Chapter 231

"Cheers!" The cozy room buzzed with energy, even though only three of them were gathered. Their excitement was palpable.

"I never imagined you could develop a fragrance this quickly. I'm absolutely blown away!" Victoria exclaimed.

She had already tested the successful samples that morning. The girls had given her a sample to try yesterday, and the scent was intoxicating—truly exquisite. "We told you the formula was a winner. Honestly, this is just the beginning. Evelyn could craft an entirely new fragrance and perfect it within a month!" Sophia boasted between bites.

"Seriously? A month? That means she could create dozens of new perfumes in a year!" Just imagining the sheer volume of products Evelyn could produce sent a thrill through Victoria. And given what she had already witnessed, she had no doubts about the quality.

"Well, not exactly. Without inspiration or a clear vision, it could take me three months or more to perfect something worthwhile. Let’s hope you don’t get impatient and fire me!" Evelyn turned to Victoria with a playful smirk.

Victoria burst into laughter. "As if I’d ever have that power! Remember when you first joined Phoenix Labs..." She paused, glancing at Sophia. "You weren’t here yet, so you wouldn’t know. When Evelyn first arrived, I fought tooth and nail to keep her off my team. I even argued with Mr. Preston—but it didn’t change a thing! I was convinced she had some high-up connection in the company. Absolutely certain!"

Victoria slammed her palm on the table for emphasis. Sophia shot Evelyn an amused look, thinking, Well, she’s not entirely wrong. Evelyn does have a connection—just not the kind she’s imagining.

Sophia grinned mischievously and nudged Victoria. "So, who was Evelyn’s mysterious backer?"

Victoria turned to Evelyn and pouted dramatically. "Turns out, she didn’t have one at all! Since I couldn’t get rid of her, I decided to drown her in impossible tasks, hoping she’d quit. But she proved me wrong—every single time."

She leaned in, her voice softening. "That’s when I realized her talent alone would keep her here, connections or not. She’s a prodigy. Honestly, I’m not worried about you leaving. I know you’ll become a legend in this industry one day."

The praise was effusive, but Evelyn simply smiled. "You’re too kind."

"I mean it! Just don’t forget about us when you’re famous, alright?" Victoria downed another glass, her words starting to slur.

"Victoria, I think you’ve had enough," Sophia said, steadying her as she swayed slightly.

"Enough? Please, I can handle way more than this! You should see me on business trips—" She cut herself off, clapping a hand over her mouth as her face paled.

"Victoria, are you okay? Maybe we should call it a night," Sophia suggested, eyeing her with concern.

"Leave? It’s way too early! Besides, when do we ever get time like this to just talk?" Victoria grabbed both their hands, pulling them closer. "I really like you two. Everyone at the office is terrified of me. To them, I’m just some work-obsessed monster. But that’s not who I am. This industry is brutal—if you’re not tough, you’ll get crushed."

Her grip tightened, her voice raw with sincerity. "But with you... it’s different."