Chapter 40 - Taken By Force

Like what Winter wanted, Marcellus went on another date with a potential business partner. 

He couldn't believe that he'd be wanting to act cool in front of a girl by taking a different girl on a romantic appointment. It's almost like he softened up in the strangest way possible. He wasn't even in the mood for this kind of thing, but he still did it because he was told to do so. 

"Stop slacking around! I already told you the list of persons you should be targeting! Go see them already!'

Now, Marcellus had to endure a long-winded blather with only a cup of coffee to keep him in his right mind. 

Apparently, he had taken this date of his to a coffee shop. It is still early in the morning, so it is a good choice of setting. What isn't good here, however, is how she's starting to spoil his appetite. This one is particularly loquacious. She talks a great deal about herself, and she barely ever lets him have his turn.

He let her be for some time, but as soon as she brought up something he could not turn a blind eye on, he was suddenly up for a balanced conversation.

"By the way, President, I've heard some rumors circling around lately. Is it true that you've been hanging out with some teenage girl?" 

Marcellus was a little taken aback to hear that, but he was immediate in schooling his features.

Of course, he would not be able to hide that for too long. He had been meeting up with Winter for straight a week already, and he had even taken her to his office. Considering that he's in constant observation, most of his movements are as good as recorded.

Even then, no one had the right to come up with overbearing assumptions like she did.

"A teenage girl, huh? That's too much, President. You can't be possibly taking an interest in a child now. It's so not worth it. She's better off in her own playground. Adults like us play a different type of game, don't you think so too?"

Marcellus caught on the underlying tone beneath those words. And he didn't like how Winter was portrayed as someone incompetent, immature and undeserving of his attention. 

"A child, huh? I wonder about that..." he then started at last, smirking condescendingly.

"I'm not sure just how exactly you're judging her as a person. You're also assuming things about our relationship. But if there's anything I'm certain about, that will be the fact that she acts more refined and mature compared to you."

She was stunned.

And he was satisfied.

But before Marcellus could continue to have his fun, he heard his cellphone ringing all of the sudden. Sparing her a glance, he then excused himself from their conversation before he looked at who was calling. He was surprised the moment he saw that it was the least he expected.

It's Winter.

For some reason, his heart skips a beat at the mention of her name. Hundreds of ideas fill his head right then. Not wanting to entertain them, he just decided to push them aside and answer the call. 

"Hey there, Ms. Agreste. What's up?"

That's the most casual greeting he ever gave to someone. It's kind of refreshing.

Marcellus did not get to receive and answer from Winter, though. He could hear her breathing on the other side, but she was not saying anything. It soon became clear to him that she wasn't calling just to say hello.

"Ms. Agreste? Are you there? You okay? What's going on?"

"Uhhhh... Sir Lexington?"

Going by how shaky her voice was, she sounded somewhat unnerved. He didn't like that one bit. Alarmed, he then bolted out from his seat and gripped his phone tightly. 

"What's happening, Ms. Agreste?" he asked her in a bit of panic. 

Marcellus is already starting to get anxious. It's odd to find Winter acting this way. 

"I think I'm being followed," she then said in a heartbeat. 

His eyes widened at that.

For a second, he forgot how to breathe. Though shocked, he still tried to pull himself together. He had to calm down. Even at the ascendance of a foreboding premonition, he had to keep his cool.

"I believe that this is the same guy from last time. I had a feeling that you noticed something about him back then. Now, I think that it will turn out to be right. We should have handled this matter earlier than this," she continued from the other end of the line. 

Marcellus isn't going to let this person get away from this. He could tell how much he's frightening Winter even though she's trying to act tough. This was certainly not how she behaved when he was the one who ordered to kidnap her. Then, that could also only mean that this incident was out of her expectations as well - this did not happen before she went back in time. 

"Where are you?" Marcellus questioned in a haste as he prepared to leave.

"I'm at the bookstore near my school," Winter calmly replied, though her heavy breathing betrayed her collected poise.

"Hang in there, alright? I'll be right over there. Don't you dare move from there." 

"Aren't you on an appointment right now? You can just send some bodyguards-"

"I don't give a damn about that, lady! Are you for real?!"

Not giving her another chance to talk, he impatiently grabbed his coat and put it on. He tried to stay calm, but it's becoming a struggle to do so. For one, he had no idea who was stalking her. He didn't know what he wanted - or what they wanted. It's possible that he's not alone, and it's making him feel even more anxious. 

"Damn it!" he cursed underneath his breath as he proceeded to storm out of the coffee shop and leave his date in a stupefied state. 

When Marcellus decided to let Winter stay by his side, he swore that he would take responsibility for everything, but this was definitely not part of the things he wanted to happen.

---

A moment after making that call, Winter found herself in yet another grave position.

She planned to wait for Marcellus at the furthest corner of that bookstore - far from the window where each of her movements was out in the open. But then, before she could even move to another aisle, someone suddenly blocked her path and kept her from going anywhere. 

It's another man - so tall that he's towering over her.

Winter didn't dare to say that she was wanted to pass by. His motive is already evident in his eyes. That's the look of someone who reeked of nothing but bad news. He could practically seize her in any given second. 

As it turned out, before she knew it, she was already cornered even from inside the bookstore.

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Then came Ace out of nowhere, walking up from behind Winter and making her turn to him.

She was astonished to see him coming to rescue. She could tell that he's planning to take her out of that situation, considering that he wouldn't be acting like that after everything she told him earlier. He even went ahead and put his arm around her shoulders, beaming all the while.

"Where in the world you wandered off to...?" he proceeded to feign friendliness. 

"Come on now. It's already time. We need to get you back home." 

Although Winter was impressed that Ace could understand the situation right away, she feared for his safety. He shouldn't involve himself with her. This isn't a light matter. He could be roped into perils if he were to continue this, and she would not be able to bear the guilt that would come along with that.

"Don't act pals with me. You can be put in danger," Winter whispered to Ace.

In response, he only tightened his hold around her shoulders, catching her off guard. She glanced at him right then and found how determined he looked. He was still smiling, not breaking character.   

"So, it's true that this guy's a bad news, then..." Ace whispered back to Winter.

"I will not leave you alone. Don't worry. We'll get out of this." 

However, that didn't happen.

Not only were they overwhelmed in strength and smarts, but they were also outnumbered. Apparently, there were more than two of them the whole time. They're all around the bookstore - listening and observing closely. And they were dead set on taking her with them.

"Sorry, boy. You're the only one who can get out of this - if you want to, that is." 

Those were the last words that Winter and Ace heard before the real deal went down.

---

Marcellus was too late.

When he arrived at the bookstore, Winter was nowhere to be found. Even though he told her to stay put, he could not see her anywhere at all. That could only mean that she had already been taken away - he was too late.

"Damn it!"

And Marcellus was more than enraged.