Perfume Therapy

by Kirsty McManus

  The moment Daniel and I shared, where he pressed up against me. You can see the barely controlled restraint on both our faces, and the delayed response in separating.

  I feel both excited and guilty. It’s clear there was something going on between us even then. When I was still with Aaron.

  I am a horrible person.

  And then I remember why I wanted to find this. To prove that Kannika could theoretically have seen this and used it against me.

  I stop the tape, rewind it to the beginning, and eject it. As I put it back on the shelf, I notice there is a gap in the tapes on the eleventh of April.

  “Gan, do you know what was happening on the eleventh of last month?”

  He looks up. “What do you mean?”

  “I was wondering what projects everyone was working on around the eleventh.”

  “Um, I’m not sure. Let me just check my old emails. I might be able to tell you.”

  I wait while he scrolls through his email program.

  “There’s not much from that day, but there is a message from the day before where Daniel asked me to go in early to help him with a potential new client. They were worth a lot of money.”

  I feel like I’m onto something. “And what happened? Did it go through?”

  “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Daniel.”

  “What was the name of the client?”

  “Blue Fox.”

  “OK, thanks.”

  “Is this to do with Kannika?”

  “Maybe. I want to check something with Daniel and then I’ll tell you.”

  He nods. “Alright.”

  There’s no use making accusations until I confirm everything first, but it’s looking like I might have physical proof of Kannika’s sabotage. I don’t know if it’s going to change anything, but if Daniel wants to press charges, I want to be able to support him.

  I think I would do anything for that man.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Daniel doesn’t return to the perfumery until several hours later. By that time, it has started raining and he enters the back room, dripping. I have been working on the computer, but jump up when he enters.

  I can’t help but stare at the tiny drops of water trickling off his curls…and marvel at the way he swipes his hand over his head, looking just like a model in a cologne advertisement. Which is kind of funny, considering his profession.

  His face is grim, but his expression softens when he sees me.

  “Chloe.”

  “Is everything OK?”

  “Not really. But it will be.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “You’ve already done more than you can imagine.”

  I had been all psyched up to ask him about Blue Fox as soon as he walked in the door, but he looks so worn out that I don’t want to say anything right away. He disappears into the storage room and re-appears with a towel, rubbing down his face and body.

  “Have you had lunch?” he asks me.

  “Uh, yeah. I ate with Gan a couple of hours ago.”

  “Good, good.” He goes to the fridge and takes out a bottle of iced tea. He unscrews the top and takes a large gulp. He looks distracted.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I ask.

  He sighs and then looks around to see if there’s anyone else in the vicinity. Satisfied that there isn’t, he sits down on the couch. I perch on the arm at the other end.

  “It’s worse than I thought. I’d heard rumours that Maynard was setting up on his own in direct competition with me, but I didn’t take it seriously. He was a student of mine a while back, and I found him to be arrogant and hot-headed. His technique was slightly above average, but nothing to rave about. Anyway, I called another student who was acquainted with Maynard and asked if they knew what he was up to. It turns out he had opened his own perfumery several months ago and recruited Phroi to spy for him.”

  “Phroi?” I ask in disbelief. “But what about Kannika?”

  “Exactly.” He shakes his head sadly. “Phroi was first. She became romantically involved with Maynard after he did the course and he convinced her to pass on tips about the business here, so he could emulate our strategy. But from what I gathered, she got resentful and felt like she was being used. So he told her to give him a bit more time to sort something else out…and that’s where Kannika came in. It sounds like he figured she’d be the easiest to turn against me because I rebuffed her advances. I suspect he offered her a stake in his business.”

  “Oh my God. That’s insane.”

  “It is. So the day you came into the shop was the day Phroi had finally had enough. And here I was thinking I’d done something terrible to her.”

  I lean forward and gently stroke his arm. “I’m so sorry. That’s such a sucky thing for her to do.”

  “And then that phone call you took from Maynard was him starting to question his own plan. Phroi was getting paranoid that she’d be replaced by Kannika, so Maynard tried to prove his commitment by calling off the deal with Kannika. But Kannika must’ve convinced him to reconsider.”

  I try to think back. “That was around Gan’s birthday, wasn’t it?”

  He wrinkles his brow. “Yeah, I think so.”

  “I knew she was acting suspiciously that night at Sirocco. She came into the bathroom with her mobile phone while I was in there. I thought she was angry at me for whatever reason, but now I think maybe I’d just accidentally walked into her plan to call Maynard. So how do you know all this?”

  “Maynard told me most of it. The bastard is so full of himself that he wanted to brag about how he’d been the mastermind behind it all. The rest I pieced together myself.”

  “Agh. That makes me so mad! How do we take him down?”

  He smiles bitterly. “We can’t, really.”

  “But what if we can prove Kannika stole your surveillance tapes? And damaged your property?”

  “I don’t know. I guess I can talk to the police and see what my options are.”

  “I didn’t realise you had a surveillance camera until today, but I asked Gan to help me check out the tapes. I wanted to see if I could catch Kannika in the act.” I then look at the floor. “And also see the footage from last Tuesday.”

  He frowns for a moment until he makes the connection.

  “Ah. And?”

  “Well, it definitely shows us together in the lab that night. Kannika could easily have seen it and made up a story to suit her purposes.”

  “I’m glad at least that’s resolved,” he says, half-smiling.

  “And I noticed one of the tapes was missing from the eleventh of April. I got Gan to check and you were working with Blue Fox. I wanted to ask what happened with them.”

  His face registers incredulity.

  “They told me they’d decided to go in another direction!” I assumed that meant they weren’t going to pursue a fragrance line at all, not go to another perfumer.” He slams the couch with his hand. “Bloody hell.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why are you apologising? You’re one of the only people who actually seems to have my best interests at heart.”

  “That’s not true. I know Gan cares about you. And I’m sure Kitty, Pen and Lek feel the same.”

  He sighs.

  “Yeah. It’s just so disappointing to have two of my staff betray me like that. And with Maynard, of all people!”

  He looks defeated and sad. I just want to wrap my arms around him, but even though we’ve kissed, it doesn’t seem appropriate. Especially after what he said about not mixing work with pleasure. I’m not exactly staff, but we are at his office.

  After a few more moments of awkward silence, he stands up. “If it’s OK with you, do you mind if I excuse myself? I have a few things to follow up on since I’ve been away.”

  “Oh, of course. Go for it. And please let me know if you need anything.”

  He smiles properly for the first time since he found out about Kannika and Phroi. “You are a wonderfu
l person, Chloe Beech. Thank you.”

  He then disappears into the lab. I feel a bit emotionally worn out on Daniel’s behalf, so I distract myself with Rosie’s stuff, working in the shop instead of the lab to give him privacy.

  Finally, at 3pm, Rosie comes skipping in.

  “Where have you been?” I ask.

  “What do you mean? Didn’t you see my note?”

  “What note?”

  “Uh, the one I slid under the door here yesterday morning?”

  “Oh. I guess Kannika must have seen it first.”

  “For God’s sake! What is her problem?”

  “Well, it’s funny you ask…”

  I fill her in on the whole situation with Phroi and Kannika.

  Rosie emits a low whistle. “Fuck me. Poor Daniel.”

  “Yeah, I think he’s taken it pretty hard.” I tilt my head towards the lab. “He’s been in there for ages.”

  “Well, hopefully this project we’re doing will go some way towards boosting his mood.”

  “I hope so. Anyway, what were you doing yesterday?”

  “Oh, I was meeting with a supplier who makes these cool bottles. I was picking out different ones for each of the different products I want to sell. I had to go back this morning to pick up some so I can send them to the States with my samples.”

  “Can I see them?”

  “Yeah, they’re back at the apartment. I’ll show you later. But I have to head back out in a minute. I just came by to see how everything was going. I’m glad I did!”

  “Why the hurry?”

  “Oh, I’ve also ordered some labels and I need to collect them too.”

  “You’re so organised!”

  “Well, I’m motivated, I guess. I want do this properly, for Mom and Dad.”

  “I’m sure if they could see you now, they’d be very proud.”

  She smiles sadly. “I hope so.” She then jumps up. “Alright. I’m outta here.”

  “Good luck,” I say. “I’ll see you here tomorrow?”

  “Yes. Thanks, babe. And I really appreciate all your hard work. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Hey, you want to go out for breakfast in the morning? My treat.”

  “Sounds great.”

  She throws her arms around me and gives me a tight hug. “You are one of the coolest chicks I’ve ever met.”

  I then watch her leave.

  Rosie is awesome.

  ***

  Just before six, I start to pack up. I enter the lab and see Daniel staring into space.

  “I…um…might head back to the apartment,” I say.

  He peers out the window. It’s still bucketing down.

  “Will you be alright? I was just about to leave. You could come back to my place for a while until the rain slows down? It’s closer,” he adds.

  My stomach fills with butterflies. “Uh, you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not. Come on.”

  He tidies up a few bottles in front of him and switches off the light. I follow him out the front door, waiting as he grabs an umbrella leaning against the outside wall and opens it up. We walk close together underneath. It has never occurred to me to wonder where Daniel lives. It would make sense that it was nearby.

  I can’t work out what his intentions are by inviting me to his house. Is he really just concerned for my health? Does he want someone to hang out with? Or…something more?

  I don’t say anything as we make our way down the street.

  “Are you OK?” he asks.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I should be asking you that.”

  “I’m a bit better. But it’s certainly been a strange day. Are you tired?”

  “Not as much as I probably should be.” I don’t tell him that I’ve basically been surviving on adrenaline since our kiss.

  “I know what you mean.”

  I giggle.

  He looks at me, confused. “What?”

  “I just love how you talk. Obviously you’re Scottish, but you don’t say things like ‘I didna ken about the bairns’.”

  He bursts out laughing. “You are hilarious. And very cute. But no, I don’t talk like that. I don’t think I’ve ever used the word bairns, but I probably don’t even sound like my family back in Scotland anymore either. I’ve had to modify my accent since living here, otherwise no one understands me.”

  “Well I like it, whatever it is.”

  “Thank you. I’ve been told my Thai accent is awful.”

  “At least you can speak it.”

  The side of his mouth quirks. “It sort of helps if you want to run a business here.”

  We walk along a bit further. The rain is so heavy, it feels like we’re enclosed in a little pod.

  “I want to apologise again for doubting you,” I say after a minute. “You know, in regards to what Kannika said and how you…”

  “Forget it. She can be pretty convincing, as I found out today. If I didn’t suspect anything after having her work for me for a whole year, how can I expect you to have seen through her deception after only knowing her a few weeks?”

  “Yes, but I feel bad that I didn’t trust you.”

  He smiles. “Well, you’d only known me a few weeks, too. I can’t blame you. Anyway, it’s in the past.”

  The butterflies seemed to have started a riot now.

  “Ah, here we are.” Daniel veers off into a small paved courtyard surrounded by lush tropical foliage. We walk up a path to a single-storey dark wooden structure with a steep gabled roof. It is absolutely stunning.

  Daniel unlocks the front door and slides open the windows, making the house feel like it’s now part of the outside environment. The eaves extend a considerable distance over the walls so the rain can’t come in.

  I admire the shiny mahogany floorboards and the traditional carved Thai furniture.

  “This place is gorgeous,” I breathe.

  Daniel smiles. “I’m glad you think so. Would you like a drink?” He walks over to a kitchen and indicates I should follow him.

  “Uh, yeah, whatever you’re having.”

  “Is red wine OK?”

  “Perfect.”

  Wine? Does that mean he plans on keeping me here longer than five minutes? Does wine mean anything? Why am I questioning everything? Agh! What is wrong with me?

  He pours two glasses of red and hands one to me.

  I take a sip and nod appreciatively.

  “You live here on your own?”

  “Yes. I bought this house about four years ago. I was living in the apartment you’re staying in before then, but I eventually needed something bigger. I couldn’t bear to part with the other one, though. It’s just such a great place.”

  “Well I’ve definitely appreciated it. I don’t know if you think this is strange, but I feel very at home there. Even more than my own apartment back in Australia.”

  He seems quite pleased by this comment.

  “I like that.” He ushers me over to the living room, which is down three steps from the main entry. He sits on a single arm chair and encourages me to sit on a double beside him.

  “So tell me about Brisbane.”

  “Oh. Um, I’ve lived there most of my life. My apartment is at a place called St Lucia, which is on the river and near a big university campus. Mia used to live with me, but she moved out a couple of years ago. I assume you’ve never been?”

  “Not Brisbane. But I’ve visited Sydney and Melbourne. They’re both beautiful cities.”

  “I like living where I do, but I have to admit, I am absolutely in love with Thai people. And the food! Obviously we have Thai restaurants back home, but there’s something about eating a country’s native cuisine while you’re there…”

  “I agree with you. Thai food is a million times better than Scottish food. I’m sure my mother would be devastated to hear me say that, but I’ve never been a fan of haggis or kippers.”

  I wrinkle my nose. “Kippers?”

  He laughs. “It’s kippers you take exception
to? Not the haggis?”

  “Well, that too. We don’t really have an official cuisine in Australia. Unless you count Vegemite or lamingtons, and I have absolutely no attachment to them whatsoever.”

  He looks serious for a moment. “Did you say you fly home on Friday?”

  I sigh. “Yeah.”

  “I wish you weren’t leaving,” he says softly.

  “Me too. But I can’t avoid reality for ever. I have rent to pay and a slightly-unhinged boss who doesn’t know how to tie his own shoelaces. If I leave it any longer before going home, he’ll probably burn the office down with his incompetence.”

  “Do you like what you do?”

  I pause. Do I? Normally I would say yes. Keith can be frustrating, but I’m used to his bizarre ways. Yet, having that physical distance from the office has started to make me reconsider my priorities.

  “I think so,” I say, not sounding at all certain. And then I start to shiver. I hadn’t realised I’d gotten wet from the rain, despite being under the umbrella.

  Daniel notices.

  “Hey, do you want me to put your stuff in the dryer? You can borrow a shirt in the meantime.”

  I feel my face heat up. Take off my clothes at Daniel’s house? How scandalous.

  “Uh, maybe.”

  He laughs. “I promise this is not a move to get you naked.”

  My face feels even hotter. “I wasn’t thinking that…”

  “It’s up to you. But it doesn’t look like the rain is going to settle down any time soon. I’d like you to be comfortable.”

  “Sure. Thank you. Sorry, I’m just…”

  “You don’t have to apologise.”

  I follow him down the hall and into a bedroom that contains a large carved bed with white netting over the top.

  “Ooh, that’s pretty,” I murmur. “It looks like something out of a fairy-tale.”

  “I’m afraid I only bought it for practical purposes—to avoid malaria-carrying mosquitoes,” he explains. “There are no fly screens here.”

  “Oh, yes, of course.”

  He opens a large cupboard and pulls out a t-shirt, handing it to me.

  “I’ll leave you to change.”

  He walks out, closing the door behind him, and I have to force myself not to call out and ask him to stay.