Tears welled up in her eyes.
“I didn’t care about myself, but they said they’d show the photos to my parents. They’re not in good health, and my little sister is still in school. I couldn’t let them go through that.”
Allison’s frown deepened.
The lengths people would go to exploit someone’s vulnerabilities were sickening.
But what struck her most was how strong Aimee had been, holding on despite the pressure, despite the fear. And somehow, she hadn’t let it harden her.
“You could’ve left Charisma after that,” Allison said softly. “With your talent, you could’ve found a better job somewhere else.”
“I… I couldn’t,” Aimee hesitated, her voice trembling. “My family is poor. Mr. Lloyd has been so kind to us – he’s not like the rumors say. He takes care of his employees, gives bonuses during the holidays, and even sponsors the education of employees’ relatives. But he can only sponsor one person per family, so I gave that spot to my sister.”
Tears shimmered in Aimee’s eyes, and her voice broke as she continued,
“If I leave, my sister will lose that support. She might have to start working early. I don’t want her to go through what I did.”
Allison felt a sharp pang in her chest, a bitter feeling she couldn’t quite describe. She didn’t have many memories of family herself, and that emptiness had always weighed on her.
Allison understood why her mother’s situation meant so much to her. In this moment, she felt an unexpected kinship with Aimee.
“Fear not. The past is behind you,” Allison said gently, placing a hand on Aimee’s back. “I’ll make sure you get the justice you deserve. A woman’s virtue isn’t measured by chastity. What truly matters is character,” she added, the words leaving her mouth instinctively. She paused, slightly surprised at herself.
It sounded familiar – then she remembered. Kellan had said something like that once, back in Athton. At the time, she’d thought it unusually wise coming from him.
Over time, though, she had come to see his deeper layers. Despite his cold, ruthless reputation, he was more compassionate than most gave him credit for. He just kept it hidden beneath a sharp exterior.
Kellan was often called a tyrant, but people never knew how quietly he sponsored the education of his struggling employees’ family members.
At Allison’s words, Aimee couldn’t hold back anymore. She broke down, sobbing softly, gratitude flowing with each tear.
“Ms. Clarke, thank you… thank you so much.”
“Don’t worry,” Allison said, her voice steady. “I’m here.”
Those simple words seemed to lift a burden from Aimee’s heart, her tears flowing harder now as she finally let go of all the pain she’d kept bottled up.
Meanwhile, Marc was busy putting the final touches on his plan to take Allison down.
He narrowed his eyes, scanning the area before whispering to his accomplices,
“I’ve already disabled the security cameras. Hurry, before anyone notices.”
As he stepped out of the security department, a hint of anxiety lingered. He feared Aimee might slip up and tell Allison something she shouldn’t. But when he saw her return to the lab, red-eyed and wearing clean clothes, shrinking back into the most inconspicuous corner like nothing had happened, Marc relaxed.
He sneered.
“She really doesn’t have the guts to report it.”
“And even if she did, without solid evidence, it wouldn’t matter,” Thea chimed in, shaking her head.
“What could Ms. Clarke possibly do? She can’t interfere with personal issues between colleagues.”
They exchanged a look, smug and contemptuous, convinced their plan was foolproof.
Late into the night, after Kellan had wrapped up the last of his paperwork, he noticed a soft glow still coming from the lab. He didn’t need to guess who was burning the midnight oil. It was always Allison.
“You’re working late again, Ms. Clarke,” Kellan said as he pushed the door open and walked in, frowning instinctively. Allison was focused entirely on her computer, but she looked tired. She hadn’t slept well last night, and here she was working late again.
“Staying up too late isn’t good for your health.”
Allison didn’t even bother glancing up, recognizing him immediately by the sound of his voice. She swiftly tucked away a small USB drive, then stretched and turned her gaze toward him.
“And what about you, Mr. Lloyd? Seems like we’re both in the same boat, burning the candle at both ends.”
She lazily stretched, finally peeling her eyes away from the screen.
Kellan handed her a cappuccino.
“The company’s auditing the accounts, and perfume orders have been flooding in, so I’ve been swamped. I made you a shareholder, so it’s on me if you push yourself too hard.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she replied, taking a long sip of the coffee without hesitation.
“I just got carried away working on some fragrances. Lost track of time, that’s all.”
Her words were only half true. She had indeed been blending perfumes, but most of her time tonight had been spent hacking into Marc’s computer, copying hidden files, and attempting to access his main server.
Fatigue was starting to settle in, heavy like a thick fog.
“Thanks for the concern, though,” she added with a smile. Allison had always been a lone wolf, and with the lab staff still not fully vetted, she wasn’t about to let her guard down. The sharks hadn’t shown their teeth just yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time.
Kellan sat in his wheelchair, watching her pack up the lab equipment. After a moment of silence, he said,
“Come on, I’ll give you a lift home.”
“No need. It’s not raining, and my car’s just down in the underground garage. I parked close this time.”
“It’s no trouble. I’m heading that way,” Kellan responded, his tone steady.
Upon hearing this, Allison looked up, casting him a peculiar glance.
“But the Lloyd estate and Muisvedo are in opposite directions. Pretty sure you’re not heading my way.”
Classic Kellan! He effortlessly spun lies without skipping a beat.
Kellan didn’t flinch; he remained cool as ever under her scrutiny.
“Actually, I have business in Muisvedo. So, it’s on the way.”
“Is that so?” Allison mused. “Well, if that’s the case, I won’t argue.” After all, refusing now would only feel awkward. Besides, she was here to build trust with Kellan, wasn’t she? Grabbing her bag, she flicked off the lights and prepared to leave.
“But Mr. Lloyd,” she added. “Why don’t you head down first? Lots of eyes around here, even this late. You can wait for me in the garage.”
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.