Audrey, in the body of villainess Ava Victorian, followed the handsome assistant through the grand mansion. She examined him closely as they walked.
His posture was elegant and his movements graceful, yet with it hid an undeniable strength.
"This is nothing compared to customers at Stuff-Mart," Audrey thought. She bit her lip, imagination running wild about what lay under that refined suit.
"Get it together!" she told herself, feeling a blush creep up. "You're supposed to be a ruthless CEO!"
But the more she stared at his chiseled profile, the more flustered she became. Audrey fanned herself, willing her thumping heart to slow down.
"Remember, ruthless CEO!" she exclaimed in his mind. But the way his sturdy back shifted as he walked made her pulse race faster.
Audrey's mind flooded with shameless fantasies about the handsome assistant. She imagined pushing him against the wall, his cold composure giving way to passion...
"Enough!" Audrey shook the scandalous images from her head. She was letting her creativity get the better of her!
Finally, they stopped before an ornate door. The assistant turned and in his polite, proper voice said "Here are your chambers, Lady Ava. I bid you good night."
His deep tone made Audrey shiver slightly. She maintained her haughty villain facade. "Yes, fine! You are dismissed!"
Safely in her room, Audrey fanned herself again. "Get it together, girl! This is crazy. He's Ava's assistant, and you're just dreaming!"
Then she realized - if this was a dream, she really could do anything to that assistant!
Audrey rushed and flung open the door, wanting to call him back. But to her disappointment, the hallway was empty.
"Wow, he moves quickly and quietly for such a refined guy," Audrey pouted. This dream was getting better and better.
"Watch out assistant, the villainess Ava may just pay you another visit tonight!" Audrey thought mischievously.
She laughed, embracing her Ava persona again. She would make the most of this dream, propriety be damned! What happened here stayed here.
***
The assistant rushed through the darkened halls, moving at an impossible speed. His usually elegant gait was now a blur as he made for his own small chamber.
Slamming the door shut behind him, he quickly locked and leaned against it, breath ragged. His heart pounded from more than just exertion.
Tonight was something beyond his wildest imagination. Normally, Lady Eva never addressed him directly nor looked his way when giving orders. He even had to trail meters behind her.
Being so close to Lady Ava on their walk had excited him tremendously, though he knew he could not show it.
He recalled how she had called him simply "You" in her commanding tone. The memory made warmth spread through his entire body. Unable to restrain himself, he slid to the floor as his legs weakened.
"Lady Ava..." he murmured excitedly, savoring the informal address on his tongue. Saying her name without title felt scandalous, yet deliciously thrilling.
And the way she had watched him so intently, her piercing eyes trailing over his body...it had taken all his discipline not to give in right then and there.
He loosened his collar, trying to maintain himself. Lady Ava had taught him to be proper and well-mannered, never losing composure. If he revealed this sight, she would surely hate him for it. That was something he could not endure.
As her trusted assistant, it was his duty to serve her with dignity, no matter how she made his pulse race.
Indulging his fantasies would cost him this coveted position by her side. He steadied his breathing and rose, straightening his rumpled suit. He would bury his unmannered thoughts as always.
His role was clear - to stand proper and tall beside his formidable lady, no matter what desires simmered just underneath.
***
The morning unfurled itself like a delicate piece of art. Audrey stirred awake in a luxurious four-poster bed, sheets of silk caressing her skin. As the fog of sleep cleared, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"What in the expired milk is going on?" She blinked several times, wondering if she was still dreaming. "This isn't my crummy studio apartment!"
Audrey gaped at the ornate furniture and lavish artwork on the walls. Everything screamed excess wealth and looked like it cost more than her Stuff-Mart boss's entire life savings.
Realization slowly dawned on her. "Oh right...I am dreaming about being that ruthless supervillain CEO lady Ava Villain-Rich-ian or whatever."
Memories of her wild dream came rushing back. She recalled sitting in a dungeon cell, conversing with Ava's handsome assistant, and exploring grandiose halls.
"No freaking way!" Audrey pinched her arm hard to check if she was still dreaming. "Ouch! Son of a discount coupon, that hurt! This isn't a dream!" Panic bubbled up inside her. "Oh my god, I'm still stuck as Ava. Is this my life forever now?"
Audrey started frantically pacing the lavish room, panic rising. "How did this happen?! Yesterday I was just a cashier at Stuff-Mart and now I've woken up in some creepy Downton Abbey castle!"
Her mind whirled with a thousand worried thoughts. She cursed repeatedly under her breath, fear and disbelief strangling her voice.
But then Audrey halted. She gave a short, incredulous laugh. "This is just too insane. I can't accept this! My life has turned into an overused trope!"
After several minutes of ranting in her head, Audrey finally collapsed dramatically onto the edge of the bed. "Ugh, freaking out isn't going to accomplish anything. I need to deal with this!"
"Crap, I'm going to have to fully embody this evil lady so no one catches on. Great...more pressure!"
Resignedly, she stroked the soft silk sheets. "Okay, Audrey. You gotta figure out how to carry this off!"
As a practice, Audrey started to plastered on a wicked grin, channeling some evil CEO energy.
"Rich or poor, Ava or not - you always pull through. Just stay positive and you've got this, somehow!"