High School Again: The President's Secret Lady Boss

For a moment, Winter remains quiet.

Marcellus appears to be interested in their conversation with Anne right now. It's an unusual of him to be so unaware, considering that he's always been updated when it comes to this kind of topics. He's hailed as the king of social circles, after all. Yet these days, he seems to have been too busy to even pay attention on things like socializing. 

Perhaps, that has something do with how he keeps spending time with her. 

"So, what does being in the Untouchable category mean?" Marcellus asked with an amused smirk. 

"Basically what it says. You're untouchable. Off-limits. But that's not because you're already in a relationship. It's because people are starting to think that you can never be in a relationship with anyone. On top of that, you don't attend social gatherings as much as before, and if you do, you're keeping your distance," Anne explained.

"I see. That's my image now, huh? And it's only been months." 

"Sir Lexington is a great person, though!" Winter argued, somewhat offended.

Marcellus looks at her in a bit of awe, not expecting that she'll defend him. Anne only shrugs and turns to the guy in question, reasoning out, "It's really nothing personal. Besides, lots of women still have the hots for Sir Lexington. When you're still in the flirting industry, you're in the Hot category with Sir Ratri."

"So, why isn't he…?!" Winter exclaimed. 

"Also, Sir George is hot? What?"

"Well, Sir Ratri has those sexy sweepy bangs and those piercing eyes that seem to penetrate deep into your soul. That is hot as hell, man."

Marcellus and Winter snort at that. Just when they thought that Anne already sobered up, they realized that she may still be a little drunk. 

"As for Sir Lexington, he's Untouchable because he's basically a god…" she continued to enlighten them. 

"He's got it all – the looks, the smarts, the wealth, but it's like… Like you can't get close to him, you know? He looks kinds of cold when he is not surrounded by women. Almost as if women are some sort of accessories that make up his image. Oh, no offense."

"None taken," he said coolly, feeling more sorry for those women rather than himself.

With a dubious expression, Winter simply stares at her before turning to him. 

Right then, she somehow feels like he has matured a bit more. Not in the physical aspect. But it's more on the air around him. It carries a semblance of warmth, sincerity and earnestness. And for a fraction of a moment, she can't find anything that reminds her of his flirtatious playfulness.

If he did change, she believes that it's a good change.

"Okay, all those things about Sir Lexington being cold are nonsense…!" Winter defended vehemently, taking Marcellus aback. 

"He is the warmest person ever!"

"To you, maybe…" Anne said with a shrug. 

"But to everyone else? Well, he gives zero damn. He doesn't care about anyone. Almost like he's got no heart or something-

"Yes, he does! He cares a lot about his people and about his company. Though he may not have a lot of close friends, he's still kind to everyone! He's not cold! He's one of the best people in the world! And he's completely Touchable! See?!"

That's when she scoots closer to Marcellus and pokes his arm. He smiled at this but did not say anything. Rather than paying attention to what they're talking about, he chose to absorb himself in how cute she looks as she continues to poke him. 

"Not according to the assessment of the majority of the social circles in high society…" Anne stated with her chin lifted. 

"Not everyone's going to see someone as they really are. People like spreading rumors that make up the image of a person. Once they're out there, they can't be stopped. You guys weren't the first."

Winter and Marcellus look at each other then. Before they can say anything in reply, Anne turns to look out the window and adds, "But hey, I know for myself that Sir Lexington's pretty cool. Especially when he's with you."

"I'm just surprised that most people think he's Untouchable only because he doesn't take women on dates anymore. Isn't that a little unfair to him?" Winter muttered with a pout. 

"I'm not…" Marcellus chimed in, grinning wanly. 

"Surprised, I mean. You know how I can be, Ms. Agreste."

"I do know, Sir Lexington. And I know that they're all wrong!"

"Now, hold on, I know that look you're making. You don't have to prove that-"

"Yes, I do! They all think you're a loner or something. That you're heartless. I myself had the same reputation in school just a few months ago. And I know how bad it can get."

He's surprised that she's bringing that up all of the sudden – now of all times even.

He's aware that she's been bullied before, and though she did open up about it from time to time, he never got to hear the rest. She said that it's not that she doesn't trust him enough – rather, she just doesn't think it's that big of a deal. Yet seeing her defend him like she's the one in his shoes, he's starting to be convinced that it's a big deal after all.  

The reason why Winter is vehemently arguing with Anne is probably because she thinks that Marcellus is being lumped together with the likes of her. 

"Winter…" he called in an authoritative manner, catching her off guard. 

"As long as you think highly of me, the rest of the world can mock me. I don't care."

When she looks up at him, she's stunned to see an emotion in his gaze that makes her heart flutter. He then continues, "The only opinions I listen to are the opinions of those whom I treasure. And that includes you."

Feeling her heart warm up at that, she reaches for his hand that isn't on the driver's wheel. She then smiles at him, expression soft and tender. In return, he gives her a fond look of his own and squeezes her hand. 

"Well in that case, I say you're completely Touchable," Winter quipped, making Marcellus laugh.

From the back, Anne stares longingly at their intertwined fingers. Her lips then pull up slightly, her mouth wearing its usual semblance of a smile.

'It's only a matter of time.'

"We're here, Ms. Anne…" Marcellus announced a moment later, pulling the car to a stop. 

"Now, go home." 

---

"Must you be that rude to Ms. Collins, though?"

After dropping Anne at her place, Winter chides Marcellus with a flat and unamused look on her face, nowhere near pleased by how he practically kicked her out of his car.

This is why others think that he's cold. If he's not being overly gentlemanly, he's being extra grumpy. At this rate, he'll really build a reputation for himself. But perhaps, he's just actually bothered by all that Untouchable thingy they'd been talking about, which explains his rude behavior towards Anne earlier. 

At least, he still went through the trouble of taking her home, though. 

"Huh? Whatever do you mean?" Marcellus asked with an innocent-looking smile, playing dumb.

"Nevermind. Let's just go back to the resort," Winter sighed, already exhausted.

"Go back? Why do you think we're going back?"

"Well, where else will we go?"

"I'd rather take you away and not give you back. I've been waiting for this chance all day, you know."

"Stop playing around, Marcellus Lexington."  

"I'm not."

Only when she turned to look at him did she realize that he was indeed not playing around.

He's still smiling. However, his expression lacks his usual playfulness – that one he'll always wear when he's teasing her. Instead, he looks serious. It took her a moment more to figure out what he's trying to get at now. 

"I believe you've got things to ask me," Winter started, deciding to get serious as well.

"Oh, a lot…" Marcellus drawled as he started to drive again.

"First on the list, why didn't you tell me that you're a Middleton of all things?"

"I was planning to. But you'd been acting strange these days. So, I held back."

"If I keep acting like that, won't you confide in me anymore?"

"That's not what I mean, Sir Lexington-"

"Oh, but you do know about this since long before. You're from the future, after all. And yet, you still didn't tell me anything. Did you want to surprise me or something? Well, I say you did. I was really surprised. Shocked even."

"Wait, are you mad right now?"

She has no idea why he's being like this out of nowhere. It's giving her the impression that there's something about the Middleton's that he can't seem to stand, and it's making her feel like she's made a wrong move by not telling him earlier. But then, she can't recall any particular involvement that he can possibly have with her family prior to her arranged marriage to him.

Right here and now, Winter has to know it all.