Chapter 74

"Yes, I set that deadline for myself."

"Are you out of your mind?" Alexander's grip on the towel loosened, letting it slip from Evelyn's shoulders onto the couch. The situation was unusual enough that he'd already had Harrison contact Gregory. According to Gregory, they were developing new products while testing odor suppression with fragrances. The team had been given ten days to deliver results, with three people assigned to the experiment—Evelyn wasn't one of them.

Gregory had been just as surprised and promised to look into it immediately. But Evelyn insisted she could gather the necessary data in a single day—and that she was the one who had set the impossible deadline.

Alexander could only stare at her like she'd lost her mind.

Evelyn didn’t understand his reaction. Tilting her head, she said, "I’m not crazy. It’s not that hard."

Her words left him speechless. He didn’t know whether to call her overconfident or outright reckless. DR Holdings assigned tasks systematically—challenging enough to push employees without overwhelming them. If management had given the team ten days, it was because they needed ten days.

"So you're telling me you're going back to that foul-smelling lab tomorrow? For an entire day?" Alexander inhaled sharply, already dreading the thought.

Is he worried I’ll come home stinking again? Evelyn considered it for a moment before offering, "Don’t worry. I’ll bring essential oils and fragrance samples. I’ll clean up before I leave."

"That facility is miles from the city, and you’ll be working ridiculous hours. Don’t go." For the first time, Alexander regretted the company’s decision to build the labs so far out. Cabs were scarce after hours, and last time, she’d sprained her ankle there.

Why the hell do they need to work until 8 PM? The schedule was absurd.

"I—" Evelyn started to argue, but the storm in Alexander’s expression stopped her. He wasn’t just annoyed—he was worried. The realization warmed her chest, though she couldn’t help but find it amusing.

She rose from the couch, then dropped to one knee in front of him. When she leaned forward, Alexander had no choice but to catch her before she toppled over.

"Darling CEO," she teased, "you’re the one who approved the lab location and working hours. Why are you mad about it now? Everyone else follows the same schedule—why shouldn’t I? Besides, the hours aren’t that bad. I could’ve left at six, but I got caught up in the experiment. Tell you what—I’ll wrap things up fast and come home early. Deal?"

Alexander’s frown deepened, his disapproval obvious.

He’s adorable when he’s like this. Evelyn bit back a laugh and pressed a kiss to each of his cheeks. Then, cupping his face, she brushed feather-light kisses over the tip of his nose before finally capturing his lips. "Please? It’s just one more day. You promised me creative freedom."

Alexander, who had been scowling moments ago, melted under her playful coaxing. He was utterly defenseless against her like this. With a resigned sigh, he cradled the back of her head and kissed her hard.

In the end, he always gave in to her.

At 11:30 PM, a call from the factory jolted Dominic awake. His irritation at the disturbance turned to fury when he heard the news.

"What? Say that again!" His shout was loud enough to wake Vanessa beside him. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up. "What’s going on? Some of us are trying to sleep."

Dominic shoved her aside and stormed out of bed. "You ran out of ingredients, and instead of restocking, you’re calling me? What the hell is Purchasing doing? Find a supplier—is that too much to ask?"

"Mr. Reeves, the missing ingredient is… the essential oil from Phoenix Labs."