Chapter 41 Do You Know What You're Saying?
"Is that so?" Katniss knew Bella was a pro at making alliances, just like she did with Katniss at the start.
The female employee replied, "Totally, but lately, she's been screwing up the small stuff. Her work game is seriously weak."
The female employee took a sip of her coffee, glanced outside the break room, and whispered, "Honestly, everyone still prefers you to handle these tasks. You've never messed up."
Katniss just listened, not saying a word. Bella used her status to win people over, but all she got was fake respect.
With all her screw-ups, a lot of folks had beef with her, but they were too chicken to say it out loud.
Katniss figured that with Tristan's promotion, Bella might step up her game, which could make her own role less crucial later on.
Back at her desk, most of the piled-up work was done, and feeling bored, she started scrolling through her phone.
The first post on Facebook was from Bella, showing off a side profile of Tristan with those perfect lines.
His serious work face was a total 180 from how he was when he was all over Katniss in bed, but she liked both sides of him.
Seeing Tristan in someone else's photo made her heart ache. She looked closer, and her expression changed.
She got up and walked out, just in time to see Jessica holding some documents, heading towards Bella with a few other female employees.
The documents were just a cover; they really wanted to chat with Bella, who didn't mind and got up to chat happily with them.
"Miss Astor, I just saw your Facebook post. You and Mr. Forbes seem super tight."
"Yeah, Mr. Forbes manages to work and still spend time with you. We're all so jealous."
Bella was loving the attention. "He might seem cold to you guys, but he's really sweet to me in private. But don't be jealous; you all have your own boyfriends and husbands."
Jessica thought Rupert was no match for Tristan. Suddenly, she turned around and saw Katniss standing behind them, looking cold and indifferent.
"Katniss," Jessica called out softly.
Bella tilted her head and finally saw Katniss through the gaps between the others. "Katniss, looking for Tristan?"
"Why aren't you all working? What are you doing here?" Katniss walked over slowly, deciding not to mention Bella's Facebook post in front of everyone.
Her message was clear; several employees turned away, disappointed, and wanted to leave. Jessica didn't dare stay either, considering Katniss's position.
Bella stopped Jessica and the others, flashing a smile. "Katniss, they came to see me. What's up?"
Katniss caught the shade in Bella's words; she knew Bella thought she was being nosy.
"Yeah, about that Facebook post. Take it down." Katniss noticed Bella wasn't letting Jessica and the others leave, but she didn't push it. It wasn't her who'd end up embarrassed.
Bella paused for a moment, then smirked and said, "Katniss, do you even know what you're saying? You can boss them around, but now you're sticking your nose in my business? How does my Facebook post concern you?"
"It doesn't, but in that photo..." Katniss started to explain, but Jessica cut her off.
"Katniss!" Jessica interrupted, "Why are you butting into Miss Astor and Mr. Forbes's private matters? Miss Astor can post whatever she wants. Why are you so concerned about Mr. Forbes?"
Jessica was hinting that Katniss and Tristan's relationship was sketchy. An assistant shouldn't be meddling in her boss's girlfriend's affairs!
Bella crossed her arms, looking smug. "Actually, I'm not just here for work. I mainly want to be with Tristan all the time and keep certain people from getting any funny ideas."
"Miss Astor, you're the only one who deserves Mr. Forbes. Others are just dreaming, especially without the right family background," Jessica quickly buttered up Bella and then pretended to advise Katniss. "Katniss, you should apologize to Miss Astor and stick to being an assistant. Don't meddle in so many things."
The other female employees were stunned. Those words were loaded!
The info was overwhelming. They thought a lot but weren't sure if they were right!
They didn't dare speak and just watched quietly.
Katniss glanced at Jessica. It seemed Jessica hadn't listened to a word she said in the car that day.
Before she could say anything, the office door suddenly opened, and Tristan walked out holding a document.
Seeing so many people at the door, he frowned slightly. "Got nothing to do?"
He stood tall, one hand in his pocket, shirt sleeves rolled up to show off his strong forearms. No tie, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone.
He looked relaxed and casual, yet totally in charge.
Bella quickly switched to looking upset. She walked over and tugged at his sleeve. "Tristan, I don't know what's up with Katniss. She suddenly came over and demanded I delete the Facebook photo."
"I just thought you looked handsome while working, so I snapped a pic and posted it. Even though she's your assistant, she shouldn't be meddling in my personal stuff, right?"
Tristan frowned, glanced at Katniss, and seemed to catch on. He pulled out his phone, checked Facebook, and his face immediately darkened.
Jessica, pretending to be helpful but really throwing shade, said, "Mr. Forbes, Miss Astor, Katniss did overstep this time. Maybe she didn't understand her place. Please don't be mad."
Katniss turned her head and rolled her eyes, smirking silently.
Tristan slammed the document onto Bella's desk with a loud thud, making Bella jump and let go of his sleeve. "Tristan, don't be so mad. Katniss has been with you for a long time. Even if you're upset, you should cut her some slack."
"Why would I be mad at her?" Tristan turned, his sharp gaze fixed on Bella. "Did you post the photo?"
Clearly, his anger was aimed at Bella. Bella was stunned and looked at Jessica, who was equally bewildered.
Only Katniss knew why Tristan was pissed.
Tristan zoomed in on the photo, and the scanned document on the computer screen was clear down to the punctuation marks.
He said, "The document is a top-secret company file, and you leaked it like this."
Bella took a deep breath, realizing she had messed up big time. She quickly grabbed her phone and started deleting the Facebook post, saying, "Tristan, don't be mad. I'll delete it right now. My Facebook friends are just a few close friends, no one else. Don't worry, there won't be any problems!"
Tristan looked at Katniss. "Call Simon and the others for a meeting. We're staying overnight to redo the document. You stay and work overtime."
Katniss nodded, "Yes, Mr. Forbes."
"Also, get an employee handbook for Bella. Any violations of company policy will be dealt with accordingly."
Tristan knocked on the table, the dull thuds sounding like slaps on Bella's face, making her blush with shame.
Jessica and the others didn't say a word and quickly scattered, realizing the documents they were holding were just an excuse to chat with Bella.
Katniss went back to the office to notify Simon and the others about the meeting and grabbed an employee handbook. When she went to Tristan's office, she placed it on Bella's desk.
Bella looked upset and didn't acknowledge her.
Katniss didn't care and went straight to Tristan's office to discuss how to revise the document. Then they headed to the meeting room to start working again.
Bella's little stunt caused Katniss and the others to work overtime until the early hours, finally finalizing the document.
When Katniss and Tristan came out of the meeting room, they saw Michael with Bella waiting in the office.
"Tristan, I heard Bella caused trouble again today?" Michael quickly walked over when he saw them. "She doesn't understand these business matters."
He added, "I've arranged everything at D.V. Nicholas is waiting there. Let's go together, and I'll apologize on Bella's behalf."
Before the meeting, Tristan and Katniss had each downed double-strength coffee, so they were tired but not sleepy. Michael's enthusiastic invite made Tristan agree.
Katniss went to the underground parking lot to get the car. When she came out, she found only Bella waiting at the company entrance; Michael and Tristan were nowhere to be seen.
"Tristan and Michael left first. I have something I want to talk to you about alone." Bella didn't wait for her to agree and opened the passenger door to get in.
Katniss locked the car doors, reminded her to fasten her seatbelt, and then started the engine, heading to the D.V. club.
The atmosphere in the car was tense. Bella seemed to be gathering her thoughts and stayed silent until they entered the club's underground parking lot.
After Katniss parked the car, Bella finally spoke, "Katniss, the woman Tristan is hiding, it's you, isn't it?"
Katniss leaned back in the driver's seat, her eyes shining in the darkness. She turned to look at Bella but said nothing.
"Don't deny it. Even though Tristan hid your luggage at the Kingstone Hotel, I still saw it," Bella's tone rose. "That time at the resort, he secretly went to see you too, didn't he?"
She went on, "That morning when I found he wasn't home and called him, he was in your bed, wasn't he? How many times have you two been together? How did it start? I've come back, so why haven't you left him?"
Katniss felt a pang of anxiety. The inevitable confrontation had finally come.
Maybe Bella's recent attempts to ostracize her had not only failed but had also led to many mistakes that pissed off Tristan. This had pushed Bella to the point where she couldn't keep up the pretense any longer and decided to confront her directly.
No more acting, but the relief didn't make Katniss feel any better.
When Bella pretended not to know, she tried to ostracize her. Now that the topic was out in the open, it would lead to another form of suppression.
Katniss moved her lips to speak, "I..."
"I don't want to hear it!" Bella suddenly interrupted her, covering her face and crying, curling her legs up on the seat. She cried for a long time.
After calming down, her anger found a new outlet. She looked at Katniss with resentment and said, "Katniss, I considered you a friend and treated you so well, yet you have this unclear relationship with Tristan. How could you do this to me?"
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