Everyone could see what was happening. At the crucial moment of the competition, Darcie teamed up with Mallory and Jaylene. The reason was obvious. The prize pool was 10 million, with 80% going to the winner. To get a reward, you had to make it to the top ten, which was no easy feat. In reality, it was more about appearances than a fair competition.

Stella suggested expanding the prize to the top 20 and excluding Jaylene, making it easier for everyone to win something.

The 8 million championship prize was still up for grabs, and with Jaylene out of the picture, who wouldn’t want to give it a shot?

People in the room exchanged looks, each considering their chances.

Darcie didn’t need a vote to know the outcome. She looked at Stella and smiled. “No need to vote. I think your idea is good. Let’s go with it. I hope everyone does their best. I’ll personally host a banquet to celebrate.”

Stella met her gaze and smiled back. “Then I wish you all success in advance.”

She started clapping, and everyone followed. As their eyes met, they silently acknowledged the tension between them.

Jaylene was furious. She stormed out as soon as the meeting ended and collided with a secretary carrying documents. Papers scattered everywhere. “Are you blind?” Jaylene snapped, her anger flaring.

The secretary turned pale and quickly apologized.

Darcie frowned and called Jaylene’s name, but Jaylene ignored her, shoved the secretary aside, and slammed the door on her way out, making a loud noise.

Everyone in the room felt awkward, especially Stella. She looked at Darcie with a helpless expression and quietly asked, “Aunt, is Jaylene upset? I didn’t mean to target her. My suggestion was for the company’s benefit. If she’s really upset about the bonus, we can forget I ever mentioned it.”

comment made Darcie’s blood

her anger. “Jaylene is just a kid. She wouldn’t care about such a small bonus. She suggested the prize pool to me in the first place.

Aunt, please tell

nothing more, and quickly left with

her go, then stood up to

competition used a points system, with both individual and group rounds. Points

from, making a comeback in the final round almost impossible. It tested not only a perfumer’s talent

and Sonia ranked in the top ten overall. Mallory even took third place, Sonia was sixth, followed by Kiara

were somewhat random. Otherwise, how could someone like Jaylene make

testing teamwork skills. Teams could either be formed freely or assigned randomly by the system. Jaylene would definitely team up with Mallory, securing

teammates. Sonia had said that random pairing would be fine. Stella, however, felt that random pairings were too risky. If paired with someone incompatible, it could

a good partner for Sonia. But Kiara was on good terms with several other competitors from the company. Asking her directly might be awkward—if she already had a partner, refusing her would be uncomfortable, and agreeing would risk offending

marked two with calm personalities. She planned to ask them later. Just then, there was a knock on her office door. Kiara came in, holding two

the file.

desk. “Boss Jewell, I’d like you to talk to Sonia for me and see if she’d be willing to team

surprised. “No one asked you

I didn’t agree. I want to team up with Sonia. When she created that S essential oil, it really impressed me. She made it into the top ten in the preliminary round too. We both

asked, “Going for the

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