High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

Sometimes, Marcellus can't help but imagine that he's really dating Winter.

Every time he's down like this, she keeps comforting him with everything she's got. It makes him wonder how she truly feels for him at this point. Yet he knows better than to ruin this wonderful moment by asking that question. She's still not ready to be in that relationship, and she's only treating him this way out of kindness.

Even then, Marcellus wants to savor it with everything he's got. 

"Also, Mr. Brain, I think you're trying to stop Sir Lexington from being too happy because that's when he's the most vulnerable. The happier you are, the easier it is to get hurt if something bad happens. It made sense when he was a child, but that's not the case anymore…" Winter continued, smiling a little.

"Sir Lexington deserves to be happy. After all he's done, he deserves it. And he's trying to be happy, but you're not letting him. There's no longer need to worry, Mr. Brain. He's safe now. You don't have to protect him anymore. That's what everyone is here for. That's what I'm here for. I'll protect him for you, so you can focus on making him happy instead. So, no more mean thoughts, okay? Please, stop bullying him."

Her hands stilled. She then cups both sides of his face. 

"I think that's all I wanted to say," she said for the last time before she kissed two of her fingers and pressed them to his forehead. 

Winter waited for a response. But Marcellus kept perfectly still.

"Sooo, what does your brain have to say?" she asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

Ever so slowly, he moved his arm away from his face. His eyes met hers then - albeit with a bit of difficulty. Then, in a quiet whisper, he finally replies, "My brain says it'll think about it."

Right after that, Winter suddenly found herself with her back pressed against the couch cushions as Marcellus bolted up straight and stared down at her. 

She didn't miss the hint of redness around his eyes – his honey-colored eyes that hold nothing but love and gratitude for her in that moment. Her heart starts racing, her gaze wavering. She then opened her mouth to say something but was immediately cut off when he pressed his lips onto hers out of nowhere. 

Marcellus kisses Winter. 

And he's so damn good at it.

He does it with so much sweetness and tenderness. His warm, soft lips wrap themselves around her plump, pink ones as if embracing them. Then, in that fraction of eternity, sparks flew in their eyes and so did butterflies in their bellies. The emotion is somewhat otherworldly. And though he's desperate to make things more passionate, he remains very gentle with her as if he's not trying to break her. 

Everything around them no longer seems to matter. There's only her, him - the two of them. 

Trapped in their own little universe. Living a dream-like moment. 

Winter takes her turn to go perfectly still. She wonders why she can't find it in herself to push Marcellus back this time. This is definitely not the reaction she's expecting. She has never been as free with her affection as he is. So, moments like this one are rare and special.

In fact, it's more than rare and special. This is her first kiss, after all.

And she can't believe that she's letting someone like him steal it. Though she's not one to have any ideal on how her first kiss should take place, she never imagined that it would go like this. On the same note, she doesn't have anyone she's been wishing to share an intimate kiss with. So, maybe someone like him is okay.

He's a damn good kisser, anyway.

Marcellus didn't do it her for too long. Eventually, they pulled apart from each other. Still, Winter felt like she had spent forever in those seconds. 

"W-W-W-W-What was that for?!" she exclaimed with a flustered look, blushing fiercely.

"My brain said that I had to kiss you," he remarked coolly, flashing her a lopsided grin. 

Marcellus ended it as soon as he started, but no matter how long or short that moment was, Winter could never deny that it happened.

--- 

'You useless whores! And you call yourselves my friends?!'

Bianca goes on a rampage after an exasperating phone call. 

Apparently, Lacey started getting so busy that she couldn't meet up with her these days while Amanda kept giving her the excuse that she's not feeling well. The former is not one to get so busy since she doesn't even have any important work to be busy with, and the latter has never been one to use such a lame excuse because she knows she's too dumb to make up one.

Therefore, the conclusion is, they're avoiding Bianca for some reason.

Because of that, she wasted the whole half of summer vacation on scheming for nothing. Not only did the spy she hired fail to gather any noteworthy information, but she also couldn't get her underlings to do their jobs properly. With Lacey and Amanda keeping their distance like that, she couldn't get a single thing done.

She couldn't torment Winter at all.

'Whores! Useless whores, I say!' 

Bianca couldn't do the deed herself because she had to spend most of her time at their company's main headquarters. Ever since Cyrus saw great potential in Winter, she decided to work harder in improving herself. Grace couldn't get an excuse to punish her harshly, either. All their houseworkers kept saying that she's well-behaved, and with August looking after her all the time, they couldn't get an opening to frame her for a misdeed.

Despite all of these, however, Bianca is not giving up yet.

'That's right. The headquarters…' she thought of another plot, determined to make this one work. 

'I may not be able to mess with her at home or even outside, but what about here?'

Today, Winter has come with her and Cyrus to their workplace, the Middleton Corporation's main headquarters.

That is so that she can familiarize herself with this kind of setting as early as possible. What she doesn't know is that she's only gotten closer to the enemy's territory. This place is a danger zone. Then again, she'll always be near her. Everything she can't do for the past half of summer vacation – she can do it now.

Bianca can finally observe and torment Winter as much as she wants to. 

"So, this is where you've been, big sis. I thought you're gonna take me around your office?"

Speak of the devil. 

She had to hide at a balcony when she called Lacey and Amanda. Before that, she left Winter to the accounting and finance department where she has a lot of supporters. Most of the employees there are on her side. That's why she entrusted her to them while she's away. She can use them to make this sister of hers understand her place. 

"Sorry for making you wait. I just had an important call…" Bianca said impassively, not bothering to smile like usual since no one was watching.

"How's the accounting and finance department, by the way? Are they good to you?"

"Yes, they are. Well, everyone here is…" Winter replied with a giddy-looking grin.   

"They're all so kind and friendly that it'll probably be a matter of time before I get close to them."

"Close enough to rely on?"

"I guess so. Are you close with anyone here, big sister?"

"Depends on what kind of closeness you're referring to. I do spend time with some of the employees every once in a while. That way, I can learn more about them. I can also get them to acknowledge me. That's why everybody in this place respects me. Respect is what matters most to us, their superiors."

Winter listens closely. 

So, basically, she is saying that she should also try to earn the employees' acknowledgement by spending time with them. She doubts she's giving her an advice, though. Everything that she does out of good will is only an act. She's definitely planning something again.

And that Bianca does.

'Now then, think of a way on how you can make people respect you – before I get to ruin your reputation, that is. Get close enough. Rely on them. Tell them things about yourself. Lacey and Amanda may not have succeeded to push you to my trap. But I still have supporters here. They'll always obey me for I am above them. That being said, I can always order them to mess with you however I want them to.'

Winter can't read thoughts. So, she has no idea what Bianca is thinking this time.

No matter what it is, though, she's more than ready to take her on. She's not the only one who's preparing a comeback here. Even she has her own scheme.

'Let me guess. What can be a good way to bring down a superior at a workplace…?' Winter contemplated, not letting Bianca get a single step ahead of her.

'Hmmm… Could it be that?'