Chapter 104 Just to Sleep
"What's up?" Tristan shot her a look that screamed, "You don't wanna make bank?"
Katniss had been through this sarcastic crap a million times, but it still stung every single time.
She squinted a bit and mumbled, "It's nothing, I'll handle it tomorrow."
He shrugged off his jacket, yanked at his tie, and added, "I was working nearby, it's late, so I figured I'd crash here, just to sleep."
"Alright." She stepped up, took off his tie, her cool fingers brushing his chest, and he could feel the warmth through his shirt.
"I'll run a bath for you." She draped the tie over the sofa and headed upstairs.
Her bedroom had its own bathroom, super spacious, with a round tub big enough for two.
She turned on the faucet, and the clear water quickly filled the tub, just the right temp.
After Tristan walked into the bathroom, she quietly left.
He said he was just gonna sleep, and he really just slept. In bed, his bare chest and strong arms wrapped around her slim body.
They stayed like that all night without moving.
Katniss didn't dare move either, scared he'd think she was trying to seduce him and hit her with more sarcasm.
Her tense body kept her awake most of the night, and she only passed out when she couldn't take it anymore.
At five in the morning, Tristan's phone suddenly blared, cutting through the quiet room.
He quickly rolled over, grabbed the phone, and hung up without a second thought. It was Bella.
His brows knitted together, and he quickly put the phone on silent and tossed it aside.
Turning back, he saw Katniss frowning, turning over in his arms to keep sleeping, her nose pressed against his chest.
Her warm breath landed right on his chest.
He muttered, "Damn," but didn't push her away, enduring the heat rising in his body.
It was rare to see her sleep so soundly, her delicate skin so clear that even the fine hairs were visible. She must've been super tired lately, as there was a pimple on her chin.
Her long, thick eyelashes, small nose, and rosy lips...
Tristan closed his eyes, not looking at her anymore, or he wouldn't be able to keep the fire inside in check.
Meanwhile, Bella, whose call had been rejected, was at the gate of Serenity Estate. Seeing that Tristan's car wasn't in the yard, she immediately had a bad feeling.
The call being hung up made her even more frantic. She turned and got into the car. "Take me to Katniss's place!"
The driver floored it to Oakwood Hills, just a quick ten-minute drive away. Bella's face darkened when she realized how close Katniss and Tristan lived.
She jumped out of the car and bolted to the door, pounding on it like a madwoman. "Katniss! Get out here, you shameless witch! Did you make Tristan stay over again?"
Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard, waking up the whole neighborhood. People started peeking out their windows to see what the fuss was about.
The driver got out and tried to calm her down. "Miss, Mr. Forbes's car isn't here."
Bella's shouting came to a screeching halt. She noticed Tristan's car was indeed missing. She bit her lip and kept knocking. "So what if he's not here? Come out, are you hiding inside, too scared to show your face?"
No answer. Bella started kicking and punching the door in a fit of rage.
Finally, a neighbor couldn't take it anymore and yelled out, "Stop it! Katniss didn't come back last night. I saw her leave with a suitcase this morning, probably on a business trip."
Katniss often went on business trips, and the neighbor had seen her leave with a suitcase the day before, assuming it was for work.
'Not home all night? So Katniss could still be with Tristan!' Bella felt a chill run down her spine. Frustrated and unable to find anyone, she had the driver take her to Synergy Global Corporation.
She waited for hours until Tristan finally showed up, only to be greeted with, "I have several meetings this morning; you should go back."
"Where have you been?" Bella demanded, "Did you go see Katniss again?"
Tristan's chiseled face stayed stone-cold, his icy eyes sweeping over her.
Bella froze, regretting her words instantly.
Then, Tristan's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Is that why you called me at five in the morning?"
"No," Bella quickly denied. "I just couldn't sleep. I wanted to see you and have breakfast together."
"Well, you've seen me now. Go back." Tristan sat down at his desk, hit the intercom, and had Ryan come in to prep for the meeting.
His cold attitude left Bella stunned. Since she had come back, Tristan had changed. He no longer put up with her tantrums like he used to. Did he not love her anymore?
This thought left Bella feeling lost. She went back to the Astor family mansion and locked herself in her room, refusing to eat, drink, or come out.
The Astor family was freaking out, worried something might happen to her.
Word of Bella locking herself in her room spread to the Tudor family and the Stuart family.
That afternoon, Isla swung by. The Astor family didn't have high hopes, but to their surprise, when Isla knocked on Bella's door, Bella actually let her in.
Isla was pumped; if she could cheer Bella up, her parents would definitely be thrilled!
"Bella, what's going on?" She was shocked to see Bella sitting on the carpet, hair a mess, tear stains on her face. She had never seen the usually glamorous Bella in such a state!
Bella motioned for her to sit down beside her and asked, "Do you think Tristan doesn't like me anymore?"
Isla didn't know Tristan at all, so how could she know?
But she knew how to say things that would make Bella happy. "If he doesn't like you, who does he like? The media's always reporting about you two having dinner and shopping together. How could he be thinking of someone else while being with you?"
"Right, he must like me." Bella tightly grasped Isla's hand. "But when we eat or shop, he doesn't talk to me much. Does that mean he doesn't care about me?"
Isla noticed her hand trembling and her eyes filled with cautious hope, making her frown. Something felt off.
But she didn't have time to think more and continued to comfort her, "Hasn't he always been cold? He talks less to you but doesn't talk to other women at all. Doesn't that mean you're special to him?"
"That makes sense." Bella showed a hint of joy and kept saying, "He loves me just like before. He loves me!"
"Bella, are you locking yourself in your room and worrying your parents over such a small matter?" Isla asked with a slight smile.
Bella glanced at the door and whispered, "Grandma Forbes won't accept me. My parents already want me to break up with Tristan. I don't dare tell them, and I don't know who to talk to. Luckily, you came."
She could have talked to Michael, but if he knew she was still hung up on Katniss and even went to knock on Katniss's door today but found no one, he would definitely scold her again.
"Bella, your parents are worried sick about you. Get up and freshen up. Let's go shopping. Dress up even better, and make sure you look new and fresh in front of Tristan every day. He won't be able to leave you." Isla pulled Bella up. Her task was to get Bella out of the room, but if she could make Bella fully recover and go out shopping, it would be a great achievement!
"Okay, I want to buy new clothes and get some gifts for Tristan. He'll be happy!" Bella changed her clothes and went out with Isla. The Astor family couple was delighted to see her recover so quickly and even called the Tudor family to praise Isla.
In the car, Isla asked, "Bella, where should we go shopping? A new mall just opened recently, and I heard..."
"Let's go to Grand Era Mall," Bella blurted out.
Isla was surprised. Grand Era Mall was pretty far from here, but since Bella had made up her mind, she didn't dare say anything.
Katniss was feeling a bit tired and hadn't even had lunch. She took a nap in the back warehouse.
Luckily, her place was just two blocks away from Grand Era Mall, a ten-minute walk, or she wouldn't have been able to get any sleep.
At two in the afternoon, she got up, put on her jacket, and straightened her employee badge before heading out.
Brenda and Cynthia were attending to their regular customers and became very wary when they saw her come out.
"Mrs. Grayson, I remember you like the coffee from the shop on the top floor here. I'll have my colleague get you a cup." Brenda smiled flatteringly at the customer and then turned to Katniss, "Katniss, go upstairs and get a cup of coffee for Mrs. Grayson."
The store had coffee and snacks for customers, but if a customer had additional requests, they would try to fulfill them.
That was the rule, so Brenda's request wasn't unreasonable.
Katniss tidied her hair, smiled at them, and turned to go upstairs to get the coffee.
It was lunchtime, and the elevator was empty. The elevator walls were glass, and she watched the floors rise, not noticing that Bella and Isla were in the descending elevator next to hers.
"Bella!" Isla tugged on Bella's arm. "Isn't that Katniss?"
Bella immediately looked over, catching a glimpse of a side profile that flashed by, but she recognized it instantly!
It was Katniss!
"What is she doing here?" Isla said. "Being an executive assistant must be comfortable. Is she shopping during work hours?"
"She was fired a long time ago," Bella said immediately. "She works at Grand Era Mall now."
She pressed herself against the elevator, looking up, but couldn't see which floor Katniss got off on.
"Why is she working at Grand Era Mall?" Isla was shocked. "I get it. Synergy Global Corporation must have kicked her out. But why come here..."
Bella, annoyed, interrupted her, "Shut up. Instead of babbling, why don't you find out where Katniss works?"
Isla fell silent. When the elevator doors opened, Bella stared at the other elevator, which had stopped at the top floor. "The top floor? Does she work on the top floor?"
"No," Isla suddenly recollected. "Now that you mention it, I recall she was dressed in the uniform of the custom dress department on the eighth floor. I remember!"
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