Chapter 104

Lucien Dubois's expression remained impassive. He leaned in to inhale the essential oil, his brow furrowing slightly before he scanned the formula. Then, a faint smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

"Pathetic attempt at deception," he muttered.

Though his voice was low, Dominic Reeves caught it immediately. His eyes lit up with excitement. "Mr. Dubois, does that mean you know how to correct the formula?"

"Correct it?" Lucien scoffed, flicking the paper dismissively. It fluttered to the ground. "There’s nothing to correct. This isn’t the formula."

A stunned silence fell over the room.

Dominic blinked. "Not the formula? That’s impossible! We’ve tested it repeatedly—the scents are nearly identical. If this isn’t the formula, how could they be so similar?"

The staff exchanged uneasy glances. They didn’t know who Lucien was, only that Dominic had brought him in. His arrogance made them bristle.

Lucien merely smirked. "Believe what you want. I don’t owe you an explanation."

One of the chemists stepped forward, indignant. "Mr. Reeves, we’ve spent days analyzing this. The discrepancy lies in one ingredient—we just need more time to isolate it!"

Dominic hesitated, torn between the team’s insistence and Lucien’s unwavering confidence.

Had Lucien made a mistake?

Lucien’s cold laugh cut through the tension. "Days? And you still need more time? Incompetence isn’t cured by time—it’s permanent."

The room erupted in outrage. "How dare you—!"

Dominic raised a hand, silencing them. "Enough. The priority is solving this. Whoever delivers the correct formula will be rewarded."

His words carried a veiled challenge—Lucien would only earn his payment if he proved himself.

Before the staff could protest further, Lucien scribbled something on a fresh sheet and thrust it at Dominic. "Here. Follow this."

Dominic took it, his skepticism evident. The others craned their necks, only to recoil in confusion.

"What language is this?"

"French," Lucien said, dusting his hands. "I don’t bother with English for technical work. Find a translator." He turned toward the door. "I’m leaving. I’ve wasted enough time here."

Dominic clutched the paper like a lifeline. He knew basic French, but was this really the answer? The team had worked tirelessly—how could Lucien solve it in minutes without testing?

Still, he couldn’t undermine Lucien in front of everyone. He pocketed the note. "We’ll proceed with Mr. Dubois’s instructions. Everyone, take the night off. And get me a professional translator—immediately."