Chapter 77

The morning air was crisp as Dominic Reeves instructed Vanessa Blake to summon all employees to DR Holdings.

By sunrise, the staff had gathered, their faces etched with confusion. The urgency in the message suggested something monumental had occurred.

Vanessa's usual carefree demeanor vanished as she meticulously analyzed the essential oil samples from Celestia Group's factory. Her perfumer's instincts told her something was terribly wrong.

Though she'd neglected her duties for years, her foundational skills remained sharp. The chemical composition matched the formula perfectly. Yet the final product smelled entirely different.

Dominic kept the crisis under wraps. "We're conducting an assessment for a new project," he announced, handing out samples. "Identify the differences between these batches."

The young perfumers exchanged puzzled glances but complied. Most were recent graduates—Dominic had never invested in proper training.

Back when Evelyn Carter worked for free, there'd been no need for additional talent. Now her absence left a gaping hole in their operations.

Dominic paced the labs, his jaw clenched. Time was slipping away. If they couldn't solve this mystery soon, the contract breach penalties would bankrupt them.

He paused outside Vanessa's workstation. She sat alone, forehead creased in concentration. Something nagged at him—then it clicked.

"Where's Isabella?" he demanded.

Blank stares answered him.

"I contacted everyone," Vanessa said. "Texts, WhatsApp—no response from Bella."

Dominic's face darkened. "Keep calling! Drag her here if necessary! This isn't some—"

"Morning, everyone!" A cheerful voice interrupted his tirade.

Isabella Thornton waltzed in, her designer bag swinging. "Wow, you're all here early!"

Dominic whirled around. The sight of her carefree smile made his blood boil.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" he hissed through gritted teeth.

The lab fell silent as all eyes turned to the latecomer. Isabella blinked, her smile faltering under Dominic's glare.

"I—I thought the meeting was at nine?"

Dominic's fist clenched. The ticking clock and her obliviousness were a dangerous combination. Something had to give.