Chapter 56 Could it be true?
Primordial took a few steps forward, trying to keep the character friendly: “Miss, what happened? Were you not satisfied? Do you want more than one? Just say the word, and I'll sign as many as you want.”
Katherine slowly raised her eyes. The corners of her lips rose in a bright, uninhibited smile, laden with cunning malice: “This is completely different from the autograph I received before.” She threw the paper on the table with contempt. “Yours is fake.”
The smile on Primordial's face shattered like glass. Panic flashed in his eyes again.
The general manager stepped forward, furious: “What nonsense are you talking about, girl? How dare you insult the Master in front of us?”
Katherine slowly took her cell phone out of her pocket, opened a photo of an autograph, and turned it so that everyone could see it.
“This is Primordial's real autograph,” she declared, her voice sharp as crystal. “Although the handwriting of the two is similar at first glance, the real Primordial always adds an extra horizontal stroke to the character that makes up his signature. It's a personal mark of authenticity. And the most important detail: Primordial... is a woman.”
The general manager stared at the photo on Katherine's cell phone and froze. He no longer knew who to believe. The handwriting on the screen was undoubtedly the masterful technique that made Primordial a legend. Furthermore, Katherine had claimed to be her friend with absolute conviction.
Could it be true?
The manager looked at the man behind him. Primordial was now not only sweating; he seemed to be melting under his white robe.
“Professor... it's not hot in this room. Why are you sweating so much?” asked the manager, suspicion weighing on every word.
The impostor forced a shaky smile. “It's... it's a chronic problem with my physical constitution... that's all.”
“I heard that someone was impersonating Primordial to make easy money,” Katherine commented, putting away her cell phone. “I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect to meet the impostor in person today.”
The general manager's gaze became inquisitive. Inviting that man had cost a fortune, and the Lasers would bear most of the teaching costs. The master had never shown up in two years, and suddenly he appeared now? Nothing made sense. However, Primordial was an absolute mystery; no one knew his real name or his origin. Even his gender had been the subject of heated debates in the past.
The impostor took a deep breath, attempting one last bluff: “I think this young lady is mistaken. I have never given autographs to anyone, never organized events. How would you have gotten one? It seems that you encountered an impostor before coming here. Think about it: how could a master calligrapher write his own name incorrectly?”
Katherine didn't respond immediately. Her eyes focused on a piece of calligraphy unfolded on the main table. Her lips revealed an inexplicably sinister smile—a mixture of icy amusement and total indifference.
“This character...” she pointed to the sheet, “is printed with impressive industrial precision.”
The fake Primordial stumbled over his own legs and had to be supported by an assistant. “You're talking nonsense! I wrote that character myself this morning, as a gift to Mr. Laser!” he shouted, completely losing his composure.
Katherine's eyes flashed with deadly coldness. “Oh, really?”
“Manager, what are you waiting for?” Cauan Laser suddenly intervened, his voice laden with irritation. “Why haven't you kicked this person out yet?”
The manager was in mental collapse. He was an administrator, not an art expert. He simply couldn't make up his mind.
Cauan Laser looked at Katherine with contempt, refusing to accept that she might be right. “This girl has nothing to do with the world of calligraphy. She's just an ordinary pharmacy college student. Manager, do your job and get her out of here!”
Katherine chuckled softly and walked up to Cauan. She stopped a few inches away from him, held his gaze with supreme disdain, and whispered just one word:
“Fool.”
She looked away lazily, as if he were nothing more than an insignificant noise. With no interest in remaining in that theater of absurdities, she turned around and left.
Cauan Laser's expression changed. He was angry, but deep down, a sudden and inexplicable uneasiness began to gnaw at his confidence. As she crossed the association's gate, Katherine's cell phone vibrated with several new messages. The game at the association had just ended, but a much bigger one was just beginning.
At dusk, Katherine returned to the Arbex residence. Coincidentally, she bumped into Octavio right at the entrance.
“Hey, are you coming back at this hour too?” Octavio ran towards her, excited, as if he had found an accomplice for mischief.
Katherine continued walking in silence, ignoring his euphoria.
“Oh, yes! That guy, Gabriel Park, wants to apologize to you,” Octavio continued, following her like a chatty shadow. “When did his parents offend you? And is it true that my brother went to school this afternoon? Wow, that smells good... what are we having for dinner tonight?”
Katherine stopped abruptly and stared at him. “Don't you ever get tired of talking?”
Octavio laughed, unperturbed. “My mom says the same thing. But relax, you can answer one question at a time, no rush.”
He walked beside her with his hands in his pockets, exuding a youthful energy that contrasted with Katherine's mysterious aura.
“I don't feel like answering anything,” she said, starting to walk again.
Octavio, in a spontaneous gesture, tried to touch her shoulder. “Do you still feel cornered by what happened at school?”
“Take your hand off me.” A threatening voice escaped from between the girl's teeth.
Octavio backed away laughing, raising his hands in surrender. “Calm down! I was just going to remove some leaves that fell on your shoulder.”
Suddenly, his eyes widened. “Oh... my brother.”
Not far away, João Pedro was walking his Samoyed. Octavio frowned, confused. “Why is he walking his dog out here today? He usually only does that at the private sports field.”
Katherine looked to the side, meeting João Pedro's gaze. His dark, deep eyes were fixed on her, without any attempt at disguise. It was a scrutinizing look, full of silent questioning, as if he could see through all the lies she had told that day.
Katherine solemnly ignored him. While Octavio stopped to greet his brother, she tried to enter the house.
“Katherine Lutz.” The deep, authoritative male voice came from the side.
She calmly turned her head to face him. Octavio alternated his gaze between the two, overflowing with curiosity.