When he caught sight of his favorite tea, his eyes sparkled.
“Miss Clarke, how did you know this was my favorite?”
“Last time you visited our company, you were wearing a fragrance that had this tea as a top note. A person’s fragrance often reveals their taste and acts as their invisible calling card. Nobody wears a scent they dislike. So, I took a shot in the dark and ordered it. I’m glad I guessed correctly.”
Her simple yet thoughtful words immediately bridged the gap between them.
By now, Rodrigo’s ire had mostly vanished. As long as the order was fulfilled on schedule, he would gladly retract his complaint. To his surprise, Allison then presented him with a bottle of perfume.
“This is another fragrance I developed.”
He took a whiff and couldn’t help but praise it.
“This perfume has a traditional elegance. The top note is tea, while the base note is sandalwood. It truly exudes a sense of classic refinement.”
Allison smiled and replied,
“I believe this fragrance suits you perfectly. As an apology, I would like to give it to you. Regarding the rest of the order, we will work overtime to ensure it is completed within a day.”
Rodrigo, already enamored with the perfume, burst into hearty laughter, his previous concerns fading away.
“It’s just a minor issue. I’m surprised to see you here, considering it was clearly an employee’s blunder. As long as the order is fulfilled, I’m more than happy to let it slide.”
He handed her his business card.
“Miss Clarke, your perfumery skills are truly exceptional. I adore every fragrance you create. Would you consider joining my company? I would be thrilled to offer you a very competitive package!”
“Thank you for your appreciation, Mr. Carman, but all I possess are just some modest skills. I’m not excellent enough to work for a company like yours,” Allison said with a polite smile as she tucked Rodrigo’s business card away.
“Besides, I’m working with Charisma Company to help a friend, so I can’t just leave.”
Rodrigo, a shrewd businessman, easily caught the hint. He smiled and stepped back graciously.
“Well, thank you for your hard work, Ms. Clarke.”
He withdrew his complaint, and Allison wasted no time heading back to the company. There was still a mountain of work ahead of her. Creating 500 handmade bottles of perfume in a single day was no easy task, and the team was already working overtime to meet the deadline.
“How many bottles have we completed?” she asked as soon as she stepped through the door.
“We’ve managed 200 so far,” came the reply.
“Great. Let’s finish the rest together. I know it’s been a tough day, but the client’s satisfied, and the complaint’s been dropped. Once we wrap this up, everyone will get a bonus,” Allison announced, her voice filled with encouragement.
The exhausted team perked up at the mention of a bonus, and a new wave of determination rippled through them.
Allison didn’t hesitate to jump in, working alongside them. Her hands moved gracefully, deftly handling ingredients and tools with great finesse. The day passed as she breezed through the process, assembling a bottle of perfume in a fraction of the time others took.
Her efficiency was impressive, and as the hours ticked by, admiration for her only grew. They realized her talent and leadership skills were remarkable. Clearly, she wasn’t just here because of connections.
Smiles became more genuine, and compliments more sincere.
“Ms. Clarke, you really are the legendary Scarlet Snake of the perfume world!”
“You’ve got an incredible talent! You can just smell the ingredients and know the perfect combination. Without you, we’d be toast,” another chimed in.
“You don’t need to do all this yourself. We’ll handle it.”
Meanwhile, in a quiet corner, Marc’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. His behavior had become an open secret, making him the subject of quiet disdain. Watching Allison effortlessly lead the team only deepened his embarrassment. Under her guidance, perfume production had sped up dramatically.
By 1 a.m., the last bottle was finally sealed. The team, exhausted but proud, took turns bidding her goodnight before heading home.
“Goodnight, Ms. Clarke. See you tomorrow!”
“Goodnight.”
Allison remained behind, tidying up the lab in the stillness.
As she opened a drawer, she found a small jar of candies tucked away, along with a note signed by Aimee, the shy, quiet assistant.
The note read:
“You’ve been working hard all day. I didn’t want to disturb you, but don’t forget to have a candy to avoid low blood sugar.”
At the end of the note was a small smiley face.
Allison couldn’t help but smile. Aimee, usually shy and unremarkable, turned out to be surprisingly thoughtful.
A clap of thunder suddenly echoed through the night, followed by a flash of lightning. Glancing outside, Allison saw the rain pouring down in heavy sheets. She had just finished cleaning up and was ready to leave when it hit her – she hadn’t brought an umbrella.
“Great… guess I’ll wait it out,” she muttered.
She stretched, debating whether to brave the rain or take a moment to rest. Opting for the latter, she sank into a chair and closed her eyes.
What she didn’t expect was to fall asleep almost instantly.
Upstairs, Kellan had just signed the final contract of the night. As he flexed his stiff wrist, his eyes drifted to the lab below, where the lights were still on.
He checked his watch.
Odd. By now, everyone should’ve gone home.
Perhaps someone had forgotten to turn the lights off?
Curious, he wheeled himself over to the lab. To his surprise, Allison was fast asleep at the table.
Her usually sharp features were softened in sleep. The faint flutter of her long lashes, dark as raven feathers, gave her a strangely gentle air – so different from the cold, composed demeanor she wore during the day.
Kellan felt his own expression soften. Without a second thought, he slipped off his jacket and leaned forward to drape it over her.
“This rain’s not stopping anytime soon. You’ll catch a cold,” he murmured under his breath.
Before the jacket could touch her, Allison’s hand shot up, grabbing his wrist with startling speed.
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.