High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

Jacob's appearance had distracted Bianca enough from her riot of emotions.

But it was his deep, low voice that completely stole her attention away from her thoughts. When she turned to look at him, she was nonplussed to see an expression she rarely saw on him. It's similar to the look she's wearing a moment ago – a calm, cold fury.

If it wasn't for Jacob's dark, hooded eyes that were brimming with quiet rage, Bianca wouldn't pick up on the alarming chimes of warning bells that echoed in her head.

"You shouldn't show that expression where everyone could see you…" he admonished while he tightly gripped her shoulder and peered straight into her wavering eyes.

"What would others think if they found you looking like you're about to kill someone? It's already hard for me to help you out with Schwartz's case and defend you from all the accusations you've brought on yourself. Don't mess things up even more only because you can't control your impulses."

"Are you saying that it's my fault…?" she muttered indignantly, voice low yet vehement. 

"As I kept telling you, Jacob, I had nothing to do with Schwartz. All I did was-"

"Enough with the lies. I know you, Bianca. You'll do anything to get what you want, and lately, you've got a sloppy way of doing it. I'm still very disappointed in you, so I hope you'll behave yourself tonight and leave the matters to me for once." 

Just when she thought that he's mad about the same thing she's mad about, it turned out that all his anger was directed at her. Feeling affronted, she bit her lip and averted her gaze, choosing not to argue back. She then turned around and walked away, leaving him behind. 

'Even Jacob is angry at me! This is all your fault, Winter!'

---

Those who saw Bianca at the banquet hall were thrown off guard.

Fuming, she stormed all across the venue and gathered a bit of attention. Despite her effort to keep her ire from showing through, she can't help but flare up – her bloodlust scorching, putting her on fire. 

'It was all her fault! Her fault, her fault, her fault…!' were the thoughts that continued to run wild in her head, feeding the tempest of emotions that was devouring her slowly. 

'That slutty, good-for-nothing nobody!' 

Jacob had never scolded Bianca before. 

He always did what she wanted – always listened, always understood. It's just like how she's always beating others – always winning, always on the top.

From the moment Wesley and Jeanette chose her to replace their missing daughter, she knew that she was special. From the moment Cyrus and Grace told her that they chose her because she had a purpose to fulfill, she knew that she had to be the best in everything she did, and from the moment Jacob promised that he'd be on her side no matter what happened, she knew that she had all she could ever need and want. 

The heavens had favored her - so had destiny. Yet this time, it seemed that she's the one who's losing, and it started before she even realized it.

"Young Miss, what got you in an ugly mood this early in the evening?"

At someone's sudden arrival, Bianca comes to a still. 

She made sure that she'd reached the furthest corner of the banquet hall. That way, she can throw a tantrum without attracting any more attention. But it appears like she still managed to catch one set of eyes.

She turns around, and to her surprise, she realizes that it's only her bodyguard.

"Oh, it's just you," she breathed in relief.

A man in a black-and-white uniform comes into view. He has a husky, strapping build and a well-developed profile. His fine appearance comes together with a striking aura that makes him look more appealing.

Bianca regards him quietly, trying to recall his name but to no avail – seems like she just can't care less to memorize. 

"Did my uncle and aunt send you to get me? Just tell them I'm busy," she told him with a nonchalant tone and waved her hand at him dismissively. 

"Busy observing a certain couple, is that it?" he asked with a knowing look, catching her off guard.

"Huh? Why do you care?"

"I was hired to be your bodyguard for tonight, Young Miss. I have to keep tabs on you the whole time. Whether you're aware or not, I'm always watching over you."

At that, she can't help but flare up even more, her brows scrunched tightly together. She agreed to have him as the newest addition to her surveillance personnel at least for this evening – some extra security of sorts, but she did so without really knowing that he would go as far as spying on her.

The thought of someone watching her unsightly outburst from the start until the end is mortifying.

"You're just my bodyguard. Stop stalking me, and know your place," she snarled with her arms crossed, getting more and more vexed in each passing moment. 

"Oh, but I'm simply expressing my concern..." he trailed off with a curt smile before shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Here I thought you'd be wanting to hear more about that couple who just announced that they got together. But if you don't want me to meddle, then I'll just-"

"Wait, what do you mean?"

Intrigued, Bianca perked up at how he just implied that he knew more than he let on. Knowing that this bodyguard of hers is a jack of all trades who is only filling in the shoes of her lookout for tonight, it's not far from possible that he's keeping a lot of information with him, including those that even the Middleton family can get their hands on.

Bianca had looked into his records, of course. 

This man has been working as an agent in one of the black organizations that Cyrus is secretly affiliated with. She met him after Neil's trial at court. 

He applied to be her bodyguard at that time. They lost a few workers because of the kidnapping incident and the sudden departure of the family's heiress, so they felt the need to find new ones to replenish their staff. Then, she ended up hiring him - not only because she had to but also because of his excellent background and outstanding achievements. 

However, since tonight is his first time on duty, Bianca still doesn't know him that well. That was why she didn't expect that he would be this observant and discerning.

"You know something about those two?" she asked, curiosity evidently piqued.

"Oh, I know a lot. For one, I'm aware that they've become neighbors after Ms. Middleton moved out of the estate. Mr. Agreste still lives with her, but she's often hanging out at Mr. Lexington's place – like what a girlfriend would do," he replied coolly, taking her aback.

"So, she was there all along, huh? Could it be that they were making a plan that whole time? Just how much do you know? How did you find out? Were you stalking them?"

"I'm afraid I don't have all the details yet, but considering what Ms. Middleton and Mr. Lexington pulled out earlier, I have the impression that they're up to something big tonight. If you want to know more, I can help you out a bit, Young Miss. I'm all yours."

Bianca takes a moment to let such a convenient offer settle in. 

She then smirks, feeling like she can get something out of his proposal. Of course, she's not gullible enough to entrust her whole scheme to someone she barely knows, but she can at least get information from him. Considering that he's able to observe her without her realizing it, she takes that he has good spying skills. She can just decide if she'll rely on his intel or not once she hears everything. At this point, she should maximize all the resources she can use, especially since she's now all on her own in this endeavor of hers. 

Jacob probably won't help her again. Cyrus and Grace are expecting much from her. 

So, Bianca has to do this right.   

"Alright, then. Show me what you've got…" she muttered underneath her breath, her half-lidded gaze glinting ominously. 

"Tell me what they're up to."

---

"That freaking bastard."

August felt a vein pop in his head after seeing Winter and Marcellus together.

Watching them get all lovey-dovey in front of everyone had made him consume a huge portion of self-restraint. He tried his hardest to keep himself from going all the way inside the banquet hall and tearing them apart from each other. While the ocean breeze at the docks has helped cool his head a little, he still can't stop gripping the handrails tightly. 

"Geez, you and your sister complex…" Violet sighed from beside August.

"Just accept it already. Those two are made for each other. Besides, what they did back there was necessary for our plan tonight-"

"They could just make their announcements and get over it already! Why does that man have to hold her like that the whole time?! It's like he can't keep his hands to himself! If it wasn't for the plan, I'd definitely go there and stuff them into his mouth!"

"Oh, boy."

Violet sighed for what seemed like the thousandth time that night, already feeling drained from August's antics alone.