High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

Greeting the guests is part of being a good party host. 

Although Winter may not be the one who organized the event, everyone's attention is more on her than on Bianca. Today, she's got the spotlight all to herself. Fortunately, she's no longer a stranger to how this kind of occasion plays out. After working so hard to meet the Middleton's standards back in her past life, she already memorized who these visitors are, the attitude she should use to approach each one of them, and even some hidden information about a number of them.

Officially, parties in high society are meant to be for networking. But in reality, those at the top use this to show off while those at the bottom try to appeal to them. It's exactly what she expects from rich ass people like them. Right now, she believes that she's at the middle at least.

'Being the biological daughter and the rightful heiress is not enough to get me all the way to the top. I still have to prove myself to them, but I'll do it my way this time around. Instead of desperately catching up to Bianca and my other relatives, I'll do my thing in earnest. I don't have to fake my personality nor make insincere comments. I'll just be me,' was what Winter decided for herself.     

With that, she went around the garden to talk with as many visitors as she could.

She first approached the elders since she knew that they'd leave early because they get exhausted too easily. While some of them are stern and strict – as expected of old hags and wheezing grandpas, others are a little bit fun to talk with. On the other hand, there are those whom she just can't seem to get on the same page with. 

"Oh dear, you really look like Jeanette! What a shame we didn't get to see you grow!"

"She may resemble her mother in terms of appearance, but she definitely took from her father when it comes to how brilliant they are."

"Indeed! She is Wesley's little girl, alright!" 

"Too bad they're not here to see you right now."

"I'm sure they're proud of you. You graduated Valedictorian, after all. There's no parent who won't be proud of their child if they did."

Winter only smiles through it all.

All these talks about her deceased parents are starting to get on her nerves. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, she feels hurt whenever she hears about them. She may not recall a single memory she has with them, but she knows how much they've loved her. If only she can get to choose, she'll prefer a million times more to have them alive rather than inheriting their wealth. 

Winter can't blame those who talk about her mother and father, however. Then again, at this point, they are the only ones connecting her to them – to this world.

"Winterrr…!!!"

Startled by a certain someone's call, she snapped out of her thoughts.

All of the sudden, Violet comes rushing to Winter while August and George follow her from behind. She is tearing up as she pulls her in for a bone-crushing hug, catching her off guard even more. By now, she's already used to this kind of entrance. That's why she only giggles it out and returns the embrace while patting her on the back.   

"Boohoo! Why, Winter?! Why do you have to experience something so tragic?!" Violet cried out, dumbfounding the three of them.

"Uhhh… Hello? She's the long-lost heiress of one of the most affluent families around here. What part of it is tragic?" George deadpanned.

"You just don't get it, Sir Ratri! You don't get a maiden's delicate heart!"

"Yeah. I don't."

"Perhaps, you're talking about Mr. and Mrs. Middleton? It was tragic how they lost their daughter and died without seeing her again. Is that it, Ms. Violet?" August piped in to which she nodded furiously.

"Yeah, that's it!"     

For some reason, August looked a little proud when he managed to explain what Violet was trying to say. It seems to Winter that he is getting better in understanding others. And she finds it funny when he reacts like this all the time. It's like an achievement for him or something. 

"Anyway, I'm pleasantly surprised by this turn of events. It's great that your biological family finally found you, Ms. Winter…" George told her, smiling. 

"Who would've known that the businesswoman I raised so well would end up to be-"

"S-Sir George! Shhhhh….!" Winter shushed him immediately, making sure that August was not looking as she did so.

"That's still our secret, right?"

"Oh, right. My bad."

"Please, don't go around saying that."

"But I wanted to brag!"

"What are you? My grandpa?"

"Hey, I'm too young to be one! Can't a friend of yours brag?"

"Friend, huh?" 

"Well? Does this mean that you have no plans of telling the Middleton's about your accomplishments, then?"

"No, I don't. At least not yet."

He falls silent and stares at her, feeling like he can't ask why even though he wants to.     

Time and again, she's acting kind of sus. It's getting harder to tell what she's thinking each day. She's like one eternal mystery. And for some reason, he's getting the impression that she has already expected all of this much like how her predictions always come out right.

But he thinks that it's not really his place to inquire – all he can do is watch the world she's going to make from this point on. 

"Well, whatever. Just make sure you're not gonna age fast. You've got a lot more work to do from now on," George encouraged her with a smile, patting her head at the same time.

"Hey, where do you think you're touching my sister…?" August muttered out of nowhere, shooting him a death stare and pulling her away from him. 

"Winter, what did I tell you about getting too close to older men? Or any man for that matter?"

"Sir George isn't doing anything, August…" Winter sighed, expression dry. 

"And yes. I won't get too close. I promise."

"Oh, you better be. Otherwise, you're going to bed early."

"What am I? Five?"

Then, she paused.

It was only then that she realized she's getting too caught up with this. She didn't even notice that some of the other guests were already looking at them, watching her talk with an heiress and a CEO as if they've known each other for ages. Their conversation must've been too casual. That's definitely not how she talked with those she greeted first. Now, she can see how curious everyone is. 

Because of that, there was no wonder that the next visitors she greeted were asking about George and Violet – and even August since he somehow turned into some sort of eye candy hottie of the party. 

While all of these are happening, one certain someone is on the look-out. Watching her every move. Studying her intently. Thinking of another scheme. 

'She's already friends with the leader of Ratri Order and the successor of Miller Holdings? Unbelievable…' Bianca thought and snorted, glaring at Winter from a distance. 

'Is this girl hiding something? How can she be that calm and confident? It's like she already got the hang of it. Like she's already been in this kind of scenario before.'

It's too early to be dismayed about the favor she's getting from everyone, though. The real party hasn't even started yet, after all. It's not like she didn't get anything from this either. Just by observing her talk with everyone, she already spotted one certain weakness –

'She can't stand it when they're talking about Mom and Dad. Oh, how pitiful.'

Winter may be the biological daughter, but Bianca is still the daughter they raised. 

She has many things that she can never have. And one of them is the loving care that her parents gave to their adopted child. This fact can be useful to make her insecure – to make her jealous.   

'That's right. I'm better than you in many ways. Just because you can please the crowd like this doesn't mean you can fool them. So, don't go around walking as if you own this stage, you brat.' 

And so, Bianca's scheme commences. 

Winter sat down at an empty table to rest for a moment. 

The party is in full swing at that point. Everybody is enjoying themselves so far, much to her delight. She is planning to drink and eat something first before she carries on with greeting those she hasn't talked with yet. There's only a few left. After that, she'll go and meet up with the last person she has on the list.

'Sir Lexington…' she pondered, her heart racing a little at the thought of Marcellus alone.

'I wonder what he'll say about this. I haven't seen him around the garden, so he must be inside. Since I also didn't see Ms. Collins anywhere, he's probably with her.' 

Winter was about to stand up and get to the buffet area, but that was until Bianca suddenly appeared and joined her at the table along with her group of friends.