Chapter 140:
Late into the night, after Kellan had wrapped up the last of his paperwork, he noticed a soft glow still coming from the lab.
He didnât need to guess who was burning the midnight oil.
It was always Allison.
âYouâre working late again, Ms.
Clarke,â Kellan said as he pushed the door open and walked in, frowning instinctively.
Allison was focused entirely on her computer, but she looked tired.
She hadnât slept well last night, and here she was working late again.
âStaying up too late isnât good for your health.â
Allison didnât even bother glancing up, recognizing him immediately by the sound of his voice.
She swiftly tucked away a small USB drive, then stretched and turned her gaze toward him.
âAnd what about you, Mr.
Lloyd? Seems like weâre both in the same boat, burning the candle at both ends.â
She lazily stretched, finally peeling her eyes away from the screen.
Kellan handed her a cappuccino.
âThe companyâs auditing the accounts, and perfume orders have been flooding in, so Iâve been swamped.
I made you a shareholder, so itâs on me if you push yourself too hard.â
âDonât worry about me,â she replied, taking a long sip of the coffee without hesitation.
âI just got carried away working on some fragrances.
Lost track of time, thatâs all.â
Her words were only half true.
She had indeed been blending perfumes, but most of her time tonight had been spent hacking into Marcâs computer, copying hidden files, and attempting to access his main server.
Fatigue was starting to settle in, heavy like a thick fog.
âThanks for the concern, though,â she added with a smile.
Allison had always been a lone wolf, and with the lab staff still not fully vetted, she wasnât about to let her guard down.
The sharks hadnât shown their teeth just yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time.
Kellan sat in his wheelchair, watching her pack up the lab equipment.
After a moment of silence, he said,
âCome on, Iâll give you a lift home.â
âNo need.
Itâs not raining, and my carâs just down in the underground garage.
I parked close this time.â
âItâs no trouble.
Iâm heading that way,â Kellan responded, his tone steady.
Upon hearing this, Allison looked up, casting him a peculiar glance.
âBut the Lloyd estate and Muisvedo are in opposite directions.
Pretty sure youâre not heading my way.â
Classic Kellan! He effortlessly spun lies without skipping a beat.
Kellan didnât flinch; he remained cool as ever under her scrutiny.
âActually, I have business in Muisvedo.
So, itâs on the way.â
âIs that so?â Allison mused.
âWell, if thatâs the case, I wonât argue.â After all, refusing now would only feel awkward.
Besides, she was here to build trust with Kellan, wasnât she? Grabbing her bag, she flicked off the lights and prepared to leave.
âBut Mr.
Lloyd,â she added.
âWhy donât you head down first? Lots of eyes around here, even this late.
You can wait for me in the garage.â
âMs.
Clarke,â Kellan replied.
âYouâre being overly cautious.
No oneâs around at this hour.â He leaned back in his wheelchair, a subtle but chilling authority radiating from him.
âAnd if someone does want to start a rumor, I have ways of making them regret ever being born.â
Allison smiled.
âJust trying to avoid unnecessary drama, thatâs all.
Iâll be down in a bit.â
âFine,â Kellan replied, his face a mask of indifference, though something unreadable stirred behind his eyes.
âIâll wait for you in the garage.â
Even as he wheeled out, Kellanâs thoughts were tangled.
Allison always kept a certain distance, like she was holding something back.
Last time, she insisted he not drive her, and now here she was again, keeping him at armâs length.
It made him curious.
No, more than that â it made him want to figure her out.
Maybe he was even beginning to enjoy this strange push-and-pull between them.
Ten minutes later, Allison headed downstairs.
From the shadows of the first floor, Marc quietly emerged.
He watched her step into the elevator, his lips curling into a sneer.
âAllison, this is your last night here,â he muttered under his breath.
He was determined to see her out of Charisma for good!
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