Chapter 47:

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After filing their report at the police station, Allison and Kellan spent an additional three days in Athton, as Emanuel insisted on ensuring their full recovery. As they prepared to leave, Emanuel, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears, bid them farewell. “Take care, Allison, wheel monster!”

Though Allison was hesitant to part ways, she had pressing matters awaiting her.

Upon returning to the Green family home, Allison took a shower. As she dried her hair with a towel, she made her way to the secret room her best friend had designed. There, she retrieved a backup black phone and dialed a number.

The voice on the other end was initially stunned but soon turned melodramatic, dripping with disappointment. “Boss! You finally decided to call me! Have you forgotten about Cobweb?”

Allison’s response was curt. “I need you to look someone up.”

Gordon Herbert teased, “A lover, is it? You finally reach out after all this time just to give me work? Alright, who’s the lucky one?”

“Collect everything you have on Kellan Lloyd and send it to my computer.”

“Kellan Lloyd? The Lloyd Group guy?” Gordon, despite his playful tone, was quick and efficient. Within less than a minute, a decrypted file landed in Allison’s inbox. “His information is top-secret. Many have tried to dig up dirt on him.”

Allison didn’t utter a word. She examined Kellan’s file in silence.

Her brow knitted in concern. No wonder Kellan had mentioned family troubles. The situation there was a tangled mess.

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His mother died early, and his father, the head of the Lloyd Group, was no pushover. With a host of illegitimate children, it was no surprise that the family was embroiled in fierce power struggles. Kellan, the rightful heir, was at the center of it all.

The current Mrs. Lloyd had started as a mistress. Although her youth had faded, the photos showed a woman who still exuded charm. She had employed every tactic to secure her position in the family.

She also had a son, Hoyt Lloyd, who had recently made a splash.

“What’s the story with Hoyt Lloyd?” Allison inquired.

“That guy? Another illegitimate child, but he managed to elbow his way into the limelight and became the official heir.”

“He’s ruthless and ambitious, even launching his own luxury brand to rival Kellan’s. And behind the scenes? His methods are dirtier than a coal miner’s hands. It’s common knowledge that Kellan and Hoyt loathe each other. They’d probably relish the chance to take each other out.”

Allison’s review of Hoyt’s background suggested that the assassin after them had probably been his doing.

Gordon sighed dramatically on the other end. He sounded bored. “Boss, don’t you miss us? I’m practically dying of boredom running Cobweb solo. Some of these buffoons can’t gather intel to save their lives. If you were here, things would run like a well-oiled machine.”

“Hang tight. I’ll be back soon.”

“What? Really? I’ll start tidying up and getting things ready!”

Gordon’s excitement was palpable. He had only hoped Allison might assist him remotely, but the prospect of her returning in person was like hitting the jackpot.

“Don’t get so carried away…” Allison felt a headache brewing from Gordon’s overly enthusiastic response. She had never been one for the limelight. Just as Gordon was about to get even more excited, she heard footsteps outside and quickly ended the call after giving him a few last-minute instructions.

“Hey, all fresh and clean, huh? You smell lovely, Allison!” Rebecca popped out from behind the couch, enveloping Allison in a hug as if she were a child seeking affection.

“Seriously? You’re an adult now.” Allison knew Rebecca’s carefree spirit well. To spare her from worry, Allison hadn’t shared the dangerous situation in Athton with her.

“You’ve been out having fun, haven’t you? You have no idea how busy I’ve been sorting things out for you!” Rebecca, unaware of the true events, assumed Allison had been enjoying herself and proudly continued, “I’ve already submitted your name for the perfumery competition, just as you asked. I didn’t use the Scarlet Snake alias this time. I went with Lemonade instead.”

“Well, now I’m in the mood for a drink as I hear that name.”

Allison chuckled, amused and slightly speechless. Before she could thank Rebecca, her friend pulled out a set of keys with a grin.

“I know you haven’t worked on any fragrances for the past three years, so I’ve set up a whole lab for you! You can practice to your heart’s content, and when the time comes, we’ll aim for victory!”

“Rebecca.” Allison smiled warmly at her friend. She had been mulling over the perfumery competition on her journey back and was pleasantly surprised by Rebecca’s initiative. Allison grew serious for a moment. “Thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“For me. I really appreciate this!” Rebecca puffed out her chest with pride, hugging Allison even tighter. “See? That’s why having a best friend is the best thing ever!”

“I’ll go check out the lab now,” Allison said with a playful grin.

“Take good care of yourself!”

To keep Rebecca from noticing her hidden injuries, Allison slipped away to the lab.

Inside, the lab was fully equipped with everything she could need. There were materials from past renowned perfumers and samples of their signature scents. Every bit of information she could possibly desire was right at her fingertips.

Opening the scent library, she discovered over eighty base fragrances meticulously organized, but Allison didn’t rush to dive in. Instead, she sat quietly, letting childhood memories come flooding back. The array of perfumes around her evoked faint recollections.

Scents had a magical way of preserving memories, conjuring a sense of familiarity when revisited. Allison aimed to capture her hazy memories of her mother through scents and hold onto them in a new form.

She was determined to track down the enigmatic creator behind the Charisma Company.

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