Sophia Sullivan tucked the business card away with a polite smile. "My skills are hardly worthy of showcasing before someone like you, Mr. Roland. Besides, I'm only helping out a friend at Breeze Perfumes and have no plans to leave."
Seeing her firm stance, Mr. Roland didn’t press further.
"Then I won’t trouble you further, Ms. Sullivan."
Not only did he withdraw the complaint, but he also personally called the company to apologize.
After handling the client matter, Sophia rushed back to check on the progress. Five hundred handcrafted perfumes—no small task. The lab was brightly lit, everyone working diligently.
"How many are done?"
"About two hundred."
Hand-blending perfumes was time-consuming and exhausting. Fatigue showed on every face.
"Good. Let’s finish the rest together. The client has withdrawn the complaint. Everyone working overtime tonight will get double bonuses this month."
The word "bonus" acted like a shot of adrenaline, lifting spirits.
Sophia rolled up her sleeves and joined the blending line. Her movements were fluid, fingers dancing effortlessly between vials of fragrance, her speed far surpassing the others.
From dusk till midnight, time slipped away unnoticed. The team watched her skilled hands, their initial skepticism turning to admiration.
She wasn’t just a name after all.
"Ms. Sullivan’s technique—no wonder she was called a prodigy perfumer!"
"Her ability to identify scents is incredible. We wouldn’t have made this progress without her."
"You should rest. We can handle the rest."
...
In the corner, Caleb Vance listened to the praise, his face dark. The office incident from earlier had spread, and the disdainful glances from colleagues burned. He clenched his fists but could do nothing.
With Sophia’s help, progress accelerated. By early morning, the final perfume was sealed. Exhausted, the team began to leave, bidding Sophia farewell.
"Good work today, Ms. Sullivan. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Sophia stayed behind to tidy the messy workstation. Opening a drawer, she found a jar of fruit candies and a note.
—"You’ve worked all day. Thought you might need these for low blood sugar. Have one! ^_^" —Charlotte.
Sophia’s lips curved at the neat handwriting and cheerful smiley face. The quiet, reserved girl had such thoughtful attention to detail.
Outside, lightning flashed, followed by thunder. Rain poured down in sheets.
Sophia realized she hadn’t brought an umbrella.
"I’ll wait for it to ease up."
Rubbing her stiff neck, she curled into a chair in the corner. She meant to rest her eyes but succumbed to exhaustion, drifting into sleep.
Top floor, CEO’s office.
Ethan Sullivan set down his pen after signing the last document, massaging his temples. As he wheeled himself out, he noticed the light still on in the lab below.
Who was still there at 1 AM?
Curious, he followed the light. Pushing open the lab door, he found Sophia asleep in her chair.
Without her usual cool composure, her long lashes rested like butterfly wings, her face serene. Ethan’s gaze softened. He removed his suit jacket, moving quietly to drape it over her.
"You’ll catch a cold like this," he murmured.
Just as the fabric brushed her shoulders, Sophia’s eyes snapped open. Her hand shot up, gripping his wrist with surprising strength. Ethan stilled.
Their eyes met. A flicker of wariness crossed Sophia’s gaze before she released him, her expression smoothing. "I’m a light sleeper. Reflex."
Ethan chuckled, studying her. "Ms. Sullivan, even asleep you’re on guard. Quite unusual." Like a fox in sheep’s clothing, ears always pricked.
Sophia avoided his gaze, looking instead at the relentless rain outside. "You’re working late too, Mr. Sullivan. Being CEO isn’t easy, it seems."
"I could say the same. Everyone’s gone. Sleeping here alone—aren’t you worried about getting sick?"
"The rain’s too heavy. My car’s in the opposite garage—a ten-minute walk. I’d rather not be drenched. I meant to wait it out but fell asleep."
Ethan followed her gaze. The downpour showed no signs of stopping. His voice gentled. "You’ve worked hard today. My car’s downstairs. If you don’t mind, I can take you home."
Sophia considered him, then nodded. "Alright. Thank you."