Chapter 44 Chapter 44 — It now resembled a gladiatorial arena about to collapse.
Lunch arrived with the pomp and circumstance Adam believed his “boss” deserved. He spared no expense, ordering every exclusive dish on the menu until the table was completely covered. His goal was simple: to see Katherine smile.
And the trick worked.
The moment the aroma of the food reached Katherine, her aura changed dramatically. The fierce and calculating lioness, who minutes earlier had been deceiving one of the most powerful men in the country, retracted her claws. In her place emerged a side that only Adam knew: a quiet and focused “bunny,” whose eyes sparkled at the sight of a good meal.
Adam sighed with satisfaction. It was in moments like these that he stopped feeling like a subordinate and felt like a protective older brother again.
“Boss, you have to try this,” he said, serving her enthusiastically. “This pork stew is the star of the house. They say the seasoning is a closely guarded family secret.”
I guarantee it's the best you've ever tasted.
Katherine let out a soft, almost inaudible chuckle. “The best?”
“Without a doubt. Try it.”
She picked up a piece of meat, watching the glaze of caramelized sauce before bringing it to her mouth. She chewed slowly, analyzing each note of flavor.
“It's average,” she said with exasperating calm.
“Huh? Average?” Adam almost choked on his own piece. “This is incredible! The meat melts in your mouth, it's juicy, fatty in just the right amount without being cloying. How can it be just average?”
Katherine didn't answer, but her eyes lost focus for a moment, lost in a memory from five years ago.
She was thirteen and staying at a remote temple to deliver medicinal herbs. The sun that summer morning was relentless. It was there that she saw “Junior” — a younger João Pedro, but already shrouded in an aura of isolation and tragedy.
He was convalescing. His eyes were covered with white gauze, preventing him from seeing the world around him. He sat in the stone pavilion, motionless as a statue, while servants placed luxurious dishes in front of him. In the temple, the consumption of meat was strictly forbidden, but for João Pedro, the rules did not seem to apply.
That day, Marcus—the faithful assistant who had been accompanying him—insisted that she sit with them. Under the silence of the mountains and the sound of the temple bells, she tasted a piece of stewed pork offered by that blind and mysterious boy.
At that moment, that flavor was truly the best in the world. Perhaps not because of the seasoning, but because of the silent company and the secret shared in a sacred place.
The shrill ring of Adam's cell phone cut through the nostalgia like a knife.
Adam's expression instantly changed from amusement to alertness. After a few seconds of listening attentively, he hung up and looked at Katherine.
“Boss, it's Jessica Mendes. She wants to see you in person.”
Katherine showed no surprise. She wiped her lips with a silk napkin, her ‘bunny’ aura disappearing to make way for her usual icy mask. “It was to be expected. Her house of cards is starting to crumble.”
After lunch, Adam's SUV headed for the upscale neighborhood where the Mendes family lived. During the drive, Adam updated his information.
"In recent days, Luana Mendes' identity has become the main topic of corporate gossip. The company's stock has plummeted and shareholders are in a panic. They have surrounded the mansion day and night, demanding to see the original will. Luana tried to hand over control to the vice president, but it's obvious she's just trying to buy time to hide from the storm.
When the car finally stopped in front of the Mendes residence, the scene was pure chaos.
Seven or eight luxury cars were parked haphazardly, blocking the exit from the main garage as if they were angry sentinels. They were the cars of greedy shareholders and relatives.
Even with her hearing aid adjusted, Katherine felt uncomfortable. The noise of shouting, arguing, and objects being broken came from inside the mansion, audible even from the sidewalk. The house, which once represented the power of the Mendes family, now looked like a gladiatorial arena about to collapse.
Katherine adjusted her sunglasses and looked at the entrance. “The show is about to begin, Adam. Let's see how ‘dear’ Luana deals with the wolves she herself created.”
Inside the car, the soundproofing could barely muffle the distant screams coming from the Mendes Mansion. Adam glanced in the rearview mirror, seeking Katherine's gaze.
“Boss, should we resume the investigation into John Mendes' death?” he asked cautiously.
Since the last meeting with Jessica, all intelligence operations on that family had been frozen by her direct order. Katherine, however, kept her gaze fixed on the lonely figure of Jessica, who stood waiting at the gates, surrounded by chaos that threatened to engulf her.
“It depends on her choice,” whispered Katherine, her voice as cold as the glass that separated her from the world.
Adam honked the horn, a short, imperious sound that cut through the din of the shareholders.
Jessica Mendes walked toward the vehicle. She still wore her usual rebellious style, but her short hair was messy and there were deep circles under her defiant eyes. The extravagance of before had given way to raw exhaustion, though her posture remained arrogant.
She stopped by the window, the glare of the sun forcing her to squint as she stared at Katherine.
“I agree to join your research group,” Jessica said bluntly. “But I have conditions.”
Katherine didn't move. Her indifference was an insurmountable barrier. “Speak.”
“First: I will not work directly with your other members. Give me what you need and I'll do my part on my own. Second: as you promised, you will help me regain the Mendes empire. And third...” Jessica paused, her tone hardening. “My teacher's laboratory is untouchable. It will not be handed over to you.”
Her voice was frivolous, laden with a haughtiness that bordered on the absurd given her situation.
Adam, in the driver's seat, lowered his head to hide a smile. Is she really trying to lay down the law while her house is burning down? he thought, marveling at her audacity. He glanced furtively in the rearview mirror, trying to read Katherine's expression.
As always, her boss's face was an enigma of serenity.
“Adam, drive,” Katherine ordered calmly.
Jessica's eyes widened, the shock breaking through her mask of arrogance. “What? You're not even going to think about it?”
Katherine looked up, and for a brief second, the corner of her mouth curved into a serene smile, but one laden with intellectual disdain.