"Mom, chill out about Katniss, will ya?" Matilda walked into the ward just in time to hear Sophia grilling Katniss about finding a partner. She swooped in to save her sister from the awkward convo.
She shot Katniss a look that said, "I got you," and Katniss grinned, grabbed some bread, and plopped down on the other side to munch.
Matilda started chatting away, cracking jokes and making Sophia laugh, totally derailing any talk about Katniss needing a partner.
As Katniss's work time rolled around, Matilda walked her out and said, "Hey, Katniss, I'm starting my internship soon."
Katniss thought for a sec and asked, "Need me to pull some strings?"
"Nah," Matilda shook her head, "I wanna give it a shot on my own first, get some real experience."
"Katniss, I can make money now and help out. I gotta earn a ton to pay you back for Mom's medical bills."
Matilda said it with determination.
Katniss gave her a proud pat on the shoulder.
Matilda always had this guilty look in her eyes, which tugged at Katniss's heart. "Alright, but promise me, earn that money fair and square."
Matilda's eyes dimmed a bit. She was the only one who knew about Katniss and Tristan's arranged marriage, and how Katniss had sacrificed herself to get money for Sophia's treatment.
"Katniss, from now on, I'm sharing the load of taking care of Mom with you. If she needs money, don't keep it from me."
Katniss looked at her, surprised.
Matilda hesitated, then pulled out her phone and showed a message. "Katniss, last night Tristan and Bella had dinner, watched a movie, and went back to his place. The media caught it all, and now it's everywhere."
Katniss felt a storm of emotions inside.
"I gotta head to work now. You go back and take care of Mom. If you hit any snags during your internship, just holler at me."
After giving her the rundown, she turned and walked out. Matilda watched until Katniss was out of sight before heading back to the hospital room.
As soon as Sophia saw her, she started, "It's your fault. You cut me off earlier. I wasn't done talking to Katniss. I just remembered she hasn't dated anyone. She must still be hung up on that old flame from six years ago."
Matilda couldn't take the nagging anymore and snapped, "Why don't you find me a boyfriend? I'm graduating in six months and starting my internship soon."
Outside Tristan's apartment at Serenity Estate, a few plainclothes reporters were hanging around.
Katniss had to park her car at the front entrance, blocking the reporters' view. She hopped out, punched in the code, and swung the door open in one smooth move.
When she saw a pair of women's high heels next to Tristan's leather shoes at the living room entrance, she froze.
This was the difference between love and indifference. Except for the lounge at Synergy Global Corporation, where she could share his bed, his home bed was never hers. Knowing Tristan's home password was just for dragging him back when he was drunk.
Lost in thought, she heard footsteps from the dining room. Katniss took a deep breath, forced a smile, and walked in with all the courage she could muster.
"Good morning, Mr. Forbes."
Katniss only saw Tristan in the dining room, rocking dark gray lounge pants and nothing on top.
His chiseled eight-pack was on full display, making her heart race, but she tried to play it cool.
"Mr. Forbes, there are a ton of reporters outside. Want me to distract them so you can sneak Miss Astor out?"
Tristan, holding a glass of milk, frowned. "She's not here."
His eyes landed on her wrinkled shirt, still smelling like disinfectant.
"Huh?" Katniss looked puzzled.
Tristan didn't bother explaining, finished his milk, and headed upstairs to change.
Katniss went out first to create a diversion, making sure the reporters didn't catch anything.
She drove straight to the underground parking lot of Synergy Global Corporation and took the executive elevator up to the top floor.
They got there super early, before anyone else had even started work. Tristan ushered Katniss straight into his office.
Standing in front of his desk, Katniss said, "Mr. Forbes, I've notified PR. They'll handle the news soon."
But she noticed Tristan standing at the rest room door, raising an eyebrow at her. "Forget the news. Come in and take a shower."
"Shower?"
He had a thing for taking her to the bathroom, where the dim lighting made her skin and figure look even more stunning, always driving him wild.
"What are you waiting for?" Tristan's tone was a bit impatient. He walked over, pulled her into the rest room, and pushed her into the bathroom before she could react.
He didn't follow her in. "There's an outfit you left in my car after the last party. Change into it after you shower."
Then she heard the door open and close.
Katniss stood there, letting out a sigh of relief.
She quickly took a shower.
When she came out, Tristan walked over and sniffed her.
"Much better. Go tell PR not to suppress the news. Stir it up a bit."
Katniss looked at Tristan, more confused than ever by his actions.
But she was just an employee. She did as Tristan instructed. "Yes, Mr. Forbes."
She turned and left to relay the orders to PR.
When she got back, a young girl from the secretary's office rushed over and whispered that Mr. Astor had stormed into Tristan's office with Miss Astor, looking ready to blow up.
Katniss stayed calm because the online news made Bella look bad. After all, Tristan was married, and Bella's actions made her the other woman.
Michael was bound to be furious. What really surprised her was that Tristan didn't squash the news.
Just as she sat down at her desk, she saw Bella storming out of the office.
"Miss Astor." Katniss stood up politely and greeted her.
"Michael made me leave. He went in to confront Tristan about the news. You think he'll hit Tristan?"
Katniss stood straight, listening to her complaints.
Bella sighed deeply, then ran to Tristan's office door, pressing her ear against it.
Katniss stayed put, not stopping her.
"At least they're not fighting. That's a relief." Bella walked over and sat at her desk, whispering, "Katniss, do you know who Tristan's wife is?"