Chapter 328

"You had me investigated?"

Lucien pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lit it with a flick of his wrist, and exhaled a slow stream of smoke. His eyes gleamed with something unreadable.

"Of course. But don’t worry—I won’t use it against you." Vanessa smiled, her voice as smooth as silk. "After all, we’re allies now. Our interests align, don’t they?"

Her expression remained gentle, almost sweet, but there was steel beneath it.

"What do you want?"

Lucien wasn’t naive. She wouldn’t have revealed this without a purpose.

"I’ll do what I can. But the first prize in the perfumery competition? That’s beyond my control."

Vanessa tilted her head, amusement dancing in her gaze. "Who says it is?"

She stepped closer, her fingers brushing his sleeve as she lowered her voice. "Rumor has it that last year’s competition was a foregone conclusion—until you won. People whispered about cheating, but no one could prove a thing."

Lucien took another drag, his jaw tight. Silence stretched between them.

"That’s why I believe in you," she murmured. "This is Valmont—your domain. You have your methods, don’t you?"

Her breath was warm against his ear. "It’s just a competition. If we knew the questions ahead of time… wouldn’t that make things easier?"

Vanessa wasn’t delusional. On her own, she’d be lucky to make the shortlist, let alone win.

But with the right advantage? The game changed.

Cheating in perfumery was supposed to be impossible—it was all about the nose, after all. But if no one could truly measure another’s senses, then where were the lines drawn? Every competition had its loopholes.

And men like Lucien proved they existed.

He finished his cigarette, grinding it beneath his heel. "What’s in it for me?"

Vanessa’s smile sharpened. "After the competition, I’ll deliver Evelyn to you. Do whatever you please."

Lucien chuckled, but his eyes remained cold. "Really? You couldn’t touch her in Veridia. What makes you think you can here?"

"If I uncovered your secrets, don’t you think I have my ways?"

She leaned back, feigning nonchalance. "In Veridia, I was the obvious suspect. Here? No one would suspect me."

"You hired someone."

It wasn’t a question.

Vanessa shrugged. "My methods are my own. The point is—we both get what we want. I gain prestige. You get revenge."

Lucien scoffed. "I’m not an idiot. What if she fights back? Sues me? Or worse—with her skills, she could ruin me."

He wasn’t about to risk his career—or his life—for fleeting satisfaction.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Where’s that cunning of yours? If she resists… make sure she can’t."