Page 14 of Perfume Girl

“Maybe next time.”

“I’m wondering how such a private man feels about being interviewed?”

I crossed one long leg over another and leaned back. “It’s a pleasure to talk with you, Katy.”

She glanced at her notes. “The House of Beauregard is close to becoming a goliath in the industry. What secret strategy will you use to take your company to the next level?”

“Perfume is our passion. It’s where we begin and end. What we do is not for the accolades, of which there are many, or for financial gain, for which we are deeply grateful. Our main focus remains on creating accents that inspire, soothe, and transcend what others create. We will never lose sight of that goal.”

“What makes The House of Beauregard stand out as a front runner?”

“We don’t test our products on animals. We use a scientific approach that keeps our customers safe and guilt free. We are constantly placing high quality products on the market that have longer shelf lives, thanks to our patented formulas—some of which take years to perfect. The process can’t be rushed.”

“Like a fine wine?”

“Very much so.”

Katy revealed an impressive understanding of my company and the industry at large. She asked intelligent questions, including where we saw ourselves a few years from now and how much input I offered for the invention of our dazzling scents.

“How involved are you?”

“I’m a chemist, Katy, so very.”

She gave me a quizzical look, tilting her head. “Are you dating?”

“How did we go from science to that subject?” I quipped.

“No personal questions,” Taylor piped up.

Katy gave a nod of acknowledgment. “Revealing more of yourself to our readers will provide a personal connection.”

I leaned forward. “What you see is what you get.”

She gave me a thin smile. “The world wants to know more about you.”

“I’m flattered.”

“You use your mother’s maiden name, Beauregard, for the business. Not your father’s. Why?”

“It suited the company.”

“You adopted it as your surname as well. Sure there’s not a compelling story behind the reason?”

“You want to know more about me?” I paused briefly. “I’m involved with several charities. I’m a passionate polo player—”

“Vedado is your favorite horse?” Katy glanced at her notes.

“I rescued him as a foal. He was mistreated.”

“That’s nice, but I’m more interested in you.”

I glanced at Taylor; this interview had landed a PR touchdown for our company, but the message about keeping my personal life private had fallen through the cracks.

“What is your usual routine?” Katy asked.

“I work out, read the news, ride in the late afternoon—”

“Horses?” she said, smirking.