?]

Sister, dial it back. You sound unhinged.

But I replied, "Absolutely, Ms. Albright. Thank you for the opportunity."

Hesitation is disrespecting the sanctity of an inflated severance package.

The guy currently occupying the desk next to hers looked like his world had just ended.

Poor guy. He looked like he hadn't heard he was 'stepping down.' Don't worry, buddy. You'll get your corner office back when I cash out.

9

When Jasper learned I was the CEOs new right-hand man, his world also collapsed.

He pointed a trembling finger at me, then let out a primal scream and ran, sobbing.

Did I just give the protagonist a mental breakdown?

But it was fine. Once the truth came out, Jasper would be able to step on my neck and give me a good, satisfying telling-off.

So dramatic. I can't wait.

10

After becoming Veronicas secretary, I was actually busy!

So busy I barely had time to look up, let alone look at her.

Ma'am, what kind of ridiculously convoluted, backwards strategy are you even running?

I couldn't stand it anymore. "Ms. Albright, how long until my probationary period is officially over?"

Veronica looked up from a contract. "A month."

I groaned inwardly. That long? I have to be a corporate mule for a whole month more!

But Veronica's mind saw it differently: [Hes so eager to officially be my secretary!]

I saw a subtle smile play on her lips, and my brain shriveled into a walnut.

The next second, her expression turned dark:

[Why is the progress bar still stuck at zero?!]

She squinted at me.

Heh. Beats me.

11

Two weeks later, staring at the immovable progress bar, Veronica fell into a deep contemplation.

Then she asked, "What do you... like?"

My mouth opened before my brain engaged. "Money."

The air in the office went solid.

I've exposed myself as the greedy opportunist I was! The non-protagonist!

Veronica's inner voice was filled with a strange awe: [What a unique male lead! Not like the others who pretend to hate money!]

Wait, that works?

12

Veronica wired me a substantial amount of money.

I held up a trembling hand, trying to protest (but not really).

Her brow furrowed: [As expected, the male lead cant accept this kind of handout. He only values money he earns himself.]

I quickly switched to a beatific smile. "Please make sure to officially mark it as a 'Voluntary Gift' in the ledger."

Veronica: "?"

13

Considering this money was acquired at Jasper's expense, I decided to be generous and begrudgingly share a third of it with him.

Jasper threw the check back in my face, his eyes flashing with righteous, furious tears. "Don't you dare insult me with your dirty money!"

"Keep your filthy money away from me!"

Wow. That's a classic line! That's the perfect reaction of the real hero!

A quick mental calculation: Veronica will give this money to the male lead, but the male lead will never take it.

A moral obligation, really. To relieve the rich of their excess capital.

My righteous mission had never felt stronger.

Heh heh. Fleece the capitalist. Its the least I can do.

14

After the transfer, Veronicas scrutiny intensified:

[Progress is still stalled. Was it too little?]

[Or is the love of money just a front? Does he secretly despise the cash?]

Ha. Keep guessing.

You won't get a word out of me.

15

The day my contract was finalized, I let out a deep breath.

I was ready to knock on her door, tender my resignation, and spill the beans.

I knocked. Veronica opened the door and handed me a gift box containing a lavish, elegant silver designer suit.

"Put this on. You're accompanying me to the Sterling Foundation Gala tonight."

No, I'm quitting! I'm leaving! I refuse to be complicit!

I was about to deliver my grand, principled rejection when I caught the glint of the luxury Patek Philippe watch nestled in the satin lining.

"Understood, Ms. Albright. I'll change immediately."

Veronica: "..."

[It was definitely too little last time.]

16

It was my first time attending such a high-society event.

I immediately secured three glasses of wine and four desserts. I also managed to discreetly tuck five designer swag bags into the nine-dollar tote bag Id bought on Etsy.

I planned to post them all on eBay as soon as I got home.

Heh heh. Financial victory.

A few people around me offered polite, snide snickers. I ignored them. Id probably never see them again, so why bother caring?

Veronica finished a conversation and turned, her expression clouding over at the sight of me. Her eyebrows were higher than the surrounding mountains.

I braced myself for the dressing-downthe lecture about disgracing her.

Instead, she simply turned and acquired three desserts and a glass of wine for herself. She handed them to me, a hint of wry resignation in her voice. "You really like these, don't you?"

"Have a few more."

The snickers around us immediately ceased.

The crisscrossing lights cast soft, fragmented beams on Veronicas profile. For a moment, her fierce, cool features softened, becoming warm and gentle.

I froze for a second, then quickly looked away. "I did. But I'm kind of sick of them now."

"You eat them."

17

On the drive back, I tried again. "I really shouldn't continue in this position."

Veronica, whose eyes were slightly flushed from the single glass of wine, glanced over. "Reason."

I opened my mouth, ready to tell her: I'm not the hero, I'm not the person you're supposed to be targeting, and you need to fire me.

No sound came out.

Oh, no.

I tried to type it on my phone and text it to her. The message never went through, and she didn't seem to get anything.

Damn the universe. I'm literally muzzled.

Veronica tugged at the silk scarf around her neck. "Is the salary too low?"

"I'll double it again."

My phone chimed with a notification: Transfer received: One Million Dollars.

"That's this quarter's bonus."

I stared at the balance on my screen.

Protagonist? How could I possibly not be the protagonist?

Today, if the literal King of the Universe said I wasn't the male lead, I would tell him he was mistaken.

I had transcended greed and achieved financial enlightenment.

Its not a matter of having no conscience. It's that the money is just... too much.

18

I genuinely thought that as long as the progress bar stayed frozen, Veronica would eventually realize she was targeting the wrong person.

But she was slow. So slow.

Three years! Three whole years!

She kept sending me money, buying me property, and promoting me. At this rate, Id be sitting in her CEO chair before she realized her mistake.

Yet, Veronicas inner voice remained consistent:

[Was it too little? Does he dislike this Patek? Is the penthouse in the wrong neighborhood?]

It was impossible to imagine what kind of bottomless, materialistic monster she thought I was.

It wasn't until the annual company gala when Jasper, who was acting as the MC, stepped onto the stage.

I heard the whispers around me: "Jasper really looks like the hero of a novel."

"He always spouts those classic lines, you know? And that earnest, driven energy."

"He even has the 'perpetually struggling' vibe."

"Too bad the CEO ignores him and spoils Rhys Easton instead. He has the hero's setup but not the hero's destiny."

Sitting next to me, Veronica suddenly went rigid.

She looked at the stage, at Jasper's determined, glittering eyes, then at me, slouching lazily beside her.

Without a word, she crushed the delicate wine glass in her hand.

Her voice was cold, lethal, and spaced out: "R-h-y-s. E-a-s-t-o-n."

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