Chapter 314 Did I Make You Silly with That Kiss?
"Rupert, I think the situation between Katniss and Mr. Forbes is definitely complicated. Since she's back, we should go see her. You're overthinking it. On my day off, you take a day off too, and we'll have a meal with her. Come on, don't worry, we won't invite Mom, okay?" Jessica's tone softened as she tried to persuade Rupert.
On the other end, Rupert was busy with work and hadn't seen the news online. In fact, Katniss had told him when she came back.
However, he hadn't told Jessica and Ember.
"You have a point. I'll call Katniss later to arrange a meeting and let you know."
Thinking about how Jessica had given $70,000 to Ember to pay off debts, Rupert couldn't bear to refuse her, as it would seem like he was still wary of her.
After hanging up the phone, Jessica couldn't help but smile, thinking about something.
Sophia quickly discovered the news online. Although Tristan was blurred out, she still recognized him.
So, she was in a bad mood all afternoon.
In the large apartment, Matilda and Aaron sat on the carpet watching Evie, who was lying down and kicking her chubby legs. They sensed the tense atmosphere and remained quiet.
Evie occasionally made a sound, becoming the only noise in the apartment.
Katniss came downstairs and went straight to the kitchen, glancing at Sophia's face from the side.
"Mom, where's Natalia?" she asked.
"She's been meeting with several wealthy ladies to play cards these days, preparing for Emory's upcoming blind date."
Sophia was preparing dinner and didn't look up as she spoke.
After speaking, she didn't ask anything further and turned to get two cans of seasoning from the fridge.
"Mom, did you see the news?" Katniss asked directly. "Are you angry?"
Being so straightforward, Sophia couldn't keep up the pretense. She put down what she was holding and turned to look at her. "I know you still love him. You've been on and off for so long, and your feelings are deep. But the Forbes family hurt you too much. I can't get over it. You can't control your feelings, and I can't control my temper."
She really couldn't control her feelings. Whenever she saw Tristan, past scenes played in her mind like a fast-forwarded movie.
She was both relieved by Tristan's restraint and irresistibly drawn to his charm.
If he really wanted something to happen, she couldn't refuse.
"Mom, I know you care about me. My relationship with Tristan can't be severed overnight, especially now with Evie. I promise that my top priority in every decision I make will be to protect Evie and myself from harm.."
Whether the final outcome was leaving or reconciling.
After a long while, Sophia sighed. "I've been preoccupied with Matilda's issues these days. You've always had your own ideas. I just hope you won't get hurt again. Whatever decision you make, I'll support you."
Hearing this, Katniss turned to look at Matilda, who was gently teasing Evie in the living room. "What's going on with Matilda?"
"Do you still want to hide it from me?" Sophia glared at her. "What's going on between her and George?"
She only knew that Matilda's mood was off that day, and it was definitely related to George.
She just didn't know the specifics.
As she spoke, she nudged Katniss's arm. "Tell me."
Katniss's gaze shifted uncomfortably. If she really spill the truth, Sophia's dissatisfaction with George would deepen.
"Matilda doesn't want me to say. If you want to know, ask her yourself."
As soon as she finished speaking, Sophia snorted. "All of you have your own little secrets."
"We've all grown up and can handle our own affairs. We know you're worried, but we don't want you to stress. Since she doesn't want to say, just bear with it for now."
Katniss smiled, hugging Sophia's arm and leaning on her shoulder.
"You can still smile now, but when Evie grows up and keeps things from you, you'll understand how I feel."
Seeing her smile, Sophia's tone softened considerably.
Sophia's words immediately made Katniss's smile fade a bit.
She was a mother now, with a daughter, and would eventually face that day.
She pursed her lips and said after a moment, "Then I'll pretend not to know. I believe Evie can handle it herself."
Sophia's words made her a bit anxious. Thinking about Evie growing up and keeping things from her made her feel uneasy.
In the evening, when Sophia wasn't paying attention, she finally asked Matilda about George.
"After that phone call, he just disappeared. I think either his mom forced him into a blind date, or he wants to break up with me."
Matilda shrugged, pretending to be relaxed.
She had sent George several messages, but he didn't reply, and his phone was off.
In this situation, Katniss didn't know what to do, but she felt that George wasn't that kind of person.
"Whether he can't resist his mom and wants to break up with you, or he's forced into a blind date, I think he would tell you."
He would naively hide things that would upset Matilda, but he would generally tell her what he was doing.
Matilda was silent for a while and then said, "Maybe he's in a closed training session for the studio, preparing for a competition."
"You're not getting any younger, and time is precious. If it doesn't work out, go find him and make it clear what you want." Katniss patted Matilda's shoulder. "Dragging it out too long isn't good for either of you, and Mom is always worried."
"I understand," Matilda replied, then added, "The new secretary is reporting in tomorrow morning. I told her to wait for you at the coffee shop below White Corporation. I'm afraid she won't be able to get in if she goes directly to White Corporation."
After all, Katniss had personally recruited her, bypassing the company's HR department.
Katniss responded, "Okay, you'll be busy tomorrow too, so get some rest. I'll take Evie to bed now."
She carried Evie upstairs, changed her diaper, and put her in a comfortable sleep sack.
Evie was very energetic. At nearly three months old, she had grown a lot, with beautiful big eyes and delicate cheeks.
Her hands and feet flailed around, occasionally hitting her mouth, which she would immediately start to nibble on.
Every night before bed, the moment when Evie waved her fists beside her was the time Katniss looked forward to the most each day.
The sudden ringing of the phone startled Evie.
Katniss quickly turned around, grabbed the phone from the bedside table, and answered it without checking who was calling.
"Answering so quickly?" Tristan's slightly surprised voice came through. He exhaled a puff of smoke, a smile playing on his lips.
"Why are you calling so late?" She glanced at Evie, who had started playing again, and sighed in relief, lying back down on the bed.
As soon as she lay down, Evie let out a loud "ah."
Katniss couldn't help but smile, quickly covering the phone's microphone, her lips pressed tightly together as she looked at Evie.
"What was that sound?" Tristan still heard it. "Where are you?"
"I'm at home, it's the TV. We're getting ready for bed." Katniss swallowed and asked again, "Why are you calling?"
Tristan said, "Of course, what are you planning to do about the news online?"
He had been labeled as a kept man, but he didn't mind. He was only worried about whether it would cause any trouble or inconvenience for Katniss.
Under the warm light, Katniss's slightly curly short hair was tucked behind her ears by her slender fingers. She took a deep breath and said, "I don't plan to do anything. The media is praising me to the skies, which is good for my public image. If you can't handle it, I'll have White Corporation's PR department take care of it."
"So?" Tristan retorted, "I can't even handle a bit of news?"
Did she think he called her to ask for help in suppressing the news?
"Did I make you silly with that kiss??" he teased with a light laugh.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up!" Her voice turned slightly cold.
"Nothing much, just that I miss you." His voice was low and serious.
Serious enough that something in Katniss's heart was touched. She stopped paying attention to Evie and didn't hang up, quietly listening to the sounds on the other end.
He seemed to be smoking; she could hear some faint sounds.
It was late, and Tristan knew she had to work tomorrow, so he didn't continue to disturb her. "Get some rest."
"Okay," she replied, then hung up the phone, lying down on the bed and looking at Evie, who was about to cry from playing too hard.
"I'll make you some formula, be good." She suppressed her emotions and got up to prepare the bedtime formula.
After drinking the formula, Evie quickly fell asleep, but Katniss couldn't sleep at all.
The next morning, she had dark circles under her eyes, which she covered with makeup.
She headed straight to the coffee shop below White Corporation. The appointment was at nine o'clock, but she arrived at eight-thirty.
At eight-forty, a girl in overalls walked in with a document, scanning the coffee shop.
She and Katniss made eye contact, both pausing for a few seconds.
Then Hazel pursed her lips, turned, and walked in another direction, sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window.
They had met before, when Katniss was having dinner with Benjamin. Although it was just a brief encounter, they left a strong impression on each other.
Hazel remembered because Benjamin had dinner with her alone.
To be honest, Katniss remembered Hazel for her youthful appearance and large bust.
Seeing her again today, Katniss realized that the secretary Matilda had found for her, Hazel, was this girl.
She had heard the name Hazel from Benjamin once, but it hadn't left a deep impression.
Now, seeing her again, Katniss remembered.
She frowned. If she didn't trust Matilda's judgment, she might have suspected that Hazel had deliberately sought her out at White Corporation.
After a moment of silence, she stood up and walked towards Hazel.
"Don't come over," Hazel said as she saw Katniss approaching, her tone unfriendly. "We don't really know each other. I have nothing to do with Benjamin anymore, so there's no need to greet me. It's my first day at work, and running into you is already bad enough. I don't want to talk to you."
So, Hazel had nothing to do with Benjamin anymore.
They had a past, but now they had no connection, and by coincidence, she had been hired at White Corporation.
Had she made a mistake?
She frowned and placed a document in front of Hazel. "I'm your boss, Katniss."
Hazel saw the employment contract and gasped.
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