Chapter 232

Victoria had so much to unload. It felt like she'd been searching for the perfect moment to release all the emotions she'd bottled up. "Honestly, our department isn't the worst. Sure, the pressure can be crushing, but at least we can always chase new clients and deals. Perfumers? That's a whole different beast."

She shook her head, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Evelyn's skills... they're unreal. And I'm not just talking about within Phoenix Labs. Look at our entire country—finding someone as brilliant as her is nearly impossible, let alone someone with global recognition. Phoenix has never lacked perfumers, but true talent? That's rare. Evelyn, when I look at you, I see potential. Real potential."

Victoria reached out, giving Evelyn's shoulder a firm pat that nearly knocked her off balance.

After listening quietly to Victoria's heartfelt words, Evelyn finally spoke. "We'll win the annual fragrance competition."

The declaration hit Victoria like a splash of ice water. Her eyes widened, and she sat up straighter, suddenly sober. Sophia, too, stared at Evelyn in shock. In all their time working together, she had never seen Evelyn exude such confidence. Evelyn was always buried in her research, tweaking formulas, refining scents—never boastful, never making bold claims. But now? It was as if victory was already hers.

"Evelyn, just making the top three would be incredible," Victoria said, trying to temper expectations. Winning the whole thing? That was beyond imagination. The industry was ruthless, filled with seasoned perfumers and hidden prodigies. Who knew if there was another Evelyn out there, or someone even better?

She worried she'd accidentally pressured Evelyn and quickly backtracked. "You don’t have to aim for first place. You’re still new to Phoenix. There’s no need to—"

"Trust me," Evelyn interrupted softly, squeezing Victoria’s hand before standing. "I’ll be right back."

As Evelyn walked out, Victoria and Sophia exchanged stunned glances.

"Was she always this... self-assured?" Victoria whispered.

Evelyn had never cared about accolades. She never bragged about her work, never obsessed over competitions or awards—not even whether her perfumes made it to production. To her, Dominic handled that side of things, and she trusted him completely.

Once, she'd even admitted she worried her fragrances might have flaws. Despite countless tests, she could never be fully certain.

Sophia suspected this hesitation stemmed from the backlash Evelyn faced after her first competition. It had shaken her. But after leaving Dominic and DR Holdings, something changed. She was different now—bolder, more determined.

Just like the name of her new company, she had truly risen from the ashes.