Her brow knitted in concern. No wonder Kellan had mentioned family troubles. The situation there was a tangled mess.
His mother died early, and his father, the head of the Lloyd Group, was no pushover. With a host of illegitimate children, it was no surprise that the family was embroiled in fierce power struggles. Kellan, the rightful heir, was at the center of it all.
The current Mrs. Lloyd had started as a mistress. Although her youth had faded, the photos showed a woman who still exuded charm. She had employed every tactic to secure her position in the family.
She also had a son, Hoyt Lloyd, who had recently made a splash.
“What’s the story with Hoyt Lloyd?” Allison inquired.
“That guy? Another illegitimate child, but he managed to elbow his way into the limelight and became the official heir.”
“He’s ruthless and ambitious, even launching his own luxury brand to rival Kellan’s. And behind the scenes? His methods are dirtier than a coal miner’s hands. It’s common knowledge that Kellan and Hoyt loathe each other. They’d probably relish the chance to take each other out.”
Allison’s review of Hoyt’s background suggested that the assassin after them had probably been his doing.
Gordon sighed dramatically on the other end. He sounded bored. “Boss, don’t you miss us? I’m practically dying of boredom running Cobweb solo. Some of these buffoons can’t gather intel to save their lives. If you were here, things would run like a well-oiled machine.”
“Hang tight. I’ll be back soon.”
“What? Really? I’ll start tidying up and getting things ready!”
Gordon’s excitement was palpable. He had only hoped Allison might assist him remotely, but the prospect of her returning in person was like hitting the jackpot.
“Don’t get so carried away…” Allison felt a headache brewing from Gordon’s overly enthusiastic response. She had never been one for the limelight. Just as Gordon was about to get even more excited, she heard footsteps outside and quickly ended the call after giving him a few last-minute instructions.
“Hey, all fresh and clean, huh? You smell lovely, Allison!” Rebecca popped out from behind the couch, enveloping Allison in a hug as if she were a child seeking affection.
“Seriously? You’re an adult now.” Allison knew Rebecca’s carefree spirit well. To spare her from worry, Allison hadn’t shared the dangerous situation in Athton with her.
“You’ve been out having fun, haven’t you? You have no idea how busy I’ve been sorting things out for you!” Rebecca, unaware of the true events, assumed Allison had been enjoying herself and proudly continued, “I’ve already submitted your name for the perfumery competition, just as you asked. I didn’t use the Scarlet Snake alias this time. I went with Lemonade instead.”
“Well, now I’m in the mood for a drink as I hear that name.”
Allison chuckled, amused and slightly speechless. Before she could thank Rebecca, her friend pulled out a set of keys with a grin.
“I know you haven’t worked on any fragrances for the past three years, so I’ve set up a whole lab for you! You can practice to your heart’s content, and when the time comes, we’ll aim for victory!”
“Rebecca.” Allison smiled warmly at her friend. She had been mulling over the perfumery competition on her journey back and was pleasantly surprised by Rebecca’s initiative. Allison grew serious for a moment. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
“For me. I really appreciate this!” Rebecca puffed out her chest with pride, hugging Allison even tighter. “See? That’s why having a best friend is the best thing ever!”
“I’ll go check out the lab now,” Allison said with a playful grin.
“Take good care of yourself!”
To keep Rebecca from noticing her hidden injuries, Allison slipped away to the lab.
Inside, the lab was fully equipped with everything she could need. There were materials from past renowned perfumers and samples of their signature scents. Every bit of information she could possibly desire was right at her fingertips.
Opening the scent library, she discovered over eighty base fragrances meticulously organized, but Allison didn’t rush to dive in. Instead, she sat quietly, letting childhood memories come flooding back. The array of perfumes around her evoked faint recollections.
Scents had a magical way of preserving memories, conjuring a sense of familiarity when revisited. Allison aimed to capture her hazy memories of her mother through scents and hold onto them in a new form.
She was determined to track down the enigmatic creator behind the Charisma Company.
Kellan sat on the edge of his spacious, luxurious bed, staring down at the medical report in his hands, his face devoid of expression. This mansion was his private refuge.
His doctor, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses, said, “Mr. Lloyd, your injuries were treated with great care when you were first hurt. There was no further damage, so your recovery is progressing smoothly…”
Kellan barely listened. The doctor’s words felt like distant echoes, but each one seemed to hammer down on the man kneeling by his bedside. Sherman Harrison, Kellan’s long-time assistant, knelt in a posture of deep regret. He knew where the blame lay.
After the doctor left, Sherman, his face full of shame, said, “I messed up. I should’ve caught the danger sooner…”
“Just stop,” Kellan cut him off, his tone sharp but controlled.
The tension in the room was suffocating, and the weight of Kellan’s presence made it hard for anyone to stand tall.
“The person responsible has been captured,” Sherman explained, trying to refocus the conversation. He’d been by Kellan’s side for years and knew Kellan never liked to bring up the past but was more focused on seeking revenge. “It’s one of Hoyt’s people, but no matter what we did, he won’t confess.”
“Dump him in international waters. You know what to do.”
Sherman replied, “I’ll take care of it.”
Kellan’s fingers idly traced the pages of the book. “My dear step-brother’s skills are certainly improving. However, I hear his company’s finances aren’t looking too good. If there’s an audit, their cash flow could dry up. Bankruptcy isn’t far off.”
“I understand completely,” Sherman replied, catching the hint.
Sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with warmth that Kellan perhaps ignored as he stared outside, lost in thought. Then, almost absentmindedly, he asked, “What did you find out about Allison Clarke’s time on the island?”
Sherman visibly stiffened, his brow sweating. “Nothing concrete yet. Everything looks clean on the surface. People saw her during those years, but there’s no trace of what she was doing. Her parents’ background is also a blank.”
Kellan wasn’t surprised. That woman was like a puzzle with half the pieces missing.
Sherman, still kneeling, asked cautiously, “Shall we… discreetly take care of her? After all, she did see you stand…”
Kellan set the book aside and shut his eyes briefly. “No need.”
Sherman hesitated, confused. It wasn’t like Kellan to leave loose ends. But Kellan had his reasons. Without pushing further, Sherman took his leave.
In truth, Kellan knew Allison wasn’t someone to trifle with. She was sharp, calculated-perhaps even more dangerous than he was. While she wasn’t an ally, she wasn’t an enemy he needed to deal with just yet.
More than anything, Kellan wasn’t sure if Allison would be intrigued by the idea of collaborating with him. “Allison.” Her name slipped from his lips. “You are quite an enigma.”
He thought back to the time she had coldly gripped his jaw and forced him to swallow poison. Her image blurred with the shadowy figure from that night-both mysterious, both perilous-and yet, he found himself drawn to her, against his better judgment. Slowly, Kellan pressed a hand to his chest, where the memory of Allison applying ointment lingered. He could still feel her fingers, and he hadn’t forgotten the sting of her blade.
Meanwhile, the phone on the bedside table buzzed incessantly.
Kellan’s lips curled into a faint smile. Could it be that Allison had finally decided to align herself with him? Maybe she did need his expertise for something.
“Made up your mind, have you?” he asked leisurely.
On the other end of the line, the manager froze, momentarily bewildered by Kellan’s unusually relaxed tone. He glanced at the calendar out of pure reflex. It was an ordinary workday, so why was Mr. Lloyd in such an uncharacteristically good mood? “Uh… Sir? It’s Adam. Adam Westwood.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.