I had heard of the company before.
Honestly, hearing the name alone was already enough to make people pay attention. It wasn't the kind of company that quietly floated around in the background either. People talked about it constantly in business circles, and even outside of them. Its influence had spread far enough that ignoring it was basically impossible unless someone had been living under a rock somewhere.
Still, despite all that, I never expected the founder herself to be here.
Out of all places.
"I'm surprised you know me," I said.
"Well, your identity really isn't hidden from anyone, you know?" she replied with a small smile resting on her lips. "Besides, I can tell you're not the type of person who'd struggle to buy wine this expensive."
Her voice carried this smooth, almost teasing tone to it. Calm and elegant on the surface, but there was definitely something underneath. Something sharper.
Then she looked at me directly.
That gaze of hers was strange.
