Chapter 90 She's just our neighbor.
Without realizing it, João Pedro was already driving toward the Dahma neighborhood. When he parked, he came across a scene that defied logic: Katherine was moving huge, heavy boxes with disconcerting ease, carrying them into the house.
However, his attention was diverted by two small figures on the hood of his car. Two children, oblivious to his presence, were trying to figure out how to remove the luxurious golden bull ornament. The taller one was already wielding a rock, ready for the final blow.
— Click.
The sound of the door opening made the little ones jump in fright. João stared at them with icy indifference, holding them firmly by the arms while Katherine went out to fetch the last box. She had just checked the rare natural spices that now perfumed the entire room, feeling a quiet satisfaction.
Seeing the “ruthless CEO” surrendered by two mischievous children, Katherine arched her eyebrows, finding the scene curiously amusing.
“Tell her what you just did,” João ordered, putting the boys down on the floor.
“We... we thought the bull on Uncle's car was cute,” they whispered, their heads bowed.
“We wanted to play with it and then put it back...”
“Uncle?” João narrowed his eyes, feeling the weight of an age he didn't have. He turned to Katherine. “You didn't watch the children properly. You are responsible for them.”
“And why would that be my responsibility?” Katherine retorted defiantly.
João hesitated, trying to confirm the suspicion that had been gnawing at him since he saw the children there. “Aren't you taking care of other people's children?”
The oldest boy, Antony, looked up innocently: “Uncle, you're wrong. Katherine doesn't boss us around. She's just our neighbor.”
João frowned, feeling a mixture of relief and confusion. Before he could process it, the children ran away as if their lives depended on it. Katherine just sighed and bent down to pick up the last box, but felt the weight disappear from her hands. João had already taken the load, carrying it inside with irritating ease.
Katherine followed him, impatience shining in her eyes. As soon as they entered, the loud sound of a video call notification echoed through the room. João, placing the box on the floor, stared at her cell phone on the table.
Katherine casually turned off the device and stared at him: “Don't you have anything better to do?”
“Is this your private residence?” He ignored the question, his eyes scanning the room with silent possession.
“What's the problem?”
“Something to eat?” He held her gaze, his eyes sparkling with an implicit promise that he would not leave anytime soon.
Katherine remained silent for a few seconds, gauging the man's persistence. Finally, she gave in, walking toward the kitchen. “What would you like to drink?” she asked, opening the refrigerator.
Getting no response, she looked back. João was mesmerized by the pile of rare spices, his perfumer's mind working a mile a minute.
“João Pedro,” she said in a serious tone that snapped him out of his trance.
The man looked up, his thoughts interrupted by her voice. “Anything will do.”
“Go sit at the dining table,” she ordered, pointing with her chin.
João allowed a slight smile to soften his face, a glint of amusement appearing in his eyes: Young lady, you have a really strong temperament, he thought. Without saying a word, the powerful Arbex heir obeyed, sitting down at the table as if he belonged there.
Katherine poured a glass of water and, with almost affronting practicality, placed a steaming bowl of instant noodles accompanied by a small plate of kimchi in front of the powerful CEO.
João Pedro stared at the improvised meal with a raised eyebrow, discontent etched on his face. “Do you usually eat this?” he asked, his voice laden with a concern she preferred to ignore.
“It's all I have,” Katherine replied, already turning to the spice boxes.
As she worked, her cell phone kept vibrating. Without looking back, she sent a short voice message: “Something unexpected came up, I'll talk to you later.”
João followed her every move, his dark eyes lost in thought. He stood up, his presence filling the space between the boxes. “Leave it there. I'll move everything later.”
“You're a guest,” Katherine replied, without stopping. “Do what guests do and enjoy your breakfast.”
Before she could react, João was already in front of her. He took the spices from her hands and placed them on the floor, fixing her with a deep, calm gaze. “When a man is around, Katherine, you should just enjoy the moment and let him take care of the heavy lifting.”
She let out a dry laugh, speechless at his protective arrogance. “Are you going to eat? If not, you can leave. I'm not receiving visitors today.”
“No problem,” he replied, undaunted. “There are no guests here. I'm from home.”
Katherine felt the weight of that insinuation, but chose not to take the bait. “First room, on the left,” she said.
João nodded and began the heavy work. While he moved the boxes, the pasta on the table grew cold. When he finished, he came back and ate everything in silence, without a single sign of complaint, which surprised Katherine.
Later, in the warehouse, she was taking inventory in a small notebook. She felt João standing at the door, watching her as if trying to decipher a complex code.
“You know how to mix fragrances,” he said, not as a question, but as a discovery.
“My mother taught me a little,” Katherine replied, without taking her eyes off the notebook.
“Oh... just a little?” João took a step forward, his voice lowering. “What are you trying to hide?”
She turned slowly. “What are you suggesting, João Pedro?”
A soft, discreet smile appeared on his lips. “Does Mr. Miles White still like the gift I sent him?”
Katherine felt her blood run cold for a millisecond. The dark green cheongsam, a priceless piece she had worn to the banquet, had been a silk trap. He was probing her connections. She relaxed her expression, adopting her mask of indifference. “No comment.”
“Since you have this talent,” João continued, moving closer, “would you be willing to help me with a project?”
“I'm not interested,” she cut him off, turning her back on him.
He remained silent, frustrated at not finding the key that would unlock her interest. As they returned to the room, he noticed Katherine lighting a small brass burner. Spirals of white smoke and an intoxicating fragrance began to perfume the room.
“Would you like to watch a movie?” she asked.