Chapter 105 Chapter 105
Gabe coughed, choosing his words as if walking on hot coals. “Let's just say... he wasn't happy to see the number of men around you tonight. He doesn't seem to like crowds... of men.”
He waited for an outburst or a smile, but received only a dry, emotionless “Oh.” Katherine picked up the bag but did not open the bottle.
“Take them away,” she ordered.
Gabe obeyed promptly, carrying Octavio and then Gabriel to the support car. Before closing the door, he paused and looked at Katherine with a pleading gleam in his eyes. “Miss Lutz... why don't you go comfort Mr. Arbex? Men need a little understanding sometimes, too. He'd calm down much faster if he saw you.”
Katherine frowned, the word “comfort” sounding strange to her ears. Before she could reply, Gabe disappeared into the night.
The Bentley finally started up and disappeared from view, but the silence that followed did not last long.
Under the pale light of the streetlamp, a tall, imposing figure materialized. João Arbex walked toward the fence, his presence filling the space like a silent storm. The moonlight highlighted the hard line of his jaw and the usual coldness of his features, now accentuated by an extra layer of irritation.
He pushed the fence and entered the courtyard with measured steps.
His gaze swept over the empty wine bottles scattered across the table, and Katherine could see the glint of anger and a strange sense of helplessness in his dark pupils.
Katherine remained seated on the high stool, pretending to adjust the telescope. “Why are you still here?” she asked, without looking at him.
“How much have you had to drink?” His voice was deep, vibrating with restrained authority.
“Not much.”
“Why didn't you take the pills I sent you?”
“I'm not drunk.”
João didn't reply. He took the last few steps until he was standing directly in front of her. His tall figure cast a long shadow that enveloped her completely, protecting her from the night breeze.
The refreshing and sophisticated scent of mint emanated from him, instantly dissipating the sweet smell of wine that hung in the air. Katherine finally lifted her face, meeting his gaze. At that moment, the silence between them was so thick you could hear a heartbeat—but she couldn't tell if it was hers or his.
Before Katherine could protest the closeness, a warm, luxurious weight enveloped her shoulders. João's coat, still impregnated with the warmth of his body and the scent of mint, instantly protected her from the chilly early morning breeze.
Her body tensed. She raised her head, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
“I'm not cold,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the slight numbness caused by the wine.
João Arbex's eyes narrowed for a second, and then, unexpectedly, a slow, magnetic smile spread across his lips. It was a smile that broke the CEO's icy mask, dissipating the electrifying tension that hung over the courtyard.
Before she could process this change in mood, his hand reached out. Katherine instinctively recoiled, but his movement was faster. With gentle aggression, João held her cheek, forcing her to meet his gaze. His thumb, rough and warm, gently rubbed the corner of Katherine's lips, removing an almost invisible trace of cream.
The warmth of his palm sent a wave of electricity straight to Katherine's chest. Uncomfortable with the vulnerability she felt, she pushed his hand away with a sharp slap.
“If there's nothing else, please leave,” she said, her voice regaining its usual indifference. “I want to rest.”
João withdrew his hand without any sign of embarrassment. He watched her for a moment, authority emanating from every pore.
“Next time, don't drink with so many men around you,” he said, his relaxed tone carrying an undeniable dominance. “And drink less. It's bad for your stomach.”
Katherine felt her blood boil. She hated being ordered around.
“If I want to drink, I drink. It's my stomach, my problem,” she retorted, narrowing her eyes provocatively. “What? Are you angry about that?”
She let out a short, mocking laugh, defying the possession he was trying to exert.
At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, messing up her black hair. A few strands brushed her nose, which was slightly reddened by the alcohol and the cold, giving her an unexpectedly cute and vulnerable appearance.
João's face relaxed completely. He reached out and, in an almost protective gesture of affection, stroked the top of her head.
“Think about it, Katherine,” he said, his voice becoming deep and velvety. “Am I angry... or is it something else?”
Before she could formulate a sharp reply or demand that he stop messing with her hair, João had already turned away. He walked toward the exit with the confidence of someone who had said enough.
Katherine remained seated, his coat still heavy on her shoulders. She stared at the garment, lost in thought, feeling the scent of mint envelop her like a silent promise. When she finally looked up, João's tall figure had already disappeared around the corner of the quiet street.
She imagined he was heading for the Bentley, waiting for Gabe to pick him up. However, 300 meters away, João Arbex stopped in front of an imposing, brand-new mansion. He typed in the access code with ease and entered.
That house, recently acquired in a secret transaction, was his new residence. Katherine didn't know it yet, but the man she was trying to avoid had just become her closest neighbor.
The hunt was just beginning.