Chapter 249 Making a Deal
The car window was half down, and Tristan's satisfied smile came into view. "I'm taking Katniss to her tutoring session. You guys go upstairs first."
"Okay, Tristan!" Matilda never missed a chance to call out Tristan's name.
Watching their car drive away, George asked, "Matilda, why do you keep calling him Tristan?"
"They're getting married soon, in about two months, so I just call him more affectionately." Matilda linked arms with George as they entered the building. George paused for a moment, frowning, "Isn't that a bad thing? I used to have such a strained relationship with him."
He thought that maintaining this kind of relationship would be so awkward.
"Strained? What are you talking about?" Matilda retorted, "he thinks of your little tricks as child's play and doesn't take them to heart."
He thought, 'Child's play?' He was indeed a few years younger than Tristan, but it wasn't fair to describe him as a child!
He felt embarrassed. Back when they used to play games together, he had even deleted Tristan's game account and Facebook.
How could he resolve the awkwardness the next time they met?
After thinking for a while, he thought of someone: Blaze!
He knew Tristan well. Maybe they could play games together again, pretending not to know Tristan, and add his contact back.
Having found a solution, he felt much better and followed Matilda into the elevator, feeling cheerful. "Matilda, it's my birthday the day after tomorrow. Can you take two days off to spend with me?"
Matilda calculated the time and felt troubled. "The day after tomorrow is Tuesday. I have a lot of work to handle at the educational institution. Taking two days off is impossible, but I can spare time for a meal."
"Every time we have a meal, you take calls to handle work. Why are you so busy?" George particularly missed the old days when he could take Matilda anywhere he wanted, and give her a break whenever he wanted.
Matilda felt helpless. "What can I do? When I'm not busy, I'll make it up to you, okay?"
"Okay," George replied, but his face couldn't hide his disappointment.
The Brown family's daughter was in high school, lively and cute, just like Amelia, never shy when speaking.
Because of this, she was a bit mischievous and always had trouble focusing, and Katniss found it quite challenging to tutor her.
She had been to the Brown family several times but met Amelia's son, Erik Brown, for the first time.
He was impressive, tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was not exactly handsome, but he was very good-looking.
Tristan knew him, and they seemed to have some business dealings, so they chatted in the living room.
Katniss went upstairs to tutor Kenna Brown, but halfway through, she noticed Kenna was distracted. "Kenna, we're in the middle of a lesson. What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about Matilda," Kenna blurted out, "I heard my mom say she wants Matilda to be my sister-in-law. I'm curious about what kind of person she is to make my mom like her so much."
Kenna asked gossipingly, "Is she as pretty as you? Does she have your grace? Is she as knowledgeable as you?"
Katniss couldn't help but laugh at the barrage of questions. "She's younger, prettier, more energetic, and also academically accomplished. Most importantly, she has a boyfriend."
Kenna's eyes widened. "Does that mean Erik would be the third wheel?"
Katniss felt a headache coming on. "Don't worry about their business. Focus on your studies."
Hearing this, Kenna sighed and buried her head back in her books.
Katniss had mentioned Amelia's son to Matilda before, and she knew Erik had added Matilda on Facebook.
After introducing herself, Matilda decisively told Erik she had a boyfriend.
Erik was very respectful and hadn't bothered her since.
Leaving the Brown family, Katniss told Tristan about it. "So earlier, when Erik greeted me, I was worried he might feel awkward."
"Erik is very mature, steady in his actions, and has a great reputation in the industry," Tristan sincerely commented on Erik.
Different types of men have their own charms. George, though not as steady, was energetic and persistent, which was also a strength.
After a brief chat, Katniss fell silent, thinking about the upcoming press conference.
The press conference was held at a hotel, and the entrance was crowded with many small media outlets that hadn't been invited.
Tristan drove Katniss directly into the underground parking lot. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw Michael standing by the elevator.
There were cigarette butts around Michael's feet, indicating he had been waiting for a while.
Seeing them get out of the car, he put out his cigarette and assumed a negotiating stance.
But Tristan, holding Katniss's wrist, bypassed him and headed for the elevator.
"Tristan, let's talk," Michael said, no longer using the friendly tone he once had, but rather one that carried a hint of threat and coldness.
"I have nothing to say to you," Tristan said, not looking at him, eyes fixed on the elevator door. "Get out of the way."
Michael didn't budge. "That night, Samuel and Katniss stayed at a B&B. Whether they did anything or not, or whether you care or not, as long as Samuel talks about it, Katniss's reputation will be ruined."
Katniss tightened her grip on Tristan's hand and she looked at Michael. "Is there no limit to your shamelessness? I've never met someone as shameless as you!"
"You forced me into this," Michael said, indifferent to how Katniss described him. "Let's make a deal. You admit those photos were a misunderstanding, that nothing happened between Isla and me, and I'll make sure Samuel keeps his mouth shut."
Proposing the deal, Michael withdrew his arm from blocking the elevator and added a reminder, "Think it over. If Mrs. Forbes finds out about your unclear situation, she'll immediately change her mind about letting you marry into the Forbes family."
That was his leverage for the deal.
After speaking, he turned and left, seemingly confident that Tristan would agree.
Katniss hesitated. Tristan trusted her, but that didn't mean others would.
If this matter got out, even if he believed her, he would be ridiculed, and it would bring shame to the entire Forbes family.
She tried to pull her hand away from Tristan's grip, but he held on tighter.
As she glanced at him, she clearly saw the veins bulging on his neck, barely suppressing his anger. "Even if you clear Michael's name now, no one will believe he's innocent. He's already shouldering that responsibility, and we don't need to go down with him."
If it were just Katniss, she wouldn't care about her reputation and would fight Michael to the end.
But considering the Forbes family's honor and Tristan's dignity, she chose to take a step back.
"He's finished, but we won't be," Tristan said, pressing the elevator button and pulling her inside.
In the confined space, the cold aura emanating from him was palpable.
The press conference was bustling, with countless cameras aimed at the long table on the stage.
The reporters had already started live streaming, incessantly introducing the core of today's press conference: Was Michael and Isla's relationship a distortion of human nature or a loss of conscience?
Travis, Ivy, and Eudora stood at the entrance of the press conference, along with the Astor family couple.
Surprisingly, the Astor family couple seemed to be chatting happily with Travis and Ivy, and they didn't appear angry about what Tristan had done to Michael. Or perhaps they believed Michael had a solution.
From a distance, Eudora saw Katniss and Tristan arrive. She excused herself from the Travis couple and walked over slowly.
"Tristan, Katniss, you're here?" she glanced around to make sure no one was watching before speaking softly, "Travis has already reached an agreement with the Astor family couple, saying that the photos from yesterday were just you and Michael messing around and not real. He also apologized to the Astor family on your behalf."
Just clarifying might not be enough.
But adding an apology made it seem more credible.
If Travis really did that, the conflict between the Forbes family, father and son, would escalate, and the heat on Michael and Isla's issue would diminish.
Clearly, this was a plan devised by the Astor family couple.
Michael was even more ruthless. He wanted Tristan to clear his name, making him publicly apologize!
This matter had escalated beyond just affecting reputations; it had become a battle between two families, and whoever apologize first would lose.
Tristan looked down at his watch, seemingly calculating something.
"Tristan, no matter what, I'm absolutely on your side. I heard a bit about what happened that night. I didn't expect Michael to harm Katniss; it's really too much." Eudora tried to strengthen her relationship with Tristan, but he showed no reaction.
She then turned to Katniss. "Katniss, nothing happened that night, right?"
"Nothing happened," Katniss replied, not feeling particularly close to her, "Thank you for your concern, Miss Savoy."
"No need to be so formal with me," Eudora said, glancing towards the Forbes family couple, "I need to get back. You two take care and let me know if you need any help."
With that, she turned and left.
Katniss was about to ask Tristan what his plan was when Michael entered with Samuel, announcing the start of the press conference.
The reporters immediately got excited, passionately explaining to the thousands of viewers in the live stream that the conference was about to begin, then quieted down to ask questions from their notes.
Travis and the Astor family couple hadn't come out yet, leaving Michael to face the reporters alone.
"Everyone, each reporter will have a chance to speak, but please maintain order and go in sequence," Samuel said, glancing at the reporters before stepping back behind Michael.
A reporter immediately stood up. "I'll go first. Are Mr. Astor and Miss Tudor really involved?"
Michael didn't hesitate. "She's my uncle's daughter. How could you ask such a stupid question?"
"But we saw you and her naked in bed together!" a reporter quickly retorted.
Michael's face darkened as he glanced at Tristan standing in the corner. Tristan's expression was dignified and cold, showing no signs of emotion.
Gritting his teeth, Michael said in a low voice, "It was a misunderstanding. We are innocent!"
This explanation was unconvincing. The reporters didn't believe him, and although they didn't dare to ask more, their expressions were full of disdain.
He had no choice but to speak again, "If you don't believe me, ask Mr. Forbes."
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