Katya faces a pivotal choice in Insta Empire Episode 741: Will she stick with Ethan or betray him to gain Kevin’s trust? Drama unfolds as loyalties shift and old rivalries resurface.
Missed Episodes:
Insta Empire Episode 611 – How Can It Bite Me?
Insta Empire Episode 741 – Full Episode
While Kevin, Olivia, and Sasha trekked far into the Alaskan tundra in search of a rare herb that would help override the sabotage unleashed by Ethan that had people turning purple after taking Kevin’s pharmaceuticals, Katja Rafferty was back in Chicago.
She had been out to the suburbs again to meet and plot with Ethan Williams, who was staying out there to lay low until Mario Kessler was found. Now that Mario was lost in space, Ethan had taken up the task of bringing Kevin Williams down by any means necessary.
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Katja had switched alliances during the final round of the Epic Clash, when she decided Mario would only weigh her down on her own path to greatness. If she befriended Kevin, at least she would have the world’s best herbalist on her side rather than working against
But then her father called to remind her that Kevin was one of his sworn enemies, and as his favorite daughter, it was Katja’s duty to take Kevin down. She couldn’t do it alone, and Ethan had the backing of fiendish Joshua Hill, his biological father, so she was now, like it or not, Ethan’s partner in crime.
But that didn’t mean she couldn’t still pretend to be close to Kevin. She had been keeping tabs on her sister Olivia so she knew that Olivia and Kevin were out of town as of this morning, on a mysterious trip about which Katja had failed to dig up any information. Now was Katja’s chance to establish a foothold in Kevin’s world.
She arrived at the Salix Leaf Hotel just before noon. Her plan was simple, work her way into joining Lily and Rachel for a casual lunch, become their friend, and have them reconnect her with Kevin. She and Kevin hadn’t made plans to get in touch after the clash was over, so reestablishing their connection was crucial.
Katja knew she could actually be of use to Kevin if she were allowed to truly align with him. For now, she was just interested in the professional contact and his trust. Table for one, please, she told the hostess.
The hotel’s five-star restaurant was just off the lobby and Katja walked right up to the woman behind the counter confidently. Would you prefer a table or the bar? Katja peeked inside and saw Rachel and Lily at the bar themselves, both with forkfuls of salad and a bucket of french fries between them. In deep conversation, she grinned.
Bar, please. Katja took a seat a few stools down from Lily and ordered herself a Manhattan. She didn’t usually drink on the job, but she needed all the alcohol she could get to charm these women into a friendship.
Before she could do anything to get their attention, however, she caught Lily staring at her. Yes, she said in a friendly voice. Lily shook her head hard and blinked.
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to stare. It’s just that you look like a friend of my husband’s and she’s supposed to be out of town with him right now, so I was confused. Lily explained, smiling.
Katja knew Lily was talking about Olivia. Since they were girls, Olivia and Katja had always been asked if they were twins. They weren’t.
Katja was two years older and, in her eyes, much prettier. But she couldn’t deny there was a resemblance between them, no matter how different their personalities were. I see.
Why is your husband away on vacation with a woman who’s not you, his beautiful wife? Katja asked. She didn’t actually care, she just wanted to stir the pot a little bit and see what Lily would offer up about Kevin. Lily blushed.
It’s not like that. They’re on a work trip. They work together.
And this is my friend Rachel. We work together. Katja got off her stool and came down to join them at their end of the bar.
I’m Katja. Nice to meet you. Lily made a realization and blinked.
Oh my goodness. I know why you look familiar. It’s not Olivia at all.
I saw you on the Epic Clash. You were working against my husband. You were in a partnership with Mario Kessler.
Rachel looked around to make sure none of her hotel guests were disturbed by how loudly Lily had just accused the stranger of betrayal. Why don’t we all go talk in my office, she suggested, ushering Lily and Katja out of the restaurant. In Rachel’s private office, Lily turned on Katja again.
What are you doing here? Trying to take Kevin down again? It won’t work. He’s got an army the size of Texas behind him. Rachel had never seen her best friend so wound up.
Lily, relax. Let’s hear her out, okay? She gestured for everyone to sit on the couches in her office. Lily and Rachel on one, Katja on the other.
Katja tried to give Lily the benefit of the doubt because she really did like Kevin and she wanted him to trust her. But Lily was already onto her ulterior motives. She said, I promise I’m not here to hurt him.
You’ll remember that by the end of the Epic Clash, I switched sides. Kevin wouldn’t have won if I weren’t working with him in round five. Lily narrowed her eyes.
Nothing and no one would have prevented Kevin from winning. Regardless, I joined his team. Mario Kessler and Ethan Williams are bumbling fools, Katja said, relishing in the joy of insulting Ethan while he wasn’t around.
Why? Rachel asked, eager to find a resolution to the tension in the room. Katja was grateful for the chance to explain herself. Because he’s the greatest mind of our generation.
Because he has herbalism skills that take centuries to master and he’s not even 30 years old yet. Because I’m not a fool and I know that Kevin Williams’ team will always be the winning team. Look, my father may hate Kevin, but my sister doesn’t.
Olivia’s proof that I can be trusted. We both chose Kevin over our father. I’m here to take up the fight and do good in the world.
Katja worried for a moment that she had been too heavy-handed in her emotional speech, but she needed Lily to trust her so that Kevin could trust her. Rachel didn’t seem bothered either way, so Katja didn’t focus on her. She didn’t even bring up the fact that Rachel had apparently painted her entire body purple for some reason.
Lily looked to Rachel to confer. What do you think about this? Rachel shrugged. I think she really did help Kevin out in the clash.
She wouldn’t have let him win if she wasn’t really on his side, right? Lily was still cautious, but if Kevin had trusted this woman, then so could she. When Kevin returned from Alaska, they could figure it out together. Fine.
What can we do for you? Why are you at Rachel’s hotel? She asked Katja. Katja smiled. I’m visiting the town.
Olivia lives here and she raves about it. You’re in touch with Olivia? Lily asked. It was her understanding from Kevin that Olivia and Katja were estranged.
Yes, we’ve reconnected since the clash. She and I were dear friends as children, after all. It’s like riding a bike when you’re sisters.
You never forget how to have fun together. I’m hoping to be around much more often now that we’re restarting our relationship. Katja gushed.
In reality, she had no such relationship with Olivia. They hadn’t spoken. But that wouldn’t be the case for long.
Well, I’ll put you up in a room, no problem, Rachel promised. And she got up to go to her computer and print Katja a key. Thank you, Katja said beaming.
Lily got up. I don’t mean to be rude, but I should get back to the ballroom and oversee the audio team set up. We can’t afford for anything to go wrong.
Wait, what are you setting up for? Maybe I can help, Katja said, eager to prove herself useful. Um, sure, Lily said, and she brought Katja to the ballroom where the gala would be taking place in just a short while. You can iron and place the tablecloths.
Thank you, Lily said now really warming up to her. Of course, I’m looking forward to it, Katja said. When Lily went off to oversee the audio team, Katja pulled out her phone and called Ethan Williams.
Hello? What’s your status? Ethan asked when he picked up. I’m back in the city, but I’m staking out the hotel tonight to get dirt on Lily and Rachel. We can figure out how to exploit them to make Kevin crumble.
Katja lied. She still had to act like she was 100% on Ethan’s team and had no loyalties towards Kevin. Well, don’t work too hard.
We can do some investigating tomorrow night, Ethan told her. Katja frowned. Tomorrow night? Yeah, that’s when Lily is throwing her charity gala.
Haven’t you heard? Everyone’s going to be there. It’ll be a real who’s who of American herbalism. Katja could hear the sneer in Ethan’s voice.
What do you have planned exactly? She asked. Ethan laughed. Nothing.
Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t disrupt a charity event. I’m not a monster.
I just think we should make an appearance to spook Kevin. If he sees that we’re a united front, he’ll know his ascension to the upper realm won’t be as easy as he might think. It’s a tactic to scare him.
Katja felt rage growing in her heart. If she was going to win Lily and Kevin’s trust, she could hardly be strutting around their gala arm in arm with one of their enemies. She would have to figure out a way to get out of this.
But how? When you say everyone’s going to be there, who do you mean exactly? She asked, a horrible suspicion on her tongue. Ethan laughed again. You know, some of the Chicago family, some of the DC families, and oh yeah, her father will no doubt be in attendance.
Katja froze. The situation just got a lot more complicated.
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