Yet there was no reply from Allison. When they glanced up, they saw she had already left the restroom, as if nothing had happened. The tension in the air only heightened.
Damn, they were even more on edge now. After all, no one knew when Allison might fire them.
When Allison returned to the lab, she saw Marc adjusting his glasses. He had several documents laid out on the lab table and smiled at her.
“Miss Clarke, do you think you can make this perfume?” he asked, a glint of arrogance in his eyes.
This client had a reputation for being notoriously difficult, demanding, and prone to calling them in the middle of the night. He was rarely satisfied with their creations. Just the mere mention of his name irked the staff.
This time, he had provided only a tiny sample of perfume, but the formula was a chaotic mess, with over forty different ingredients. The exact measurements of each ingredient were a mystery. The staff would need to rely on their instincts and experience – a tall order. So, naturally, Marc decided to pass this hot potato onto Allison.
“After all, this is a major client. We couldn’t handle him, so we’ll have to leave it to you.”
Allison picked up the documents, her eyes scanning them intently, and sniffed the perfume sample. Her tone remained steady. “Sure, I’ll take it from here.”
Marc was taken aback.
He agreed after just a glance, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just putting on a show.
Even those quietly observing in the lab were stunned. No one had anticipated Allison’s quick acceptance.
Marc stood there for a moment, momentarily dumbfounded. “Uh… well… thank you, Miss Clarke.”
He had expected to mock her if she backed down, convinced she wasn’t cut out for the role. He had even prepared his jabs, but now she had thrown him a curveball.
The words he had rehearsed were stuck in his throat, leaving him looking all the more awkward.
Allison casually opened the perfume bottle and looked at him. “Anything else?”
“No… nothing,” he managed to reply.
After he left, Allison turned her focus to studying the perfume. Each base ingredient had subtle nuances. Though it was challenging, she knew that given enough time, she could complete the task successfully.
In no time at all, she opened dozens of fragrance containers. With just a sniff, she could discern their usability.
The total blending time was less than two hours. She had reproduced the client’s perfume sample, and she did it all solo. Marc observed her from the glass window. Watching her smooth, fluid movements made him grit his teeth as he muttered, “She’s just putting on a show. Let’s see how she embarrasses herself later.”
Once he stepped out of the lab, he signaled to a colleague and deliberately lowered his voice. “There’s no way Miss Clarke could whip this up so fast. Last time, we spent two weeks creating a perfume for this client. She’s definitely just showing off for us.”
Marc couldn’t help but sneer before continuing, “Just wait. If the client isn’t satisfied with what she made, she’ll be left red-faced!”
Three days later, the much-anticipated day arrived for the client, Rodrigo Carman, to pick up the perfume. He turned to Marc with a piercing gaze. “Is the perfume I commissioned ready?”
“It’s ready, and it’s with Ms. Clarke. I’ll personally take you to her,” Marc replied, nearly glowing with excitement. He exchanged knowing glances with the others, eager to witness Allison’s impending humiliation.
As Rodrigo was led to the meeting room, he spotted Allison already seated at the table, a small bottle of perfume placed in front of her.
Rodrigo’s skepticism was palpable as he took in the sight of such a young woman.
“Is this how your company treats me? Sending a young woman to fool me? Do you think I’m that gullible?” he scoffed.
Before Allison could respond, Marc jumped in. “Oh, we wouldn’t dare! This is our company’s new leader, Ms. Clarke, and she managed to blend your requested perfume in just two hours!” Rodrigo’s expression darkened at this claim.
“Two hours? This is ridiculous! I paid a hefty sum for this task, and it’s extremely difficult. Several companies have already failed and outright refused!”
The audacity of this young woman claiming to have completed it in mere hours was incomprehensible to him.
Undeterred, Allison remained calm and pushed the perfume bottle toward him.
“Whether it’s right or wrong, you’ll know once you smell it, Mr. Carman.”
Rodrigo huffed. “Humph, if it’s wrong, I’ll file a complaint against your company for trying to fool me!”
He impatiently sprayed a bit of the perfume into the air, and Marc watched with bated breath, eager to see the unfolding spectacle. Rodrigo was notoriously difficult to please, and he would raise a fuss over the smallest issue.
“Mr. Carman, don’t be angry. Maybe Ms. Clarke did manage to get it right in two hours,” Marc emphasized, relishing the moment and trying to provoke a reaction.
But as soon as Rodrigo inhaled the scent, his expression froze. His brows furrowed in disbelief, and his eyes widened, glistening with emotion. Marc, seeming to be concerned, stepped forward.
“Mr. Carman, is the perfume too harsh?” Marc feigned concern, stepping forward as if to protect his pride. “If there is an issue, Ms. Clarke is not to blame. After all, what can we expect in just two hours-“
Before Marc could finish, Rodrigo pushed him aside. “Yes, this is the scent!” He cradled the perfume like a priceless diamond, his voice shaking with anticipation. “Our former perfumer left, leaving only the fundamental formula with no proportions. We believed no one could replicate it. But Ms. Clarke, you’ve done it! You certainly live up to Charisma Company’s reputation!”
Everyone stood in stunned silence, especially Marc, who was rendered nearly speechless by the shock.
Allison, however, remained composed. “Since we accepted your deposit, Mr. Carman, it’s our duty to deliver.”
She didn’t flatter him, but her calm demeanor was as refreshing as a breath of fresh air.
“Mr. Carman, you might also want to try this one.”
Rodrigo hesitated for a moment before picking up another bottle and taking a sniff. Instantly, his excitement grew even more palpable.
“This is…” Rodrigo paused, his eyes widening. Allison grinned and affirmed, “This is an enhanced version of your company’s fundamental formula. I tweaked the proportions significantly, particularly the iris component. While the overall aroma remains consistent, it’s now more complex.”
Rodrigo went from stunned silence to laughter, filling the room with his joy.
“Excellent, excellent! As expected from Charisma Company. I’ll take this bottle too!” His satisfaction was unmistakable as he carefully packed the bottles into his bag, looking at Allison with newfound admiration. “I’ll think of you first for any future collaborations. The perfume world is clearly full of fresh talent!”
“Thank you for your support, Mr. Carman,” Allison replied with poised confidence.
Rodrigo left in high spirits, but Marc and his group were left dumbfounded. They had never anticipated that Allison would complete in two hours what they had failed to do in half a month. What kind of talent was this? It was nothing short of genius!
At the company’s regular meeting, Kellan took his seat at the head of the table, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation.
“Mr. Carman is notoriously selective in the fragrance industry and has turned away countless firms, but this time, our work truly hit the mark, and he’s quite pleased. Other companies have been buzzing with inquiries to my secretary about how we managed to impress him.”
Today’s gathering was crucial, filled with key executives who fully understood the stakes at hand. Kellan was acutely aware that Allison deserved the credit for the project’s success, and he planned to acknowledge her contributions.
“The project was executed brilliantly. Who led the charge? The bonus for this endeavor is going to be quite generous.”
Before Allison could respond, Marc stood up, puffing out his chest.
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.