Chapter 99

Lily accepted the documents, confused. Opening them, she found an insurance endorsement—for her nose, with herself as the beneficiary. The amount was considerable. She looked at Alexander in surprise. "Isn't this a bit much?"

"Is it? I don't think so. Considering how vital a nose is to a perfumer, I feel this is necessary, wouldn't you agree?" Alexander replied. A perfumer's nose was, indeed, their most essential tool; talent often trumped hard work in this field. A perfumer with a discerning nose, capable of distinguishing hundreds of scents, was virtually guaranteed success. However, few top perfumers insured their noses. Lily considered herself a nobody; was this truly necessary?

"Everything about you is necessary to me," Alexander said, rising and handing her a pen. "Sign this. It takes effect immediately."

Touched and moved, Lily looked from Alexander to the document. "Thank you," she said, signing and returning the papers.

"There's no need for 'thank you' between us. Shouldn't you repay me more… practically?"

Lily tiptoed, wrapped her arms around Alexander's neck, and kissed him enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, at the airport, Melanie adjusted her sunglasses impatiently. "You still haven't told me who we're waiting for, Nate!"

She'd followed Nathaniel, dressed in new clothes and makeup, knowing only that they were picking someone up. The wait was growing tiresome.

"We're waiting for someone highly influential. Have some patience," Nathaniel said, though his reassurance lacked conviction. He'd never officially met this influential person, only seen photos.

Missing him or failing to recognize him would be a problem. He wanted to call for confirmation, but the line was busy. Despite his anxiety, he maintained a calm exterior. He was helpless against Lily now; she was completely changed.

Lily's stubborn refusal to listen mirrored Olivia's. While unsure if Olivia knew the full situation, she was actively defying him, clearly just biding her time until he fired her.

This infuriated Nathaniel. He suspected Lily's influence, perhaps even direct instigation. His thoughts raced as he scanned the airport. He spotted a tall, thin foreigner wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

The man looked familiar. Nathaniel immediately checked his phone, comparing photos. After several comparisons, he confirmed his suspicions. The man was almost leaving.

"That's him!" Nathaniel declared.

"Who?!" Melanie asked, before Nathaniel pulled her along. "Mr. Moreau! Wait, Mr. Moreau!" he shouted, running after him.