Chapter 20：Drawn to the Mystique

Although Marcellus appears a little dismayed by the result of his futile attempt, Winter knows that he will try to use that strategy again.

He can flirt with her all he wants, but again, she is not going to give him the response he is seeking. She must say that this is the first time he has shown her such a smile, though. When she was still his wife, he would ever barely smile whenever she was around.

She wonders if he'll still do that if he knows that she's going to be his wife in the future.

'However, of course, I'm going to change that. I don't wanna marry a playboy. I'll work hard to be a woman who doesn't need a man to run the business and lead the family...' Winter thought with resolve and firmness.

'That being said, I should not mess up this opportunity. I have to make him come to my side as soon as possible. Instead of a husband, I want to make him an ally.'

Marcellus notices how those emerald green orbs of hers begin to brim with determination at that moment - he had to admit that it was unusual to see such a sight from a woman.

For her age, she seems to have a lot in her mind. Despite her playful and feisty personality, she appears like she is carrying something heavy - like she is striving for something big.

To begin with, she should not be hanging around an older, busier guy like him. She ought to live her youth out there and enjoy being a teen as long as it lasts.

"Your office..." Winter blurted out in sudden realization while looking around the room.

"It was actually different from back then. I thought that you never tried to change the design and arrangement-"

"Wait, what...?" Marcellus cut him off, feeling like he heard her wrong.

"You'd been here before?"

At that, she found herself coming to a still.

She said that out loud without thinking - she meant what she said and how she reacted, though. It was only a passing comment, but it seemed to end up being a clue that she did know him before. Even then, she is not going to take that back. She will not hide the truth from him.

When Winter said she wanted Marcellus as an ally, she also thought of confessing her background to him.

"I'd been here several times before. For one, I know where you're hiding your important documents, including those you kept top secret..." she trailed off before pointing at his office desk, catching him off guard.

"And under that table, there is a safe that stores some of your most prized possessions."

"The heck...?" he breathed out, unable to deny her claims.

"How the heck did you know those things?"

"I just told you - I'd been here before."

"And I don't remember when I'd ever let you. I highly doubt that you could sneak in here, too."

Although she was not planning to get straight to this particular point, she felt like she had no choice but to continue what she started.

With that, Winter stood up from her seat and walked up to Marcellus. He only watches her approach him, still calm and collected yet stern and suspecting. She then takes a deep breath and braces herself, thinking that this is now or never.

"Say, wanna go out with me somewhere?" she asked and leaned down to him, smirking a little.

"You've got a thing for changing subjects, I see," he replied with an unsmiling, enigmatic expression.

"Oh, but I'm only going to take this conversation at another place. We're not dropping the topic."

As Marcellus continues to take a closer look at Winter right then, he is really beginning to sense that there is this mystique around her that is somewhat drawing him in despite his will.