Page 16 of Perfume Girl

I stood and walked over to Taylor, taking the phone from her.

“Will you excuse me, Katy? I have to deal with this.” Not waiting for her reply, I strolled into the bedroom and shut the door, then turned and leaned against it.

With my breathing finally under control, I continued into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub. After loosening my tie, I rested my face in my palms.

I just needed to take a moment.

A trickle of sweat snaked down my back as the heat of a Cuban sun scorched into my consciousness. The brunt of a punishment I hadn’t earned.

Vaguely, I became aware that Taylor stood in the doorway.

She came in and knelt beside me. “It was the crocodile shoes that started you off on the wrong foot, wasn’t it?”

I chuckled.

“You okay, Boss?”

“I’m fine.”Or I would be eventually.

Taylor rose and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Want me to cut this short?”

“Let’s get the photo shoot over with.” I pushed myself up. “Katy will no doubt offer to continue the interview over dinner. Make sure that meeting never happens.”

“Got it.”

I followed Taylor back into the sitting room.

THE BLUE LIQUID WHOOSHED WITHINits glass bottle…and I didn’t have the heart to tell the young woman that what she was holding would set her back hundreds. It was byRene Rue,a high-end, renowned product.

She put the bottle down, picked up another, and then sprayed some of the scent on her wrist.

I froze when I saw what she was holding—a Lalique bottle containing my most treasured creation. The same bottle I had mislaid for that Ann Rosenthal meeting. What the hell was it doing amongst the others?

I hurried over to her. “That one’s not for sale.”

She placed the bottle in my hand. “I’ve been looking for this one.”

“It’s never been on the market.”

“Are you sure?” She looked surprised.

Yes, I was, because what she was holding had never been out of my store. And it wasn’t unusual for the untrained nose to confuse a scent. The art was a gift few possessed.

“What do you have that’s like that one?” She pointed to the bottle in my hand.

“This is one of a kind.” I set it on the countertop.

She looked thoughtful. “Do you haveAngel’s Quest?”

“La Vida es un Angel’s Quest?”

“I was told that’s a nice one.”

“We don’t carry it.” It’d probably cost her a week’s salary. “I’m Raquel.”

“Skye.” She looked sheepish. “Someone told me my perfume’s nasty. So I saw your store and thought I’d treat myself.”

“Good for you. We’ll find you something special.”