Chapter 103 Chapter 103
As they left the entertainment center, fate seemed determined to test Katherine's patience. Passing by a newsstand, her eyes fell, almost against her will, on the cover of a prestigious business magazine.
There he was, again. João Arbex's face dominated the issue in a matte, luxurious finish that gave his image an almost hypnotic depth. If it weren't for the headline about bank mergers, he could easily be mistaken for a movie star at the height of his career.
Katherine frowned, feeling a knot of irritation tighten in her chest. She looked away abruptly. What is going on today? It seemed as if the universe was conspiring to rub that man's existence in her face at every turn.
Back at school, during individual study time, the atmosphere in the room was electric. The morning's incident was still the only topic of conversation, whispered between furtive glances. Katherine, indifferent to the chaos she had caused, focused only on her cell phone.
Coincidence or not, her inbox was flooded. Everyone seemed to want a piece of her time, inviting her out for drinks. Among them, Justin Ferrari persisted, ignoring the failure of his last attempt.
This time, Katherine didn't refuse. A cold, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips. Today, her mood called for something strong.
At the end of class, Gabriel approached her timidly, holding out an elegantly wrapped package.
“Hehe, Katherine... this is to thank you for the private lessons. You really should accept it.”
Katherine barely glanced at the object, her voice sounding detached.
“No need to thank me, Gabriel. Keep it.”
She returned the gift with a curt gesture, but he insisted, sincerity shining in his eyes.
“Please, Kath. Seriously, I just want to show my gratitude. There are no ulterior motives, I swear.”
Katherine stopped and stared at him. Her eyes darkened, gaining a depth that made the boy hesitate for a second.
“Do you really want to thank me?” she asked, leaning back in her chair with indolent elegance.
“Yes, absolutely!”
“How much alcohol can you tolerate?”
Gabriel blinked, taken aback by the unusual question. A smug smile began to appear on his face.
“Tolerance? Oh, it's excellent. To this day, no one has been able to drink more than me.”
Katherine raised an eyebrow, a dangerous gleam appearing in her eyes.
“Then let's go to the bar.”
The statement fell like a silent bomb, startling the students who were pretending not to hear the conversation. Jessica, sitting next to her, leaned in with renewed interest.
“Are you going to drink tonight, Kath?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Exactly,” Katherine replied, her voice soft as velvet but firm as steel.
Justin Ferrari, who had been following the conversation closely, quickly intervened, sensing a golden opportunity.
“Then I'll bring some friends who are fans of yours,” he said, already typing on his cell phone. “They can all hold their liquor.”
“You can count me in too!” Jessica exclaimed without hesitation.
“I'm going too! I wouldn't miss it for anything!” Octavio chimed in, his face lit up with challenge.
Katherine looked him up and down skeptically.
“You? Do you even know how to drink, Octavio?”
Octavio puffed out his chest, letting out a snort of feigned indignation.
“My nickname among my close friends is ‘Unbeatable Drinker,’ okay? No one can knock me down.”
Katherine raised her eyebrows, allowing herself an enigmatic smile that promised a memorable night.
“I hope so, Octavio. I hope so.”
Bruno shot them a look laden with silent disdain, trying to focus on his book, but his thoughts were treacherous. He couldn't help wondering what would happen that night.
In the mansion's courtyard, Justin Ferrari was already orchestrating the atmosphere. He had brought six devoted fans, including two girls who looked at Katherine with a mixture of reverence and shyness. The group was balanced, but the aura that emanated from Katherine made everyone else seem like mere supporting actors.
Justin, knowing his “idol's” temperament well, gave strict orders: “No invasive questions. No barrage of questions about her identity as a Primordial. If you want to interact, talk about the drink. If you annoy her, the party is over for everyone.”
The fans nodded, behaving with silent admiration.
Katherine was settled in a deck chair, talking quietly with Jessica. Next to them, two state-of-the-art astronomical telescopes pointed at the sky, waiting for darkness to reveal the secrets of the cosmos. Octavio, always the center of attention, was already playing with one of the devices, alternating between observing the horizon and taking millimeter-calculated selfies.
He needed to feed his Instagram feed to maintain the facade of the “perfect son” for his mother.
He recorded a quick story, rotating the camera around the decorated patio. “The party before the study session!” he captioned it, with a winking emoji. It was a blatant lie; no one there would touch a book that night.
In the video, Gabriel appeared handing a plate of succulent grilled meat to Katherine. She simply raised her hand in a gesture of indifferent refusal, and the look of disappointment on Gabriel's face was captured for a second before he covered it up with a forced smile.
As the shadows of the evening began to lengthen, Katherine stood up. “It's time,” she said, her voice cutting through the buzz.
She led the group to the backyard, where a solid wooden door, almost hidden by vegetation, was opened. Instantly, a rich, earthy, heady aroma of oak and fermented grapes hit the guests.
“A wine cellar?” Jessica exclaimed, her eyes wide as she gazed at the rows of perfectly aligned bottles. “Katherine, you are full of surprises! You really love wine, don't you?”
“It's a hobby,” Katherine replied with an ease that bordered on insulting to those who knew the value of those bottles.
But the biggest shock came next. Crossing an elegant hallway bathed in warm orange light, they entered a second section. Floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets displayed rare Western labels, red wines worth fortunes, resting like jewels in a vault.
Jessica was stunned.
Having two wine cellars—one Eastern, with artisanal fermentations, and one Western, with collector's labels—in the home of a young student was unheard of.
The group returned to the courtyard carrying the “treasure.” The meat was cooked to perfection, the fire crackled, and the anticipation was palpable. More than a dozen people gathered around the long wooden table.
When Katherine poured the amber, fragrant liquid into the bowls, a deep, floral aroma spread through the air, silencing everyone. Gabriel, who often attended gala dinners with his father, brought the bowl to his lips. His eyes widened. The flavor was an explosion of complexity, something he had never experienced at any high society event.
“Katherine... where did you buy this? Or... did you make it yourself? It's simply divine!” Gabriel was in a trance.
“Yes, it's the best wine I've ever tasted in my life!” exclaimed one of her fans, visibly impressed.
Katherine remained unperturbed, holding her own bowl with elegance. A charming but enigmatic smile played on her lips as she looked defiantly at the group.
“If you liked it so much...” she said, her soft voice laden with a dangerous promise, “drink more. Let's see who will be the last one standing under these stars.”