Novel & Cerita Izutsumi X Marcille

Shouldn't I? Que sera sera. "Elle!" I smiled for the first time since I woke up that morning and turned to see my friend Rachel, waving from the school canteen. Heaving a sigh of relief, I waved back with a smile. If there was anyone that could make this crazy day easier to get by, it was Rachel. I waited for her as she took whatever she bought from the old lady, and came running to me with a huge smile. "Bread and soft drinks again? Really? Whatever happened to real food?". I teased her and she laughed, hooking her arms around mine and dragging me towards our class room.

I remark, not sure what the point was. "Maiden Notes is an anagram for Damian Stone." Damian remarks looking highly of himself. "So what? So you own the building. Big freaking deal. That still doesn't explain why you're here." Damian, however, looks over at me with a weird expression on his face, almost as if he finds it sexy that I continue to challenge him.

Helen POV Three waiters came out to the table with the bottles of wine -four of them in total, one I knew was meant for me while three were there for Justin- alongside the wine glasses which were stacked into an intricate pyramid. They made sure the glasses touched just so on their edges before pouring the bottles of wine one flight at a time. The bottom layer was a deep red cabernet sauvignon, while a rich merlot was poured into the glasses atop it, and the third flight at the peak was made up of a beautiful Malbec imported from Argentina.

As soon as the designer departed, Isabel turned to Estelle, "Weren't you told not to leave your room today? You seem uncomfortable here, and I've had enough of your disruptions. It's time for you to leave." "Right?" Estelle replied, as she swiftly moved towards Isabel, a glass of rich, dark red wine clutched in her hand. The wine, a bold and full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, was notorious for its ability to leave stubborn, hard-to-remove stains on clothing. With a swift motion, her knee jerked and she lost her balance. Her feet flew out from under her, and she landed hard on the floor, her waist hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Too many people who seemed to know exactly who we were despite the masks. "Champagne?" A waiter appeared beside us, offering crystal flutes from a silver tray. "No thank you," Liliana said immediately, her arms tightening around mine. “Just one,” I said reaching for a flute despite Liliana's warning squeeze. “We need to blend in, look natural.” “Mikhail, don't..." Her warning came too late. The champagne was absolute perfection. Dom Pérignon 1996. Dry and crisp with notes of green apple and wideflower honey, with just a slight bitter aftertaste that I attributed to the expensive vintage.

​ She was s‌taring at th‌e​ puddle of champagne on t​he floor. ⁠"You clum​sy b​itc‍h,"‍ Marc​o sn‌arled, lo‍okin‍g at his‍ ruin⁠e⁠d shoes. "​That was⁠ a 19‌42 vintage.⁠"⁠ "It wasn't‌ c‍hampa​gne,"⁠ C‌hloe said. Her voice ra‌ng out‍ clear in the silent ballroom. "Exc‌use me?" Marco steppe‍d forward,‌ his face twisting into ugli‌ness.

She lets out a low laugh but is still cautious. "It's hard to relax when you're analyzing me like a wolf looks at a lamb." I smile, picking up the glass of mineral water the waiter just served. "If I were a wolf, I would have already attacked." The sommelier returns with a bottle of Château Margaux 2015—a full-bodied red, with notes of cassis and tobacco that will pair perfectly with our dishes. While he serves, I watch Elizabeth. She studies the ruby liquid in the glass with curiosity, swirling it slightly before bringing it to her lips.

One is on Valentina's waitlist. Montse's Priorat wine — the Depth Before Reach framework has produced, in nine months, a waiting list for the next vintage from exactly the buyers Valentina said they should select for: collectors who understand patience, sommeliers who want to explain rather than just recommend, and restaurants who are building cellars for the long term. The press wants to interview Montse about the strategy. Montse has declined and asked Valentina to handle all press inquiries, which Valentina does with the same framework: depth before reach.

She closed it with a decisive snap and handed it back to him. “I’ll have the 2019 Sancerre, the Domaine Vacheron,” she said. “Chilled, but not too cold. And bring a bottle of still water for the table , no ice.” Julien nodded once, then turned to Adrian. “Same for me,” Adrian said, “but make mine a glass of the Cabernet Franc blend from Loire, the 2020 Chinon from Domaine de la Noblaie. And the same water.” Julien’s pen moved quickly across his notepad. We all placed our orders .

Her gaze was fixed on mine as she received the glass of wine from me. “Go on. Taste it,” I urged. Her eyes fell to the glass in her hand and she stared at it for a few seconds before putting it to her lips. She started with a sip, then she went on to deplete the wine by half. Humming in satisfaction, she held the glass up. “Damn. This is good.” She sounded like a young girl that had just received a wonderful present. I let out an amused chuckle at the sight. “Château Margaux, 2015.”