Chapter 54:

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Half an hour later, the deep, resonant toll of an ancient bell reverberated through the walls, signaling the official start of the contest. The sound crawled into every corner, reaching each contestant.

Some were teetering on the edge of collapse, clutching their scent tubes as if they were lifelines. Others were drenched in sweat, eyes wide with anxiety. But there was no escaping the ever-watchful cameras in every room, leaving no chance for cheating.

Allison, on the other hand, had already wrapped up her work with a sense of calm. She picked up a scent strip, waved it gently beneath her nose, and inhaled. The perfume she had crafted was relatively straightforward—an evolution of one of her previous creations, capturing the essence of the vast ocean.

Once all the contestants had submitted and numbered their perfumes, the samples were whisked away to the judges for evaluation.

An elderly judge with silvery-gray hair picked up perfume number five, his eyes widening in admiration. “This one… it’s magnificent. The top notes are pure sunlight on the sea—so bright, so full of life. But the base notes…” He paused, taking another deep breath. “There’s a storm churning underneath. A stroke of brilliance. How they managed to balance the traditional violet with rosemary, giving it that almost ethereal quality… And yet, nothing is out of place. In fact, it adds layers of depth. But there’s something… familiar in the base note.”

Beside him, the female judge was just as impressed, immediately marking it with a perfect score.

“It reminds me of the fragrance that won the first contest in Leswington a few years ago, but this feels more refined, more mature.”

The perfume received unanimous praise, with no score falling below a nine.

In the waiting area, Rebecca spotted Allison as she stepped out of the room.

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“Are you alright? You look like you’ve been through the wringer,” Rebecca asked, passing Allison a glass of wine. She knew how creating scents often stirred memories for her. With a mischievous grin, Rebecca teased, “Think of this as your victory toast.”

Allison’s thoughts, however, were tangled with the mysteries of the Charisma Company. Could this contest be her gateway to meeting their elusive CEO?

Uncovering more about her mother’s past? She smiled at Rebecca and said, “Results aren’t out yet. Maybe hold off on the celebrations.”

“With your skill? First place is practically gift-wrapped for you!” Rebecca beamed, full of confidence. “Don’t worry. Once the results are out, I’ll keep tabs on Violet Moon. Anyone who can build Charisma is someone worth watching. I bet they’re top-ten material for sure!”

Two hours later, the results flashed across the screen. Every contestant’s eyes were glued to the scrolling names, revealing the top ten perfumes, each accompanied by their number and description. In the hall, the perfumes were proudly displayed for all to admire.

A staff member, smiling brightly, tied a red wristband around Allison’s wrist.

“Congratulations, Ms. Allison Clarke! You’ve won first place!”

On the screen, the name “Lemonade” stood proudly at the top. In second place, “Violet Moon,” with a note next to it revealing it represented the Charisma Company.

Third place went to Melany.

Allison wasn’t surprised by her win, but her focus was elsewhere. Scanning the crowd, her eyes searched for Violet Moon. It didn’t take long before she saw a staff member tying a second-place wristband around none other than Kellan’s wrist.

“Congratulations on second place, Mr. Lloyd! No one would’ve guessed you’re the CEO of the Charisma Company!”

Kellan’s eyes met hers, locking her in a gaze that spoke more than words could ever say.

Around them, the room was buzzing with chatter. “Congratulations!” echoed from contestant to contestant, though some congratulations rang hollow. Others whispered behind fake smiles, “Lemonade is so young! Where did she come from? She must be some big shot using a fake name. I’ve got to get a whiff of her perfume later!”

“You don’t know Allison Clarke? She’s Colton Stevens’ ex-wife! But didn’t she come from nothing? Who knew she was this talented?”

“This competition is full of surprises. Who would’ve thought Kellan Lloyd, with his luxury empire, was Violet Moon, and also the mind behind Charisma Company?”

“And he’s already got the largest business in the world. Does he need to dip his toes into the perfume industry too? Some people just seem to win at everything!”

The hall was a cacophony of congratulations, forced smiles, and barely concealed envy. Yet, amid the clamor, Allison and Kellan stood still, their gazes locked.

Their reflections in each other’s eyes mirrored the unspoken connection between them—as though the rest of the world had faded away.

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