Ethan Sullivan appeared at the laboratory entrance with a frosty expression.
His sharp gaze swept across everyone present.
"Since when did Breeze Perfumes allow unauthorized personnel to enter freely?"
His voice was icy.
"I recall placing both of you on the blacklist."
Ethan's eyes locked onto Liam Winston and Chloe Evans.
"How did you two sneak onto the inspection roster?"
Liam and Chloe paled instantly.
Neither dared to speak, their heads bowed.
Their names weren't on the official list.
They had shamelessly tagged along, hoping to mend relations with Ethan.
But in their excitement, they'd forgotten their precarious position.
Suspicious glances came from all directions.
Ethan strode directly to Sophia Sullivan's side.
"Ms. Sullivan is a company shareholder and co-owner."
His voice rang with authority.
"Since when do owners need to justify their actions to employees?"
Ethan scoffed.
"Moreover, Ms. Sullivan oversees fragrance development in this lab."
He scanned the room.
"Even if she dismantled this place today, not a single complaint would be tolerated!"
The technicians blanched.
They'd assumed Sophia was just another corporate appointee.
No one had mentioned she held equity.
The difference between a supervisor and a shareholder was monumental.
Supervisors could be placated.
Shareholders could terminate careers with a word.
"Crimson Serpent owns part of Breeze Perfumes?"
Someone whispered.
"But even shareholders shouldn't break protocol..."
The inspection team included competitors.
One seized the opportunity to stir trouble.
"This does violate procedure."
Sophia continued typing without looking up.
"Since when did perfumery rules depend on age?"
Her tone was cool.
"Take that gentleman, for example—one foot already in the grave."
She flicked a glance at the speaker.
"What was your ranking in the last competition again?"
The man turned ashen.
He hadn't even qualified to compete.
"Talent exists where it exists."
Sophia entered the final keystroke.
"And where it doesn't, no amount of time changes that."
She rose slowly.
"Some cling to formulas their entire lives."
Her gaze swept the room.
"Yet never match a novice's single inspired moment."
She focused on the technicians.
"Rather than whine about fairness, consider improving your skills."
The staff stiffened under her scrutiny.
No one expected such commanding presence from someone so young.
Catching Chloe's meaningful look, Caleb Vance stepped forward.
"Ms. Sullivan, even as a shareholder, you shouldn't idle at the central console."
Hannah Vance feigned surprise.
"Oh dear, I forgot—Ms. Sullivan claimed she was repairing the system."
Their clique chimed in.
"Said the core program was under attack."
"But you're a perfumer. Since when do you fix computers?"
"And refused to let us observe."
"Breeze's firewall is A-City's finest. Untouched for years."
Everyone concluded Sophia was neglecting her duties.
Ethan frowned.
But his faith in her never wavered.
As he prepared to intervene, a staffer rushed in.
"Mr. Sullivan! Our website just suffered a malicious attack!"
He gasped for breath.
"The database nearly got wiped!"
The man looked shaken.
"Someone restored it just in time."
He glanced around, puzzled.
"Did headquarters send support? The response was impossibly fast."
Understanding dawned on Ethan.
He turned to Sophia.
"It seems you've saved me yet again."
All eyes followed his gaze.
On Sophia's monitor, lines of code scrolled rapidly.
The chaotic interface stabilized before them.
Chloe gaped.
"Sophia... how could she..."
Liam looked equally stunned.
Sophia knew programming?
Those who'd mocked her now resembled corpses.
Their taunts had boomeranged—
Slapping their own faces with resounding force.