Chapter 169 I Like You
After a few seconds of hesitation, Katniss finally said, "This has nothing to do with you."
"It does," Samuel insisted, adjusting his glasses and looking down for a moment, clearly trying to gather his thoughts.
"I've liked you for a long time," he began. "Back in college, I saw you as competition. I hated anyone who was better at studying than me, especially if they were a girl. So, yeah, we didn't get along."
Honestly, Samuel pretty much hated her back then.
After graduation, Katniss's career took off way faster than his.
In just three years, she became Tristan's special assistant.
Samuel, on the other hand, only managed to become Michael's assistant four years after graduation.
Even though it was just a year's difference, it bugged him.
He thought he hated Katniss, but whenever she clashed with Michael, he found himself helping her without even thinking about it.
"Even if you have feelings for Tristan, it doesn't matter. There's a huge gap between you and the Forbes Family. Someone like Bella couldn't marry into the Forbes Family, and neither can you." Samuel knew Katniss didn't like him, so he tried to play to his strengths. "We're from the same world. If you're willing, we could try dating. Don't worry, if you're with me, Michael won't bother you anymore. I can quit and move to Nightfall City, or you can come back to Velvet City."
He'd been planning this confession for a long time. He even had future plans laid out.
The phrase "we're from the same world" made Katniss think. But she wasn't thinking about being with Samuel; she was imagining how great it would be if Tristan were just an ordinary guy.
But Tristan was anything but ordinary.
"A confession, and you managed to turn it into a horror movie?" a voice suddenly cut in.
Tristan stood there, a cigarette between his fingers, looking annoyed because he couldn't smoke here.
He seemed casual, but his eyes were cold as he looked at Samuel and walked over slowly. "Not the same world? How many worlds are there? Are you two in hell or something?"
Samuel felt awkward, sensing Tristan's anger directed at him.
"With your annoying nature, do you think he can protect you if you follow him? Won't you just get bullied by others?" Tristan's sharp, sarcastic words were almost funny. Katniss's cheeks turned red as she glared at him. "What are you doing here?"
Tristan stared at her and asked, "What? Am I interrupting you?"
His gaze was almost predatory.
The three of them stood there in awkward silence. Overhead, an announcement reminded passengers heading to Velvet City to head to the boarding gate.
Samuel finally broke the silence. "I'll go now. Let's keep in touch on Facebook."
"Okay." Katniss was more than ready to see Samuel off; the awkwardness was getting to her.
She watched as Samuel checked in and headed to the departure lounge. Then she turned to Tristan and noticed a small suitcase beside him.
"Business trip?" she asked.
"Just got back," Tristan replied coldly, pulling his suitcase and walking out, his face looking grim.
Katniss turned and followed him, and they left the airport together.
They each got into their own cars and drove off.
It had been days since their last dinner, and this was the first time Katniss had seen Tristan since then.
Their work and lives didn't really overlap, and these random encounters would probably become even rarer.
Eventually, he'd go back to Velvet City, and they'd be completely out of each other's lives.
No more intersections.
That's what Katniss thought and believed.
But that evening, when she got home after tutoring Donna, she unexpectedly saw Tristan.
Saskia, who should have been home, was nowhere to be seen.
She stood there, still holding the door, staring blankly at Tristan, who had just taken a shower and was lounging on the sofa with his hair half-dry.
Tristan turned his head to look at her. "Close the door."
She snapped out of it and instinctively closed the door.
A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Could it be that he wanted to "make money" again?
But she didn't want to continue this anymore.
"Katniss, let's talk." Tristan put a cigarette in his mouth, lit it, and tossed the pack onto the coffee table.
He kept looking at her, seeing her standing still.
He frowned, walked over, and pulled her to sit on the sofa.
"Talk about what?" Katniss snapped out of it and asked, "About you wanting to sell yourself to me? I don't want to buy anymore; I'm out of money."
Tristan was so angry he laughed. "Who cares about selling myself to you? Do you really think I'm that desperate for money?"
After a few seconds of hesitation, Katniss's voice was a bit muffled. "Then you just want to sleep with me for free. I don't want to continue this kind of relationship either."
"Then what kind of relationship do you want to continue with me?" Tristan's voice was low and husky, and with his black shirt and the swirling smoke, it added a touch of seduction.
He seemed to be tempting her to say something.
But she didn't look at him and stubbornly said, "I don't want to continue."
Samuel's words made sense to her; getting tangled up with Tristan wouldn't do her any good.
"Not continue?" Tristan's voice shot up.
Katniss instinctively bolted toward her room. "Yes, so you should leave my house immediately."
She barely made it into her room before Tristan caught up. He grabbed the door, his forearm muscles flexing, and forced it open.
He seized her hand and pinned her against the wall, holding her chin and making her look up at him.
"I can't do that," he said firmly.
The strength difference was obvious, and Katniss couldn't fight back. Bitterness welled up inside her, regretting ever getting involved with him.
But just because she didn't want to be involved, did it mean she could avoid it?
She was tired of being pushed around by others!
"What? Am I so uncontrollable to you? Then go ahead, I can't resist," Katniss said, her tone a mix of mockery and defiance.
Tristan, like an enraged lion, let go of her chin and unbuttoned two buttons on her shirt.
His cool fingertips tapped twice on her beating heart. "I don't just want your body; I want your heart too!"
Katniss was too rational. Even after three years with him, she had never crossed the line.
Samuel's words had made Tristan lose his composure.
If Katniss became stubborn, talking about being well-matched and resolutely drawing a line with him, all his efforts over the past year would be in vain.
To develop this project in Nightfall City, the shareholders of Synergy Global Corporation had put a lot of pressure on him.
Even now, Synergy Global Corporation had stopped funding, and he had worked so hard for whom?
"What do you mean?" Katniss asked.
Two thoughts popped into Katniss's mind: either he wanted her life, or he liked her.
But she leaned more toward the first thought because she had never considered the second.
"You don't understand what I mean?" Tristan's tone wasn't good. After speaking, he saw her frown, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
His tone softened a bit. "Katniss, be with me."
Those few words exploded like a thunderclap in Katniss's mind.
Many people had told her that Tristan was good to her, protected her, liked her, but she never believed it until he said it himself.
In her shock, she still managed to reply rationally, "I'm not good enough for you. Your family won't agree to us being together."
"So you listened to Samuel's talk about being well-matched?" Tristan's face darkened, his fingers returning to her chin, gripping tightly in anger.
"What era is this? Are you really going to give up your happiness just because you're not well-matched?" Tristan asked, his voice tinged with frustration. "Just answer me, do you like me or not?"
He kept her pinned between the wall and his chest, so close she could feel his hot breath on her skin.
His breath brushed against the corner of her eye, almost scorching.
Was this a confession? Two in one day: one polite and business-like, the other domineering and forceful, leaving her no room to resist.
"What are you staring at?" Tristan snapped, impatient.
Katniss blurted out, "I guess I like you."
"Why hesitate? Be firm!" Tristan demanded, releasing her wrist and placing both hands on her waist.
She almost instinctively followed her heart. "Yes, I like you."
As soon as she said it, he wrapped his long arms around her waist, pressing her against the wall and kissing her hard.
After responding to him, Katniss didn't have time to feel shy or think about anything else; he had completely taken control.
Though it was the same act of being in bed, it was different for Tristan now. Mutual affection meant it was no longer a transaction.
It seemed his emotions had been reciprocated, and it wasn't just his one-sided passion for her.
He picked her up, kissing her as he laid her gently on the bed, his actions both tender and urgent.
But she quickly stopped him. "Wait, even if it's like this, aren't we moving too fast?"
"Are you kidding me?" Tristan stared at her, frustrated.
Mutual affection, confirmed relationship, and now she didn't want to be touched?
Katniss realized her words were off, but she just felt it was too fast!
The confession came quickly, and her response was quick too.
In just a few minutes, they had confessed their feelings and confirmed their relationship?
"Don't zone out." Tristan lightly bit her shoulder.
Katniss, somewhat dazed, cooperated. Her thoughts were elsewhere, but his unprecedented gentleness and teasing brought her back.
"Katniss," Tristan called out.
Hearing her name in his husky voice gave her a sense of pleasure.
The door wasn't even closed, and the indescribable sounds continued almost all night long.
Katniss was exhausted to the extreme, her sore body tightly held in his arms, and she fell asleep immediately.
But he was wide awake, his lips pressed against her forehead, the curve of his lips never fading.
As daylight fully broke, his phone on the bedside table rang. Katniss moved slightly in his arms, her brow furrowing tightly.
He quickly turned to grab the phone, intending to hang up. But seeing it was Nicholas calling, he answered, speaking softly, "Make it quick."
"I have news about the Gibson Family's broken financial chain. Come out and meet me!" Nicholas said urgently.
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