Chapter 281: Allison instinctively frowned upon hearing those words, a wave of irritation washing over her.
She had thought her stance was perfectly clear, yet here was Ken, boldly asking the same question.
Perhaps he believed his words carried some hidden ambiguity.
He locked eyes with her, rifying, What I mean is, how can I keep you by my side? Keeping a respectful distance, he continued, I know youre no ordinary person.
Anyone connected with MDH, a prestigious pharmaceutical research facility, wouldnt be swayed by financial incentives.
Ken was aware that Allison had joined Charisma Company primarily to gather specific information.
More importantly, he sensed that once she had what she sought, she would disappear from Ontdale without a trace, much like when she had left Leswington years ago, leaving Floyd searching in vain.
But Ken was not one to sit idly by.
But those secrets dont concern me.
What I really want to know is how to keep you here, Ms.
rke.
When their eyes met again, Allison found herself captivated by the calmposure radiating from him.
Even in stillness, Ken possessed a maic aura that was hard to ignore.
His words danced on the edge of a love confession, yet still carried the weight of professional ambition.
Allison tilted her head, probing him for an exnation.
He couldnt possibly be saying this out of genuine affection.
Because youre the cure I need, Ken replied deliberately.
Whether its the perfume you craft or your innate talents, Ms.
rke, you stand out above the rest.
He stopped short, refraining from voicing his deeper feelings for her.
He understood that mere affection wouldnt be enough to keep Allison.
She valued capability above all else.
Only by demonstrating his own strength could he hope to capture her interest.
Allison responded with blunt honesty, So, Mr.
Lloyd, you should know Ive been using you from the very beginning.
Her tone was cold and unforgiving.
I could never truly fall for anyone.
For someone like her, the idea of surrendering her heart to a man felt like an impossibility.
To her surprise, Ken didnt appear taken aback.
I know, he said, his gaze steady and calm.
But that didnt mean he was ready to give up.
Ken had always excelled at ying the long game.
My blunder today was entirely on me.
Ms.
rke, you can demand anything.
If you want to punish me, Im entirely okay with that.
The wind tousled the hair falling across his forehead, and his deep-set eyes held an alluring intensity.
Allison felt as though he were trying to seduce her with his words.
In truth, while she harbored many secrets of her own, she could sense that Ken was just as enigmatic.
After taking a picture of the ne, she approached him and handed it over.
With the sry you offer, money is the least of my concerns.
And as for punishing you, thats the furthest thing from my mind.
A slight smile yed on her lips as she passed the ne to him.
So why dont we strike a deal? Ken raised an eyebrow.
What do you mean by that? If you manage to uncover all my secrets, then I might consider sticking around yourpany and helping you with perfume development in my spare time, Allison said, her fingers brushing against the cold, mysterious red gemstone of the ne.
On the flip side, if I manage to uncover all your secrets, you will grant me control of the Lloyd Group.
The Lloyd Groups assets were worth billions.
What Allison proposed was nothing short of audacious.
Anyone else hearing that mightbel her a daydreamer.
But Ken took the ne from her hand and chuckled softly.
Deal.
His voice was steady and enticing, sparking a familiar fire within himan exhrating mix of excitement, danger, and allure.
No one had ever dared to entertain the idea of taking control of the Lloyd Group, but this high-stakes game was more enthralling than any sweet talk.
It ignited an undeniable interest in both of them.
After the kiss they shared earlier, Ken felt the boundaries between them shift like ripples on akeever-changing and elusive.
The tension between them was intoxicating and thrilling, brimming with unspoken possibilities.
.
.
.