Chapter 67 Character Doesn't Mean Squat
Katniss's face went ghostly white. She bit her lip, her delicate features looking like they could shatter with a touch.
He suddenly grabbed her wrist, and she stumbled a bit, trying to keep up as they headed back to the house.
The second he let go of her hand, he was already popping open a couple of buttons on his shirt, like he couldn't care less.
But his face was dark and stormy as he looked at her and said, "Katniss, besides cash, is there anything else you dig?"
She tasted blood in her mouth and had to use all her strength to keep the pain in her heart from boiling over.
She swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Mr. Forbes, are you bummed out? Your assistant's just this kind of person."
"Nah." Tristan plopped down on the sofa, his tall frame sinking into it as the light above cast a glow on him. "In the end, it's all about being good at the job; character doesn't mean squat."
Character.
That one word crushed all of Katniss's pride and self-esteem. She had no clue what line she had crossed with Tristan.
It had always been like this before, except he was the one throwing money around, and she had only asked once.
She stood there, and he stayed put on the sofa.
Their eyes didn't meet, but they were totally aware of each other's every move.
After what felt like forever, Katniss finally moved. "It's late. I'm gonna take a shower."
She didn't have the energy to waste, so she headed to the bathroom and stripped down. Just as she turned on the shower, the bathroom door swung open.
Through the frosted glass, she saw Tristan's tall figure come in, undressing piece by piece.
He walked into her view, pressing her against the wall, her back against the cold tiles.
His kiss was like a punishment, fierce and wild, and there were still hickeys from the night before.
Katniss was exhausted, instinctively pushing against his chest. "Not tonight, I can't."
His eyes narrowed, a dangerous vibe coming off him, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Not making money? No work ethic?"
His slightly breathless words, mixed with the sound of water, felt like a slap to Katniss's face.
Water droplets clung to Katniss's face, her eyes instantly reddening, and tears threatened to fall.
Tristan, though, seemed oblivious, burying his head in her neck, savoring her beauty.
Katniss was stunning; her body curvy, her waist so slender it seemed like it could snap with a pinch.
Her flat stomach was all smooth and toned, no extra fat, just perfect to the touch.
He was obsessed with her body, but as for her as a person...
Maybe it was the long nights or just his twisted nature, but the second he pictured her getting close with another guy, jealousy flared up like wild weeds, making him want to crush Katniss into himself.
'No one else should get close with her!' Tristan thought.
The bathroom was small, but Tristan couldn't get enough of her; she was like a doll for him to control.
Shame made Katniss almost bite through her lip, but she refused to make a sound in response to him.
Tristan was relentless, biting her shoulder just hard enough, and she couldn't help but let out a sound.
The next second, his lips silenced her.
The night blurred by, and Katniss lay on the bed, her arm weakly hanging off the edge, while Tristan was already up.
He put on his pants, walked over to her, and squatted down, brushing the stray hair from her face.
His rough fingers gently caressed her cheek, almost tenderly.
She was lost in his mesmerizing eyes, but he always had a way of snapping her back to reality.
"How much do you want this time?" Tristan asked.
Her throat tightened, her brows furrowed slightly, and her breathing was so shallow it seemed it might stop at any moment.
"If you don't say, I'll just give you whatever; five hundred grand, is that enough?" Tristan placed the card on the bedside table, his hand still caressing half of her face. "But I don't like others touching my things. I can give you money, but you gotta stay clean."
Katniss stared at him in disbelief, thinking, 'Tristan thinks I'm selling myself to other men? In his eyes, am I really that kind of woman?'
If it weren't for that drunken accident, if it weren't because he was her husband, how could she have been his lover for two years!
Tristan took a deep breath, released her, and stood up. It was a form of humiliation.
But for some reason, even after humiliating Katniss, the heaviness in his heart didn't go away.
Seeing Katniss like this made him feel even worse.
He turned around, grabbed his shirt, and put it on, buttoning it as he went downstairs.
He changed his shoes, opened the door, and left, starting the car.
The headlights shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, reflecting in Katniss's lifeless eyes.
Tears silently fell, soaking into the pillow, soon making a big wet spot. Her heart ached, but she had to suck it up.
She felt sad, but she still had to suck it up.
At least Sophia's medical bills for next month were covered.
Luckily, the next day was the weekend, and Katniss didn't have to go to work; she was actually kinda scared to see Tristan.
Early in the morning, she dragged herself out of bed and cleaned up a bit.
The bathroom still smelled like last night. She opened the window to let in some fresh air. After a while, she felt a bit better.
Katniss changed her clothes, put on some light makeup to hide the dark circles under her eyes, and then headed to the hospital to see Sophia.
Acting like nothing happened, she listened to Sophia as usual, but today Sophia brought up something new.
"In a couple of days, it's my fifty-second birthday, Katniss. I wanna celebrate it."
Without thinking, Katniss said, "Sure, I'll call Matilda, and we'll come to the hospital to celebrate with you. We'll get a cake, and whatever gift you want, I'll get it for you!"
Sophia gently patted her hand, saying, "I don't wanna celebrate in the hospital. Since you're off today, take me out. Let's find a restaurant and have a meal together. And I want you to buy me a new outfit!"
Sophia had been in the hospital for years, only going home for a week during Christmas each year.
Every time she went home, she was super happy, her smile more genuine than in the hospital.
Hearing her request, Katniss couldn't say no. "Alright, I'll go talk to Damon now, hang tight."
"Go ahead!" Sophia waved at her happily.
As expected, Damon agreed.
Katniss bought a dress for Sophia at a nearby mall.
Sophia, thin and frail, wore a wig on her head. On her feet were soft leather flats, and out of her hospital gown, she looked much younger and healthier.
As they left the hospital, Katniss hailed a taxi, and as soon as they got in, she heard Sophia say, "I've reserved a restaurant and invited a couple of friends. Katniss, you don't mind, do you?"
She shook her head and replied, "I don't mind, as long as you're happy."
Sophia gave the restaurant's address, "Friendly Eats."
The taxi headed to Friendly Eats, and Katniss was texting Matilda, both heading there together.
Coincidentally, Matilda said George also had something to do at Friendly Eats, so she got a ride with him.
Half an hour later, the crew rolled up to Friendly Eats, where a waiter warmly greeted them and led Sophia to her reserved private room.
Inside the private room was a woman Katniss didn't recognize, with kind eyes and a friendly vibe.
She greeted Sophia warmly, but her eyes kept darting over to Katniss.
"Katniss, come over." Sophia waved at Katniss, "This is Odette Murphy."
"Nice to meet you, Odette." Katniss nodded at her, but before she could react, Odette pulled her over and sat her down.
Sophia sat on Katniss's other side, holding her hand, and they started chatting over her.
The whole scene felt weird, and Katniss realized something was off. She tried to move, but Sophia immediately held her down.
"Mom, I..." Before she could finish, the door opened, and George and Matilda walked in, looking surprised at the scene.
Katniss looked at them, hoping Matilda would help her out.
Then George said, "Mom, what are you..."
Katniss followed George's gaze to Odette beside her. 'Is this George's mom?'
"If I hadn't tricked you, would you have come?" Odette let go of Katniss's hand and moved aside. "Come sit next to Katniss!"
George looked at Katniss with a pleading gaze.
Odette had called him over today to discuss fully supporting his gaming career, so he had come eagerly.
If he told the truth to Katniss today, he'd probably get chewed out when he got home, and his gaming career would be toast!
"The gathering was quite out of blue. Let me talk to Katniss alone for a bit!" George said. Before Odette and Sophia could react, he grabbed Katniss's arm and bolted out.
Odette and Sophia tried to follow, but Matilda stopped them. "Mom, Odette, chill out, let them talk for a bit; they'll be back soon."
Outside the private room, George let go of Katniss's hand, pacing anxiously.
"Katniss, please, help me one more time. There's this once-in-a-lifetime competition in a few days. If I win, I'll be unstoppable in the gaming world! But my mom has to not stop me," George said.
Katniss got it. If today's act didn't go well, George's gaming career would likely be over.
There weren't many young people as driven as him, and she liked George's hustle. Though he was sometimes unreliable, he was serious about gaming.
"It's just a meal, I'll help you smooth things over, but this meal can only show that we can get along, no bigger lies," Katniss said.
George immediately agreed, and they headed back to the private room.
From the transparent railing on the second floor, Tristan, with a cigarette between his fingers, took in the entire scene.
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