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Catherine paused at the doorway, her hand hovering over the handle, her expression unreadable. Her name, spoken by Korbin, cut through the tension that had thickened in the air. She turned slightly, but didn’t fully face him. Her gaze lingered on the floor, her posture still and calm, betraying none of the frustration or emotion that had clearly overtaken the Swanns.
Liana, who had been seething with anger, watched with narrowed eyes, expecting another confrontation. Catherine was always too composed, too smug for her liking. She wanted to see her brought down a notch. But it was clear, from the way her father stood there, that this moment was about to unfold differently than she expected.
Korbin stepped forward, his voice smooth and measured, though a spark of something more calculating flickered behind his eyes. He had an idea. One that might benefit them all if Catherine could be convinced to play along.
“Catherine,” he began, his tone gentle, but carrying an authority that demanded attention, “I think we should talk. You’ve made quite the impression tonight. More than I think anyone anticipated. But there’s something I need to understand about your intentions. Mr. David, the chip—what’s really going on?”
Catherine’s eyes shifted, finally meeting his gaze fully. A slight smirk tugged at her lips, but she said nothing for a moment. The silence hung between them, almost tangible, as Korbin stood there waiting, his posture inviting her to speak.
After what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her voice calm but laced with something dangerously certain. “You want to know what’s going on?” She paused, letting the words sink in. “I’m here because I see opportunities. And sometimes, those opportunities are bigger than anything anyone expects.”
Korbin’s brows furrowed, but before he could respond, Catherine continued. “Mr. David is just a stepping stone. The chip? That’s a game in motion. But it’s not about winning for me—it’s about who controls the game. I’ve never been interested in just being a player. I make the rules.”
Her words hit him harder than he anticipated. There was no hesitation in her voice, no sign of uncertainty. Catherine was speaking from a position of power—power she clearly wasn’t afraid to use. And there it was again, that edge of mystery, the hint of something more than just wealth and status behind her calm demeanor.
Korbin’s mind raced, analyzing her words carefully. He had always been a man who valued control—who prided himself on understanding the moves before anyone else did. But Catherine was something else entirely. She wasn’t just playing the game—she was the game.
Liana, watching from the background, couldn’t contain her frustration any longer. Her voice, though laced with mockery, tried to assert her dominance in the conversation. “Is that so? You control the game, Catherine?” she scoffed. “What a joke. You’re just a country girl with fancy words. Don’t get too ahead of yourself.”
Catherine’s expression flickered for the briefest moment—her eyes narrowing just slightly at Liana’s words. But it was enough to make the air grow heavy with tension. Liana was playing with fire, and Catherine’s patience was wearing thin.
Korbin, sensing the growing clash, quickly stepped in. “Enough, Liana,” he snapped, his tone sharp. The way he commanded her to stop was not lost on either Liana or Catherine. “Catherine, I’m not here to fight. I’m just trying to understand where this is going. We all know you’re… different. I can see you have your plans, but you have to understand, there are many forces at play.”
Catherine didn’t flinch. “There always are,” she said simply. “But there’s one thing you need to remember, Korbin. In any game, only one person walks away with the prize. I don’t need to fight for attention—I’ve already decided who’s going to win.”
Her cryptic words lingered in the air like an unspoken promise or a warning. There was no arrogance in her voice—only an undeniable certainty that unnerved everyone around her.
Liana, still unable to bite back her fury, shot another venomous glance at Catherine. “You think you can just push everyone around?” she seethed. “Well, we’ll see about that.”
Korbin raised a hand, silencing the room. His expression was thoughtful, not angry. His gaze returned to Catherine, appraising her in a way that felt like a careful assessment of someone who had just entered the ring of business—or maybe something far more dangerous.
“We’ll see,” he repeated, his voice low and almost approving. “But remember, Catherine, everyone has their limits. Don’t push too far.”
Catherine’s eyes softened ever so slightly, as if acknowledging Korbin’s words—though there was no real sign of fear or concession. She simply stood there for a moment, her gaze holding steady. Finally, she nodded once, almost imperceptibly, before turning toward the door. “I’ll see you at the table, then,” she said, her voice almost a whisper.
With that, she walked through the door, leaving the tension behind her.
The silence in the room felt like a thick fog, suffocating any words that might have followed. Liana’s fuming glare, Korbin’s contemplative expression, and Rachael’s disapproving sighs all echoed in the empty space left behind by Catherine’s departure.
The game was set. And Catherine, it seemed, had already taken the first move.