Chapter 93 If you could learn from Sasha, or even surpass her, your name would be immortalized.
Seeing his grandson run with such vigor restored pride to the old man, who had previously been reluctant to admit his kinship. Katherine glanced at her wristwatch, the moonlight beginning to reflect in her eyes.
“It's almost time for dinner, Grandpa. Let's go inside.”
The patriarch nodded, getting up with her help. “Oh, that's right. Nora, stay here and watch him a little longer. Let him run a few more laps to learn not to be lazy. Kath, come on, dinner is waiting.”
Anastasia nodded quickly, relieved to see her father-in-law in good spirits after hours of tension. As Katherine walked away supporting the elderly man, Dandara snorted, her face twisted with envy.
“Damn it! We spent hours begging and it didn't work. She comes in, says two words, and Grandpa does everything she wants. He's completely on her side.”
Anastasia was already running toward her son to wipe his sweat, ignoring the complaints. Nísia Oliveira, however, remained silent, watching Katherine's silhouette disappear into the mansion's entrance. Her thoughts were spinning; she was beginning to realize that Katherine was not just an academic rival, but a force that was moving the pieces on the Arbex board with frightening ease.
Nísia Oliveira finally seemed to awaken from her trance. The shock of seeing Katherine dominate the situation with her grandfather still reverberated in her mind, but she had a card up her sleeve that could change the game.
“Dandara,” Nísia began, her voice tinged with strategic curiosity, “did your brother really manage to convince Sasha to come?”
Dandara nodded, feeling her family pride swell. “Yes. He even invited her to dinner at our house tomorrow.” She tilted her head, watching her friend. “You're a fan of hers, aren't you? That's the third time you've asked today.”
Nísia just smiled, a rehearsed and casual gesture. “Yes,” she replied curtly.
In fact, Nísia knew the legend well. Sasha was the mentor behind the biggest names in the global industry; they said that ninety percent of today's luxury perfumes carried the DNA of her teachings. But Nísia didn't “admire” her in the traditional sense. She saw her as a stepping stone. If she could learn from Sasha, or even surpass her, her name would be immortalized. The upcoming competition was not just a contest, it was her arena.
Meanwhile, dinner in the main building of the Arbex mansion was taking place under an aura of prestige. Katherine was sitting at the table with the patriarch when firm footsteps echoed in the entrance. João Pedro had just arrived.
“Why are you here too?” asked Mr. Arbex, keeping his tone indifferent, although his eyes sparkled at the presence of his favorite grandson.
A servant hurried to pull out the chair of honor next to the patriarch, but João Pedro ignored protocol. With disconcerting naturalness, he walked over to Katherine and pulled out the chair right next to her.
“I thought Grandpa might feel lonely during dinner, so I came to keep him company,” said João, although his gaze did not leave Katherine's face for a second.
The patriarch let out a sarcastic snort. “Having Kath here is enough. Why would I need you?”
“To help her with her studies,” João replied, pouring himself some wine with irritating calm.
“Help her with her studies?” Mr. Arbex raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Katherine also looked away from him, her eyes half-closed in warning. João, however, continued as if he were merely stating facts:
"The monthly exam results are out. She got a zero in English. The disparity between her grades is absurd; at this rate, she won't get into an elite university.
She needs extra lessons, and coincidentally, I have some free time in the next few days.“ The patriarch chuckled, immediately catching his grandson's ploy. He turned to Katherine with a knowing gleam in his eye: ”Kath, let me tell you: this boy has always been an academic genius.
You should take advantage of that. I'm sure that under his tutelage, your grades will skyrocket, don't you think?
Katherine felt the net closing in. She knew that the “zero” in English was just her choice to keep a low profile, and the idea of spending hours locked in a library with João Pedro was, at the very least, dangerous for her secrets.
“I have my own plans to improve my grade,” she said, her voice firm and cold. “There's no need to bother you with trivial school matters.”
“It's no bother at all,” insisted João, the corners of his mouth curving into that discreet smile that always put her on alert.
Mr. Arbex smiled broadly, reveling in the romantic tension that electrified the air in the dining room.
The patriarch could barely hide his delight. The young CEO, known for his unwavering coolness, was finally showing his claws and ambition—and it wasn't for a billion-dollar merger, but for the heart of the girl sitting at the table.
“Um, Kath, let me tell you something,” the old man interjected, a mischievous gleam in his eye. “No need to look for teachers out there when we have a genius at home. If I still had my old vigor, I'd teach you myself!”
Katherine remained silent, feeling the Arbex family closing in around her.
In João Pedro's Office: The Confrontation
Minutes later, the rhythmic sound of the printer was the only noise in João's private office. He handed Katherine a freshly printed sheet of paper. It was a complex essay topic, requiring the interpretation of an abstract image.
“Read the topic,” he ordered, his voice firm and professional. “Finish in thirty minutes. Can you understand what is being asked?”
Katherine didn't even touch the pen. She leaned back slightly, crossed her arms, and fired a question that cut through the air like a blade of ice:
“Do you like me?”
Her voice was frighteningly calm. She didn't lift her head to look at him, keeping her focus on the paper, but the question hung between them like a challenge.
A flash of irritation crossed João's face. He hadn't expected such a direct attack. However, his annoyance gave way to an enigmatic smile. “Yes,” he replied, his voice lowering a tone. “I like you.”
Katherine finally stood up. Her bright eyes, now filled with arrogant provocation, fixed on his. She took a step forward, invading his space. “So... would you be willing to die for me?”
The silence that followed was absolute.
João watched her, his face flushing under her scrutiny. It was a perfect rhetorical trap. If he said “yes,” it would sound like a cliché from a cheap, insincere romance novel, given how little time they had spent together. If he said “no,” he would destroy any chance of getting closer to her.
He saw the game: Katherine wanted to silence him, to use the weight of an impossible question to repel his advances. She sought victory through his silence. And for a moment, she had it. Katherine seemed satisfied with his hesitation, seeing it as proof that João's feelings were nothing more than a passing curiosity.
“Good night,” she whispered with icy sweetness. “Sleep well.”
She left, closing the door softly. Alone, João chuckled discreetly, shaking his head. There was a touch of helplessness in his smile, but also deep reflection. She was much harder to decipher than any stock market.