Chapter 325

Adrienne Laurent sat rigidly in the hotel suite, her sleek tablet balanced on one knee and a stylus poised between her fingers. The sharp click of her heels against the marble floor betrayed her impatience as she waited for Evelyn Carter to return.

When the door finally swung open, Evelyn blinked in surprise at the sight of her assistant looking every bit like a corporate executive about to storm a board meeting.

Guilt prickled at Evelyn for having indulged in a solo dinner without bringing anything back. With a sheepish smile, she gestured Adrienne inside.

"Adrienne, have you eaten? I can call for room service if you're hungry."

Food usually softened the tension in any conversation, but Adrienne shook her head briskly.

"No, thank you. I already ate. Let’s get straight to business."

Evelyn poured herself a glass of water, the cool liquid soothing her throat as she took a long sip.

"Alright, go ahead. What’s the plan?"

She knew Adrienne had spent the entire afternoon locked in her room, strategizing. The woman wouldn’t have rushed over like this without a fully formed proposal.

"I’ve consulted with DR Holdings," Adrienne began, her tone clipped. "The consensus is that you should participate in tomorrow’s sampling event."

Her gaze sharpened, ready to counter any resistance.

Evelyn merely nodded.

"Sure. I’ll do it."

Adrienne’s fingers froze mid-tap against her tablet. "That’s it? No arguments?"

Evelyn tilted her head. "Why would I argue?"

"So… you’re confident in your skills?" Adrienne ventured cautiously.

"If I weren’t, the company wouldn’t have sent me. Besides," Evelyn swirled the water in her glass, "I’m curious to see what the other perfumers can do."

Adrienne nearly groaned.

DR Holdings had dispatched Evelyn with the expectation that she’d at least promote the brand, if not secure a win. Yet here she was, treating the event like a casual experiment.

"You’re representing the company," Adrienne pressed. "You need to aim for a win." She barely stopped herself from adding first place—that was too ambitious.

"I’ll do my best, but results aren’t guaranteed," Evelyn replied with infuriating calm.

Adrienne’s jaw tightened.

How is this your best when you were out gallivanting until sunset? But she swallowed the remark.

"Fine. Given your… connection with Mr. Whitaker, there will be scrutiny. The company has PR statements prepared to mitigate backlash. Don’t let online chatter upset you."

Evelyn shook her head.

"Don’t bother. Over-explaining will only fuel speculation. And honestly, the company shouldn’t waste resources on damage control. Redirect those funds to R&D."

Adrienne stared, stunned by Evelyn’s stubbornness.

Here she was, trying to protect Evelyn’s reputation, and the woman was dismissing it outright.

With a sigh, Adrienne snapped her tablet shut. "If that’s your decision, then good luck tomorrow, Ms. Carter. Get some rest."

Evelyn exhaled in relief as Adrienne stood.

But at the door, Adrienne paused. "One more thing—this city isn’t as safe as Veridian. If you go out, tell me first. Keeping you safe is part of my job."

Evelyn arched a brow but nodded. "Noted."

For all her nagging, Adrienne was undeniably thorough. And beneath that corporate exterior, she genuinely cared.