Coolest Girl in Town

“Not specifically. Craig’s a very well-rounded performing arts student,” Winona interjected to speak up for Craig. “By the way, Elise, do you think Rushmore Entertainment might consider signing Craig up as one of their artists? I saw that they were recruiting.”

Winona knew that Mr. Howard took Elise’s words seriously, and if Craig could get her recommendation, his career could blossom in Rushmore Entertainment. Moreover, Mr. Howard had very casually paid off Garreth’s contractual damages, which racked up to well over hundreds of millions, after all. So, surely he would extend the same sentiment to Craig if he got into the agency.

While Craig had the same idea, he still looked flustered when he heard Winona reveal his innermost thoughts. He reached out to tug on the corner of her shirt as he muttered in embarrassment, “Winona, what are you doing? You can’t ask Miss Sinclair to go through the trouble…”

Obviously, he was only feigning courtesy because he immediately glanced up at Elise expectantly after he said this, trying to whittle her down with his pleading gaze.

Alas, Elise was not one who fell for tricks like these. So she raised her glass at them and smiled as she changed the subject. “I’m sure the both of you would want to catch up after all this time. I won’t be a third wheel, then.” With that, she headed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, indirectly rejecting their request for her favor.

Craig faltered when he sensed that Elise had no intention of helping him with his career. He waited until she had disappeared around the stairwell before saying in low, angry tones, “What the hell, Winona?”

“What?” Winona shot him a blank look.

“This is the first time I’m meeting Miss Sinclair, and you’re already trying to build connections? What will she think of me?!” he demanded as frustration welled up in him.

Winona felt tears prick her eyes as she argued, “Be reasonable, Craig. I was only doing you a favor and hoping that you could start your career on the right foot. Do you plan on going around filming commercials for the rest of your life?”

“I’m a man, Winona. I don’t want them to think that I’m only with you to get connections!” he snapped, his voice growing louder in the kitchen.

“Well, I know you’re not like that, so isn’t that enough? Why do you care about how others might see you anyway?” She could feel the pricking sensation in her nose as she added in a teary voice, “We’re a couple, and I don’t see the need for you to mind if I try to network for you. It’s not even that big of a deal!”

This rendered Craig speechless as he stood there with his hands planted on his hips. He was still boiling with rage, but he was worried that he might push Winona over the edge, so he stopped arguing with her.

was so thick and suffocating that one could slice through it with

set of footfalls drew near from the threshold, sounding

see who it was, but he had only just registered Jack’s presence when the latter’s fist came hurtling in his direction, then slammed right into his

by the assault, he staggered and toppled to the ground like a

crouched down to prop Craig up, asking

that Jack had only punched him because of Winona. He swiped her hand away and spat out a mouthful of blood, then sat up on his own as

other hand, Winona didn’t seem to mind that he had so brusquely turned down her help and only went on to assess the damage to his face. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be

his fists clenched at his sides. He looked intimidating and angry, like a

even after being warned. He was clearly using Winona to achieve his own ends, and it was disgusting to see him put

an unreasonable person, and she decided to try and mediate. “Craig’s my

face as he ignored her, and the awkward

only help Craig onto his feet. But he had only just straightened up when he shoved her

to her, and now that he had hit Craig, she couldn’t help feeling guilty. She frowned and said nothing, though she eyed him worriedly

me like a coward! Why don’t you prove you’re a real tough guy and fight me without

even the slightest shift as he drawled icily, “You think you’re a match for

was baffled by the hostility toward one another as she stood between them to

what he did, Winona! He started it! Whose side are you on?!” Craig thundered, trapping

was so torn that she wasn’t even sure what to do with her hands right now. Craig was her boyfriend, but Jack had been nothing but kind to her all this while. It would weigh

“This thing is between you and me, and we’ll settle it like men without having to drag the poor girl into it,

be it!” Craig hollered, raising his

and