"Miss Cresta, your generosity is unprecedented." With his gentle smile and kind voice, he reminded her of her grandfather. Annie shuddered at the comparison. "However, I believe that many of Finnick's clients will not consider you an acceptable replacement."
She suspected that this would come. Annie straightened her back and stared directly at him. "President Snow, I am certain that you could find enough interest in me to make up for any of Finnick's lost business." She asked Lucretia to do her hair and makeup in the most attractive way possible this morning; hopefully, the three hours of torture was enough to turn her into something approaching desirable. Don't think like that. Be confident.
The man leaned back slightly in his chair as he studied her. Annie felt her skin crawl, and for a long moment, she wondered if she could really do this. Snow hadn't touched her, had stayed well over a foot away, and already she wanted to scrub her entire body clean. "That begs another question, Miss Cresta. If you are well enough to accept some portion of your friend's responsibilities, why should I not introduce you as another choice for the clients, having both you and Finnick accept full schedules?"
No, no, I can't. Please, don't make me. She won't beg for anything from this snake. "Finnick is inches from his breaking point as it is. If you continue to sell him, he will fall apart, and he won't be able to put himself back together again for your clients. Your revenue will disappear with him."
He smiled at her. "And you believe that this arrangement will stop this?"
"Yes." She sounded more certain than she felt.
He leaned in towards her, and Annie was certain that he thought he had won. "Then in that case, all of Panem would like to thank you for ensuring the strength of our government." Annie felt sick to her stomach, but she forced herself to maintain her plastered-on smile. "Your first appointment will be in a few days' time. You may want to talk to Finnick about Mr. Pentworth. He does have what I believe you could call an interesting reputation among my Victors." For the first time, Annie saw a glimmer of what might be delight in Snow's eyes, and she fought the urge to withdraw into herself. The man plucked a rose from the vase on his desk. "For you, my dear. I do hope your time in my beautiful city is enjoyable."
"Pentworth? How do you know who Pentworth is?" She didn't answer, just nuzzled in closer to his chest. Finnick's arms wrap around her. "Annie? Annie, please tell me you didn't."
She found his hand and squeezed. Finnick shuddered. "Please, love, go back to him and get him to change his mind. I can't let him hurt you. I can't -" He choked on a sob.
Annie sat up and pulled his head onto her lap, stroking his hair and rubbing his back and shoulders until his breathing was even again. Even when he looked up at her and begged her with his eyes to change her mind, she didn't answer him, afraid that she would find herself agreeing.