High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

Marcellus offered his arm for Winter to hold.

And with a smile of gratitude, she took it. Yet the gesture was proven to be not enough for her to keep it together. As soon as they step on the red carpet, he can feel her turning tense and stiff. He has never seen her this uneasy before, though she still did a great job in schooling her features and putting up a collected facade. 

"Winter," Marcellus whispered, concerned.

"It's alright, Marcellus. I can do this," Winter said, forcing out a smile. 

She stares ahead just as he has instructed. 

Tons of flashes and noises fill the background. The lights are blinding, the attention scorching, and she feels like burning then. She's supposed to be already used to this kind of setting – this was child's play for her at this point, but that horrific incident had changed the way she saw things. 

She decided to mute it all out, choosing to focus on reaching the end instead, but in each passing moment, it's becoming more and more unbearable.

"Winter."

That's until Marcellus gives her hand a gentle squeeze, reminding her of his presence. A little taken aback, Winter perks up and looks at him.

He has a warm, reassuring smile on his face, blowing her worries and troubles away. She calms down for a bit and tries to return his smile with one of her own. From that point on, she can only stare at him as they continue to walk - with her gazed fixed on his, they look like they're trapped in their own little world at that moment.

And, of course, the press and paparazzi had to capture it. 

Then, eventually, they have arrived inside the cruise ship.

"Are you alright?" Marcellus asked her straight away, grabbing her shoulders and turning her to him. 

"I-I'm fine," Winter stammered out with a low, weak voice.

"Doesn't seem so to me." 

To her surprise, he pulls her into an embrace all of the sudden, encircling his arms around her shoulders and stroking her head. Soothed by the gesture, she can't help but make a terrified expression at last – all of her pent-up emotions finally breaking through. She hugs him back and lets out a breath she doesn't know she's been holding. 

Winter didn't think she could easily show her vulnerability like this when she couldn't even accept her weaknesses back then - perhaps, having Marcellus in her life was the biggest reason behind it.   

"That's a bit dangerous, you know. You shouldn't depend on someone that much…" she told herself, smiling in spite of her words.

"Not like I can help it, though."

Marcellus looks down at Winter in confusion, his brows arching upwards.

While he badly wants to explore the topic more, concerned that this may be another outcome of that recent incident, he doesn't want her to recall any more bad memories. So, he just decided to give her a sweet, loving kiss on her forehead, putting the matter aside in the meantime.

"Don't worry. I'll always be by your side," Marcellus said, reassuring Winter once again. 

Too caught up in the moment, the couple failed to realize that they were still the center of attention even though the media was no longer around.

All the guests at the entrance hall of the cruise ship were astonished to find the two of them arriving together, and as they continued to act like they're the only ones that mattered to each other, they began coming up with presumptions and talking among themselves. Most of them wanted to approach them and start a conversation, but there was only one who managed to do that.

Claude appears in the picture, donning a luscious look in his beige formal suit.   

"Pardon me, President Lexington and Ms. Middleton, but please, save the PDA for later. Everyone's waiting for you at the banquet hall."

Right then, Winter hastily pulled away from Marcellus, blushing in embarrassment.

She didn't realize that there were people around. When they entered, she thought for sure that they're the only ones in the entrance hall.

"Alright. We're coming…" Marcellus told Claude before turning back to Winter again.

"Promise me to tell me if something's wrong, okay? And if you start feeling uncomfortable again, don't hesitate to say it."

Not wanting to worry him any more than she had, she simply nodded. 

What awaits them is another challenge – one that she's long been preparing for. It's a huge moment not only for her, but also for her loved ones and her relatives. This time, she steels her resolve not to waver anymore. He promised her that he'll stay by her side, after all - and she knows he will. 

And so, Winter lifts her chin up and puffs out her chest, striding forward again. 

"Woah, this is incredible!"

Moments later, she found herself stilling in awe and wonder at the sight that greeted her. 

An enormous diamond chandelier hanging by the center of the hall, stunning figurines and classic art pieces serving as decorations, and a crowd of people wearing sumptuous formal wears – the posh world that welcomes her is one she can't ever get used to. It is just as expected of a party at a deluxe cruise ship, yet it still takes her by surprise. 

Even then, Winter still feels a little nervous. Marcellus keeps reassuring her as they draw closer and closer, whispering sweet-nothings in her ears all the while. 

When they began descending the stairs in front of hundreds of visitors, his arm has moved to her waist and held her securely – a gesture that served as his last form of reassurance. With that, they went ahead and joined the crowd that had been anticipating their arrival.

"My… How stunning…"

"Is that Ms. Middleton beside President Lexington?"

"They look so good together…"

"Are they dating?"

"This is quite a surprise…"

"Since when were they together?" 

It appears like Marcellus doesn't have to announce his relationship with Winter just to let everyone know – all of them could already see them as a couple in one single glance alone.

For that whole time, she can't stop blushing at the gushes of praises that flood them as soon as they reach the end of the stairway. Everyone seems to be seeing them like some god and goddess with how their gazes keep trailing after their every movement.

"President Lexington, good evening!"

"Good evening, too, Ms. Middleton!"

Then finally came the swarm of people who've been raring to engage in a conversation with the couple.

In only a short time, they're already surrounded by some of the company's business partners, foreign ambassadors, and their other acquaintances. All of them are smooth talkers and eloquent speakers. They greeted them amicably before bringing up one topic after another – topics revolving around the former CEO's return, the conglomerate's most recent achievements, and some noteworthy transactions and projects that their firms worked on together. 

However, it wasn't long before someone addressed the elephant in the room.

"This won't do, President Lexington. You really shouldn't keep us in the dark any longer. We know that everyone here is interested to know. So, what's your relationship with Ms. Middleton? Are you two a thing?"

The couple smiles at this, which intrigues the crowd even more.

Marcellus gives her a glance for a brief moment. Winter glances back at him and nods.

"Indeed, we are a couple."

Then came his smug reply, astonishing everyone. 

Before the banquet hall gets any noisier and wilder than it already is, she decides to take it from there, stepping forward and beaming at all of them. After confirming their relationship, it's now time for her to announce another revelation – one that not a single one of them has seen coming. To her delight and amusement, the silence that falls on them at that moment has made it a little bit more dramatic. 

Winter stands proud and tall before them all - with Marcellus quietly supporting her from the side.

"Hello, everyone. I'm happy to see all of you tonight. As some of you may have already known, this is the first time I'm attending a social gathering as part of the Middleton family…" she began confidently, pausing for a second or two before continuing. 

"And also, as Wynonna Snow."

The whole place seems to still, then.

Gaping mouths and raised brows fill her sight just as gasps and chatters fill her ears. Despite their varying reactions, she can tell that they are all astounded. She is pleased to know that everyone there has recognized her alias almost instantly. It makes her feel accomplished – even more confident.   

"Wynonna Snow? You mean… that Wynonna Snow?" a guest blurted out.

"So, you've been hiding your true identity all along?" another visitor inquired.

"Is that true, President Lexington? She really is Ms. Snow?" another one asked.

Winter already expected that there'd be doubts – then again, that just shows how prominent and prodigious Wynonna is. She's undeniably a massive deal. It's a good thing that Marcellus is there to back her up. So are George and Violet who'll be appearing at any moment now. 

"That's right, everyone. Winter Middleton is Wynonna Snow."