NOVEL DRAMA ONLINE Chapter 66
"It's a pleasure doing business with you.
"
Kellan’s handshake was firm but unhurried.
“You were hesitant before, but now you’ve agreed thanks to my grandmother, right?”
Allison nodded slightly, her eyes steady.
Family was a powerful motivation, and she understood his cautious attitude.
“That’s right.
Your grandmother’s work in perfumery is renowned, and I’ve always been drawn to her techniques.
Every time I find something I don’t master, it becomes an obsession.
Her ability to balance contrasting scents, mixing warm and cool notes, is remarkable.
I’ve tried, but I’ve never achieved the same harmony.
”
A soft, discreet smile played across Allison’s lips.
“But if you’re willing to mentor me, Kellan, that could save me a lot of trial and error.
”
Kellan had always been a man who noticed the smallest details.
His instincts were sharp, finely tuned to detect hidden motives, but Allison remained an enigma: careful, calm, and never willing to put all her cards on the table.
She wasn't stupid either.
A formal visit to her grandmother wasn't necessary yet.
As long as she could find a way into her world, there were countless ways to unearth the truths she sought.
“You are too modest, Miss Clarke.
” Kellan’s voice remained even, though the warmth of his skin lingered on the pads of his fingers, and before he knew it, his fingers curled slightly.
«I keep any deal I make, but winning my niece's approval won't be easy.
Children aren't usually easy to win over.
Perhaps you'd rather ask for something else?»
He changed the subject easily, his tone casual but deliberate.
“Whatever I can do, consider it a token of gratitude for saving my life that night.
”
Allison raised an eyebrow, an amused glint in her eyes.
“What night are we talking about? The cruise ship or the cave?”
His voice was playful, hinting at something else that hadn't been said.
He took a step closer, narrowing the space between them, just enough to blur the line between business and something personal.
Kellan felt the warmth of her breath.
Her lashes, long and delicate, fluttered as if brushing his mind, leaving a subtle, touching effect.
Before he could respond, she added, “So, do I want anything?” Kellan instinctively broke eye contact, looking to the side.
His heartbeat stopped for a moment, unaware of the way she unsettled him.
No woman had ever affected him like this.
“Of course, within reason,” he managed to reply.
Allison’s smile widened, and the charged atmosphere dissipated as quickly as it had formed.
She took a step back, the previous closeness evaporating into the air.
“I’ll keep that in mind.
If I run into any trouble, I’ll be sure to call you first, Mr.
Lloyd.
”
In one fluid motion, Allison plucked a strand of hair from Kellan's shoulder, tucking it into the palm of her hand with expert precision.
According to the information Webb had given her, Kellan was around her age, and the timeline of his mother’s death matched suspiciously well with the disappearance of her own.
And her grandmother’s knowledge of perfumery? Identical to what her mother had mastered.
There was a small chance they shared more than just a business relationship, perhaps even blood.
That thought, while still speculative, left her uneasy.
But any lead, no matter how far-fetched, was worth pursuing.
Just then, a knock interrupted them, and Kellan's assistant entered with a respectful pause.
"Sir.
Sherman stood frozen for a moment, words stuck in his throat, as the sight before him brought him to a halt.
His boss, who was notoriously aloof with women, was unusually close to Allison.
The atmosphere between them was not business-like, but almost… intimate.
For a moment, Sherman wondered what he was seeing.
Was this the same woman who had discovered Kellan’s secret about faking his disability? Now, the tension between them seemed entirely different, more familiar than he had ever imagined.
Despite the questions swirling through his mind, Sherman regained his composure and cleared his throat, maintaining a respectful tone.
“Sir, there’s a huge media crowd waiting outside.
Our car can’t even get through.
The largest television network in Ontario is there, along with two major international media outlets.
They’ve been waiting for quite some time.
”
Sherman had never seen such a media frenzy.
But when he thought about it, it made sense.
Kellan was not only the CEO of the world's most prestigious luxury brand, but also the heir to the Lloyd Group.
And now that the news had broken that he was the CEO of Charisma Company, along with his alliance with the Everett Group in the perfume sector, any one of those headlines would have been enough to trigger a media storm.
“Several media outlets linked to the Lloyd Group have also sent interview requests,” Sherman continued.
“They have even mentioned that if a full interview is not possible, a simple photo would suffice.
”
“Well, it seems Mr.
Lloyd has his hands full, so I’ll step aside,” Allison chimed in with a warm smile.
She nonchalantly picked up her purse, her movements graceful as she discreetly pocketed the lock of Kellan’s hair she’d grabbed earlier.
“To our future adventures!” Kellan paid no attention to Sherman’s words, but followed Allison as she walked away, lost in his own thoughts.
It was a long time before he came back to reality.
His expression turned grim, inscrutable, before he finally muttered, “Bring me the list of reporters.
”