Chapter 12
Katniss
7 Years Previously
"It is my greatest pleasure to announce the winner of the race for Louisville's Mayor is none other than Cato Snow!" the announcer declares on the stage.
Cato steps forward with a huge smug grin as he goes to shake the announcer's hand. He turns round to wave at the crowd and they go berserk screaming his name. He laps up the attention like a god. I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Do the people of Louisville really think Cato is the best man for the job? I can tell you he only got here through blackmail and bribery.
But I have to put on an overjoyed smile. As his girlfriend of almost 2 years I need to show how proud I am of him. The youngest Mayor in Louisville's history! How couldn't I be proud?
I hate to admit how good I have become about lying about this.
A huge part of me desperately wanted him to lose. He only has his own interests at heart and I know everything he puts through over the next few years will only be done for the benefit of himself and his family.
I was shocked at just how much under hand dealings the Snows use to get what they want. I knew stuff like this must happen but some of the extents they go to are appalling. Blackmailing the chief of police about his mistress to turn a blind to their illegal activities. Buying sponsors with expensive gifts. There is even the mysterious disappearance of a judge after he refused to do their business. It is sickening.
But I shouldn't have been surprised. It was how Cato got me.
The crowd is still clapping and cheering for their new mayor. This is only the start. The real celebration will be tonight. One where Cato is going to make a special announcement. I'm already dreading it.
I see his dad looking over at me with a pointed look. I'm not doing my job well enough. I plaster on a fake smile and make my way over to Cato, putting an arm around his waist. He turns to smile at me smugly.
"Can you believe it baby? You're the girlfriend of the most powerful man in Louisville!" he declares.
I give him a forced smile.
"How did I get so lucky?" I reply flatly while still trying to look happy.
The cameras flash in our faces making my eyes go a little blurry.
I don't think I will ever get used to people wanting to take my picture. The first time I was followed by a photographer I thought he was a crazy stalker and smashed up his camera when he got too close. Needless to say the Snows were not happy with me. I then had to spend a day with Effie learning how best to compose myself in front of photographers. That is 6 hours of my life I will never get back.
But I have a duty to do, so I stand there with my arm around Cato and a rehearsed smile, thinking how can no one see how miserable I am?
Eventually the furore dies down and Cato tells them they will hear from him at the celebration tonight. He grips my waist and steers me towards the car.
Once inside, he pops open a bottle of champagne and undoes his tie, flinging it on the ground. He pours the champagne sloppily, causing some of it to spill onto my shoes. I jerk my feet away but still end up with them covered in the fizzy bubbles. He hands me a glass triumphantly and gestures for me to clink the glasses together.
"To me and my glorious future!" he declares. "Let's see what Dad says about that!"
I don't even bother trying to pretend to be interested and just take a small sip from my glass. Cato sees my less than enthusiastic response and gets a little angry. He leans towards me aggressively.
"You better put on a better show tonight! No one wants to question why the Mayor's new fiancée looks so glum," he hisses.
I squirm. I don't want to think about what is going to happen tonight. It is the last thing I want.
After a shaky start with the Snows centred round my stripper origins, they now see me as an invaluable asset. It turns out the public like me. I know this confuses Cato's father and he is not the only one. I too am baffled by the public's love for me. I have never been the most likeable person, often sullen and hostile, even though Peeta would tell you different. However it seems the public relate to me. I come from humble origins and don't put on airs and graces. The public see me as one of them and this has made Cato instantly more likeable. Add to the fact that I have seemingly tamed Louisville's most notorious playboy and many people see me as a saint. And though Cato would never admit it, I have been a big reason why he won today.
This has all but made me indispensable to the Snows. I have given them an angle they have never had before; one of the common people.
This means there is only one thing left to do. Make me an official member of their family. And what better place to announce this happy news than at tonight's celebration? I am already sick with nerves.
"I know what I have got to do tonight," I snap back at Cato.
He continues to look at me angrily.
"Just don't fuck it up. I've finally done something good and I don't want you ruining it," he says.
I don't mention that I am part of the reason he won. Cato's eyes fall to my chest and he catches sight of the necklace I am wearing. He grabs at it angrily.
"And I don't want to see you wearing this tonight!" He snarls. "God knows why you were this piece of shit. Wear that diamond necklace I got you for Valentine's Day."
He flings the pearl angrily back against my chest. I feel my rage rise up inside me. This necklace is worth a hundred times more than that over the top piece he bought me.
I know this necklace rubs him up the wrong way. I wear it all the time. He doesn't know the origin of it, but I'm pretty sure he suspects it came from another man. My open refusal to stop wearing it angers him. He doesn't want reminders of another man that has had me. I am his property now.
But I will never stop wearing it. Not as long as I still love him.
We sit in an angry silence for the rest of the journey and he merely grunts at me when he drops me back off at my house. Love's young dream we are not.
I wearily push open the front door to be greeted by my sister and father in the living room. They had managed to get away earlier than I had and are both gearing up for tonight's circus.
They both look at me sympathetically as I enter.
"Congratulations on being the girlfriend of the new mayor. You must be so proud," Rose says sarcastically.
Her comment irks me. After my fight with Cato in the car and what I have to do tonight I'm not in the mood for any of their sarcastic comments.
"Don't start Rose," I snap.
Rose flinches at my words. I don't normally snap at her. I normally save it for Dad.
"We're just concerned about you. We never dreamed it would get this far," my dad tries to reason.
"What? You don't want me to marry Cato? Shock!" I reply sarcastically.
They both look at me with concern. I hate it. Don't they understand I am doing this for them?
I turn to hang my coat up, thinking the conversation is over. They normally never fight me on this for too long. They know I am too stubborn for them to win.
"But you're miserable! You don't love him!" my dad pleads.
I let out an exasperated sigh. They're not going to let this drop tonight. I forgot I get my stubbornness from my dad.
"What does it matter? You know what he'll do if I don't go through with it! Or don't you remember when he stopped your medicine or blocked your college application?" I exclaim.
They both look a little guilty now. They both know I don't care what he can do to me, but I would do anything to protect them.
"This is not the life I wanted for you," Dad says pained. "Maybe we could contact Boggs in Seattle and get this sorted out."
Rose nods her head in agreement. I hang my head. We've been over this many times. We can't contact Boggs. He handed our care to Detective Jackson once we moved here. It's too risky to contact Seattle; we don't know where Crane's spies are. And Detective Jackson is no use. She sits in Cato's pocket. I don't even bother bringing this argument up again.
"I don't know what has got in your head to tell you you can't be happy, but it's not true. You deserve to be happy. What do you think Peeta would say if he saw you now?" Rose says desperately.
It's like a punch to the gut. She knows he is my weak spot. She knows bringing him up will be painful for me. That is why she did it. To try and get a response out of me.
I push the pain aside before confronting them again.
"But Peeta's not here. You took me away from him!" I scream looking at Dad. "And if he had any sense he would have forgotten me by now. I'm not worth it. He wouldn't love the person I am now."
Dad looks extremely guilty. I know he blames himself for the mess I got myself into. If we never left Seam this wouldn't be happening.
But we did leave Seam.
I stopped blaming him long ago but every once in a while I let my frustration out.
Rose looks like what I can only describe as broken hearted. She is a big romantic and I know she harbours a dream of Peeta riding in on a white horse and saving me. But that's not real life. There are very few happy endings.
"I'm not discussing this any further. I'm accepting his proposal tonight and I would really appreciate my family's support," I say with a sense of finality.
"You know we'll support you no matter what," Rose says quietly.
"Good. Show it," I reply.
They both look at me unhappily but I know I have won for now.
We stare at each other awkwardly before we are saved by the door bell. I go to answer it and let Cinna in. He is wearing a dark grey suit and bow tie for tonight and carries a large dress bag over one arm.
"The dress for the most memorable girl in the whole of Kentucky!" Cinna declares softly.
I blush at his compliment. I have never been good at receiving them.
He follows me through to the living room and immediately senses the tension in the room.
"Oh did I come at a bad time?" he asks concerned.
"No. We were just arguing about what to do for dinner tomorrow night," I lie.
Cinna raises his eyebrows at me. He clearly doesn't believe me, but doesn't push it. We have become pretty good friends over the last couple of years and know how far we can push each other. He doesn't know my situation with Cato and no matter how much I trust him I am not about to open that can of worms.
Rose offers to help Dad get ready leaving Cinna and me to get me into my dress. I take him through to my room to get ready, though I don't know how long I'll get to call it my room. I'm sure Cato will expect me to live with him after the engagement tonight.
Cinna unzips the bag to reveal the dress I will be wearing when I accept the proposal to be the next Mrs Snow. It is a short sleeved, knee length number with a lace bodice. The dress is a deep blue that brings out my grey eyes. Once again Cinna has created a masterpiece.
I pull off the simple pink dress I was wearing for the announcement before stepping in my dress for the night. Cinna helps zip me up before helping me pin my hair back. He stands back to admire his handiwork once he has finished.
"It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful you make me look," I say in awe while looking in the mirror.
"You underestimate yourself. You are truly a beautiful muse," he replies, brushing a fly away strand of hair off my dress.
I smile at him gratefully. Normally I would hate this kind of comment, but I trust Cinna. He would never lie to me.
My eyes move to the pearl around my neck and I know I have to take it off. I can't have Cato making a scene at this thing tonight. Cinna catches me looking at it pensively.
"Whoever gave you that pearl must be pretty special. You never take it off," he states.
I turn to look at him. I don't really want to go down that road.
"Someone gave it to me a long time ago," I reply not expanding any further.
Cinna nods his head in understanding. I reluctantly take off the pearl and move it to the bracelet on my wrist. Cato is unlikely to notice it there.
"Tell me to stop if it is not my place, but I've heard rumours that Cato is making a proposal tonight," he begins.
"That would be correct," I confirm wondering where this is going.
"Well forgive me if I'm wrong, but you don't exactly seem ecstatic about the idea."
I ponder the best way to answer this statement.
"Cato is the most desirable bachelor in Louisville. He can provide for my family. I'm lucky to have him," I state.
Cinna gives me that same look that Dad and Rose gave me earlier. A mixture of pity and sadness.
"You don't have to lie to me Katherine. I'm your friend. I want to help," he replies.
I study him for a minute. There is nothing he can do to help but I am suddenly too exhausted from my earlier arguments to fight him.
"Sometimes I wonder how I got here. It seems just like yesterday I was back home. Sometimes I dream of it. Back home, with him, Mom is still alive and I am so unbelievably happy. I have lots of good friends, a job that I love and get to sleep in his arms at night. Sometimes I can swear I can smell him; cinnamon and dill. And then I wake up and the bed is cold or I have Cato's big weight bearing down on me and I am so overwhelmed with the realisation and disappointment that it is not real. I almost wish I didn't have those dreams. It is too cruel when I realise that they are not true," I exclaim.
I don't know if Cinna followed that. It didn't make a lot of sense if you didn't know our story back home, but it is a relief to get it out. I have avoided talking about him with Rose and Dad. They just both look at me full of pity when I do, but it's different with Cinna. He isn't looking at me with pity, but with understanding, as if he has finally figured me out.
"This man you talked about, he gave you that pearl?" he asks nodding at the pearl that has now moved to my wrist. I nod my head.
He walks towards me and tips my chin up forcing me to look at him.
"I don't know why you are doing this, though I expect it has something to do with protecting your family, but you are truly a remarkable girl," he says.
"Don't believe it," I reply looking down.
He tips my head back up again.
"You are the most selfless person I know. There's a reason the public loves you so much. They can see how good your heart is."
He words make me tear up a little. It nice to finally have someone appreciate what I am doing. I won't tell him the whole story, it's too risky and painful, but I am glad he understands me better now.
He wipes my tears telling me I don't want my make-up to get ruined and this causes me to let out a small laugh.
"Thank you," I say to him.
He's given me the strength to go through with this tonight.
"Any time," he replies. "Now we better get going. You're one of the guests of honour!"
I snort and Cinna laughs as we pick up our things and get into the car waiting outside.
Just like every other Snow party, this one is loud and extravagant. Effie has decorated the place with coloured streamers. There are chocolate and champagne fountains, 3 different bands and the world's best cocktail servers tossing shakers and glasses around. I wonder how much of this is being paid for by the people of Louisville.
The place is full of people desperate to congratulate Cato and tell him how great he is. I have so far spent the evening being told how pretty I look and how proud I must be of him. I answer them all with the same rehearsed answers and forced smile.
An hour into the party it is time for Cato to make his speech. I tense up as he gets on stage. This is where he is going to do it. He is going to propose in front of all these people. I thank my lucky stars that I at least know about it and can prepare myself for my reaction.
He gets up on stage and begins thanking the crowd and everyone who has voted. He then goes on about how it is a family tradition to be Mayor of this city and he is so proud to carry it on. He then makes a joke about how he has achieved this at a younger age than his dad. The crowd chuckles, as does his father, but I can tell the elder Snow doesn't quite appreciate the joke. He then moves onto how he loves this city and all the good he can do for it. He finishes by thanking his family members for all their support.
I hold my breath. This is it. The proposal is next. I try to stay calm.
"But of course I couldn't finish without thanking my gorgeous girlfriend Katherine!" he declares. He searches the crowd for me. Eventually he finds me "Come on honey, get up here!"
The crowd all sigh dreamily and many turn round to look at me. I blush pretending to look embarrassed. I make my way up to the stage and Cato puts his hand out to help me up. I try to look happy.
"Who would have thought that when I walked into The Capitol restaurant 2 years ago I would be meeting the most beautiful person alive?" he says looking at me. "Katherine I love. You have done so much to support me and I can't imagine you not at my side."
I continue to blush pretending to look embarrassed while the whole time thinking lies. It is all lies.
Cato now gets down on one knee and makes a big show of presenting the ring to me. It's a hideous big thing with 3 clear diamonds embedded in a white gold band. It is flashy and extravagant and completely not me.
"Katherine, please do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he says.
The crowd are all awing again at this ridiculous display. I do my best to look shocked, raising my hand to cover a shocked gasp, let the blush rise up in my cheeks before squealing out the word "Yes!"
Cato grins triumphantly placing the ring on my finger before grabbing me for a wet kiss. As he is kissing me all I can see is Peeta's face beaming back at me.
Eventually he stops kissing me and turns us around to face the crowd. He raises my ringed hand triumphantly in the air and the crowd wolf whistles and cheers. I hope that the disgust does not come across on my face.
The next few hours are a blur of faces as people come up to congratulate me and ask me about the wedding. I answer the best that I can, but as time goes on I begin to feel dizzy as I am turned from one person to the next.
At one point I come face to face with Cato's father. He has a malevolent smile on his face that immediately makes my blood run cold.
"How delightful to have you become a permanent member of our family," he says coldly. "Do you mind if I speak to you privately for a moment?"
I turn round to see if anyone can get me out of this, but I turn to face a bunch of people I don't recognise. I take a deep breath before nodding. He gestures for me to follow him and I obediently trot along behind him.
He takes me to an empty office away from the party and closes the door firmly behind me. There is something about this man that terrifies me. Maybe it's the odd smell of blood and roses that seem to waft off his body.
He gestures for me to sit on a large oak chair. I gingerly perch on the edge. He takes a seat on the grand red chair behind the desk.
"We'll make this easier by promising not to lie to each other," he states.
He waits for me to respond before proceeding. I nod my head hesitantly.
"I did not like you when my son first brought you home. I still don't like you now. But I admire how you have handled the situation."
I sit there in silence. I don't really know what he wants me to say.
"You have something that the people can relate to. You are one of them. I don't think my son would have done half as well if he had not been with you," he carries on.
I still don't know if I am supposed to say anything to this.
"But I'm here to remind you that you have a job to do. You are to become his wife. That brings certain responsibilities," he says.
"What do you expect me to do?" I ask.
"Distract them. I am sure you are aware of some of our dealings by now and know that not all of them are honourable. It is your job to make sure the public don't think about it. You will continue to make my son look good by pretending to be in love with him. Down the line I expect a couple of children to carry on the family name. The pair of you will be the picture of the perfect family so that no one stops to think about what we are doing behind the scenes."
"I know a lot of this already."
"Well at times it seems you have forgotten. Like I said it your job to make my son look good, not to make yourself look good. Or do I need to remind you of the children hospital opening. My son's generous contribution was forgotten about because all the press cared about was how you played with the children."
I still think they overreacted about that. I only went and talked to the children on the day of the opening. It was about them any way. It wasn't my fault that the press got pictures of me playing tea party with them and decided to run that story ahead of the actual opening of the hospital.
"Be careful Miss Lawrence. I know what my son has threatened you with. I have to say it is one of the only moments I have been proud of him. But that doesn't mean he is not soft. I was the one who persuaded him to do all those things to keep you in line. He will never actually follow through and do something that would hurt his little sex toy. Because that is what you are; a common whore. I on the other hand have no qualms to do so. If you don't live up to my expectations I will call Crane's people."
I thought I hated Cato, but this man is on another level. I have never felt so cheap and vulnerable in my entire life. Not even when I worked at The Cornucopia. Cato may be an idiot, but his father is pure evil. He is the real master mind behind the majority of what Cato has put me through. He is the one that has all the power. I suddenly understand why Cato is the way he is. With a father like this it is no wonder.
"Well I hope I don't disappoint you," I say weakly.
"Good. I think it's time we get back to the party. Don't you?" he says.
I nod my head and get up to leave. He opens the door for me and we enter the deserted corridor. Just then Cato comes staggering towards us.
"There you are!" he declares throwing an arm around me. "I've been wanting to show off my sexy fiancée."
I try to placate him by giving him a kiss on the cheek. I am well aware that his father is watching. He smiles drunkenly at me and then looks up to see his father.
"Dad!" he exclaims. "Look! I actually did it! I'm not as useless as you I thought was!"
His dad narrows his eyes at him.
"If you for one minute think you won this on your own merit, you are even more stupid than I thought. You won this because of my contacts. Do you know how much I had to buy to get your votes? Don't think you have all the power now. I am the one that got you here. Don't forget it!" he snarls.
I see Cato's face fall. This is the first time I have seen Snow's cruelty directed towards his son. I see it now. He doesn't love him. Cato is just a piece in his games.
Snow turns to look at me.
"Take him home. He's drunk! It's a disgrace!" he orders.
Cato's head rolls forward resigned. I nod my head and lead him out back to the car. The press would have a field day if they got a picture of this.
We ride back to their mansion in silence. For once Cato doesn't try to feel me up or order me to do something. The confrontation with his father has hurt him. He sits slumped in the back seat.
Once we get there I help him out the car and up to his room. He slumps down onto the edge of his bed and puts his head in his hands. I go to the bathroom to get him a glass of water. Maybe I won't have to do anything with him tonight.
I hand him the water and he takes it gratefully. He takes a gulp before putting the glass down and resuming his previous position. I stand there awkwardly. I don't know what he wants me to do.
"No matter what I do I will never be good enough for him. I will always be stupid and drunk Cato that can't do anything right," he says mournfully.
And for the first time I see it; the human side of Cato. With his head in his hands I finally see the little boy he really is. The one that is desperate for his father's approval but will never get it. I actually feel sorry for him. He has never known what a father's love is like. It makes me feel guilty about my own argument with my dad earlier. He was only saying those things because he loved me.
I sit down beside him and move closer to him.
"You don't mess everything up. Those advertising posters were your idea," I say.
The posters were actually pretty good. Realising that the public liked how normal I was, Cato had taken this idea and embraced it. The posters featured the pair of us doing many every day things such as doing the shopping and taking the dogs for a walk. He somehow managed to make them look natural and I know this helped appeal him to the public.
He scoffs at my words though.
"Doesn't matter. I can't even get a woman to marry me without a bit of blackmail," he says despondently.
My heart stops. Maybe this is my chance to get out. Maybe I can play to this vulnerable side of him.
"You don't have to be like him. You can stop this if you want," I stress.
He turns to look at me now.
"Sometimes when I see the disgust on your face I regret making you do this, but I can't let you go. You're the only thing that's caused him to be proud of me," he states.
My heart sinks. I will never get out of this. Not as long as Cato continues to seek his father's approval.
I lean back on my elbows resigning myself to this life.
Cato continues to look upset and hurt. And for the first time I feel myself wanting to comfort him. I have never dealt well with seeing people hurting. Another one of my weakness. Because even though this confession doesn't make me like him anymore, it doesn't make me hate him.
So I do the only thing I can think of, the thing I never thought I would do, and kiss him. Really kiss him, not my passive attempts from before. Cato seems surprised at first. I never initiate our kisses. But after a while he responds and I push him back on to the bed.
And for the first and only time I make love to him and afterward he curls up beside me like a small child desperately searching for some much needed intimacy.
This vulnerable Cato doesn't last long. I wake up the next morning to the arrogant asshole that he usually is. He orders me around and is rude about my family.
I don't regret my actions though. At least now I know he is not a complete monster. There is part of him that is human and vunerable. I will never love him, or even like him, but I know it is not entirely his fault. His father is the real villain in this place.