Chapter 711
Just as Lily was about to speak, Alexander stepped forward, placing himself before her. "Mr. Richards," he said, "if you have any questions, La Beauté Group's legal department will contact you. As far as I know, however, the Perfumers' Society does not yet have that power."
After speaking, he directly intercepted Lily, then turned and left backstage. Noah attempted to follow, but La Beauté Group staff stopped him. "Mr. Richards," they said, "please stay."
Raising an eyebrow, Noah didn't pursue the matter, but stood watching their retreating backs, a knowing smile on his face. "I didn't expect the Perfumers' Society to send him," Lily sighed, her emotions evident.
She had anticipated a phone call, but it arrived sooner than expected. She hadn't anticipated Noah's presence at the press conference either. His comments were clearly intended to embarrass and hinder her. Uninvited guests rarely have good intentions.
"The result will be the same regardless of who comes!" Alexander said firmly, massaging Lily's shoulders. "Don't worry. The Richards family's influence is centered in the capital city. We're in Brown City—a considerable distance away. Our families are friends; Noah won't jeopardize that friendship."
He assumed Lily worried about the Richards family complicating matters, so he reassured her: "This is likely just Noah's doing, without his family's involvement."
"I'm not worried about his family," Lily laughed, shaking her head. "And I'm not afraid of their investigation! Besides, the perfumer certificate is just a piece of paper. The National Fragrance Association created it as an assessment system—it doesn't hold significant weight."
Few worldwide assessments for perfumers reached professional grade. She'd taken the junior-level assessment. She hadn't needed to continue after taking the intermediate and senior levels twice; she felt proving her skill through her creations was more important than a formalized exam. The time saved allowed her to focus on research, new product development, and exploring new fragrances.
She never expected the certificate to cause her trouble.
"Well, I'm glad you think so!" Alexander's fingers slid down to pinch her waist.
Lily blushed and gently resisted. "There are people around!" she protested, embarrassed at the prospect of being seen in such an intimate moment.
"Huh?" Alexander responded, pinching her waist a few more times before frowning. "Your clothes are all wet."
Lily realized her clothes were soaked with sweat from her earlier run. Exhaustion had prevented her from mentioning it. She'd been too focused on the press conference to notice the wet clothes.
Alexander's observation made her acutely aware of the damp fabric clinging to her skin, causing a chill.
"Let's go home. Take a shower and change," Alexander said, removing his jacket and placing it around her. He then hugged her tightly.
The drive back to Imperial Hills was uneventful. Though only a month had passed since she left, it felt like years. The house was immaculate; even unoccupied, it was regularly cleaned. The warm glow of the lights as they entered felt truly like coming home.