High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

Winter was almost certain that Marcellus would either call her stupid, an idiot, or a stupid idiot.

But before he could talk again, he had a last-minute decision to try to understand where she's coming from. He let out a sigh then, his expression softening, before he walked closer to her and cupped her cheek. 

"Beauty is subjective, Winter. There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to attraction, and I can say with confidence that I find you very beautiful. Chances are, if I saw the girl you're referring to, I wouldn't be attracted to her in the slightest. I've always had a thing for short, stubborn brunettes, after all."

Marcellus smiled warmly, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Winter can't help but smile gratefully in return.

"You are the only girl I have ever been attracted to. That's not an exaggeration, and I'm not just trying to make you feel better. Besides, I don't really find people attractive - not in the usual way…." he continued, blushing a little.

"But you… you light up everything around you no matter how dark your surroundings are. That's the kind of beauty that matters."

At his sentiment, her heart swells with fondness. He always knows what to say to cheer her up, and she can tell that he isn't exaggerating the truth.

"Thank you," she said, meaning it with all her heart. 

Grinning, Marcellus reaches his arms out and pulls Winter in an embrace.

She's taken aback by the gesture. Surely, that's unnecessary. She may have looked too insecure that he felt the need to envelop her in a hug. 

"I know you don't need people fighting your battles for you…" Marcellus said. 

"But if you show me the girl who said shit to you, I would be happy to knock her down a peg."

"O-Oh, no, she didn't say anything to me. I just overheard a conversation… about me. That's all," Winter murmured.

"So, she's a coward - talking about you behind your back and all. Even worse."

Marcellus scoffed disdainfully. Winter only sighed. 

She didn't mention that she's technically eavesdropping. It didn't matter. What did matter was that he thought she was pretty - beautiful, even. His words swirl around her like a warm, comforting breeze, and she relishes in the glow that his love shines on her.

'What a weird feeling. I wonder what this is.'

---

On the next day, Winter made her way to the modeling agency where Ace was said to be working. 

After getting the reassurance she didn't want to admit she needed, she was able to concentrate again. She asked her friends about Ace's supposedly modeling work, but it turned out that they're just as clueless as she was. That's when she decided to ask Marcellus if he could confirm that he's a model. When he came up with nothing, he advised her to ask Violet instead.

And from her, she's able to learn that he did begin modeling.

"He only started the other day. Whoever you heard that from must be someone from his workplace since the magazine he'll be featured in isn't released yet. If you're wondering why he suddenly decided to be a model, I think you have to ask him yourself. You should go and meet him tomorrow," was what Violet said to Winter yesterday.

That led her to where she is now - the modeling agency that the Minerva Foundation owns. She told her that Ace would be there today.

'He must have a reason for keeping this to himself, but I feel bad for not being there for him when he made such a huge decision. Getting a modeling job is no child's play. He said he didn't want to model because his father would only make him a poster boy for their company, so why did he change his mind now? And why this modeling agency where Chloe and Sir Minerva work at?'

Winter had so many questions that she couldn't possibly stay put. 

She would've called Ace to tell him about her visit today. However, because he didn't even tell her about becoming a model, she doubted that he'd agree to meet her. She did send a message just in case, but he didn't reply.             

A moment later, though, Winter realized she made the wrong move.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But we can't let you enter without an appointment," said the receptionist as soon as she arrived at the main lobby. 

Indeed, this is a wrong move.

Winter thought that coming here would just be as easy as approaching Ace. 

She can't say that she is Jacob's future sister-in-law because he and Bianca might find out that she's been there. But she doesn't have any sort of appointment with anyone there. She only wants to see where Ace is working, anyway. 

"Huh?! Winter?!"

Then came Ace out of nowhere.

Taken aback, she turned to the side and found him wearing a cap and a pair of shades. They stare at each other, flabbergasted, clearly not expecting to see each other so soon. The receptionists look at them back and forth, unsure of why they're being so extra with their reactions. 

"F-Fancy seeing you, Winter, I believe you're here to see that guy?" Ace started, still trying to act oblivious without really knowing that Winter already knew.

"That guy?"

"Sir Minerva." 

"Oh. Actually, I'm-"

"You can't go in without an identification card, though. They're pretty strict with accepting guests, and the security here's really tight. That's unless you say that you're his-"

"Which leads me to ask why you are here, Ace."

He flinches at that. She narrows her gaze. He looks away then. She narrows it even more. 

Even though she already got him, he's still not saying it. 

In the meantime, however, they decided to leave the counter, not wanting to disrupt the receptionists' work any longer. He leads her to a different entrance using the lobby's elevator. As soon they got in, they resumed their conversation earlier.

By then, Ace has already braced himself to tell Winter the truth. 

"I'm going to have a joint photoshoot with some of the models of this company. My studio isn't located here. I'm contracted to a different agency…" he began once more, going straight to the point.

"So, yeah. I took modeling as a part-time job. I bet Violet informed you."

"You've really become a model, huh? And I actually thought that you're working here…" she replied without looking at him, no longer surprised. 

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I only started this week. I was planning to tell you and the others soon."

"But why didn't you tell me anything about wanting to be a model before? I apologize if I'm being meddlesome, but I don't think that you'll just come up with that decision for no good reason. So, tell me. Did something happen? Did your father force you again?" 

"N-Nothing like that, Winter. I did this willingly."

The elevator doors open right then, informing them that they've reached their floor. As they step out, he goes on to say, "I'll explain it to you. But first, may I ask for a favor? This is kind of urgent."

No sooner after Winter agreed despite her confusion, Ace took her with him. 

This really does seem urgent. She didn't expect that the cost of her curiosity would earn her a sideline job as his assistant. 

"Sorry for asking you out of nowhere, Winter. It just happened that one of our company's staff wouldn't be able to make it today," Ace reasoned with an apologetic smile.

At the moment, the two of them are all by themselves in the dressing room. He'll have to prepare for his photoshoot later. He took Winter there and asked for her help to assist him in his preparation, which she willingly accepted. 

"It's no bother at all. I'm the one who barged in here because I'm poking my nose in your business," Winter said timidly.

"No, you're not. I understand that you've got tons of questions for me. Actually, I'm glad that you care enough to go all the way here," Ace replied, smiling.

"I know I've been very busy for the past month, Ace. But I'll always care about my friends."

"Friends, huh?"

"By the way, I'm not sure if I can be of use at all. I'm not good with make-up and clothes. It's my first time doing something like this. Ms. Violet would definitely do much better than me."

"You'll be fine. I already know what to do, anyway. You just have to follow my lead." 

"Well, if you say so. I apologize in advance if I mess up. I'm really not much of a follower." 

He chuckles, amused. 

Then, all of the sudden, he holds both of her hands, catching her off guard. He gently pulls her all the way to the row of vanity mirrors. Her eyes grew wide in surprise upon seeing how warm and soft his looked. He sat on a stool without letting go of her hands, looking somewhat mesmerized as he stared up at her with a giddy-looking smile.

"To be honest, you really don't have to do anything.. I just want to be with you for a while longer, Winter."