Perfume Girl

by Vanessa Fewings

  “Next time, make sure you’re wearing a scent from our collection,” snapped Penelope to Taylor.

  “It’s a gift from my mom,” countered Taylor. “Estee Lauder.”

  “I don’t care what it is,” said Penelope, “as long as it’s ours.”

  “Seriously?” I gritted my teeth, resisting the urge to berate her in front of Taylor.

  “I’ll only wear it on the weekends then,” said Taylor.

  I threw her a grateful smile for tolerating my sister’s outburst and headed for the elevator. “Keep me posted on your whereabouts,” I told Penelope. “Stay away from the harbor.”

  She gave me a thin smile.

  Yeah, sis, I know your dealer sells his drugs from a boat.

  I waved the folder in the air. “Let’s get this done.”

  “Tell Ms. Wren we want it by Monday,” she said.

  I stepped into the elevator.

  I felt protective over Raquel and was prepared to shield her. I’d not seen Penelope quite this suspicious of an employee before. Her radar had picked up on how fond I was of Raquel and I put her errant behavior down to her protectiveness.

  We’d always looked after each other. Until that day when I had been escorted off Bridgestone’s property and hadn’t seen the place again for decades. Guilt remained with me for those terror-stricken hours that had unfolded in the dead of night and even now bled into my every decision, every action and every thought.

  Wanting to cleanse myself of my sister’s toxic energy, I felt the need to wrap my arms around Raquel and bury my face in her hair, drawing in the comfort she brought.

  Feeling uneasy when I peered through the glass door into the lab and didn’t see her, I walked through the air-controlled door and looked over toward Arabella’s office. She was on the phone. The technicians were at their stations. I searched the storeroom—where pleasant memories flooded back—and then the coffee room.

  Approaching Raquel’s area, my curiosity was piqued when I saw the square cologne bottle on her workstation. Resting against it was an envelope addressed to me.

  I called over to my senior chemist, Joseph. “Where’s Ms. Wren?”

  His gaze floated over her workstation. “I think she left.”

  “I just came down,” I said, pointing to the elevator.

  “She used the stairs, sir.” He returned his attention to his screen.

  Raquel’s handbag was gone. That was strange. And I didn’t like the idea of a note. Maybe, just maybe, she’d headed back up to my office.

  I tore open the envelope.

  Dearest Astor,

  Forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I cannot continue to work here. This has nothing to do with what happened between us and I need you to believe that. I want you to know what we had was what I needed and I thank you for the time we spent together. Every single moment of it.

  I’ve left you a parting gift!

  —Raquel

  Dread consumed me.

  My mind ached from the strain of trying to comprehend what she was saying. My heart twisted with the idea she had walked out without saying goodbye or telling me why she’d left. I shouldn’t have pushed her so hard in our meeting. Shouldn’t have ruined what was obviously a fragile relationship.

  The crushing pressure in my chest verged on unbearable.

  My gaze darted to the storeroom and I paled at the thought of what we’d done in there being the cause. Yet her note expressed she’d enjoyed our time together. I laid it down and lifted the bottle.

  I removed the stopper and lifted it to my nose…aromas of leather, Frankincense, and black suede. My body shuddered from the other ingredients I couldn’t pinpoint because they were blended so well—an alpha scent contained within glass.

  She’d captured the fugue…

  Thundering hooves of thoroughbreds under the control of their masters as they weaved around each other competing for the win, turf thrown up, the heat of the afternoon sun bearing down and leaving a delicious burn to the skin, the squeeze of a heel to edge the horse left or right to snatch the advantage, the worth of well-worn boots squeezing gently to inspire the stride…and then came after-notes of popping champagne, caviar and kisses, salty sweetness, and the delicious art of the win.

  How dare it be left on a workstation in a frigid lab? It deserved an unveiling at a lavish function where it was celebrated as a cologne with a fuck-boy edge.

  Raquel, you did it. You pulled it off.

  Imagine what she could do with my other formula.

  Win her back.

  From our first meeting, she’d promised she could deliver a world-class scent and the fact she had and then left like this cut too deep.

  What we had was worth fighting for.

  Go after her.

  I dabbed the liquid onto my wrist and tucked the bottle into my pocket along with the note. Grabbing the mouse, I shook awake her computer and stared at the file on the screen. With a click I read the list for her fuck-boy formula.

  She knew you’d look there.

  Following the route she’d just taken, I hurried though the fire door, ascending two steps at a time and quickly reaching the first floor. I burst into the foyer and hurried for the door. I braced myself for the stormy weather on the other side.

  HOLDING BACK TEARS, I WAITED on the curb outside The House of Beauregard, my gaze snapping over to the front door, my heart racing, hoping Astor didn’t try to stop me.

  Covered in a sticky sweat from the humidity, I wiped my brow as I doubled-checked to make sure my ledger was still in my handbag.

  I’d just had a close brush in Penelope’s office with Taylor. She’d walked in as I had finished searching for my ledger. As far as I could tell I hadn’t alerted her to what I was trying to accomplish there. Still, if she mentioned the encounter to Penelope, and she probably would, the storm would not just be out here.

  Leaves swirled in a frenzy as the wind bent the surrounding trees at torturous angles, whipping my clothes and hair. Relief hit me when I saw Damien’s BMW turning the corner. I hated myself for having him pick me up…especially after the poisonous words he’d spewed about Astor.

  I have no choice.

  I had to make it back to Dunedin and with this hurricane brewing no driver other than my crazy ex would risk it either. He wanted to get back to Embry, so his motivation to help me wasn’t unselfish. More than this, he loved to be proven right.

  I didn’t want to believe Damien’s gossip about Astor’s past. There was no record of it online when I’d searched for proof that any of it was true. And so much time had passed it made me wonder if people had gotten their facts wrong.

  Thoughts of Astor suffering stayed with me all the way to his home on the water. He’d saved my life in there without a second thought from that downed power-line. Surely if there was anything sinister about him he’d have let that cable get me. Then again, maybe he just needed me to deliver those final notes on that perfume.

  I had to grab my belongings and then put South Beach behind me.

  I was leaving behind a part of me I couldn’t define…a part that had started to believe there was someone else out there for me. Perhaps someone I would love even more than Damien.

  Say it. Admit you love Astor.

  “I wish it was different,” I muttered to myself.

  “What was that?” asked Damien.

  “This is his place.” I pointed to the house.

  Damien parked the car in the driveway and made a remark about how Astor clearly had too much wealth and time on his hands. He didn’t know him like me, didn’t know how hard he worked and that he deserved this place more than most people.

  I told Damien to wait in the car and then hurried over to the front door. Getting in was easy, since he’d given me access. I merely followed Astor’s instructions and pressed my palm to the entry pad of his high-tech system.

  We had something special—had—I reminded myself, because doing this would end whatever sort of relationship we’
d begun. Falling for Astor Beauregard was one situation I’d not accounted for. We were complicated and wonderful and confusing and everything I’d not foreseen. I hoped he would forgive me and never once suspect me of stealing any of his formulas. That level of betrayal would leave lasting damage.

  I wondered if Astor had found my parting gift of that unique cologne he’d asked me to create. If nothing else he’d believe hiring me had been worth it if only for these last few weeks of delivering something special in the way of a cologne he could be proud of.

  A wave of guilt washed over me as I thought of that bottle of Orris bulb oil in the bottom of my handbag I’d taken from his lab. I placated myself with the fact it could serve as payment for the cologne I’d created for him.

  Being back in Astor’s home brought fond memories even in the short time I had stayed here, from the meals we’d cooked together to that near tragedy where he had saved my life. And the sex, of course, which was the best I’d ever had.

  Don’t think of that now. Don’t think of all those nights of love-making that made your toes curl and your heart open.

  This man wasn’t ruthless. He was kind even if he had his own demons to fight. During the days we’d spent together I had seen another side to him, a side he seemed to hide from everyone else.

  I had to pack quickly.

  Hurrying up the winding staircase and along the hallway, I made my way toward Astor’s bedroom and paused for a moment staring at the ruffled bed. So many pleasures beneath those sheets… We’d had a remarkable closeness neither of us could deny.

  Forgive me.

  Dragging my empty suitcase onto the bed, I flung it open, throwing my clothes inside and then scooping up my shoes. I quickly gathered my toiletries from the bathroom and tossed them into the suitcase, too.

  When my phone rang, I rummaged through my handbag ready to tell Damien I needed another five minutes.

  “Raquel?”

  My heart skipped a beat. “Astor?” I said softly, closing my eyes in response to his voice on the line.

  “Tell me you’re okay,” he said.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Have you left The House of Beauregard permanently?”

  I hesitated. “Did you find the cologne?”

  “Yes, it’s fantastic. Let’s talk about it.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Are you going to sue me for sexual harassment, Raquel?”

  “No,” I burst out. “Every moment with you was with my consent. I liked it. I liked it a lot.”

  “Even what we did earlier?”

  “Yes.”

  “I meant in the storeroom.”

  “I know.”

  “Did I hurt you? Or scare you?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, this has nothing to do with any of that.”

  “Tell me how I messed up so I can put it right.”

  “It’s not about us.”

  “Have you gone back to Damien?”

  “No, never.” I took a deep breath. “I need his help to get back to Dunedin.”

  “I’ll drive you.”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Driving toward a dangerous storm isn’t wise.”

  “I have to go home.”

  “Look, stay at my place if you want. I’ll leave you alone.”

  “Are you watching me on the cameras?”

  “I got an alert on my phone. It’s how the security is set. I’m not stalking you if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

  “Is there a camera in the bedroom?” My gaze darted to the ceiling.

  “No, they cover the outside. The driveway. The garden. Nothing inside.”

  “What if we’d done it in the pool?”

  “I would’ve told you. Look, I need to see you, Raquel. I need to talk this through because I’m not sure what’s happening here.”

  “I have to finish packing.”

  “I know he’s waiting for you outside.”

  My mouth went dry with guilt.

  He cursed quietly. “He can stay there with you. If it keeps you safe.”

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what? Be kind to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Would it help if I told you—” He let out an exasperated sigh. “I like you a lot, Raquel. A lot more than…”

  “And I like you.”

  “Then tell me what’s going on?”

  And then I realized Astor was on his way to the house. “I have to go.”

  “Don’t hang up.”

  “Astor—”

  “I need to put this right.”

  “I’m sorry it ended like this.”

  “Why does it need to end?”

  “It’s gotten complicated and I want you to know I didn’t expect it to go this way.”

  “What way?”

  “Being with each other…caring about each other.”

  “Don’t drive toward the storm. Promise me, Raquel. Forget the rest and just be safe.”

  “I have to go.” I ended the call and stared at my phone, tears stinging my eyes as I tried to convince myself I was doing the right thing.

  With no time to waste I finished packing, sealed my suitcase, and dragged it down the staircase, being careful not to scratch the hardwood panels. I rolled it outside and shut the front door.

  Quickly, I made my way to Damien’s car idling in the driveway. He was texting on his phone. When I reached the BMW I banged on the window to get his attention.

  He lowered the window. “All done?”

  “Are you sure it’s okay to drive in this?”

  Damien smirked. “We have six hours before the hurricane hits, so yes.”

  “The benefit of knowing a weather girl,” I mumbled miserably, throwing my suitcase onto the back seat.

  Chivalry really was dead. Though at least Damien was willing to drive me home, I quietly mused, taking one final glance at Astor’s beautiful home.

  Maybe it had been him who had hidden my ledger in his sister’s office safe. There was too much doubt surrounding me and I’d risked so much to get my book back.

  I climbed into the passenger seat and pulled the seatbelt around me as a burst of lemon scented air-freshener brought on a wave of nausea. Damien’s betrayal was now anchored to that stark citrus smell.

  In a flash of inspiration I reached into my handbag and pulled out my ledger. Damien looked at it and then smiled at me. “That your notebook?”

  “Yes, would you do me a favor and keep it safe for me. It contains all my formulas.”

  He reached over and took it from me and then turned to place it on the backseat, right next to Embry’s beach bag. “Anything for you,” he said. “You know that.”

  “Just for a day or two.”

  His gaze swept over Astor’s home. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  I nodded in agreement, though it hurt like hell. My time in South Beach, with Astor, had been the happiest days of my life.

  MAYBE IT WAS RAQUEL’S SCENT lingering on my skin or the new masterful cologne she’d created that I’d dabbed on my wrist to remind me of her, or maybe it was how she had eased into my life effortlessly that made forgetting us impossible.

  Raquel had changed my world irrevocably and this was the reason I refused to imagine her no longer in it. Damn it, I needed to know what I’d done to have her literally run out of my life.

  When a man drives hundreds of miles into the eye of a storm these are the questions he asks himself: Why her? Why now? And how the hell had I lost her so suddenly?

  I’d avoided emotional attachments before but Raquel had broken down my barriers and gotten to the core of the man I was. Seeing myself through her eyes had brought me a sense of belonging for the first time.

  You should have told her that.

  I’d realized too late she was the light that had been missing in my existence; the beauty I’d spent years trying to elicit from creating artificial moods in bottles, formulas to stir the so
ul and inspire love, the elusive all-consuming affection I’d failed to experience.

  Until her.

  Raquel was worth fighting for.

  And I wasn’t going to let that prick worm his way back into her life and hurt her again. She deserved better than that. She deserved the best that life could give her.

  All that I can give her.

  I pressed a button on my Range Rover’s dashboard. “Call Jacob.”

  A ringtone sang from the speaker phone. “Hey, Boss,” came Jacob’s upbeat voice.

  “How are you?”

  “We’re doing great. The horses are hunkered down and I’m going to stay in the office attached to the stables. No need to move them but if things change you’ll be the first to know.”

  “I appreciate that,” I said. “How’s Vedado?” Had I not been on my way to Dunedin I would have been with him now.

  “Fine. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

  “Call me if you need anything.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Heading over the water toward Dunedin.”

  Jacob’s silence almost made me think our call had dropped.

  His voice came back on. “Isn’t Dunedin in the line of the hurricane?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “What’s so important in Dunedin?”

  “A friend.”

  “Okay, well get him out and we’ll see you soon.”

  I didn’t correct him. “See you soon, Jacob.”

  The car jerked as I tried to steady it with an ironclad grip on the steering wheel, fighting one hundred mile an hour winds whipping around me. Having driven this route many times I knew it well, but the sparse traffic proved I was probably insane.

  I had to know Raquel was safe. Should she need to escape this part of the city she’d be with someone who had the resources to make that happen. The thought of her stranded with no supplies sent a chill through me. She’s sensible. She knows Florida and she knows the kind of preparation needed to weather a storm of this magnitude.

  When I glanced left I flinched at the surging ocean crashing against the bridge wall and spilling over. This hurricane was already wreaking havoc. Torrential rain splashed my windshield and my wipers strained to clear the constant blur. Straining to keep my focus on the road, I occasionally saw wildlife searching for shelter and kept alert in case any of them got into difficulty and needed rescuing.