I breathe deeply.
“Rosie, he can actually see people’s memories just by making physical contact.”
Her eyes widen. “See—? What do you mean? He’s, like, a psychic?”
“I don’t know, but it’s definitely not something that can be explained by logic.”
I stare down at my meal, which I have barely touched. I feel insanely guilty. Rosie has quickly become my closest confidante, and I’d never have told anyone else, but I’m acutely aware that I’ve betrayed Daniel’s trust. Why did I do that?
Rosie can see how crappy I feel.
“Hey, hey. It’s alright. I’m not going to tell anyone. What would I say anyway? That I know this magical perfume guy? I gave up believing in magic after Mum and Dad died, so I’m having a hard time with what you’re saying anyway. It’s only because I’ve seen it first hand with the fragrance he made me…”
“I know. It’s insane!” Another wave of remorse washes over me. “Please promise again that you won’t tell anyone.”
She looks me straight in the eye. “I swear. Daniel’s secret is safe with me.”
***
After breakfast, Rosie and I head back to the lab. I worry she’s going to act all weird around Daniel, but thankfully, she behaves just like always.
Daniel winks at me when he sees me, but our interactions are normal and he gives no indication that anything has changed between us. I figure that’s the professional thing to do, considering his staff are around.
Rosie and I work on packaging up the last of her samples. It’s a pleasant day. Her project is almost finished and Daniel’s perfumery will soon get a cash injection as a result. And I don’t have to worry about Kannika anymore. If only Maynard’s business didn’t exist. Now that Kannika isn’t around to spy any longer, surely they will suffer?
The only other thing that stops me from being completely happy is the residual guilt from telling Rosie about Daniel, but even that fades a little as the day wears on.
Around 4pm, I offer to go and get some afternoon tea for everyone. There’s a bakery in the mall that sells the most mouth-watering pastries I have ever tasted. I write down everyone’s order and then head out the door.
Smack bang into someone tall and unyielding.
My heart starts racing and I feel sick before I even look up at his face, because I already know who it is.
Aaron.
He looks down at me with a strange neutral expression.
“Chloe.”
My first instinct is to turn away and run back inside, locking the door behind me, but Aaron grabs my arm before I can escape.
“Please don’t go,” he begs. “I want to talk.”
I feel so confused. I never expected to see Aaron here. In Thailand. Right in front of me. My body betrays me with the slightest rush of excitement, the same one I used to get when we were reunited after one of his tours.
He senses the opportunity and pounces on it. “Five minutes. That’s all I ask.”
I glance back inside. Everyone is still in the back room or the lab out the back, so no one could see us talking. I nod, resignedly. “OK. Five minutes only.”
He seems to relax. He even tries to put his arm around my shoulder, but I shrug him off.
“Please, don’t. Just because I’m allowing you to talk doesn’t mean you can touch me.”
He looks hurt for a second, but then quickly regains his composure. We walk across the street to the mall.
“You look good,” he says.
“Thanks.” I know I do. My sunburn has faded to something vaguely resembling a tan, and I’m still feeling the afterglow of my night with Daniel.
We go over to the bakery and I start piling pastries onto a tray to fill everyone’s order…a croissant for Gan…a citrus tart for Daniel…
Aaron is clearly impatient at having to wait while I do this. Good. He can’t just expect me to drop everything the second he shows up on my doorstep. Well, Daniel’s doorstep.
I pay for the pastries and start to exit the store.
“Can we just sit down for a second?” he asks, frustrated.
I don’t look at him. “Fine.”
I point to a small booth, making Aaron sit on the side furthest from the door so I can make a speedy exit if necessary. I don’t want to feel trapped.
I sit down, still avoiding his eyes. But when he doesn’t say anything for a couple of minutes, I finally look up and am stunned to see how broken and forlorn he looks. I am caught completely off guard.
“I miss you so much,” he whispers.
I instantly feel bad. I can’t help it. This is the guy who pulled over on the side of the road to fill up Mia’s car with petrol…the same guy who made me feel special because of how intense his affection was for me.
The same guy I thought about every day for three years, until I came to Thailand.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“I can’t believe we’re not together anymore,” he whimpers. “You are the only person I have ever been able to rely on. The only person I have to keep me going while I’m away. And now you’re gone. I have no one.”
I want to tell him everything will be alright, but I feel so numb.
“I know it was wrong of me to hire someone to keep an eye on you here,” he goes on. “But I was going crazy. One of the guys in my section had just found out his wife was cheating on him and it made me paranoid. I thought if his wife couldn’t be faithful, how could I expect my girlfriend to be?”
“Aaron, I never gave you any reason not to trust me. Even when you thought something was going on here, it wasn’t, I promise you.” I try not to think about how I developed a massive crush on Daniel before I broke up with Aaron. That doesn’t count.
“I know,” he moans. “But I just couldn’t handle you being so far away and not knowing what you were doing.”
“You can’t have a healthy relationship without trust,” I say flatly.
“You’re right. I’ve been a dick. And I’ve realised that all this time away with the army is not healthy for us. So that’s why I’m quitting. As soon as they’ll release me, I’m outta there. And then everything can be back to normal again.”
I look at him, shocked. “Aaron, there is no us anymore. And things can’t be normal again. We broke up. It’s over.”
“Yeah, but that was just because I was in the army. Now that I can be home with you all the time, we’ll both be happy.”
I shake my head sadly. “It’s too late for that. I don’t want to be with you anymore.”
He looks so heartbroken that I struggle to maintain my resolve. But having him track me down only proves how unstable he is. His attempt at a romantic gesture has come across as creepy and stalkerish. He doesn’t look healthy either. His hair is greasy, his eyes are bloodshot, and his skin is pale. Part of his cheek is red and flaky too, like he has eczema or something.
“I can’t,” I whisper.
“You can,” he says, begging me again.
I go to stand up, but he jumps up and tries to stop me by digging his fingers into my shoulders. “Chloe, I’m not leaving here without you.”
I notice his voice has taken on a threatening tone.
That’s it. I know what I have to do.
I pretend to cave. “OK. You’re right. Let me just go back to the apartment and get my stuff. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “Really? I’ll come with you, then. I can help carry your bags.”
“No, no. If someone sees me with you, it will be too hard to explain what’s happening. Besides, this can be your way of proving that you actually trust me.”
He sighs. “Fine. But if you’re not back in an hour, I’m coming to find you.”
“OK.”
I pick up my pastries and run out the door.
I have no idea what to do, but it sure as hell isn’t leaving with Aaron.
TWENTY-SEVEN
When I get back to the apartment, I look around helple
ssly. Aaron knows where I’m staying, and he knows where the perfumery is.
I quickly start jamming all my things into my suitcase. It sucks that I no longer feel comfortable here, knowing Aaron could show up at any moment. I call the shop and Kitty answers. I ask her to tell Rosie to come back to the building as soon as possible.
While I wait, I pace back and forth in the living room. I hope she shows up before Aaron. I don’t know what I’d do if he started bashing on the door. Could he actually open it if he shoved it with his shoulder?
I’m startled by a knock. Shit.
I creep over and peek through the spyhole. Phew. It’s Rosie. She was faster than I expected.
I quickly open the door, drag her in and lock it again behind her.
Her face is full of concern. “What’s going on?”
“Aaron is here. And he wants me to go home with him.”
“He’s here in Bangkok?” Her face darkens. “You’re not going to, are you?”
“Of course not. I told him I was coming here to pack, but he’s going to get suspicious soon. He knows where I’m staying and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he shows up.”
“You could come and stay in my apartment? Or go to Daniel’s house?”
“I don’t want to get Daniel involved if I can help it. Besides, there’s a chance Nick or some other PI told Aaron where he lived too.”
“And he knows the perfumery address?”
“Yep. That’s where I ran into him.”
“Jesus.”
“I know.”
“OK. Let’s get you out of here.” She unlocks my front door and peers out. “The coast is clear.” She then laughs grimly. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
We quickly race across the hall and Rosie shoves me into her apartment. We sit on the couch and she breathes out.
“I just hope Nick didn’t tell Aaron about me,” she says.
“I don’t think he did. Aaron didn’t know who you were when I mentioned you a while back.”
“Well, that’s something.” She looks down at my hands, and grabs them in her own. “Oh, you’re shaking.”
I hadn’t even noticed. “You know we’re screwed if he hired someone else and they reported back about you.”
“I’m sure it will be OK,” she says.
She doesn’t sound convinced, and she’s not convincing me, either. “I’m scared, Rosie.”
“It’s alright. We’ll figure this out.” She gets her phone out of her pocket and dials a number.
“Who are you calling?” I ask.
She holds up a finger to silence me.
“Hey, Daniel? You haven’t had anyone come in and ask for Chloe, have you?”
She listens for a second.
“OK, good. Well, if you do, just tell them she hasn’t been in today and you don’t know where she is. If they ask where she’s staying, tell them she was staying somewhere you recommended until yesterday.”
She listens again and then smiles. “I will. See you soon.”
She hangs up. “Daniel’s going to take care of it if Aaron shows up there.”
“So, what? We just sit here and wait for him to try and break into the apartment across the hall?”
“I don’t know. I guess it depends on how long he waits to look for you. It’s probably safest if we just sit quietly for an hour or so. Daniel said for you to look after yourself and stay put this afternoon.”
“I feel so bad, imposing on everyone like this.”
“You’re not imposing. You’ve helped us all out. It’s the least we can do.”
“I don’t feel like I’ve really done much for you at all,” I say.
Her face softens. “You’ve been my friend, Chloe. You’ve reminded me that there are nice people in the world. And you inadvertently helped me find a career direction. I know it’s still a bit early to know how my skincare line is going to turn out, but the results are less important to me than the fact I’m finally doing something worthwhile. That sounds like you’ve done plenty.”
“I guess so.”
“I know so.” We’re quiet for a bit. “It’s a shame you’re going home on Friday,” she says softly.
Before I can think of how to reply, she suddenly stands up. “Fuck this. I need a drink.”
She opens her fridge and retrieves two bottles of beer, handing me one. I don’t normally drink beer, but I think it would be good to calm my nerves.
I sip the cool liquid and wince.
“Not a beer drinker, huh?” she says, smiling.
“Nope. But I am now.”
“Beer definitely has its place, although I think we could probably use something a little stronger right now. I ran out of hard liquor a couple of days ago, otherwise I’d offer you some.”
I smile. “Beer feels right for today.”
“I’m going to miss you, you know,” she says earnestly.
“If you want, you can come back to Australia with me. I have a two-bedroom apartment, but I live on my own.”
“That’s very sweet of you. I might actually consider it.”
“You should! It would be so fun to have you stay, and I’d appreciate the support. To be honest, I’m feeling like my life isn’t going to be so great when I go back.”
“Because of Aaron?”
“Well, yeah…but also…”
I’m cut off by loud thumping on the door across the hall.
“Chloe! Open the goddamn door!”
I freeze. Rosie raises a finger to her lips.
We listen as he continues to hammer on the door. “Chloe! Don’t ignore me! I know you’re in there!”
I start to tremble again, and Rosie squeezes my arm. I’m so grateful to have her here beside me.
After a moment, Aaron’s tone changes to one of begging. “Chloe, please. I’m sorry about everything. I love you and I need to see you. We can’t leave things like this.”
I look to Rosie, who shakes her head firmly.
We wait for what feels like hours, but I’m sure is only minutes. Then the kicking starts. “Open the fucking door, bitch!” he yells.
I start to cry silently, tears running down my face.
Eventually he gives up on my door, but not before slamming his foot against Rosie’s. I jump, terrified that he’s figured out where I’m hiding. But Rosie claps a palm down on my thigh and I realise he was just taking his anger out on any surface he could find.
Then it goes quiet.
Rosie and I don’t move or say anything for a long time after.
***
I think we’re both a bit frazzled after that. We watch music videos on Rosie’s TV for a while, and then she offers to go out and get us food. We already ate the pastries I’d bought earlier, as a way of coping with the stress. While she’s gone, I text Daniel.
Hey, is everything OK at the shop?
Daniel writes back immediately.
Yes, all good here. What about you? Are you alright?
Me: I think so. I’m so sorry to drag you into this mess. Aaron showed up and tried to cause trouble.
Daniel: Well he hasn’t been here, but I’ll let you know if he shows up. Will I get to see you tonight?
My chest feels tight as I type my reply.
Me: I think maybe it’s safer if I stay where I am for now. And you should go back to your place.
Daniel: OK. But let me know if you need anything. Even if it’s the middle of the night.
Me: Thank you.
I hesitate for a moment and then add I miss you.
It only takes a second for him to write back.
I miss you too.
I stare at his message, feeling both happy and sad. I’m also furious at Aaron for ruining my precious remaining time with Daniel.
Rosie returns half an hour later.
“I didn’t see any sign of Aaron,” she says, carrying two plastic bags loaded with food, which she dumps in front of me. “Can I borrow your apartment key?”
I hand it over w
ithout question and she disappears for a moment, before dragging the mattress from my bed into her living room and plonking it in front of the TV.
If we hadn’t had such a rough afternoon, it would almost be fun—camping out on the floor with a friend, eating Pad Thai and watching MTV. But dealing with Aaron has taken its toll on both of us.
We decide to go to bed early that night, hoping that a good night’s sleep will make everything better in the morning. But just before I switch off the light, I text Daniel again.
Goodnight. Sweet Dreams.
He writes back straight away.
Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite ;)
I smile, loving how kooky he is, and then settle down to sleep. I toss and turn for a while, but eventually drift off.
When I open my eyes again, the sun is only just peeking over the horizon. I step out onto Rosie’s balcony and take in the view. She’s on the other side of the building, so she can’t see the alley. This side looks onto the roofs of some lower set buildings. I prefer the alley.
I think about Daniel. I only have today and part of tomorrow left to see him. Damn Aaron. Instead of sleeping on Rosie’s floor last night, I could have been in Daniel’s bed.
I’d been tempted to sneak over to his place, but I couldn’t knowingly put him in danger just to satisfy some lustful craving. But then, is that what it is? Am I blinded by the holiday vibe and mistaking my feelings for Daniel for something they’re not?
When Rosie wakes up, we eat breakfast together on the balcony. And although we’re away from the street, I can’t help but be on alert, wondering if Aaron is hiding nearby, ready to spring at any second.
Rosie senses my unease.
“Listen, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I asked Nick to keep an eye on Aaron last night.”
I look at her in surprise. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I just thought it would be good to have a heads up in case he tried something stupid.”
“And?”
She hesitates before answering. “He sent me a photo.”
I squint at her. “What of?”
She takes her time opening the email program on her computer and then sliding it over to me.
It takes a while for me to process what I’m looking at.
Perfume Therapy Page 22