Chapter 65 Did I Do Something Wrong?
When Katniss got Nicholas's message, she'd already been tossing and turning in bed for like two hours.
It was one in the morning, and she still couldn't catch a wink. So, when she saw Nicholas's message, she bolted outta there without a second thought.
She was all smiles when she showed up, but now she felt like crap.
Knowing it in her gut and hearing Tristan say it out loud were two totally different things.
Two pairs of eyes were on her. She dropped her gaze and bit her lip.
Then the elevator doors started to close. Tristan stared at her pale face through the narrowing gap.
When the doors finally shut, he turned and glared at Nicholas, then gave him a good kick in the waist.
"Big mouth," Tristan grumbled, his deep voice echoing even through the elevator.
Katniss hit the elevator button, and the doors slid open again.
With her game face on, Katniss flashed a small smile at Tristan and said, "Mr. Forbes, it's late. Let me take you home."
As she spoke, Tristan's tall frame stepped out of the elevator, handing her his coat.
She gave Nicholas a nod, turned to follow Tristan, and took the car keys from him when they got to the car. She opened the passenger door and gestured for Tristan to get in.
Every move was second nature, yet felt oddly foreign.
Katniss felt all kinds of conflicted as she adjusted the seat, started the engine, and drove off.
Once they hit the street, she hesitated, not sure whether to head to Serenity Estate or Oakwood Hills.
In the tight space of the car, the faint smell of tobacco and booze from Tristan hit her, and she couldn't help but take a sniff.
"Mr. Forbes, should I take you back to Serenity Estate?" She couldn't bring herself to ask whether he wanted to go to my place or not?
"Yeah," Tristan grunted, his eyebrows knitting together.
His long eyes watched her reflection in the car window, her profile soft and delicate.
No emotions showed, but it was probably the same reaction as outside the elevator—the reaction a subordinate should have.
The car cruised smoothly down the wide road, streetlights flickering inside one by one.
At Serenity Estate, Katniss parked at the entrance, pulled the handbrake, but didn't get out to open the door for Tristan.
Her grip on the steering wheel tightened, and she turned her head slightly.
Tristan was leaning against the car window, one hand propping up his head, the other casually draped over the driver's seat, his eyes locked on her.
"Open the door," he said softly.
Katniss kept staring at him, but her hand had already slipped from the steering wheel, fumbling for the car door, and the lock clicked open.
Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, echoing in the car. "I..."
But the lock clicked too fast, and before she could finish, the car fell silent again, suffocatingly so.
She frowned a bit, took a deep breath, and got out to open the door for Tristan.
Tristan watched her through the front window as she walked around, opened the door, and gripped the door frame tightly, her eyes locked on him.
"If you got something to say, just spit it out," Tristan said.
He turned his head to look down at her, showing no intention of getting out, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation.
Katniss's eyes reflected his handsome face as she reached out and tugged at his coat.
"Did I do something wrong?" Katniss asked.
She looked up, her eyes reflecting the moon and his uncertain face.
Her slightly furrowed brows made her look so aggrieved that it tugged at Tristan's heart.
He moved slightly, reached out to pinch her chin, and leaned down to plant a kiss on her lips, light and gentle.
She was like a rare and precious gem, prompting him to treat her with the utmost care, fearing that the slightest exertion might cause her to shatter.
He stepped out with his long legs; her slender waist was firmly held, with her hands resting on his muscular sides. His elegant fingers entwined with the ends of her hair, securing her head as he deepened the kiss.
Their breaths grew more erratic, and Katniss's body gradually softened, barely supported by his legs.
Tristan whispered, "Katniss."
She responded, and he lost control, exiting the car to sweep her into his arms, closing the door behind them, and swiftly making their way into Serenity Estate.
This was his home; she had been here countless times but had never done anything inappropriate.
But today was different. She was somewhat proactive, and he didn't even make it to the second floor.
The foyer, the sofa, the living room, all bore traces of her.
His pent-up desire from the past few days was unleashed all at once.
Usually, she would have passed out from such intensity, but today she tried her best to be responsive.
The more she did, the more he couldn't stop.
As dawn approached, seeing her face tinged with fatigue, he finally couldn't bear to continue and carried her to the bathroom.
Warm water washed over their bodies; her seaweed-like hair clung to her delicate collarbone.
The sight made him catch his breath again. He quickly washed and dried her, leaving the bathroom where his desires would be easily aroused.
For the first time, she lay in his bed at Serenity Estate, held in his arms, quietly listening to his heartbeat.
She wasn't exactly tired; she just couldn't sleep.
She needed to find the right moment to ask him for money.
But before that, she wanted to see if he'd bring it up himself.
She lowered her gaze to hide her emotions, missing the slight smile on Tristan's lips above her.
His eyes were half-closed, his brows high, looking lazy and satisfied.
The first ray of morning sunlight came in, and Katniss was sure he wouldn't bring up the money.
His breathing was sometimes slow, sometimes fast; he wasn't asleep.
She moved slightly, got out of bed, and put on yesterday's clothes.
Tristan propped his head with one hand, squinting at her like she was some kind of treasure.
Katniss stood in front of the bed, back to her businesslike demeanor. Just as he was about to tell her not to be so stiff, she spoke. "Mr. Forbes, can I ask for money this time?"
Suddenly, the room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Tristan's face darkened.
His deep eyes stared at Katniss, veins bulging on his forehead, as he slowly sat up.
The thin blanket slid down his body, revealing a few abs.
"Money?" Tristan asked.
'So she was here for money!' Tristan thought.
He turned, grabbed a cigarette from the bedside, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled a smoke ring.
His grip on the cigarette was so tight it almost crushed it.
She kept her head down, not daring to look at him, afraid of seeing the mockery in his eyes and the ridicule on his face.
But she didn't expect his words to be so hurtful.
"You stayed of your own accord last night. Why should I give you money?" Tristan demanded.
Katniss's eyes trembled, and she looked up at him sharply.
She had stayed of her own accord, indeed.
She had imagined this scene would be ironic, but she never thought he wouldn't give her money and would say such things.
He got out of bed, stubbed out the cigarette, and threw it in the trash, then turned and went into the walk-in closet. In less than two minutes, he came out in a suit.
Suddenly, a bank card appeared in front of her.
Katniss looked at him, puzzled.
His well-defined hand slipped the card into her shirt pocket. "This is for the last two times. Get out."
Katniss's throat felt dry, and she had the urge to take the card out of her pocket and throw it away.
But reality didn't allow it. She turned and left, her steps a bit hurried, afraid that if she stayed a minute longer, she would die under his humiliating gaze.
She didn't drive, walking out on her own two legs, even though it would take at least half an hour to walk to the nearest bus stop.
Early in the morning, Matilda was woken up by a call from Sophia.
"Matilda, do you have any money? Did Katniss offend someone? Is it because of my medical bills?" Sophia asked.
Matilda, still half-asleep, snapped awake. "Mom, what's going on? What do you mean by offending someone? Why do you need money?"
Sophia sighed, "Don't lie to me. I know Katniss's temper. She won't say anything, but you have to tell me."
"Mom, I really don't know," Matilda said seriously. "Katniss rarely talks to me about these things. Why do you need money?"
On the other end, Sophia hesitated for a long time before saying, "It's not that I ask for money. It's Katniss who's worried about my medical bills. If you have money, send it to her. Help as much as you can. Once we get through this period, and I arrange Katniss's marriage, everything will be fine."
She rambled on, and Matilda agreed. After hanging up, Matilda sighed deeply.
She had rehearsed countless times what to do if Sophia found out the truth, so she managed to deceive her.
But she really didn't know Katniss needed money.
However, since it was about Sophia's medical bills, she had to find a way.
After a moment of silence, she called George. "George, I've thought about your offer to work at your studio. I'll do it, but can you advance me some salary? Don't worry, I'll work diligently until it's paid off!"
George had tried to help her find a job but couldn't, and she was almost ready to wash dishes.
At that time, George suggested she work at his game studio, with a monthly salary of $6,000.
She had been considering it, but now she agreed directly.
"Of course, you don't have to be so formal with me. How much do you need?" George said generously.
Matilda thought for a moment and said, "Is $50,000 okay?"
George agreed without hesitation. "I'll transfer it to you. Do you want it on your card or Facebook?"
"No, transfer it directly to Katniss on Facebook. Don't say anything; I'll call her to explain." Matilda was afraid George might slip up about her struggling to find a job because of Michael.
George agreed and transferred $50,000 to Katniss on Facebook.
Katniss, who received the Facebook notification, stopped by the roadside, staring at the transfer screen in a daze, about to message George to ask when Matilda's call came through. "Katniss, did you receive the money George transferred?"
"I did," Katniss asked in surprise, "where did the money come from?"
"I've been looking for a job these past few days, but the salaries were low. I found out George's game studio needed people and paid well, so I decided to work there. I advanced some salary to repay the $60,000 I owe you, but I'm still short $10,000. I'll pay it back slowly!" Matilda said.
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