Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

No one spoke when they entered. It was Thea Sherwood who broke the silence.

She first addressed the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table. "Pardon the intrusion."

Thea Sherwood had been pampered since childhood. Naturally, she had also been learning foreign languages from a young age and spoke fluently.

"We are the ones who were not selected in your company’s recent competition. Your company has always prided itself on being merit-based, collaborating only with those who are capable and never considering personal connections. So why, this time of all times, did you choose someone who clearly used her connections to win?"

The middle-aged man at the head of the table glanced at someone at the far end. After a brief, confirming look passed between them, he spoke. "What do you mean by that, Miss? Our process has always been fair and impartial. We chose Iris because your abilities were not up to her standard."

Thea Sherwood sneered and turned to Sam. "Mr. Sam, can you say your conscience is clear in this matter?"

’I know this might offend Mr. Sam,’ Thea Sherwood thought. ’He’s an incredibly influential figure in the perfumery world, and offending him would have serious repercussions. But I can’t worry about that now.’

’It was completely unfair. Am I not even allowed to say so?’

’Besides, if I can’t have it, I’ll be damned if I let Ivy Sherwood have it, even if I have to destroy it.’

Mr. Sam was confused. "What do you mean? Of course my conscience is clear."

A representative from the company added, "To use an expression from your country, Calypsos, Mr. Sam is a man of great prestige and integrity, worthy of everyone’s respect. He never gets involved in company affairs."

Thea Sherwood wasn’t buying it. "If he doesn’t get involved, then why was Ivy Sherwood chosen? I saw it with my own eyes! Ivy Sherwood contacted Mr. Sam privately. I have a photo. This is the proof!"

Thea Sherwood produced a photo. It showed Ivy Sherwood and Mr. Sam leaving a restaurant together after a meal.

Mr. Sam said, "The fragrance from The Iris Studio was sampled by everyone, and the final decision was based on their business proposal. It had nothing to do with me."

He hadn’t recommended Ivy Sherwood, nor had he participated in the vote to select the partner.

"Then do you dare claim you’ve never been in contact with Ivy Sherwood? Are you telling me she didn’t ask you for help? Who do you think you’re fooling? She’s never even left the country and has no particular talent, so I’d like to ask, how exactly did she come to know someone like you, Mr. Sam?" Thea Sherwood’s tone was utterly relentless.

"How she and I know each other is none of your business, miss," Mr. Sam said, his displeasure evident.

’These people who fail on their own merit just turn around and slander others.’

’I may be a consultant here, but I had no idea Ivy Sherwood was even competing, let alone that she had been selected.’

’I only found out when she contacted me after she arrived.’

’This woman does look a bit familiar, though. I think I’ve seen her photo somewhere... Didn’t she participate in the Perfumery Competition?’

"How is it none of my business? It was Quentin Blackwood who pulled strings to introduce you two, wasn’t it? You acted as the middleman so Ivy Sherwood could land this contract."

Believing she had them cornered, Thea Sherwood pressed on, burning her bridges completely. "Or perhaps you had a secret meeting late at night? What kind of deal did you two strike then?"

"That’s enough! Thea Sherwood, watch your mouth," Ivy Sherwood cut in. Thea was going way too far.

"You..." Mr. Sam was fuming.

Thea Sherwood looked at them both. "If there’s nothing between you, why are you afraid of people talking? Why get so worked up?"

"Do you dare claim there’s nothing untoward between you and Mr. Sam? That you won this contract all on your own?"

Ivy Sherwood thought for a moment, then said, "You’re right. I didn’t get this contract entirely on my own."

Thea Sherwood had a whole list of rebuttals ready, but she never expected Ivy to just admit it!

A wave of triumphant joy washed over Thea. "Did you all hear that? She admitted it herself! She didn’t win this on her own merit."

Ivy Sherwood said, "Don’t celebrate too soon. I said I didn’t do it entirely on my own because I had guidance from an expert on my project proposal."

"An expert? What expert? Don’t tell me Mr. Sam leaked inside information to you, and you just revised your proposal based on that?" Thea Sherwood didn’t believe Ivy’s story for a second.

"Miss, I suggest you watch what you say!" Mr. Sam’s expression was grave.

Just then, the middle-aged man at the head of the table spoke again. "Miss Sherwood, may I ask who this expert is that you’re referring to?"

Ivy Sherwood replied, "He’s not here. It’s my boyfriend."

Thea Sherwood was stunned. ’Since when does Ivy have a boyfriend? This is complete nonsense!’

"She doesn’t have a boyfriend! She’s lying!" Thea immediately declared.

Ivy Sherwood shot her a look. "And how would you know? Do you live under my bed?"

"You..."

Ivy Sherwood continued, "My boyfriend did indeed help me revise the final project proposal. However, the business plan and the perfumes presented to your company were all developed by me personally. As for my friendship with Mr. Sam, that’s a separate matter."

"Then why don’t you tell us how you met Mr. Sam? How could a person of his stature possibly know someone like you?" Thea Sherwood refused to give up.

Mr. Sam was so angry he was practically bristling. "I am a man who appreciates talent! Miss Sherwood has a gift for perfumery, so isn’t it perfectly normal that I would know her? Unlike you—a nobody I’ve never even heard of—who dares to come here and cause a scene."

Thea pressed on, "Then may I ask, Mr. Sam, how did you discover her so-called talent? What exactly was it about her that caught your attention?"

Sam found her utterly unreasonable. He’d never met someone so determined to stir up trouble.

"She’s far more talented than you could ever be! She’s..."

Mr. Sam stopped himself abruptly. He had promised Ivy Sherwood he wouldn’t reveal her identity as Iris without permission.

He had no choice but to force the words back down.

But Thea Sherwood thought she’d found a chink in their armor. "Why did you stop mid-sentence, Mr. Sam? If there’s truly nothing to hide, then go on. Tell us. What is she? How is she so much more talented than me?"

’This woman is an absolute fool,’ Mr. Sam thought. ’To dare question the abilities of Iris herself.’

Mr. Sam couldn’t stand hearing someone question her like this. "You are unbelievably foolish."

"Insulting me won’t change anything, Mr. Sam. The connection between you and Ivy Sherwood is a fact. If there were no such connections, why are you so reluctant to explain?"

Sam looked at Ivy Sherwood. "Your identity... may I reveal it?"

Ivy knew her conflict with Thea shouldn’t drag Mr. Sam into it.

’Thea won’t back down,’ she thought. ’And there’s no reason to keep hiding my identity. It’s not like it’s something to be ashamed of.’

With Ivy Sherwood’s consent, Mr. Sam’s demeanor instantly shifted. He was emboldened, his voice swelling with pride. "I’ve known her for eight or nine years. She has absolutely no need for the kind of underhanded connections you’re suggesting to win this contract. That’s because she is already a top-tier Perfumer. She is Iris."

"What?"

Everyone else stared blankly at Ivy Sherwood. ’Ivy Sherwood is Iris?’

’The genius, mysterious Perfumer who never shows her face? That Iris?’