Chapter 312 Katniss's Secret
But Nicholas didn't tell Tristan that Katniss would come.
Actually, he couldn't get Tristan to come, so he started lying. "I have a secret about Katniss. Do you want to know?"
So Tristan came, and as soon as he arrived, he got straight to the point. Nicholas started creating suspense again and took him to the small rooftop garden.
He took out a stack of women's photos, shuffling them like playing cards. "Pick one you like from these, and I'll tell you Katniss's secret."
Tristan's narrow eyes squinted slightly, exuding a menacing aura.
Sitting on the swing chair, with greenery covering the light above him, half of his body was in the dark.
Like a lion ready to pounce, he stared at Nicholas, making his legs almost give out.
"You're no fun. If I tell you everything unconditionally, where's my dignity?"
That's all he had to say. Tristan snorted lightly, leaning back on the swing chair. "Go ahead."
Nicholas was prepared. He stuffed the photos into Tristan's hand and turned on the projector. The order of the photos on the projector matched the ones in his hand.
But the projector also displayed detailed information about the women, including their measurements.
"This Miss Hayes is pretty good. She's beautiful and the first child of the Hayes family. Her parents are still together. And how about Miss Ward? Her face is average, but she has a great body!"
He introduced them in detail, like selling products.
Noticing two figures entering, he got even more enthusiastic.
"Tristan, there are so many women in the world. Why be fixated on Katniss? Pick one, and I'll help you get her."
Nicholas patted his chest.
Before he could finish introducing the women, Tristan randomly picked one from the stack, "This one."
"Oh?" Nicholas was surprised and quickly leaned in to take a look. His eyes rolled, and he said, "Well, you have to tell me why you chose her!"
Tristan threw the stack of photos on the table, pressing his tongue against his cheek, staring at Nicholas with a half-smile as he dug his own grave.
"Good body, good family, good temper."
The three "goods" he casually mentioned were obviously nonsense. How could he know her temper without meeting her?
Not giving Nicholas a chance to continue teasing, he said in a deep voice, "Cut the crap."
"I'll tell you now." Nicholas leaned close to Tristan's ear and whispered, "Katniss is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tristan turned around sharply, seeing the figure standing at the garden entrance.
The summer wind blew through the garden window, slightly lifting her short hair.
Her clear, bright eyes held a hint of a smile, reflecting his astonished face.
After a moment, he turned and kicked Nicholas far away. Nicholas really had a death wish!
His swift figure moved through the dimly lit garden like a cheetah as he chased Nicholas around.
Nicholas shouted, "Katniss, save me! How is it my fault? He picked a woman himself."
He was still adding fuel to the fire.
Actually, he was testing Katniss's attitude for Tristan, but Katniss saw through the farce.
Katniss leaned against the garden house entrance, looking back at Saskia, who was walking up slowly. "Don't come over yet. If they accidentally hurt you, it wouldn't be good."
"I heard Nicholas shouting. What did he say this time?" Saskia frowned.
"Saskia, save me!" Nicholas didn't dare run towards Saskia, afraid of bumping into her belly.
Because of Saskia, he got distracted and was caught by Tristan, who gave him a good beating.
"This is my house." Saskia watched Tristan teach Nicholas a lesson but didn't dare intervene. After reminding him, she added, "Katniss went downstairs. If she's angry and ran off, why are you still hitting him?"
Tristan kicked him a couple more times, then looked up. Katniss was indeed no longer at the entrance.
His thin lips pressed into a straight line. He let go of Nicholas, clapped his hands, and went downstairs.
Katniss hadn't left. Saskia, in her late pregnancy, craved spicy food, especially Mexican food from Nightfall City, so they were having Mexican tonight.
Nicholas was useless, and Saskia, being heavily pregnant, couldn't prepare all the ingredients. So Katniss came down to help.
She stood in the kitchen wearing an apron, busy with something, her short hair occasionally falling and being tucked behind her ear.
Hearing familiar footsteps, she knew who it was.
"Nicholas tricked me." He naturally took a box of ingredients to handle, glancing at her.
Her profile was tense, lips slightly pursed. "You don't need to explain to me."
His heart sank a bit. He gripped the box too hard, tearing it and spilling the contents on the floor.
Katniss turned to look at the mess, then looked back at him.
"Just leave. I'll handle it myself." His tone wasn't good. He bent down to pick up and clean the items.
Katniss simply stopped working, standing at the dining room door, waiting for Saskia and Nicholas to come down.
But they didn't come down because Nicholas was busy persuading Saskia.
"Saskia, he's my best friend. He's already so miserable. If he still can't get Katniss, I won't feel right. I'm just helping him a little."
Saskia didn't relent, "I've never had many friends growing up, and Katniss is definitely the closest. If you mess around, I guarantee I won't let you off."
Nicholas lowered his head, conceding, "I won't mess around. I know what I'm doing, just giving a little push."
"You almost pushed yourself to death just now!" Saskia reminded him, "With your intelligence, don't embarrass yourself in front of them, okay?"
She could see that Katniss wasn't fooled at all, so any reverse psychology was useless.
"I don't care." Nicholas placed a bottle of cocktail in Saskia's arms, "Anyway, tonight, you have to get Katniss to drink a little. Alcohol makes people speak the truth."
"Fine." Saskia took the bottle downstairs, "I'll drink with her. If I drink too much, I might just give birth right here."
Nicholas quickly followed, "Saskia, calm down. This drink is strong. If you drink it, you might not give birth but rather dig the baby out yourself."
Saskia was so angry her head hurt, "Why don't you try digging one out?"
"Hmm?" Nicholas blinked twice, "You won't even let me poke you, and you want me to dig?"
"Get lost!" Saskia slapped him.
They were on the stairs, and Nicholas didn't dare dodge, taking the hit directly. "Saskia, it's just a drink. I want to see if she will speak the truth after drinking. What if she reveals her feelings and they get back together?"
Hearing this, Saskia hesitated.
She also wanted to see if Katniss would lose control after drinking.
If she spoke the truth and got back with Tristan, wouldn't that prove she still loved him?
So, half an hour later, they were all seated at the dining table.
There was a bottle of alcohol in front of Katniss that she had never seen before.
"Katniss, have a drink. It's imported, tastes good," Saskia said.
"No thanks." Katniss pushed the bottle aside, "I have to drive back after lunch. If I get stopped for a DUI, it'll be a hassle."
Nicholas nudged Saskia's arm. She glared at him and said, "It has very little alcohol. Just a small sip to liven up the atmosphere."
As she spoke, she had already opened the bottle and poured a glass, handing it to Katniss.
Tristan's glass contained water. He glanced at the slightly orange liquid in front of Katniss.
Then he looked at Nicholas, who raised an eyebrow at him, signaling: Enjoy the show.
This drink, half a glass would get Katniss drunk, and a full glass would knock her out!
But to his surprise, Katniss only took a sip and didn't touch it again.
Even so, her cheeks turned pink, and her clear eyes became misty, looking somewhat dazed.
Nicholas felt it wasn't enough, "Katniss, come on, let me toast you."
"I can't accept that." Katniss glanced at him, instantly seeing through his little scheme.
Trying to mess with her? Dream on.
"Not giving me face." Nicholas put down his glass, grumbling, "You're too suspicious. Actually, I called you all here because someone wanted to see you through me."
Hearing this, both Katniss and Tristan looked at Nicholas.
There weren't many people who knew them both and knew they were close to Nicholas.
Two people came to Katniss's mind: Eudora and Michael.
Sure enough, Nicholas said, "It's Eudora. She called me a few days ago."
"When was this?" Saskia's face darkened, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wasn't planning to get involved. It just so happened that I gathered them here today."
Nicholas justified himself, "She mentioned that Travis might have another move!"
Katniss looked at Tristan. His well-defined hand rested on the table, his sharp eyes calm.
He seemed to have known something already.
"Ignore her," Tristan said.
"I guess I was being redundant. It seems our Mr. Forbes has his own plans." While flattering Tristan, Nicholas pushed the glass towards Katniss, "For that, we should have a drink."
Katniss's clear eyes stared at Nicholas, and her gaze alone made him give up on persuading her to drink.
"Do as you please. I can't control you," Saskia muttered.
The lunch ended quickly, since Katniss saw through Nicholas's obvious motives.
Katniss had planned to stay longer, but she was worried about Evie, so after eating and helping clean up, she decided to leave.
Tristan followed her, using the excuse that she had drunk and couldn't drive, forcibly taking her car keys and driving her home.
Katniss wasn't as strong as him, and after taking a sip of the strong drink, she felt a bit dazed.
For safety, she didn't refuse and got into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt.
She didn't tell him where she lived, expecting Tristan to know.
But she didn't plan to let him take her into the apartment, so she asked him to stop a street away.
"Why?" Tristan parked the car by the roadside, looking at her, "Want to spend more time with me?"
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