Chapter 286 I Want You to Take a Risk
Katniss tried to hide her slightly bulging pregnant belly under a loose down jacket, but she still felt guilty.
She shoved her hands deeper into her pockets and, just before Tristan got too close, she turned and walked the other way.
Tristan stopped in his tracks, his hand momentarily weak on the shopping cart, his deep eyes locked on her retreating figure.
His thin lips tightened, and the complexity in his eyes turned to coldness.
Matilda and Sophia snapped out of it and quickly turned to chase after Katniss.
They hadn't expected that after staying indoors for so long, the moment they stepped out, they'd run into Tristan.
They quietly followed behind Katniss, unsure of what to say.
It wasn't until Katniss stopped and stood lost in thought for a long time that they approached her.
"Katniss, do you like this?" Sophia followed her gaze to a baby stroller.
But Katniss flatly denied it, "No, I don't like it. I suddenly want to eat dumplings. Let's buy the ingredients and go back to make dumplings."
It was rare for her to crave something, so Sophia quickly agreed and went to buy the ingredients for dumplings.
At the checkout counter, the cashier scanned Tristan's purchases, and Ryan hurried over to carry the items and pay.
"Mr. Forbes, Benjamin suddenly took over White Corporation, causing a stir. People think he has someone advising him. The media analyzed White Corporation's current situation and believe Benjamin is likely eyeing the political-business project, competing with us." Ryan had anticipated this possibility and couldn't wait for Tristan to return to the car, so he ran over to report.
Ryan continued, "The person behind Benjamin is very mysterious, a tough character with some understanding of the business world. We can't underestimate them. Do you think we should take the political-business project back from Eudora?"
If they didn't, they were likely to lose the project.
After speaking, Ryan didn't get a response for a long time.
He glanced sideways and found that Tristan had stopped at the rest area near the supermarket exit.
In the corner of the rest area was a smoking section. Tristan lit a cigarette, one hand in his pocket, flicking the ash with his fingers, casually watching the checkout counter.
"Mr. Forbes?" Ryan really thought Tristan had gone mad.
Sometimes Tristan had a clear mind, analyzing pros and cons sharply.
But sometimes Tristan was indifferent to many things.
Like now, where did he find the time to smoke?
Ryan walked over quickly and repeated the issue about the political-business project.
Smoke drifted from Tristan's thin lips as he said indifferently, "Let Eudora handle it. If something goes wrong, she's responsible. What's there to be afraid of?""But you can't just ignore Synergy Global Corporation! This isn't just about a project; it's about our reputation. If White Corporation dares to mess with a project belonging to Synergy Global Corporation, it would be a huge slap in the face for us," Ryan argued, trying to be logical.
Tristan just sneered, "Is reputation really that valuable? Everyone knows Travis is pulling the strings at Synergy Global Corporation through Eudora. Even if we lose the project, it's Travis who looks bad. As for Synergy Global Corporation, I couldn't care less. Some people value it more than I do."
"But you have a way to avoid this mess. Why insist on going down this path?" Ryan wished he could change Tristan's mind.
But he knew he couldn't.
Suddenly, Ryan spotted Katniss being escorted to the parking lot by Matilda and Sophia.
He seemed to piece things together. "All this trouble, coming to this supermarket every day just to create a chance encounter?" His voice was low, his complaint clear, but he didn't dare let Tristan hear it.
Tristan didn't hear it at all, his gaze fixed on Katniss until she disappeared at the underground exit.
He flicked away the cigarette in his hand, watching it slowly burn out.
After a long pause, he left the supermarket.
The shake-up in the business world would keep the news buzzing for a while.
When interviewed by the media, professional business evaluators sharply pointed out that someone was definitely backing Benjamin.
Everyone dug into Benjamin's connections, including those he had interacted with in the business world as a lawyer, analyzing and commenting on each one.
But they couldn't pinpoint who had the chops to advise Benjamin.
Eventually, this mystery was overshadowed by the news that White Corporation was going to bid on the political-business project.
Katniss knew Tristan well and had a good grasp of his business methods and thinking.
She followed the clues, thoroughly understanding the political-business project, and drafted a plan from Tristan's perspective.
She sent it to Benjamin, who thought the plan was perfect and asked her to do the final tweaks.
Then the two had several video meetings to discuss the plan in detail, so Benjamin could handle the negotiations smoothly with the plan in hand.
The political-business project was an open tender, with many media and business moguls attending.
Benjamin arrived early, alone, with two bodyguards who were stopped outside the venue.
Upon entering, Benjamin saw Beau sitting in a corner. Their eyes met for a moment, full of hostility.
Benjamin sat down indifferently, waiting for the bidding to start.
Beau leaned back and instructed the person next to him, "Proceed as planned. I don't believe we can't draw out the person behind him."
"Got it," the person responded quickly and nodded in a certain direction.Ten minutes later, with half an hour left before the bidding officially started, Benjamin wanted to open his laptop to check the plan one more time.
But when he looked down, he realized the laptop bag that had been between the seats was gone.
His heart sank, and his face turned ashen as he looked back at Beau.
Beau smiled smugly and looked away.
The news that White Corporation was participating in the bid was already well-known. If Benjamin couldn't present the plan today, he would lose the first round of managing White Corporation without a fight.
He frowned and left the venue, finding a secluded spot to call Katniss.
"I might need you to take a risk," Benjamin said. Beau's actions to stop him from bidding were one thing.
The main reason was to draw Katniss out.
On the other end, Katniss was silent.
One wrong move, and if they secured this project today, White Corporation would be stable in the short term.
If Katniss went, there was a risk of exposure. Their cooperation had no one trustworthy enough to keep this secret.
"You don't need to enter the venue. Just deliver the laptop to the parking lot. I'll leave the car key on the right rear tire. Put the laptop in the car and message me. I'll come down to get it." This was the only solution Benjamin could think of.
After a long silence, Katniss didn't speak. Benjamin took a deep breath and said softly, "It's okay. I won't blame you if you don't come. It's my own negligence."
"Did the people from Synergy Global Corporation arrive?" Katniss asked.
Benjamin, on the second floor, glanced at the hall on the first floor.
In the front row sat Tristan, looking cold and noble, next to Eudora, dressed in professional attire.
It seemed to be Eudora's first time at such a grand bidding event, and she looked a bit nervous.
Tristan, on the other hand, was calm and relaxed, leaning lazily against the chair as if this were his living room and everyone around were guests in his home.
Benjamin replied, "They're here. Mr. Forbes and Eudora are both here."
"I'll be there in half an hour. Stall for time and wait for my signal." After speaking, Katniss hung up the phone, grabbed her laptop, and drove to the bidding venue.
It was already some time after the New Year, and the early spring weather was warming up, but the wind was strong, making the branches sway.
Sunlight filtered through the mottled branches, casting shadows on the swiftly passing car.
Katniss parked outside the hotel, entered, and took the elevator directly to the basement level.
Finding Benjamin's car, she retrieved the key, placed the laptop bag inside, and quickly left.
Despite her swift actions, she heard chaotic footsteps in the stairwell to her right before she could reach the elevator.
She quickly hid by the door, peeking through the crack as the group headed towards Benjamin's car.Seizing the opportunity, she turned and took the stairs, hurrying up to the first floor. She emerged from the stairwell and blended into the crowd, looking for a chance to leave.
However, there were several unfamiliar faces outside the hotel, scrutinizing everyone who entered.
Katniss quietly stepped into the elevator, squeezed into a corner by a crowd, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.
Yet she could feel that there were also people from the White family in the elevator.
So she randomly chose a floor and got off with several men and women.
However, those men and women entered a private room, leaving her conspicuously alone in the empty hallway.
Footsteps echoed intermittently in the stairwell, indicating that the White family had surrounded the area, checking each floor of the stairs and elevators.
Katniss couldn't hide!
Her hand in her pocket tightly gripped her phone, and she hesitated about making a call when the door next to her suddenly opened.
A slender, well-defined hand pulled her into the dimly lit room, her body pressed against the entryway cabinet.
The next second, Tristan's kiss covered her lips, his familiar scent enveloping her. His thin lips pressed tightly against hers, kissing her passionately.
His long, clean fingers held her chin gently but urgently.
A hand on her waist pinned her firmly between his chest and the cabinet, leaving her no escape.
His breath quickly became heavy, trailing from her lips to her chin and neck.
Unintentionally, Tristan left several kiss marks. Katniss was startled by the sudden kiss, but before she could react, Tristan sealed her lips again.
Tristan finally released her, and she gasped for breath, pushing against his shoulders.
"Who's in there?" A rough voice sounded outside the door.
Tristan had pulled Katniss in so quickly that the door was left ajar, and those people must have seen her being pulled in.
He continued kissing Katniss, starting to remove her heavy down jacket. Her resistance stopped when Katniss saw the hotel staff uniform nearby.
"If you don't open the door, don't blame us for being rude!" The person outside first tried to be polite before resorting to force, worried about offending someone they shouldn't.
But there was still no response from inside. Just as the White family members were about to kick the door in, it suddenly opened.
The hallway light spilled into the room, revealing Tristan pinning Katniss's hands above her head.
Katniss's face was buried in his chest, and he kept one hand on the door, his lips glistening.
The fresh kiss marks on Katniss's neck and the flush on her cheeks made it clear what had happened.
"Is there a problem?" Tristan glared at the people outside. "Or are you looking for trouble?" he retorted.
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