Chapter 151

Vanessa deleted all the messages with a satisfied smile before heading downstairs. At the hotel entrance, her eyes lit up at the sight of a sleek Summit Trailhawk parked outside. Her heart raced when she spotted Lucien Dubois waiting behind the wheel. The fact that a man of his status would personally pick her up made her feel important.

"Where did this car come from? I don’t recall DR Holdings arranging this," she asked, trying to suppress her excitement.

"That tiny company of yours?" Lucien’s tone dripped with disdain. Vanessa didn’t take offense—she knew DR Holdings was insignificant compared to his empire. Still, it stung a little. She had once dreamed of expanding it into a powerhouse, but those ambitions had faded.

Someone like Lucien would naturally look down on such a small venture.

"Mm," she nodded.

"Honestly," Lucien said, his fingers tapping the steering wheel, "if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have bothered riding in your company’s car from the airport."

Vanessa didn’t know how much truth there was in his words, but they still sent a thrill through her.

"Where are we going?" she asked, anticipation coloring her voice.

"You’ll see."

The car sped through the streets, and soon, they arrived at their destination.

Vanessa gasped, her heart fluttering. "Oh my god, it’s breathtaking! I never knew a place like this existed! Lucien, how did you even find this? You’re incredible!"

Lucien smirked as he parked the car. He leaned slightly toward her, his voice low. "I am incredible. In more ways than one."

"Ugh, stop it!" She playfully shoved his shoulder, laughing as her cheeks flushed.

Meanwhile, the sun blazed mercilessly overhead. Evelyn wiped the sweat from her brow, her skin flushed from the heat. Beside her, Victoria Sterling looked equally exhausted, her breathing labored.

"Victoria, let’s head back inside for now. We can continue later," Evelyn suggested.

Victoria nodded, pausing to catch her breath. "Alright."

They had wandered far enough that Victoria called for a car from the base to pick them up. While they waited, she fanned herself with her hat, watching as Evelyn moved gracefully among the flowers.

Even under the scorching sun, Evelyn’s skin remained flawless, glowing rather than tanning. The vibrant blooms around her paled in comparison to her beauty. The way the sunlight caught the strands of her slightly disheveled hair, the beads of sweat trailing down her neck—it all made her look ethereal.

Victoria had initially been skeptical of Evelyn, assuming she’d gotten into Phoenix Labs through connections rather than skill. But Evelyn had proven herself time and again, acing even the most complex assessments.

"Evelyn," Victoria finally asked, curiosity getting the better of her, "what exactly are you searching for out here?"

She had accompanied many colleagues on field trips, but none had been as relentless as Evelyn.

Evelyn paused, considering the question. "A raw material with the exact extract I need."

Victoria frowned. "What kind of extract?"