The Essence of Perfection

by Nita Brooks

  Nicola put her hand over Quinn’s. “If you’ll do the same. Quinn, you know scents just as well as I do even without the formal training. You can just sense things. I’ll work out the science, you figure out the . . .” Nicola looked at the ceiling and searched for a word. “You figure out the essence.”

  Quinn cocked a brow and flipped her hair. “The essence? Have you been drinking?”

  Nicola rolled her eyes then bumped her sister’s shoulder. “You know what I mean. I’m analytical, you’re more abstract. You sense things I can’t figure out.” She took Quinn’s hand in hers and squeezed. “Help me. I don’t think I can do this on my own. This time let’s work together. We accidentally made something great before, imagine what we can do now if we try?”

  Chapter 34

  Thanks to Quinn’s connections, they were able to verify Desiree would be in Miami attending a party that Nathaniel was also attending. The fact that Quinn still had contact with Nathaniel through their ongoing direct message conversation via social media was something Nicola decided to stay out of. Her sister had enough drama in her life without Nicola’s commentary.

  They’d spent weeks working together. Just the two of them in her lab at home. No help from Tia or the other perfumers at the company. Not a word to their mother about what they were doing. They’d argued, laughed, collaborated, stayed up late, and taken a few shots of tequila when things got tense, but in the end, they’d done it. They’d crafted a scent Nicola was sure Desiree would love.

  She hoped.

  “Are you nervous?” Quinn asked as they took the elevator up to the penthouse suite of the luxury condos in South Beach.

  Nicola had meant to ask her sister for the details on the party, who was throwing it and why, but she’d forgotten. She didn’t know if she was more nervous about crashing a party or trying to convince Desiree to smell what they’d come up with. Quinn, however, appeared to harbor no concerns about either.

  “What if she hates it?” Nicola replied.

  “If she hates it then obviously she’s hard to please. We can still put this scent out on our own and see what happens. I think it’s great.”

  Her sister’s confidence soothed Nicola’s nerves just a little. “Thank you, Quinn. For helping me with this. Getting us here. Everything.”

  “You’re my sister. I wouldn’t leave you out here hanging.”

  “Really? After everything that I did?”

  “You also apologized. Plus, it’s not your fault Omar found out about me and Joseph.”

  They were good, but they hadn’t talked about Quinn’s marriage or her affair with Joseph. Omar hadn’t called once. Nicola figured that was for the best. That didn’t change the fact that Nicola’s snooping is how they got in this mess in the first place.

  “It kind of is.”

  Quinn shrugged. “A part of me wanted him to find out. I wondered what he’d do if he realized I was really unhappy. I guess I got my answer.”

  “Whatever you decide, we’ll figure it out.”

  Quinn smiled and shrugged. “I guess we will. Now come on. Let’s go convince Desiree she’s made a terrible mistake.”

  Nicola let her sister lead the way. They’d made the scent, but Quinn didn’t talk much about what her plans were. She’d poured herself into helping Nicola make the perfume. Nicola got the feeling, even though Quinn had packed her bags and moved out, she was still wrestling with the idea of leaving her husband permanently. She hoped Quinn’s decision was final, but was also preparing herself to accept her sister’s decision if she chose to stay.

  She didn’t have long to contemplate Quinn’s jumbled love life, because the elevator opened right into the party. Three dozen or more people milled about the space. Nathaniel immediately came over and kissed Quinn’s cheek. “Yes, the party can start now. I’m glad you made it.”

  Quinn batted her lashes and smiled prettily. “Thank you for inviting me. You know I wouldn’t miss your birthday.” She turned to Nicola. “You remember my sister.”

  Nathaniel smiled widely and kissed Nicola’s cheek. “Of course, I do. Welcome, Nicola. Come in, get comfortable, and have fun.”

  The elevator doors opened again, and Nathaniel excused himself to greet the next guests. “You were invited but you let me worry?” Nicola asked after Nathaniel walked away.

  Quinn shrugged. “You would have worried regardless, and this was the fastest way to see Desiree. So, you’re welcome. Now let’s go find her.”

  Nicola shook her head but smiled. Every day was a new surprise with Quinn. Nicola found out the penthouse belonged to one of the editors of Clef Magazine, a magazine that focused on the trends in music and fashion, and the party was in honor of Nathaniel’s birthday. They mixed and mingled with the people in attendance. All the while, Nicola scanned the crowd for Desiree. The vial in her pocket feeling heavier with each passing minute she didn’t see her. Desiree wasn’t by the pool, in the den, kitchen, or mingling around the pool table.

  Maybe Quinn was wrong. Maybe Desiree was supposed to be there but hadn’t shown up. After circling downstairs twice, Nicola was sure Quinn’s connections hadn’t worked in their favor this time.

  The sound of music drifted down the stairs to where Nicola stood trying not to look like a kid whose bike had just been stolen. Her ears perked up when Desiree’s distinctive husky voice accompanied the music. Her heart jackhammering, Nicola hurried up the stairs and down the hall.

  Desiree was in the music room with a few other musicians. The music came from the speakers, a beat Nicola wasn’t familiar with. Desiree sang along with a big bright smile on her face. When she finished the people in the room clapped.

  “Thank you,” Desiree said. “That’s off my new album. You think people will like it?”

  “They’ll love it,” one of the women replied.

  Nicola came into the room. “I agree. It’s hot.”

  Desiree turned to face Nicola. The grin on her face remained. It appeared genuine, even if wariness entered her eyes. “Hey, Nicola, I didn’t know you were coming by.”

  “Quinn was invited. I decided to tag along with her.”

  Desiree nodded and stood up from the piano. “Cool. I’m actually about to head out. I only wanted to pop in for a few minutes.”

  “Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?” Nicola asked, as Desiree and the rest of the small group moved to exit the room. “I promise, it won’t take that much time.”

  Desiree glanced at her bodyguard, who raised his brow in an I-don’t-know fashion. Desiree shrugged then turned to Nicola and nodded. “Sure.”

  “Thank you.” Nicola stepped away from the door and watched as everyone filed out. Desiree’s bodyguard didn’t go far. His large shape hovered right outside the door.

  “Look, Desiree, I know you were disappointed with what I came up with for your perfume and that you think Gaston will make a better perfume for you.”

  “I wanted to support your house, but I know Gaston. I can only hope he’ll do better.”

  Nicola straightened her shoulders. “I can do better.”

  Desiree shook her head. “Come on, Nicola, we’ve already been down this road. I’d like for us to remain cool.”

  “We will, regardless of what decision you make, but I would like you to give me another chance.”

  “What will have changed?”

  “This time I asked for help.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Triumph, the perfume that brought you to Queen Couture in the first place, I didn’t make that on my own. My sister gave some input. I asked for her help again with yours.”

  Desiree shifted and placed one hand on her hip. “Why didn’t you do that from the start?”

  “Because, I’m not used to asking for help. The truth is, when we work together, we do a pretty good job. I think we’ve done a good job for you now.”

  “I’m meeting Gaston next week.”

  Nicola reached into her pocket and pulled out the vial along with testing strip
s. “No need for you to wait until next week.”

  “You brought it with you,” she sounded surprised and impressed.

  Nicola shrugged. “You’re the one who said to never do anything by halves. I believe we did it right this time. I didn’t want to sit on it.”

  Desiree raised a brow, but she reached out a hand. “I admire you spirit. Let me see what you put together.”

  Nicola put a drop of the perfume on the strip and handed it over to Desiree. She held her breath and clenched her teeth. If this one failed, then she’d be disappointed, but Quinn was right. She loved this scent. Queen Couture could still launch it. She was good at her job. Desiree’s rejection didn’t diminish all the hard work she’d put in so far.

  Desiree brought the strip to her nose. She took a deep breath. Her brows drew together, and her head tilted to the side. She sniffed again. Her face cleared, and she grinned at Nicola.

  “That’s it.”

  Nicola let out a breath and pressed a hand to her chest. “You like it?”

  “I love it! Oh my God, Nicola, this is fantastic.”

  Clapping came from the door followed by a yelp. “Yes! We did it!”

  Nicola laughed and turned to her sister. Quinn rushed into the room and wrapped her arms around Nicola. Nicola squeezed her sister tight and laughed.

  They both faced Desiree who beamed. “I don’t know what magic trick you two pulled over the week, or why you haven’t collaborated before, but this is perfect. It’s sexy without being overpowering. Just light enough to wear every day, and it’s so bright and earthy. My fans are going to buy this stuff by the gallon.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to keep working with us?” Nicola asked.

  “Hell yes, I’m going to keep working with you. Ladies, thank you. I’ve always wanted my own perfume and now I have it.”

  “Desiree,” her bodyguard said from the door. “We have to leave now if we’re going to catch your flight.”

  Desiree waved at him. “I’m coming now. Ladies, tell your mom to assemble the entire production team. Let’s plan a launch everyone will remember.”

  She left the room with one last smile. Nicola and Quinn stared after her. Nicola couldn’t believe that just happened.

  “Did she take that vial with her?” Quinn asked.

  “It’s okay. I have two more back home.” She turned to Quinn. “You did it.”

  Quinn shook her head. “No, we did it.”

  “I can never repay you for helping me get through this,” Nicola said sincerely. “If she had walked, our reputation would have been ruined.”

  Quinn’s eyes glistened and she blinked quickly. She straightened her shoulders. “I know one way you can help me.”

  “Name it.”

  “Consider letting me collaborate with you on a few other projects in the future. I know you prefer to work alone, but I had fun this past week. We don’t have to work on everything together. I know I’m not the best person for big projects, but I’d like to still work on more scents.”

  “I’ll do you one better,” Nicola said. “How about we collaborate on everything? Quinn, our best products have come when we worked together. I like working with you, too. I’d like it if we could be partners in this.”

  “Are you sure? My life is a mess right now.”

  “So is mine. We can be single and strong together.”

  Quinn shook her head. “About that. You and Damien. I think you should try to fix that. You were really happy with him and from the way you described him, he seems pretty decent.”

  She missed Damien so much her heart hurt. Nicola wanted to pick up the phone and call him too many times. She’d put her emotions out there already with reconciling with Quinn, if she did the same with Damien and he turned her away, she’d be crushed. “I really hurt him.”

  Quinn placed a hand on Nicola’s shoulder and gave it a light shake. “Take it from someone who’s been with a man who didn’t love her for years, when you find someone who makes you happy, it’s worth apologizing to keep them in your life. Especially when you know you were in the wrong.”

  The rejection in Damien’s eyes had broken her heart. How could she subject herself to seeing that again? “What if he says no?”

  Quinn shrugged in that all-will-be-well way of hers. “Well then, his loss. Now let’s go downstairs and drink champagne because we just made the perfume that Desiree will have everyone buying by the gallon.”

  Nicola laughed. She put the thoughts of Damien aside for now. “I’ll drink to that!”

  Chapter 35

  After celebrating and later reveling in telling their mom the great news, Nicola found herself home alone on Saturday night. Quinn had decided to stay in Miami. Nicola didn’t ask for details on why. She figured her sister needed some space to work through her own stuff.

  She wasn’t typically upset about being home on a Saturday. She used to enjoy the solitude. Tonight, she couldn’t find a thing on television to watch—including all streaming apps—she tried relaxing with a book, but had read everything on her shelf, she wasn’t in the mood for a reread, and couldn’t decide on a new book to purchase. She tried listening to music, but since she didn’t buy albums, but instead subscribed to music streaming services, none of the songs that played soothed her. All her playlists were created to motivate her when she worked or worked out.

  Why couldn’t she get comfortable in her own home? She would not accept she’d gotten used to having first Damien then Quinn around. That she knew if Damien were there, he would have planned something special to celebrate her success with the perfume. That on other Saturday nights, he would mention some movie he loved which she’d never seen, and they would curl up on the couch to watch. That if she was jittery and stopped by his studio, he’d welcome her in without a word, drop a slab of clay on the wheel and let her work out her worries by losing her mind in another form of creation. That even if what she created looked atrocious, he would smile, say it was perfect because she made it, and then put it on the shelf for firing next to his own perfectly symmetrical pieces.

  Tightness spread through her chest. She looked around her home. She wasn’t supposed to feel like this. She was strong. Independent. Didn’t need a man to feel complete. Yet, still she couldn’t ignore the hole left in her life.

  She thought about their last conversation. His accusation that she pushed away the people who loved her. She didn’t push people away. She’d shielded herself. That was different.

  Her gaze landed on her first creation in his class. The disproportional gingerbread man. Her self-portrait, except she wasn’t that person anymore.

  Frustrated anger simmered as she paced her living room. She knew how to let people in. This past week proved just that. She should tell him just how wrong he’d been. She had grown and wasn’t as closed off as he accused her of being.

  Nicola searched for her keys. She didn’t care that she was dressed in leggings covered in chemical bond symbols and a thin, long, grey shirt. Damien was probably at his studio and no one would see her.

  Except he wasn’t at his studio. Fran was the only one there. Working late on a piece. Her eyes frosty when she opened the door to Nicola on the other end.

  “I need to talk to Damien,” Nicola said.

  “He’s not here,” Fran said stiffly.

  “Fine. I’ll go by his place.” Nicola turned to go back to her car.

  “He’s not there either.”

  Nicola swung around. “Where is he?”

  “Why should I tell you? Damien was doing fine until you came into his life. Do you know I watched him slowly try to rebuild his trust after his wife left him? He was devastated and angry and had finally found a way to be happy again. Then you go and break his heart all over again.”

  The accusation in Fran’s voice made Nicola’s defenses rise. “I didn’t mean to break his heart,” Nicola snapped.

  “It doesn’t matter if you meant to or not. You did. He’s hurting. Oh, he’s trying not to show
it, but I see it.”

  The anger that fueled Nicola’s rush to the studio cooled. She’d seen the pain in his eyes when he’d talked about his divorce. She’d never wanted to be the cause of more pain. She owed him an apology for the way she’d acted. “Then let me make it right. Tell me where he is so I can talk to him.”

  “If he wants to talk to you then he’d answer the phone if you called.”

  The stubborn set of Fran’s jaw, and fierce protectiveness in her eyes said one thing. “I get it. You love him, too.”

  “He’s my closest friend. I’ll stand up and do what’s best for my friend.” Fran lifted her chin, but didn’t deny it.

  Nicola recognized stubbornness when she saw it. No amount of pleading would work. Her only option was to be honest with herself and Fran. “He’s also the guy I’m in love with. You can try to do what’s best for him, but at the end of the day, I’m going to let him know how I feel. Apologize for hurting him when he only wanted to help me. Hope he’s willing to give me a second chance. If he does, I’ll remember you cared enough to try and protect him.”

  Fran’s face twisted. “Why, so you can try and turn him against me?”

  “No, but I would hope you’ll respect his decision, whatever it is. And that one day you’ll believe I’ll never hurt him like this again and be just as good of a friend to me as you are to him.”

  Fran crossed her arms over her chest. She looked skyward and shook her head. “He’s at Sienna Sun Gallery and Lounge. One of his friends is performing.”

  Nicola let out a breath of relief as excitement rushed through her. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me just yet. He’s the one who said he never wants to see you again.” Fran went inside and shut the door.

  Nicola didn’t let Fran’s words sidetrack her. She loved Damien. The realization had come as soon as she saw the protectiveness in Fran’s eyes. The idea that Fran believed Nicola would hurt him again sparked a determination to never give a reason for someone to defend him against her. She loved him. Even though those three words may not be enough to make him accept her apology or give her another chance, she was damn sure going to try. She’d just convinced Desiree to give her a second chance, maybe luck would be with her.