KatnissA moment of silence hung in the air before Mr. Corleone finally spoke.“My driver will come to your apartment to pick you up. Be ready,” he said, his tone firm and commanding.I shook my head, even though he couldn’t see me, and refused his offer.“No need, sir,” I replied, trying to sound polite but firm.“I’ll come to your house myself. It doesn’t feel right for you to go out of your way when I’m the one asking for your help. You don’t need to send a driver,” I added, hoping he’d agree.“Katniss,” he said, his voice sharpening, “just do as I say. You have no idea how desperate those reporters are to get information from you. Do you think none of them are waiting for you in the parking basement? Or right in front of your apartment building? They’re like wolves, hungry and ready to pounce the moment they see you.”The seriousness in his tone made my stomach twist. I hadn’t thought about it. Was it really that bad?He was probably right. Mr. Corleone had clearly thought this th
KatnissKNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!The noise was extremely loud, and continuous, as if the sound of drums were being pounded into my head. My racing heart seemed to beat out all other sensations. As soon as the door closedd, a group of reporters rushed like a wave, and their bodies leaned against the car. They didn’t care about the danger—some stood directly in our path, some even dared me to run, dared me to try and get past them.“Katniss, don’t run! Answer our questions!” a voice shouted out, the tone of the words clear and demanding.“If you keep running, then it can only be true what people are saying! Are you and Mr. Kent having an affair? Did you and him betray his wife?”Their words lashed at me like a whip.“Katniss! Katniss, is it true? Are you and James done? Did he leave you?” another voice yelled, louder this time, cutting through the chaos like a blade.They kept saying the worst things and each word they said made me feel like I was drowning. I started breathing rapidly and m
James "What the hell are you doing?!’ How could you involve Giselle into this sick game of yours? Are you not satisfied with all the lies that you have told?” Renata remained silent with her head slightly down and her eyes shifted away from mine but there was a sarcastic twist on her lips. She knew that we were going to have this showdown and she was fully prepared for it, but instead of looking remorseful she had the nerve to look defiant and practically dared me to be as angry as I was. “You don’t understand James,” she replied threateningly, her eyes hard and without a hint of regret. Those words hung in the air for a moment and a tension descended over the room. "All I’m doing is what I have to do. You can’t pin this all on me. And let me tell you this is going to escalate into a disaster that you cannot even begin to contemplate.” I moved closer, the anger burning me from the inside like an inferno. My eyes were apparently as threatening, but I could not mask my internal tur
James Corleone put the pen aside and leaned back on his chair. His face was impassive, and I got the feeling he knew I was coming. “That is none of your business, James,” he replied in a rather unpleasant manner. “It is advisable that you stay away from it, really, it's not even your concern anymore,” he continued.His dismissal only made me even more frustrated. “None of my concern? Are you kidding me? Of course, it’s my concern! I need to talk to her. This is important.”Corleone looked at me with hatred and spoke with menace. “Well as I said, let’s each mind our own business. Katniss... she's not your problem anymore."I tightened my hands into fists and my fingers itched to bang them on his desk. “Don’t give me that. You know something and you are concealing it. What are you trying to put over on me, Corleone? What kind of game is this? Suddenly, there's news about your wedding? You, marrying one of your employees? Who is she? Tell me now!"He didn’t flinch. He didn’t say a word
KatnissAfter some time, I managed to calm Giselle down, though I didn't know why she panicked when she heard that Mr. Corleone would be her "daddy." I had to reassure her. She was playing with her nanny in her room, lost in a world of Barbies, while I sat quietly in the living room. Mr. Corleone was busy with something involving the villa guards. I had no idea what they were discussing. Minutes later, a knock at the door broke my thoughts. Of course, it was him."Katniss," Mr. Corleone's voice was calm, as usual, when he entered. "We need to talk."I glanced up with a hard and unblinking gaze straight into his eyes. "Yes, of course. “You can speak to me directly Mr. Corleone,” I told him.“We have to go get the wedding dress fitted.”I stood still for a while trying to understand him. A wedding dress fitting? That was like a sharp knife which pierced my heart. "Now?" I asked, my voice almost inaudible."Yes. “The sooner, the better,” he said. As usual, his tone did not allow for any
JamesI looked at the screen of my phone and my heartbeat increased. The photos were evident all over, the front pages of almost all the media houses were filled with the images. Though indistinct, there was no doubt that the woman standing beside Pak Corleone was recognizable to me. Too familiar. I tried to shake the thoughts that were running through my mind. This had to be a coincidence. There was no way it was her. But the more I stared at the photo, the more the truth hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that body shape. The way she stood. That was Katniss. “What the hell is this…” I muttered, my voice tight as I tried to calm the storm building inside me. I grabbed my phone and immediately dialed Pak Corleone’s number. The dial tone rang, but there was no answer. I tried again. And again. Still, no response. Damn it! I squeezed my phone in frustration, glaring at the photo on the screen once more. Why was she with him? Why were they at a bridal shop? The questions swirle
James “You,” I hissed, clenching my jaw and feeling the heat of rage rise within me.He grinned, the expression on his face filled with arrogance. "James. You really don’t know when to quit, do you? Hahh... It's hard than I thought, it seems,""You bastard! You even took her phone?! You’re insane! Where’s Katniss? Why are you taking her calls?”He had this smug look on his face that didn’t fade away even in the slightest. Instead, he chuckled softly.“Katniss is resting,” he said in a calm, mocking tone. “Let her be free from such a person like you,” he continued."Give the phone back to her!" I ordered, gasping for air. "I need to speak with her!"Corleone let out a cold laugh. "James, you need to learn to accept reality. I will now take care of Katniss. Her phone, her family, and even her life is in my hands.”"Liar!" I screamed, clutching my phone as if I were preparing to crush it into a thousand pieces. "What did you do to her? Did you compel her to agree to marry you?”"Compel
KatnissThis time, Giselle and I didn’t go back to the villa or my apartment after the ceremony. Rather, we got to the palatial house of Mr. Corleone who was a very influential and wealthy man. The opulence of the surroundings intimidated me as if I were a bird confined in a cage of gold. This mansion, which we were to spend our first night as “husband and wife” was as quiet as the grave, the only sound being the wind blowing outside.We were before the door of the same bedroom, and I could not understand what I was to do next Mr. Corleone went in first and I, after a moment’s hesitation, entered, my walk halting.The room was grand and opulent, which was fitting for a man of his standing. “You can choose whichever side you like,” he told her firmly without turning around.I stood frozen near the door, wrapping my arms around myself. It felt surreal—being here with him, despite knowing this marriage was nothing more than a façade.He shrugged off his jacket, hanging it meticulously.
JamesI still remember their conversation at the restaurant—Scarlett and Renata scheming, plotting. They made it clear Giselle would become a problem for them again.“You’re right. Giselle is their weakness. That’s what I know for sure,” Scarlett had said, her tone dripping with malice.I decided to follow them, careful not to be noticed. But as luck would have it, I saw their attention shift abruptly—they had spotted Katniss and Giselle in the distance.Renata grabbed Scarlett’s arm, pulling her behind a pillar. Scarlett looked startled at first, but then her composure returned, her sharp gaze following where Renata’s finger pointed. Ethan, Katniss, and Giselle stood not too far away, walking together like a picture-perfect family.I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling inside. I was too far to hear their conversation. Quietly, I moved closer, pressing my back against the wall of a nearby building, peeking just enough to keep my eyes on them.“Ethan wasn’t supposed to be here,” Sc
KatnissEthan looked at James suspiciously.“Him? What about him?” Ethan asked, his tone sharp, clearly forcing the answer he desperately wanted.“He’s actually—”“Daddy!”I froze, my words caught in my throat as a familiar small voice interrupted me. I turned my head quickly, looking down to see Giselle, her face lit up with a bright, beaming smile.Then I looked at Ethan. His face mirrored my surprise, his expression caught between shock and confusion after hearing Giselle call him ‘daddy.’“You’re here, Daddy? Ah, I missed you so much! I’m so happy to see you!” Giselle squealed, rushing forward to hug Ethan’s legs tightly.Ethan and I locked eyes briefly, both of us stunned, speechless. But despite the awkwardness, there was no mistaking the small, triumphant smile creeping onto Ethan’s handsome face.Slowly, he crouched down until he was level with Giselle, their faces now inches apart.“Daddy?” he echoed softly, his smile widening into something more tender as his large hands cra
James: Rip!“James?!”I was utterly shocked when my fake mustache was suddenly ripped off, and Katniss, who had been slightly dazed from the alcohol and the intensity of our earlier moment, seemed to regain her senses.She furrowed her brows, blinking repeatedly as if trying to confirm whether what she was seeing was real.“James?” she said again, her voice trembling.Katniss covered her mouth with one hand, then touched her lips with her fingers. Her cheeks flushed red once more.“I-I…”Katniss stuttered, as if struggling to find words to explain what had just happened—the kiss.I never thought my disguise would be exposed this quickly.“Katniss,” I called her name softly, attempting to reach for her hand.Her eyes widened even more. “Your voice! It wasn’t like that earlier!” she exclaimed, her voice growing sharper.“James… this can’t be! So, all this time, you… you were Jack in disguise?”Katniss took a step back, retreating further from me.“Careful!” I warned, knowing she was ti
KatnissI can’t stop.I didn’t know how many glasses I’d downed. My head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, and I was certain the moment I tried to stand, the world would spin violently out of control. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t care. I just wanted to drown out the memory of what had happened hours ago.“It’s enough, Katniss,” a voice cut through the haze.I squinted, my vision too blurry to make out who had spoken.“You’re completely wasted. Look at you—your face is as red as a boiled lobster. We need to get back to the inn. You can’t leave Giselle alone for too long, even if she’s sound asleep.”The voice sounded closer now, steadier, filled with concern.I blinked slowly, raising a hand toward his face. “You... You look so much like him,” I murmured.Jack.My fingers brushed his cheek, tracing the sharp planes of his face. His pupils dilated slightly, his body tensing under my touch. And before I could stop myself, the words slipped out of my mouth.“The man I loved... Mayb
JamesI tried to hold back my smile. Katniss looked adorable when she blushed.She was rummaging around, looking for my shirt. I hadn’t brought many clothes—just one spare shirt, planning to buy more at the local souvenir shop. The shirt she was looking for was in the bathroom, where I’d intentionally left it. I’d planned all this—anything to make her spend more time with me.I sighed softly, trying to get her attention. I moved closer, standing directly behind her. The scent of her shampoo was intoxicating. I wanted so badly to lean in closer and take in more of it, but I held myself back. After all, it wasn’t appropriate, especially with a child nearby.I could see Katniss stiffen at my presence. Taking a deliberate step closer, I leaned down until my face was beside her ear. I made sure she could feel the warmth of my breath.“I don’t think it’s here anymore,” I said in a low, deep tone. “It’s fine. I have a jacket. I’ll just wear that.”As I expected, Katniss immediately turned to
KatnissFor a while I wondered if something happened to Jack. Especially after listening to my daughter shout “Daddy” Loudly from inside his room. I almost did not budge for a few moments but then adrenaline coursed through me and I entered the room with apprehension in my heart.But Giselle’s explanation eliminates my doubt. I had only been assuming.I glanced once more toward the bathroom door, unsure of what Jack could be doing in there. The sound of the shower, which had been running earlier, was now off. It seemed Jack was done.Just as I was about to take Giselle back to our room to wait for him, the bathroom door creaked open.The fresh scent of soap filled the air, crisp and clean, and there stood Jack, his expression startled to find the two of us in his room."Uh… Katniss?"I turned around sharply, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. My cheeks burned, heat creeping up to my ears. My tongue felt tied, and my lips refused to form words. I was completely frozen.Focus, K
JamesI hadn't put on my dentures yet, and I was still dealing with my discomfort. I had just finished showering and was getting ready.Katniss had already sent me a message, and I was in a rush. My heart was beating fast. I thought everything was fine, as I remembered locking the door to this hotel room. But then I stopped."Did I lock it?"Damn it! I couldn't remember if I had locked the door or not. I tried to push the uneasy feeling aside and went back to finishing my appearance.My face still looked like James, not Jack. I hadn’t put on the dentures, fake mole, or mustache yet. I kept staring into the mirror, carefully placing each detail.I was so focused that I didn’t hear the footsteps approaching until I heard the familiar voice of a child.“Daddy?!”I jumped and quickly turned my head to the side.“Huh?” I froze for a moment. But when I looked in the mirror, I realized why Giselle had called me "Daddy."I stared, wide-eyed.“Shhh!” I quickly approached her and crouched down.
KatnissJack’s smile was so bright that I couldn’t help but laugh freely alongside Giselle. That rare feeling of connection felt so pure, so genuine.As Jack glanced at his phone, Giselle ran toward him, her little feet kicking up sand.“Uncle Guard! Show me the photo!” she chirped excitedly.Jack chuckled warmly. He knelt down, holding out his phone to show her the screen. On it, he had recorded a video of us laughing, playing with the ocean waves and the soft sand."See this," he offered softly. "You two look so happy. It’s such a lovely moment, and I simply couldn’t help myself—I had to capture it." After a brief pause, he added, "I think this might be my favorite video from now on."His words made my heart skip. Did he really mean it? Did he like me and Giselle that much?Jack suddenly looked up at me, his expression slightly startled, as if he had realized something he wasn’t supposed to say out loud.“I mean—” He cleared his throat nervously. “I’ve told you before, haven’t I?
JamesI couldn’t help but smile as I watched her cheeks flush a soft pink. Katniss had always been terrible at hiding her emotions. Everything she felt played out so vividly on her face, in the way her hands fluttered nervously, and in her body language. It was the same as before, an adorable trait that she used to have every time we were still in a relationship.Still the same, I thought, amused yet aching. The way she fidgeted, the flushed look on her face—they were so recognisable.“You know…” I said."Um.."I could see the tension in her shoulders, the confusion in her eyes. Every part of me wanted to tell her the truth, to see the realization dawn on her that it was me. But I couldn’t. Not yet. If I did, she’d pull further away, and I couldn’t let that happen. I needed to trap her in this moment, to let the feelings she’d buried resurface. Only then could I ensure she wouldn’t run.“No, ma’am. This is the first time we’ve met,” I said, keeping my tone steady, my gaze locked on he