CPOV
I didn't want to leave Katniss; I wanted to take her right there in the elevator. I don't know what it is about such a small place, something that could break down and either you get stuck for hours or fall to your death that makes it so incredibly hot to have sex in. After all these years, I have never figured it out.
As Taylor pulls up to my office building, I rush in, I want to make these few hours go by as soon as possible. Ros meets me in my office almost as soon as I have entered it. She's always on top of things, smart, and why I have kept her as my business partner all these years.
"Well, Christian, the flowers you had sent in from District 4 arrived in poor shape, so I've already called in some favors to get fresher ones sent. They should be here within two hours. The waiters showed up in the most awful-looking uniforms, so they are getting redressed as we speak. I can't believe that the company you are using has sent such amateurs. You've used them before and we've never had such a problem. Christian, are you listening to me?" She asks me as I'm playing on my computer, pulling up images of Katniss from her Games days.
Katniss was pretty back then too, but young and though she had killed people already, she had an innocent look about her. I glance back up at Ros and she gives me this knowing smile. I smile back at her.
"You've met someone, haven't you?" She asks, taking a seat in front of my desk, crossing her leg over a knee. "Christian, you were only this happy when you were with Ana. Who is she?"
I can feel my smile fade just a bit, but not enough that Ros has taken notice. "Come and see."
She jumps up from her seat and walks around to my side. Putting her hand on the desk to lean in and look at the computer screen. "Is that? Wait a minute; is that the girl who started the rebellion?"
"Oh, she's no girl, not anymore." It comes out of my mouth before I can stop it.
I hear Ros stifle her giggle; she's never laughed at me before. "So basically, you're telling me that the two beautiful women you were with in the last year didn't do anything for you? So, you've hooked up with a former Victor?"
Ros still has no clue as to how I've met the women I've met and she only knows of these last four, not the fifteen before them. No need for her to know though, that's my business, always has been. "I have not 'hooked up' with her. I really like her, there's something different about her."
"Well I am surprised. You didn't even really talk about Ana that much. I mean, your feelings for her were evident with your actions, but you didn't actually talk about her." She admits, taking a seat back on the other side of the desk. "What makes this one so different anyway?"
I've never really discussed any woman I've ever been with except with Dr. Flynn. He's the only one who knows everything about me and it's been that way for years now. I should be able to talk to Ros, she's never done anything to me that would make me feel distrust towards her. It might actually be good to talk to a woman about this, even if she is a lesbian; she'd probably be the perfect one to talk to actually.
"Well, for starters, I always want to touch her. Be with her, I even went shopping with her yesterday." I tell her, for the second time in as many days sharing the truth with someone other than my therapist. "There's this….I don't know, electricity about her and I'm drawn to it."
"Christian, you sound like you're in love. How long have you known her?" She asks me, leaning forward, interested.
I shake my head, "No, I've only ever loved Ana, this can't be love. I've only known her two days."
"Two days!? Christian, what the hell? But you're love for Ana was intense, quick too. How do you know you're not in love with this gir….woman?"
I just shake my head again. "I don't."
Xxxxxx
The next two hours are tedious. I'm anxious to get back to Katniss, see how Claude has treated her, what they did. I've known him a long time too and he's even a good person to hang out with outside of the gym, though it's not very often. I trust that he'll have shown Katniss a well rounded exercise routine that she will keep to. She's spirited enough to probably keep doing it too and if he thinks she's getting bored, he'll change it up for her.
Finally, everything is settled for the banquet tonight. The flowers arrived just as I was walking out and the waiters looked terrified when they saw me. I guess I still have that going for me. I called the head caterer, chewed him a new one and found out that it was recently taken over by new management. Well, the new manager won't be making the same mistake twice. On my way out, I almost grab one of the flowers from a vase, but think better of it. I don't know that Katniss is that kind of woman, hearts and flowers and all.
I make a few calls on my way home, checking to make sure that my brother and his wife, Kate, are still attending tonight.
"Brother, I wouldn't miss it for the world, you know that!" Elliot tells me. They have yet to cancel any plans on me since Ana has died; I think they're too afraid to leave me alone in a public setting. Kate knew that the two women I had been with were just arm candy at these events, I'm curious to get her opinion on Katniss. She's never been anything but honest with me since she was Ana's best friend and knew about the contract I had once offered her.
"Good, just checking. I'll see you both tonight. How are my niece and nephew doing?" I ask trying to keep myself occupied for the fifteen minute ride.
"They're good. Christian, what's up? You hardly ever call me the day of an event." He asks. This is why Elliot is a good big brother, he can see through things, sometimes.
"I've met someone." I simply state.
At first there's silence on the other end and then, "Holy crap, Christian! Who? Who is she? How long have you known her? She's not another bimbo is she?"
I laugh at him, although Elliot liked the look of the last two women, he knows better than anyone that they weren't anyone to be taken seriously. Kate got annoyed with them easily. "No, she's not a bimbo, she's actually a Victor."
"A Victor? Like from the Hunger Games Victor?" He asks me. He doesn't know that I was ever with Johanna Mason, she was before Ana technically. So, in truth, no one knows about any of the girls before Ana.
"Yes, like from the Games. You'll meet her tonight. Please warn Kate, tell her not to interrogate her."
"Of course, brother, of course. May I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Why are you actually telling me this? I mean, the other two girls just showed up, how's this one different?" Elliot sounds concerned for me.
"Because she's….she's special. I don't know Elliot; I don't know how to explain it." And I don't, I don't know how to explain how I feel about Katniss, but I can't wait to see her.
"Sounds serious." All of a sudden I hear a crash and crying. "Crap, gotta go bro, kids are trashing the house."
"See you tonight."
"Tonight. Dammit!" And then click.
The joys of having children, of course, I wouldn't know personally though. Had the baby survived, he would have only been around 18 months old right now. I shake my head, no point in thinking about what could have been. I wasn't meant to keep Ana or the baby that she carried. This is the path I was meant to take, I was meant to meet Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire.
As Taylor pulls into the underground parking, I almost jump out of the car to rush into the elevator. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a smile appear and disappear quickly from his face. He would know better than most at my reactions to people and how easily I can show my feelings. That's all Ana's fault, I wore my heart on my sleeve with her and my temperament knew a very thin line.
I'm actually fidgeting on the way up to the apartment, excited to see her, talk to her, touch her. I loosen my tie, no need for this anymore today. When I finally get into the apartment, I see Mrs. Jones cleaning up some plates and a glass.
"Is Ms. Everdeen back?" I ask, already heading for the stairs.
"Yes, sir, she went up to take a shower after she ate." She calls after me and I see the hint of a smile on her face too. Everybody knows something has changed about me.
Before I get to my room, I have my tie undone, shirt completely unbuttoned, and I'm working on my pants. Though she has the bathroom door closed, I hear the shower going and I close the bedroom door behind me. I drop my clothes onto the floor, leaving a trail behind me, kicking my shoes off to a corner. I want to be on there with her. Just as I'm about to open the door, I hear her voice, not just her talking, she's singing and she's singing beautifully.
A/N - Since Johanna is older than Katniss, I figured she would have met Christian before the Quarter Quell, when Victors were passed around like candy. Also, my timeline has Ana getting pregnant about a two years after they met, not right after they got married.