Chapter 469 Then Let Her Choose!
"Let go!" Tristan's voice was firm as he commanded Evie.
Evie flinched, turning to look at Tristan. Realizing he was yelling at her, her lower lip quivered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
The more she cried, the tighter her grip became on the small tuft of Katniss's hair.
"Don't cry, Evie. Be a good girl and let go," Katniss said gently, unable to see them but reaching out to pat Evie's hand, trying to get her to release her grip.
It seemed only then that Evie realized she was holding onto something. Sniffling, she let go, tears still streaming down her face.
Katniss's ponytail was now a mess. She looked at Evie with a deep sense of pity in her eyes.
"Can't you stand a bit farther away?" Elara said irritably. "And you, come over here."
It was only then that Katniss realized she was in Tristan's arms.
She quickly stepped back, straightened her clothes, and nodded slightly at Tristan. "I'm sorry, Mr. Forbes."
"It's fine," Tristan replied, casting a displeased glance at Elara.
Elara, thinking Katniss had upset him, rummaged through her bag to find something to cheer Evie up.
Evie ignored her, clinging to Tristan's shoulder, her small body shaking with sobs.
When the elevator reached her floor, Katniss had to get off. As soon as she returned to her desk, Marigold approached her. "There's a big task waiting for you today."
"What big task?" Katniss asked, setting down her bag and hanging up her coat.
Marigold pulled out her phone and opened a group chat from Banks Far Company. "Apparently, Mr. Forbes might be joining our company as a project planning consultant to help Mr. Larson. Also, he's looking for someone to temporarily take care of his child."
Marigold sent a screenshot of the message to Katniss's phone.
Tristan had a few specific requirements, like a gentle personality. But the most important one was that Evie had to like the person.
Many people met the initial criteria, but the last one seemed tailor-made for Katniss.
Katniss smiled, put her phone away, and got to work.
At ten in the morning, she received a text from Tristan saying that Dwayne had rented the house next door. They would sign the contract that afternoon, and he would move in that evening.
Dwayne had added a note: [Be proactive about volunteering to take care of Evie.]
Worried she might mess it up, his message was filled with concern.
Katniss chuckled softly and, when Connie asked who wanted to volunteer, she immediately stepped forward.
After all, they were all professionals and unsure how long Tristan would stay. If it turned out to be several months, taking care of a child could interfere with their work, potentially costing them their jobs.
Most of the volunteers had ulterior motives, like getting close to Tristan or earning some extra money from the temporary high pay.
Katniss, however, was different. She genuinely wanted to take care of Evie.
Marigold decided to join in for the fun, thinking it would be a good way to skip work for an afternoon.
At three in the afternoon, only Katniss and Marigold from the administrative department submitted their applications and listened to a briefing on child care.
They were interviewed separately, and the results would be announced the next morning. The chosen person would start immediately.
That evening, after work, Katniss managed to shake off anyone following her and drove straight to Lakeside Villa.
Tristan had kept Dwayne and Atticus occupied, allowing her to enter the gated community without being noticed. She found the specific house Tristan had mentioned.
But she didn't expect to see a familiar figure in the neighborhood.
Across a small flower bed, a woman carrying shopping bags was walking briskly.
The silhouette looked familiar. Katniss glanced again in the rearview mirror.
Hazel?
She slammed on the brakes, steadied herself, and looked again. The figure had disappeared, but she saw someone enter a nearby house.
Pressing her lips together, she decided to call Benjamin. "Have you found Hazel?"
"No," Benjamin replied, his voice heavy with determination. "I'll dig up every inch of ground if I have to."
So they were still searching.
Unsure if she had seen correctly, Katniss ended the call and went home.
Not long after, Tristan returned with Evie. Katniss spent the evening cautiously, worried Dwayne might show up and discover her.
She hoped to get through the night without incident. If Dwayne came by the next day, she wouldn't be as concerned.
If Dwayne found out she was living next door, he might just pack up and leave in the middle of the night.
Elara had also volunteered to take care of Evie. Although Tristan had declined, he had done so by saying the company couldn't afford her, not giving a more direct refusal.
The next morning, at Banks Far Company, Katniss, Marigold, and about ten other women gathered in the conference room, waiting for Tristan to make his choice.
Elara entered last with Tristan. She glanced at the group, and they automatically made way for her, leaving the seat next to Tristan open.
"Tristan, please," Elara said with a smile, taking her seat after Tristan sat down.
Katniss lowered her head, pulling her sleeves down.
"Now, this is your last chance. If anyone wants to leave, do it now," Elara said, looking around the room, her meaning clear.
After a few seconds of silence, a few people stood up and left.
Marigold leaned over to Katniss and whispered, "Maybe we should go too. Crossing him won't end well."
"You go ahead," Katniss replied, thinking Marigold was just there for the fun and didn't need to risk offending Elara.
Marigold, unsure of Katniss's thoughts, stood up and left as well.
Out of the original group, only seven or eight remained.
Elara took note of each one.
"Let's begin," Tristan said in a low voice.
Elara spoke first. "I'll start. I graduated from abroad..."
"Wait," Tristan interrupted. "There's no need for introductions. I'm looking for someone to take care of my child, not a teacher. Let's let Evie choose."
He placed Evie on the long table. "Whoever she crawls to will be the one."
Elara was momentarily stunned, then her eyes lit up with an idea. "Alright, let her choose!"
She pulled a few lollipops from her bag and waved them at Evie.
Standing closest to Evie and holding something tempting, the other candidates looked disappointed.
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