Chapter 75

"Essential oil?" Nathaniel paused. "Didn't we send a shipment this morning? Wasn't that enough?"

"Mr. Hall, that batch is subpar; we can't use it."

"Subpar? It came directly from the lab. You're saying we can't use it?" Nathaniel paced anxiously in the living room. "Is this a mistake on your part, a way to shift blame?"

"Never! We've had increased orders, so my workers are working overnight. We followed the process precisely; the problem isn't on our assembly line. Why don't you come see for yourself?"

The factory manager was equally helpless. A problem had arisen, delaying production with serious consequences. "Okay, I'll be right there."

After hanging up, Nathaniel quickly dressed. Melanie emerged in pajamas, rubbing her eyes. "Where are you going in the middle of the night? Who was that?" He glanced at her, a thought striking him. "Get dressed. You're coming with me. Hurry!"

"Me?" she asked, pointing at herself, her sleepiness vanishing. "Where are we going?"

"The factory! There's a problem with the essential oil!"

Despite Melanie's reluctance, Nathaniel took her to the factory. It was brightly lit, and the manager greeted them immediately. "Mr. Hall, you're here! Come, take a look!"

Nathaniel found a box of essential oil. He removed a bottle, sniffed it, and frowned. "It smells fine!"

The manager silently retrieved a finished product. "Try this."

The strong scent made Nathaniel cough. He covered his nose. "Why is it so harsh? Was there a problem with the dilution?"

"Everything's automated, and I've checked thoroughly. The problem's not on my end. In my experience, it's the essential oil itself—a huge difference in the final product. Mr. Hall, did your lab produce this batch?"

Nathaniel glanced at Melanie under the manager's questioning gaze.

Watching them, Melanie innocently asked, "What? We used the same formula as last time. If there's a problem, it's the formula, not me."

Her words silenced both the manager and Nathaniel. Realizing her blunder, she saw their stares. To them, she was the formula creator. If there was a problem, it was her fault.