Chapter 43 - Crashing The Tea Party

Before George realized it, Winter already had him dancing on the palm of her hand.

At first, everything had started out like what he planned. He invited her to dine with him as a front for a well-crafted interrogation on making her admit his claims. She neither confirmed nor denied that she was a secret agent, but with this, he was certain he would get her to spill the beans at last. 

What George did not expect was that Winter would act more like an entitled guest rather than a despairing captive.

"Isn't this such a good change of setting, Mr. Ratri~? Unlike earlier, it's much easier to talk in peace, especially at this kind of ambiance."

Apparently, she had thrown a tea party in his very own office - with all the decors, table set and refreshments present in the scene.

A whole tray of savories along with a set of silverware and some freshly-brewed tea were readied upon her request. He did let her choose what she wanted to eat - but only with the underlying motive to gain her trust and make her comfortable around him. However, he did not expect she would end up going all out with it.

"A tea party, huh? You've got quite... the taste, I guess," he commented, a little reluctant to partake in the banquet since he did not like sweets that much - and he was still bamboozled.

"Oh? I don't do this often, though. I just wanted to have a feel of it every once in a while," she mused out loud before she took a sip from her vanilla-flavored tea.

George simply observes Winter for the next several minutes.

For someone who came from a middle-class family, she acted like a fine and poised lady of high society. He has been taking note of her table etiquette and mannerism for a while now. She behaves like someone of affluence and prestige. It's almost as if she's from a distinguished household.

'I already made an investigation about her. But her background showed no such details. She's just an average seventeen-year-old,' George pondered in silence while he only continued watching Winter drink her tea.

That's when someone knocked on the door all of the sudden, catching their attention.

His secretary entered and made a small greeting. Once acknowledged, he sauntered closer to him and leaned down a bit to deliver a message. She only remained quiet as he whispered something to him, which she did not really catch on but already had an idea of what it could be about.

'Judging by the timing, I guess that guy finally found me, huh...?' she thought in all smugness.

'That was a lot earlier than I expected. I really should not underestimate the network of the Lexington's. It is not even past noon yet.' 

George dismissed his secretary right after the message had been relayed. Putting on a dead serious expression, he then looked back at Winter but only to find her smiling - looking somewhat expectant for some reason. She sure had a way of throwing him to sixes and sevens.

"Is tea party's over?" she asked to which he raised a brow in return.

"What made you say that?" he asked back while she smirked at him.

"That man's coming for me, right?"

He was taken aback once more, but he just eventually sighed.  

Not only was she right about that, but she also seemed to have already predicted this. They had not even talked that much, considering that most of her stay there was spent on preparing the tea set and everything. He shouldn't have agreed on letting her do what she wanted. That could've just been her way of buying more time for her back-up to arrive.

'And to think that the Marcellus Lexington himself would actually come.'

George could not possibly confront the current head of the Lexington's straight on.

Marcellus may have just recently succeeded the position of CEO and replaced his uncle, but he held more power than some people thought. He knew that he was not everything he seemed to be, and he proved that after learning about all the accomplishments he had - ones that he kept hidden from the public, more particularly.

That was one of the reasons why George wanted Winter - she could have had different kinds of affiliations with Marcellus for all he knew. 

"No need to be too downhearted, Mr. Ratri. I know I should be being interrogated right now, and I am still aware of my place here. That's why I'm surprised when you let me have this tea party with you - a redeeming quality, I say..." she chimed in once more, still as composed as ever.

"A psychological method of interrogating, isn't it? You'd think you'd be able to make me cooperate with you through this, but at the same time, you had me know my true position here by kidnapping me. Though too complicated, it was theorized to be effective."

"Indeed. And you yourself is a complex one, Ms. Agreste..." he said before taking a sip from his black tea which he already ignored for too long. 

"With how calm you keep acting, I'm suspecting you more and more."

"Trying to be direct now, huh?"

"I've got no more time left. He found you much earlier than I would have wanted."

"We have all the time in the world. Don't worry."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you want to have a tea party with me again?"

At that, he finds himself at a loss. 

She can't seriously be planning to come back after getting kidnapped - this is no Stockholm Syndrome. But then, she does appear to be serious. And she is not talking about merely drinking tea together. That is the look of someone with a business to deal with. 

He can accept, but at the same time, he can't fall for traps or deceptions. She already proved herself to be more cunning that he took her credits for. So, in the end, there is actually no need for an abduction - she herself must have seen this as a blessing in disguise. 

"Well then..." George started once more while Winter simply smiled her innocent-looking smile.

"If you will allow me, I will be a proper host next time, Ms. Agreste." 

---

"Again, I'm sorry. If you don't have an appointment, I can't allow you to see the President."

Ace is already barely holding onto his patience at the moment.

It was not really the fault of the receptionist, though. He's aware that she's only doing her job. Yet at any cost, he needs to get to where his classmate is. He knows that she is with the owner of that building, and because he has no idea what their connection can be, he can only imagine different kinds of scenarios.

'It's no good. If only the Miller's are backing me up, I can probably get my way in there. But I don't have any such power - all I have is my elder sister...' Ace brooded and lowered his head in defeat.

'She would not probably go all the way here either, anyway. She had work to do, and she had no reason to go against such a huge corporation for someone she did not even know. Getting her help was already too much.'

Right then, the lobby got a little noisier - and soon the reception hall as well.

He looks up again to find a certain gentleman making his way in the crowd. His stunning appearance alone makes up his attention-catching entrance. All eyes are on him in only a matter of seconds. And as he gets closer, he is starting to look like that esteemed personality he often sees on billboards and magazines.

'Or perhaps, he really is that guy?!' Ace then bolted out inside his head, finally recognizing him

It's that Marcellus Lexington.

For some reason, he seems to be making his way to him rather than the receptionists. He is stumped. He had no idea what's going on.

Then, as soon as he reaches him, he comes to a halt and begins examining him from head to toe. He can only stare at him in befuddlement, not sure what is up with this sudden attention.

"So, you are Ms. Miller's younger brother, huh...?" Marcellus inquired, throwing Ace off guard.

"She told me I'd be able to meet you here. Come along."

---

It was a scene that they never expected.

The captive is having tea with her captor - all alone together in his office. They even appear to be having quite a great time, which is all the more dumbfounding since everyone from the Ratri household is never seen having any kind of fun. The present leader of the group in particular is known to be a steely tyrant, but at this moment, said steely tyrant is nowhere to be found.

With that, Marcellus and Ace can only stand there by the doorway, frozen still and beyond astonished.

"You can't crash no tea party here..." Winter somewhat quipped while George kept silent.

"Cause it's already over. Thanks for coming, though."

It appeared like the dragon that captured the princess had been tamed.