Chapter 70

There was no hostility in Victoria Sterling’s gaze this time. Instead, it carried something akin to encouragement.

A faint smile curved her lips. "Why would I be afraid?"

Evelyn Carter, as a perfumer, understood that the craft wasn’t just about creating captivating scents—it also involved taming the most repulsive odors.

Not all raw materials carried pleasant aromas. Some reeked, some were downright nauseating. To neutralize the stench while preserving the desired fragrance, a perfumer had to master the unique properties of each element.

The overwhelming stench in this lab suggested it was dedicated to experimenting with the most pungent odors imaginable.

Evelyn had expected Victoria to challenge her, but she hadn’t anticipated this method.

Still, it didn’t matter. In fact, it intrigued her. Evelyn was fascinated by every aspect of perfumery, no matter how unpleasant.

Victoria was mildly impressed by Evelyn’s composure but kept her tone sharp. "Don’t get too confident. Do you think simply eliminating the smell is enough? That’s basic knowledge any novice perfumer should have."

She crossed her arms. "Your task is to document the data of forty-eight distinct odors and analyze their characteristics. You have three days. Can you handle it?"

Evelyn met her gaze steadily. "I don’t need that long."

She paused, then added, "One day. That’s all I need."

A flicker of surprise crossed Victoria’s face before she masked it. "Fine. You asked for it. Don’t blame me if you fail. You’ll take full responsibility for your promise."

"Of course." Evelyn was already eager to begin.

Seeing the excitement in Evelyn’s eyes, Victoria found herself inexplicably curious about the outcome.

Truthfully, Victoria hadn’t liked Evelyn from the start. She had been skeptical when Gregory Whitmore insisted on hiring her, suspecting there was more to the story.

But Evelyn’s performance in the meeting had shifted Victoria’s perspective slightly. At the very least, the woman had real skill.

Why had she never heard of Evelyn before? If she was truly the one behind DR Holdings’ bestselling fragrances, why were they always credited to others?

Victoria narrowed her eyes. Something didn’t add up.

"Some of these forty-eight odors are very similar," she warned. "And I should remind you—protect yourself. You could damage your nose before you even finish."

Her tone was harsh, but Evelyn caught the underlying concern.

She smiled. "Don’t worry. I’ll complete the task and pass your assessment."

Victoria’s lips twitched, but she quickly schooled her expression. "Words mean nothing. Results are what matter here."

"Understood."

Just as Evelyn turned to begin, Victoria hesitated, then called out, "Hey—"

Evelyn glanced back. "Yes?"

Victoria exhaled sharply, feigning irritation. "Is that lawsuit of yours over yet? It’s dragging on like some never-ending drama."

Despite her tone, there was a hint of genuine concern.

Evelyn chuckled. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Sterling. It’ll be resolved soon."

Victoria scoffed. "I’m not concerned about you. I just don’t want your personal mess affecting the company’s reputation."

Evelyn nodded. "I’ll handle it as quickly as possible."