Chapter 181
The past few days had been a whirlwind for Evelyn Carter. The crimson mahogany plant she'd been eagerly awaiting had finally arrived. It wasn't large—just a medium-sized specimen, specially cultivated by the nursery—but it was exactly what she needed.
After returning from Silverpine Valley, Vanessa Blake had gone above and beyond, securing Evelyn her own private lab at Phoenix Labs. Though not expansive, it was fully equipped with everything she required.
The sudden shift in Vanessa’s attitude toward Evelyn sent shockwaves through the company. Whispers spread like wildfire.
It wasn’t fair, they murmured. No one else had been granted a private workspace after less than three months. And Evelyn hadn’t even gone through the standard hiring process—she’d appeared out of nowhere, already wrapped in rumors.
Vanessa didn’t bother justifying her decision. Instead, she left them with a challenge.
"I tested Evelyn. Anyone willing to take the same test—and pass—will get the same privileges. Fair enough?"
That shut them up.
Most had witnessed the first task. There was no cheating, no shortcuts. While others had been stumped, Evelyn had pinpointed the issue effortlessly.
The second task? Just hearing about it gave them headaches. No one dared attempt it.
So they swallowed their complaints and went back to work.
Inside the lab, Evelyn was in her element. The outside world didn’t exist.
Her time in Silverpine Valley had sparked an idea, but it wasn’t until she found the crimson mahogany that everything clicked.
She worked tirelessly—washing, drying, cutting, melting, extracting. By nightfall, her neck ached, forcing her to pause.
Moments like these made her miss Bella more than ever.
They had been the perfect team. Bella handled the prep work while Evelyn crafted the fragrances. They moved in sync, anticipating each other’s needs.
But Dominic still refused to accept Bella’s resignation.
Evelyn checked the date on her phone, then dialed.
"Bella, free for dinner?"
Thirty minutes later, they sat at a small food stand near Bella’s apartment. The table was piled with burgers, fries, tacos—but silence hung heavy between them.
Finally, Bella grabbed a burger and took an aggressive bite, as if chewing through frustration. Evelyn followed suit, eating slowly.
They used to do this all the time. Back then, Bella had been by her side more than Dominic ever was.
When only wrappers remained, Evelyn wiped her hands and pulled a contract from her bag. She slid it across the table.
"Take it home. Read it. We’ll discuss any changes. Welcome to the team."
Bella glanced at the document—an employment contract from Phoenix Labs. But she didn’t pick it up.
"What’s wrong?" Evelyn frowned. "You haven’t resigned yet?"
Bella shook her head.
"Don’t you want to be my partner again?"