Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 224

When Stella, arm in arm with Julius, stepped into the hall, they instantly drew the attention of the crowd.

Julius was tall, strikingly handsome, and broad-shouldered. Dressed in a flawlessly tailored bespoke suit, he radiated a powerful aura of elegance and authority.

Beside him, Stella was wearing the blue dress she had purchased the day before. She looked petite, radiant, and breathtakingly elegant. The sheer perfection of her presence practically blinded the onlookers.

This only enraged Rhoda further. When she and Weber had walked in moments ago, hardly anyone had given her a second glance.

She was seething. She swore she was going to make Stella pay for this!

Julius held Stella's hand as they followed the usher to their designated seats.

Before the salon officially began, the floor was open for networking and mingling.

However, because Julius had intentionally delayed them in the lobby, the event was just about to commence as they sat down, meaning no one had the chance to approach them for small talk.

This suited them both perfectly.

As the event kicked off, the host warmed up the crowd and then invited the lead organizer to the stage for a speech.

The organizer detailed the core purpose of the salon and the booming potential of the niche fragrance market.

To the uninitiated, niche perfumes might sound like a limited market with no real growth potential.

Commercial perfumes were designed to appeal to the mass market—broad, generic, and heavily branded.

Niche perfumes, on the other hand, prioritized artistic expression and high-quality craftsmanship over mass appeal.

Simply put, niche fragrances were far more exclusive, independent, and deeply personalized, targeting an entirely different demographic of consumers.

If a niche fragrance could establish itself as a unique brand, the growth potential and profit margins were astronomical.

The host smiled brightly. "Our esteemed perfumers have now introduced our three featured fragrances. Each one has been meticulously crafted by renowned experts pouring their hearts into their work. Now, we will begin the tasting session.

"You will find sample vials of all three fragrances on your tables. Please feel free to test them and discuss amongst yourselves."

As the host finished, the room filled with the quiet rustle of paper and soft conversation as the guests began sampling the distinct scents.

Each sample was clearly labeled and accompanied by a beautifully printed brochure detailing its creative philosophy.

The perfumers had already given exhaustive presentations on stage, so the investors knew the background. Now, it was just a matter of seeing which scent could physically win them over.

"Stella, which of the three do you think is the best?"

Stella had already taken a moment to test all three samples. Right now, she was staring intently at the one labeled 'Astray,' lost in deep thought.

There was something unnervingly familiar about this scent. Where had she smelled it before?