Chapter 214 Our Relationship Takes Another Step
Daisy couldn't quite grasp what Anna was saying; she just knew Anna and Sean were keeping something from her. She got up, walked to the entrance, and shot them a look. "What are you two whispering about? Get in here already."
Anna and Sean, looking a bit sheepish, slipped off their shoes and stepped inside. They immediately noticed Katniss chilling in the living room.
Anna paused for a moment, then it hit her. "Are you here to apply for the tutor gig for my brother?"
Everyone in the family knew Daisy was hunting for a tutor for Zaid, so Katniss being here had to be about that.
"Just here to get a feel for Zaid's situation," Katniss responded with a measured tone.
The ambiguous phrase "get a feel" made Daisy uneasy. Wait, was Katniss not already committed to tutoring Zaid? This uncertainty gnawed at her.
Daisy was about to step in, but Anna beat her to it, standing right in front of Katniss.
Anna crossed her arms and looked down at Katniss. "You wanna tutor my brother and make some cash from my family? Fine, but you gotta give me what I want!"
"What does Miss Owens want?" Katniss asked, playing innocent.
"Don't act dumb!" Anna snapped. She couldn't just blurt it out in front of Daisy.
But Daisy was already ticked off. She walked over and pulled Anna aside. "Is that any way to talk to Ms. Grey? Have you forgotten all the manners I taught you?"
Anna was speechless and shot another glare at Katniss when Daisy wasn't looking.
Daisy turned to Katniss with a smile. "I'm sorry, Ms. Grey. She has been spoiled. Do you two know each other?"
"We've met a couple of times," Katniss said, standing up and nodding at Daisy. "My boyfriend is working on a project with Mr. Owens, and it's almost wrapped up."
"Really?" Daisy's eyes lit up as she looked at Sean. "Ms. Grey's boyfriend must be quite talented. The project he's pitching must be a goldmine. Have you decided to invest?"
Sean was at a loss for words.
Anna finally pieced it together. Katniss didn't volunteer; Daisy was the one asking her to tutor Zaid!
"Why don't you answer me?" Daisy snapped. "Have you invested or not?"
Sean, looking more submissive than Katniss had ever seen him, mumbled, "Not yet, but we're getting there."
Daisy beamed and turned to Katniss. "You see, Ms. Grey, our relationship is getting even closer. About tutoring Zaid..."
There weren't many people with the last name Owens in Nightfall City, and Katniss had a hunch that Zaid might be connected to the Owens family and could be useful.
But she didn't expect the surprise to hit her so fast.
Glancing at the pale-faced Anna and Sean, she hesitated, "This doesn't seem right."
"There's nothing wrong with it. Our family is in the investment game anyway. If we lose money, we'll just chalk it up as an investment in my son's future. If we don't, then we win," Daisy said confidently, not sweating the tens of thousands of dollars.
Hearing this, Katniss smiled, grabbed her bag from the sofa, and said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Owen. I'll get in touch later, and I'll do my best to tutor your son."
"That's fantastic!" Daisy was thrilled, "Ms. Grey, please, let me see you out."
As she walked Katniss out, she saw Anna standing there, blocking the way and glaring at Katniss.
Frowning, she nudged Anna aside and turned back with a smile, "Ms. Grey, please."
After leaving the Owens' place, Katniss got back into her car and could still see the Owens Manor's living room through the window. Daisy was standing there, hands on her hips, looking pissed and saying something to Anna and Sean.
Raising an eyebrow, she drove off and didn't mention anything about contacting her resources to invest in Tristan's project when she got back.
Before Tristan could ask more, Daniel called to inform them that the Owens family had agreed to invest.
Daniel was on his way to Tristan with detailed project info and contracts, and Nicholas and Eudora were also on their way.
About half an hour later, they arrived at Whispering Pines Estate, and Katniss had some fruit ready for them.
They sat in the living room, the coffee table covered with various documents, chatting enthusiastically.
Having nothing to do, Katniss quietly went upstairs and asked Daisy for Zaid's report card.
And then she regretted it.
Hearing Daisy repeatedly express her regret, she thought Zaid must have some hidden academic talent. Plus, Zaid looked quiet, well-behaved, and smart.
But to her surprise, Zaid's middle school grades were all failing!
And they had always been this way!
She had thought Zaid's teacher saying that no one but her could save Zaid was a compliment. But now it seemed the tone was likely quite sarcastic.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. Just over a month remained until Zaid graduated from middle school.
Since Katniss hadn't responded after seeing Zaid's report card, Daisy could only imagine her reaction. [I know Zaid isn't good at studying, but I want to unlock his potential. As long as you do your best, that's all I ask.]
Seeing this, Katniss could only reply, "I'll do my best."
After a quick chat, she added Zaid on Facebook and sent him a set of test papers for each subject, asking him to complete them and send them back to her.
As it got darker outside, she gathered her study materials and headed downstairs.
Just as she did, Tristan and the others had wrapped up their discussion. Daniel was putting away the preliminary contract. "I'll have the final contract ready for signing tomorrow. You just need to handle the negotiations and sign it."
"I can't believe everything went so smoothly," Nicholas said, scratching his head like he was in a dream. "Why would the Owens family suddenly agree to invest?"
Daniel was about to speak, but Eudora jumped in, "Tristan is very capable. Any project he decides to do is bound to succeed. Even if Mr. Owens is upset about his daughter being wronged, he wouldn't want to miss out on a profitable opportunity."
Katniss stood at the corner of the stairs, Eudora's words making her laugh in anger. Was Eudora blaming her for being inconsiderate at the golf course and making Anna pick up the ball?
"Come here," Tristan glanced at her and beckoned. She walked over and stood by his side.
Suddenly, Tristan's strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. "What did you do?"
She said, "I didn't do anything."
"Be honest," he pinched her nose with his cool fingers, not hiding his affection for her in front of everyone.
"Ms. Grey, don't keep it a secret. I heard from Mr. Owens that Mrs. Owens begged you to tutor her son, and that's why he agreed to invest in us." Daniel couldn't help but give Katniss a thumbs-up, remembering how reluctant Sean had been. He repeatedly emphasized that it was Mrs. Owens who needed Katniss, which led him to agree to the investment.
Sean had been putting on airs in front of them for days! Being indirectly subdued by Katniss gave Daniel a great sense of satisfaction!
The "begging" was a bit exaggerated, but Katniss figured Sean was just trying to save face by emphasizing it.
She smiled and said, "I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that a student who booked my course months in advance would be Mr. Owens's son."
Everything was quite coincidental, and it just so happened that Sean was a 'henpecked husband.'
"Katniss, you're amazing," Nicholas grinned, "You're above Tristan now!"
Tristan raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "I wouldn't mind her being on top."
His words had a double meaning, making Katniss blush instantly. "It's getting late. I'll go prepare dinner so we can celebrate."
"No need. Ryan will bring it over soon," Tristan said, handing Daniel and Nicholas a cigarette. "We should indeed celebrate."
Eudora felt extremely embarrassed. She hadn't expected the Owens family's sudden investment to be related to Katniss.
And her earlier words now made her look like a fool.
After a moment, she composed herself and, while Tristan and the others were chatting, walked over to Katniss. "So, how are the Owens family's son's grades?"
"Not good," Katniss replied bluntly, unable to sugarcoat it.
Eudora frowned, "You already have Aaron and Donna as students. Can you handle another one? If not, maybe you should pause Aaron's tutoring for now."
Katniss was taken aback and unconsciously frowned, "Miss Savoy, are you joking?"
"Why would I joke about that?" Eudora said, "You used tutoring to pressure Mrs. Owens into investing in Tristan's project. If Mrs. Owens finds the tutoring ineffective and causes trouble, who knows what might happen to the investment!"
Katniss's tone turned cold, "First of all, I didn't pressure Mrs. Owens into investing. She offered the cooperation in exchange for me tutoring her son after learning Tristan was working with Mr. Owens. Secondly, Mrs. Owens is reasonable and won't pursue it afterward."
Her tone was a bit harsh, causing the men nearby to look over and making Eudora feel uneasy.
"I'm just concerned. Why are you so agitated?" she smiled and added, "Where's Aaron? I haven't seen him in a while."
Katniss's expression remained cold, "He's upstairs. Miss Savoy, you can go up yourself."
"Alright, call me when dinner is ready. I'll head up now," Eudora said, adjusting her hair before going upstairs.
Once she disappeared at the top of the stairs, Daniel chuckled softly, "Miss Savoy can be very smart sometimes, but other times she seems not so bright."
"She's just very focused on Tristan. When it comes to him, she gets overly concerned and sometimes acts foolishly," Nicholas commented sincerely, having grown up with Tristan and Eudora and seen it all clearly.
Tristan frowned slightly and unconsciously looked at Katniss.
Katniss happened to glance at him, too. After a brief moment, she looked away and went to tidy up the dining area.
Soon, Ryan arrived with dinner. Katniss was about to call Eudora and Aaron down when she suddenly heard a loud argument coming from upstairs.
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