Page 32 of Perfume Girl

“I see. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. Many businesses don’t. And perfumery is a tough one.”

She ran her hands through her tousled hair, as though reflecting on what she could have done differently.

“Raquel, I need to know this is something you really want.”

“Everything fell apart—” Her gaze locked on mine. “But now it seems to have come together.”

“Are you certain?”

Her gaze lowered and then found mine again. “Your colognes are profound, Mr. Beauregard. I’ve always thought that.” She stepped back and turned toward the oval window, her form becoming an erotic silhouette as sunlight flittered over her.

Her flattery wasn’t needed here. We were a leader in this field and everyone knew it. And that was why people like her had to be stopped before they did any damage.

Rays caught the highlights in her windswept hair and she looked as bewitching as Guinevere—the woman from that Arthurian legend. She was beautiful, but she undermined a king’s efforts to thrive…to rule.

But the way she owned her personal wreckage without bitterness, the way she seemed unscathed by life…something told me Damien would realize the mistake he’d made. The moment he’d gotten the other woman out of his system, he’d beg Raquel to take him back.

She flashed me a warm smile. “I’m open to learning new skills.”

This was what made dealing with her so perilous; she knew her worth.

I had run a background check on her and it had turned up some interesting facts on the woman who had gate-crashed my Bridgestone estate. Raquel Wren had studied chemistry at Cambridge. Later, she’d been headhunted by the team over at Parfums De Royale to head up their lab on the East Coast, which was where she’d met Damien, I assumed. She’d thrived there for five years before breaking out on her own.

What Raquel may not suspect was that I had visited her social media pages. On a few sites she had posted selfies while at this harbor—every single Sunday.

She may hate spontaneity but that didn’t dampen her bravery. She had built her business from the ground up. Under any other circumstances, I would have been elated by this potential new employee and her verve.

Raquel stared out the window, appearing distracted. Perhaps she needed a few more seconds to think this through. She was diving into the deep end and something told me she was assessing the risks.

“It’s a great view,” she finally said, turning around to face me again.

“Even better out on the ocean.”

“It was nice of you to invite me. It’s just that…”

“I understand,” I said softly. “You need some alone time.”

She looked surprised and then broke into a grateful smile. Raquel’s complexity made me want to pry further. She was a lost island waiting to be explored and God how I wanted to explore her—which was all the more reason to keep her where I could control her.

“You would have the run of a state-of-the-art lab,” I said, hoping to seal the deal. “The freedom to create.”

“Sounds ideal.”

I wasn’t usually the one dealing with potential spies, but I was involved now and that made her my problem. “I have no doubt you’ll be an asset.”

Her breath caught. “Thank you.”

“You will have two weeks to live up to my expectations. After that, I will reevaluate.”

“Only two weeks?”

Then I’m out of this contract, Wren.

And so are you.

I straightened. “Problem?”

“No, that’s fine. I appreciate the opportunity.”