Chapter 242 Targeting Us
Katniss bit down hard on his shoulder, either venting her frustration or maybe just an uncontrollable spasm.
Tristan let out a muffled groan, the veins on his neck popping with a wild energy. He had a mischievous thought—deliberately not letting her be satisfied. It was both terrible and deeply entrancing for her.
"Tristan! Are you doing this on purpose?" she snapped, biting her lip in anger. "I'll count to three, and if you keep this up, I'm putting on my pants and leaving!"
Despite her playful tone, there was a real edge to her annoyance. Only then did Tristan ease up.
The pleasure was addictive, the dimly lit room filled with desire until the first light of dawn peeked through.
Katniss lay on the bed, her golden hair cascading over her petite body, contrasting sharply with her clear back.
Tristan, looking satisfied, covered her with a thin blanket, his eyes filled with endless tenderness.
Ten minutes later, Katniss's alarm went off. Seeing her sleeping soundly, her delicate features showing signs of fatigue, he turned it off.
After thinking for a moment, he got up, dressed, and sent a message to Aaron, asking him to inform Matilda during breakfast at her place that Katniss was handling business at home.
Katniss had a habit of keeping a schedule, reminding herself of the tasks for the next day.
She needed to grade assignments for a few students and prepare a couple of online course materials.
Tristan glanced through Katniss's previous course materials and, in less than half an hour, recorded the next lesson's content following her train of thought.
His work efficiency was impressive; not only did he handle her tasks while she caught up on sleep, but he also managed some affairs for Synergy Global Corporation.
By noon, Katniss woke up to the sound of typing on a computer.
Her trembling, curled eyelashes parted slowly, and she saw Tristan sitting by the window, busy with his laptop. She frowned slightly.
"I'm hungry," she said softly.
Hearing this, Tristan put down the computer, brought in the porridge he had already prepared, and placed it by the bedside.
He helped her into a camisole nightgown, carried her to the bathroom to freshen up, and then brushed her long hair, all in an orderly manner.
After Katniss had eaten, she thought about her work. She had expected to work late into the night to finish it.
But to her surprise, Tristan had already completed everything.
He had even gone above and beyond.
"I'm handling some matters for Synergy Global Corporation. If I finish today, I can accompany you to the education seminar tomorrow," Tristan explained, still busy with his work."Alright, you keep busy. I'm gonna go upstairs and take a walk with my mom," Katniss said as she changed clothes. After a moment's thought, she added, "On Saturday, I'll take you to meet her."
Sunlight streamed through the window, and Tristan, dressed in light-colored loungewear, was working diligently.
His profile was tense, and when he heard her, he paused.
He put down the laptop, walked over to Katniss, and gently sat her down on the bed by her wrist. "Is there anything your mom particularly likes?"
His question showed he was serious about preparing, which warmed Katniss's heart. She answered earnestly, "She's pretty easygoing. You don't need to stress too much. Just get some nice gifts, and that'll be fine."
With her saying that, Tristan had a broader range of options for choosing a gift.
"No rush. Tomorrow's only Friday, and Saturday's the day. You've got two days to think about it. I'm off now." Katniss left the task to him and went upstairs.
After she left, Tristan sat still for a while, then called Ryan. "What kind of gifts are good for meeting a girlfriend's parents? Can you make me a list?"
Ryan hesitated for a moment and said awkwardly, "I've never been in a relationship or met a future mother-in-law, so I'm not sure. Maybe you should ask Mrs. Forbes?"
Since Tristan was taking this so seriously, it must be something related to Katniss.
"Useless." Tristan hung up and decided to call Adelaide instead.
On Friday evening, a light drizzle began to fall, shrouding the entire city.
Around four o'clock, Tristan's Range Rover stopped in front of the educational institution, and Matilda and Katniss quickly got in.
"Mr. Forbes," Matilda, who had little interaction with him, felt a bit uneasy.
Tristan, not being much of a talker, simply said, "Hello."
Sensing the awkwardness, Katniss quickly changed the topic, "Let him focus on driving. The roads are slippery. Let's review tonight's seminar content."
This trip wasn't just about attending a lecture; they would also engage in in-depth discussions on educational content.
It was bound to attract the attention of the participating parents, making it a great opportunity to make a good impression.
After about an hour's drive, the rain showed no signs of letting up and even intensified.
Tristan's driving skills were excellent, and they arrived safely at their destination with only ten minutes to spare before the seminar.
He parked at the hotel entrance, "You two go in first. I'll park the car and join you inside."A waiter came over with an umbrella to greet them. As the car door opened, a few icy droplets fell on Katniss's wrist.
She quickly got out of the car and ran into the hotel with Matilda, but they couldn't avoid getting their clothes a bit wet.
However, it didn't affect them much overall. Both were wearing dark-colored uniforms and entered the seminar venue.
Unlike other banquets, this place was set up like a university classroom, with neat rows of seats almost fully occupied.
They could only find seats in the corner, taking out their laptops to prepare for note-taking.
The elderly professor, about eighty years old, was robust with a head full of white hair. He energetically shared his educational experience.
The seats in the last row were the highest, and as Katniss looked down, she suddenly spotted two familiar figures.
It was Michael and Samuel. From her angle, she could only see their profiles, both looking seriously at the professor's lecture.
The lecture ended and transitioned into a discussion session. Some parents sought advice from the professor on how to better educate their children.
Some professionals in the education field also took the opportunity to share their insights and gain some attention.
"Katniss, weren't you planning to speak?" Matilda nudged her arm and asked softly. As the seminar neared its end, Katniss still showed no intention of speaking.
Katniss responded, "I got a bit distracted."
She raised her hand, and within a few minutes, the professor called on her to speak.
Although she had only been in the field for a short time, she specialized in it and could quickly and accurately analyze targeted solutions for various types of students.
Her speech lasted only five minutes but garnered a lot of attention.
People in the front row turned around, and Matilda saw Michael sitting in the front.
She was stunned for a few seconds, her face darkening. After Katniss finished speaking, she whispered, "What's he doing here? Don't tell me he's here to hire a tutor for Bella. If Bella could have a tutor, wouldn't he be over the moon?"
Even the hospital couldn't handle Bella; what good would a tutor do?
Her words said one thing, but Katniss felt a sense of unease.
As the seminar ended, Katniss quickly packed up her things and, taking advantage of their position near the door, left the hall with Matilda.
As soon as they stepped out, they saw Tristan smoking at the end of the corridor.
Seeing them come out, Tristan stubbed out his cigarette and walked over. "I booked two rooms upstairs. The rain has gotten heavier, and we might not be able to go back tonight."
There was a stretch of mountain road nearby that could collapse in heavy rain.Everyone attending the seminar was forced to stay at this hotel. After parking the car, Tristan had gone to book the rooms instead of looking for Katniss.
Many people were now trying to book rooms, but there were no rooms left.
"I saw Michael," Katniss said, hands in her pockets, but she didn't see Michael among those booking rooms.
Could he have left?
Tristan's lips pressed into a thin line, and after a moment, he said, "Michael is investing in setting up an extracurricular educational institution."
So it wasn't surprising for him to be here, and it was clear who he was targeting.
"How annoying," Matilda said bluntly, "Always trying to go against us."
"Alright, let's talk in the room." As soon as the seminar ended, the place was crowded. To avoid unnecessary trouble, Katniss signaled Matilda to hold back.
Tristan booked a luxurious suite on the top floor. It was elegant and comfortable, with intricately patterned carpets that made no sound.
"Here's the room key," Tristan said, taking a key card from his pocket and handing it to Matilda.
Katniss was quicker and took the key card, her eyes narrowing into a smile, "Alright, please help us order two dinners. We'll head to the room first."
Tristan's hand remained suspended in the air, his indifferent eyes watching Katniss and Matilda enter the room.
After a moment, he retracted his hand and went into the room opposite theirs.
"Katniss, you don't have to share a room with me," Matilda said, recalling Tristan's slightly gloomy expression when Katniss took the key card, unable to suppress a laugh.
Katniss had already put down her bag and taken off her coat, "You go freshen up first. I'll let Aaron know we won't be back tonight and ask him to inform Mom."
Sophia could take care of herself, though she moved slowly. Aaron's rebellious streak had mostly faded, and he was now a gentle and obedient young man.
Katniss felt at ease asking him to look after Sophia.
Aaron readily agreed and even volunteered to cook for Sophia.
Katniss, not wanting him to hurt himself or subject Sophia to his cooking, politely declined.
With everything arranged, Matilda's voice came from the bathroom, "Katniss, why aren't there any towels here?"
"Really?" Katniss frowned, looking around but finding no towels, "Don't worry, they might have forgotten. I'll go find a waiter."
Without her coat, she stepped out of the suite but found the hallway empty. With so many people checking in, the waiters were likely overwhelmed, so she had to go downstairs.
Just as she reached the elevator, she saw a woman dressed as a waiter, wearing a mask and hat, coming out. "Hello, is there anything you need?"
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