Half an hour later, the deep, resonant toll of an ancient bell reverberated through the walls, signaling the official start of the contest. The sound crawled into every corner, reaching each contestant.
Some were teetering on the edge of collapse, clutching their scent tubes as if they were lifelines. Others were drenched in sweat, eyes wide with anxiety. But there was no escaping the ever-watchful cameras in every room, leaving no chance for cheating.
Allison, on the other hand, had already wrapped up her work with a sense of calm. She picked up a scent strip, waved it gently beneath her nose, and inhaled. The perfume she had crafted was relatively straightforward-an evolution of one of her previous creations, capturing the essence of the vast ocean.
Once all the contestants had submitted and numbered their perfumes, the samples were whisked away to the judges for evaluation.
An elderly judge with silvery-gray hair picked up perfume number five, his eyes widening in admiration. “This one… it’s magnificent. The top notes are pure sunlight on the sea-so bright, so full of life. But the base notes…” He paused, taking another deep breath. “There’s a storm churning underneath. A stroke of brilliance. How they managed to balance the traditional violet with rosemary, giving it that almost ethereal quality… And yet, nothing is out of place. In fact, it adds layers of depth. But there’s something… familiar in the base note.”
Beside him, the female judge was just as impressed, immediately marking it with a perfect score.
“It reminds me of the fragrance that won the first contest in Leswington a few years ago, but this feels more refined, more mature.”
The perfume received unanimous praise, with no score falling below a nine.
In the waiting area, Rebecca spotted Allison as she stepped out of the room.
“Are you alright? You look like you’ve been through the wringer,” Rebecca asked, passing Allison a glass of wine. She knew how creating scents often stirred memories for her. With a mischievous grin, Rebecca teased, “Think of this as your victory toast.”
Allison’s thoughts, however, were tangled with the mysteries of the Charisma Company. Could this contest be her gateway to meeting their elusive CEO?
Uncovering more about her mother’s past? She smiled at Rebecca and said, “Results aren’t out yet. Maybe hold off on the celebrations.”
“With your skill? First place is practically gift-wrapped for you!” Rebecca beamed, full of confidence. “Don’t worry. Once the results are out, I’ll keep tabs on Violet Moon. Anyone who can build Charisma is someone worth watching. I bet they’re top-ten material for sure!”
Two hours later, the results flashed across the screen. Every contestant’s eyes were glued to the scrolling names, revealing the top ten perfumes, each accompanied by their number and description. In the hall, the perfumes were proudly displayed for all to admire.
A staff member, smiling brightly, tied a red wristband around Allison’s wrist.
“Congratulations, Ms. Allison Clarke! You’ve won first place!”
On the screen, the name “Lemonade” stood proudly at the top. In second place, “Violet Moon,” with a note next to it revealing it represented the Charisma Company.
Third place went to Melany.
Allison wasn’t surprised by her win, but her focus was elsewhere. Scanning the crowd, her eyes searched for Violet Moon. It didn’t take long before she saw a staff member tying a second-place wristband around none other than Kellan’s wrist.
“Congratulations on second place, Mr. Lloyd! No one would’ve guessed you’re the CEO of the Charisma Company!”
Kellan’s eyes met hers, locking her in a gaze that spoke more than words could ever say.
Around them, the room was buzzing with chatter. “Congratulations!” echoed from contestant to contestant, though some congratulations rang hollow. Others whispered behind fake smiles, “Lemonade is so young! Where did she come from? She must be some big shot using a fake name. I’ve got to get a whiff of her perfume later!”
“You don’t know Allison Clarke? She’s Colton Stevens’ ex-wife! But didn’t she come from nothing? Who knew she was this talented?”
“This competition is full of surprises. Who would’ve thought Kellan Lloyd, with his luxury empire, was Violet Moon, and also the mind behind Charisma Company?”
“And he’s already got the largest business in the world. Does he need to dip his toes into the perfume industry too? Some people just seem to win at everything!”
The hall was a cacophony of congratulations, forced smiles, and barely concealed envy. Yet, amid the clamor, Allison and Kellan stood still, their gazes locked.
Their reflections in each other’s eyes mirrored the unspoken connection between them-as though the rest of the world had faded away.
Kellan’s gaze remained inscrutable, especially as he held the scent strip of perfume number five.
Lemonade?! Doubt lingered in his mind-this was the signature work of Scarlet Snake, and that meant Allison was Scarlet Snake!
The realization hit Kellan with the force of a lightning strike. Of all the fragrances showcased, only this one carried Scarlet Snake’s unmistakable touch. The scent wasn’t just strikingly similar; it had a calming effect on him. Only Scarlet Snake’s signature extraction technique could’ve done that.
“Congratulations, Ms. Clarke, on your victory.” Kellan’s words carried a measured curiosity. “I must admit, I didn’t expect you to hide so well. That rare fragrance you once claimed you stumbled upon… was that one of your creations?”
His mind rewound to their first encounter in his office when she said that she had just casually bought that perfume. Kellan then ordered his men to buy out the most exclusive fragrance shops downtown.
Yet, none had come close. Each attempt paled, like comparing gold to fool’s gold.
Allison, sharp as ever, caught the implication in his tone. “I could never compare to your reputation, Mr. Lloyd. The Charisma Company is already an industry legend. But then again… your base scent doesn’t exactly scream originality.”
Allison hadn’t anticipated that Kellan was the founder of Charisma.
The realization left a sour taste, knowing how close she had been to finding clues about her mother years ago. Her eyes stayed locked on him, reading for any sign of offense. Yet, to her surprise, there was none. What was essentially a veiled accusation of plagiarism didn’t ruffle him in the slightest.
“Of course not.” Kellan’s lips curved into an unfazed smile. “It’s a family secret, passed down for generations. And using ‘Lemonade’ as an alias? You’ve been keeping a much lower profile than I thought.”
Now, he was certain. Allison was Scarlet Snake!
Kellan marveled at her. From the Royal Princess cruise to Athton and now the perfumery contest, this woman kept peeling back layer after layer, each revelation more surprising than the last.
And Allison knew just as well that Kellan held the very answers she needed. But this wasn’t the time or place for that. Not yet.
Their words dripped with congratulations, but their locked eyes told a different story-a silent duel unfolding, like the clash of two magnets, opposite yet undeniably drawn to each other. Sparks were flying, but no one else seemed to notice the heat.
Rebecca, oblivious to the undercurrent, sighed wistfully. “What a shame. If you hadn’t married that scumbag, you’d have taken the international market by storm ages ago. Hell, you’d probably be sitting with the judges right now!” Her lament was heartfelt.
Allison’s eyes dropped briefly to the wristband she was toying with. “It’s no shame. I chose my road. Wrong road, yes, but at least I got off it in time.” Her voice rang with certainty, though there were moments when regret sneaked in.
She remembered when she had married Colton with fresh hope, even creating a custom fragrance for his birthday. But instead of appreciation, she had been met with his frosty disdain-he had thrown it back in her face, calling it worthless.
It had stung, though she could now admit that it was part of a bigger mistake-her misplaced loyalty to a man unworthy of it.
But she had no one to blame but herself.
Colton, standing nearby, was now the one struggling with a storm of emotions. His earlier mockery now felt like a slap to his own pride. His face darkened as he grabbed perfume number five, bringing it close to his nose. His expression immediately soured. “This smells like Melany’s perfume.”
His comment stirred a ripple of unease in the crowd. “Could this be cheating? They do smell kind of similar.” The murmur spread, quickly muting the previous buzz in the room.
Colton, buoyed by the growing suspicion, doubled down. “Melany is Scarlet Snake! There’s no way Allison could’ve outdone her. Take a whiff, everyone-number five is nearly identical to Melany’s perfume!”
With whispers of potential cheating taking root, several contestants who hadn’t placed in the top ten picked up their heads, intrigued by the unfolding drama.
One by one, people leaned in to compare. The base notes of pine and violet lingered, artfully blended. Yet, undeniably familiar.
Scarlet Snake’s unique style-layered, intricate, and enigmatic-was not easily mimicked. Colton, emboldened by the crowd’s hesitation, turned toward Allison, his voice filled with accusation. “Did you steal Melany’s formula?”
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.