Chapter 99 - Official Meeting

Of course, before Winter could take her turn to ask Marcellus, she had to answer his questions first.

Seeing his somewhat frustrated reaction, she suddenly feels obligated to tell him the truth. She does know that he's a short-tempered, impatient worrywart, and she doesn't think it'll be good to keep him in the dark for much longer, especially since she'll now be needing his help more than ever. Now that her stage in the Middleton's territory has been set, it's time to bring in the actors and actresses that'll take part in the show.

And because this is such a huge performance, she should take time to explain how it'll roll.

"Sir Lexington, do you mind if you call Ms. Collins right now?" Winter asked all of the sudden, making Marcellus turn to look at her in surprise and confusion.

"Call Ms. Anne? But we just dropped her off."

"Tell her that I want to ask for a favor. Knowing her, she'll probably agree to it."

"What favor?"

"Ask her to cover up for me by saying that I'm with her the whole time when someone questions her about where I've been tonight. Everyone back in the party had seen that she's the last one I'd been with. No one would've guessed that I was actually with you – and no one should. Only she knew."

"Huh? So, you're saying?"   

"If you want to take me away tonight, then do it."

He came to a still, his eyes widening.

She really knows how to throw him off guard. Not that he's complaining, though, because he certainly isn't. So, he smirks, liking where this is going. And as always, he complies with her wishes.

"Shall we elope, then?" Marcellus quipped.

"Idiot, we're just returning later than planned," Winter snorted. 

After giving Anne a call and making sure that their evening rendezvous is kept a secret between the three of them, he drove all the way to the cafe that they often visit. It's a spur of the moment decision, but it's probably worth it even though it's considerably far from the resort where they should be returning to by now. It may be worth it since that place holds a special meaning to him – 

And hopefully, to her as well. 

"We're here. Come on." 

Winter was surprised when she realized that Marcellus took her all the way to the cafe they frequent.

While it gave her the impression that he's serious about taking her away more than she thought, considering that they went this far, she also had a feeling that he chose this place because he thought of her confession as something important – something that could significantly change their present.   

He grabbed her small, fragile hand and escorted her out of the car, her cold touch slightly tensing up his body. 

"Let's go get you something warm to drink. You're freezing out here."

"I'm not that cold." 

He knew that she's lying. Her quivering hand already gave her away. 

"It's just that the wind gets to me sometimes, but I guess a warm drink wouldn't hurt. And maybe something to snack on? I don't have any money with me, though," Winter told him timidly, a bit embarrassed. 

"Yeah, right. Like I would let you pay…" Marcellus chuckled, giving her hand a squeeze. 

"What type of guy would I be if I let you pay? Totally uncool, Ms. Agreste."

"Pfftt…! You're just so full of it sometimes." 

"Well, I'm not trying to be." 

Marcellus was being sincere when he said that, but seeing Winter grin and giggle in reply, he just sighed in defeat and formed a smile of his own. 

He loves seeing her that way. He loves seeing her happy. This is how he wants things to be. And this is how things are meant to be. 

'I could only ever wonder what my life would be if she wasn't in it. Would I be partying and playing around with other women by now? At this point, I couldn't imagine life without her anymore. And I couldn't thank and love her enough.'

When they finally entered the cafe, Marcellus was glad to find it partially empty. 

Even so, the few people that were inside kept their eyes glued to them as if they were some sort of wonder. It kind of bothers him since he doesn't know if they're staring at him or Winter. The idea of paying the owner to close it down for them suddenly seems tempting.

'No. Ms. Agreste will probably freak out. She doesn't like it when I get overboard.'

They walked over to a table that was beside the window before they ordered something to drink. 

Winter, being the cute little thing that she is, ordered some vanilla-flavored tea while Marcellus got himself a cup of black coffee. After the waiter left, his eyes traveled to her. He takes a moment to stare at her, silently admiring her charming features. 

Her soft brown hair hung loose on her shoulders – it's gotten a little longer, it seems. Her emerald green eyes gleam brighter than the street lights outside. Her fair white skin looks as smooth as ever. And her pink plump lips, he's sure that they taste sweeter than sugar. 

Marcellus loves her. So, that's probably why he thinks she's so perfect. 

He's been staring at her for quite a while now. And when she finally notices it, he immediately turns to look in another direction.

"What is it, Sir Lexington…?" Winter asked, and Marcellus was glad she didn't catch him in his moment of stupidity. 

"Is something bothering you?"

She looked so concern – just the way a girlfriend would. He couldn't help but sigh at the thought. His imagination is running wild again. 

"It's nothing…" Marcellus replied after a short pause on his part, a smirk appearing on his face. 

"I was just looking at those green eyes of yours. They're very pretty"

"My eyes…?" Winter repeated, looking down at the table in embarrassment. 

"Oh, they're nothing special, really. I think your eyes are a lot prettier than mine. You're the only person I know with nice amber eyes like that."

After her comment, a stretch of awkward silence fills in. 

She can see that he wants to laugh at her right then, but to her relief, the waiter is able to break it. With care, he places the white mugs in front of them. He is about to thank him when he finishes serving their orders, but she has beaten him to it. 

Winter gives the waiter a warm, sweet smile – a smile that Marcellus wants only for himself. 

He frowns and sighs, grabbing his mug. This won't do. He should get rid of these selfish feelings and insecurities.

"Hey, Ms. Agreste?" he called out to her as he watched her take a sip of her drink. 

In that moment, though, Winter burned her tongue by accident. She groaned and tried not to panic too much, not wanting to make a big deal out of it so that the people around them wouldn't stare. Marcellus chortles then, amused at her clumsiness. 

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I should start explaining now, shouldn't I?" she blurted out as soon as she recovered.

"Right. I think you should," he agreed, forcing himself to get serious already.

"Okay, then. Let me start with properly introducing myself first."

"Huh?"

Bemused, he blinks at her. 

He only remains silent as he watches her pull something out of her dress pocket. As soon as he sees what it is, he finds himself too stunned to say anything. It reminds him of their first ever meeting. In fact, it's a remembrance of it. 

Winter slides a pair of sunglasses on the table which Marcellus immediately recognizes as the one she took from him way back then.

"Didn't I tell you I'd give these shades back to you once we officially met?"

And at that moment, a flashback of that day passed through his head.

---

"You've only met, huh…?" she trailed off before returning his amused smirk with an apathetic look.

"That's no meeting at all. I'm still a stranger to you."

"Is that a way of telling me that we should get to know each other better, then?" he claimed while crossing his arms complacently.

"You're creepy. I just talked crap about you yet you're trying to act chummy. Are you a masochist?"

"Seriously, what did I ever do to you? Can't you stand guys like me or something? Do I remind you of your ex-boyfriend?"

"You know, instead of wasting your breath like this, you should be better off leaving now. You're gonna be late for your next date."

"Huh? Wait, that's… Hey, how do you-"

Yet before he could ask how in the world she knew that, she suddenly snatched his sunglasses from his chest pocket and wore it without asking for his permission. He stares at her incredulously while she only waves him off and turns around to walk away.

With that, he was left standing there in nonplus and disbelief.

"I'll return these shades to you once we officially meet. Good luck on your next date, Sir."

---   

"That's right. This is our official meeting, Marcellus Lexington…" Winter chimed in again at the present while Marcellus could only stare at her in awe. 

"My real name is Winter Middleton.. It's a pleasure to meet you."