The Essence of Perfection Read online

“What about your kids?”

  “They’ve got a dad,” Shonda said sounding affronted. “Besides, he owes me one for—you know—being an asshole and ruining our marriage. Come on. I want to get out of town and have a little fun.”

  “Didn’t you have fun the other night with that sexy man at the club?” Nicola was curious—what was up with that guy? Stop living vicariously through your friends. She’d have to add that to the list.

  “Yes, girl, yes.” Shonda’s voice turned warm and silky. “I had fun multiple times with that man. But this is completely different. We haven’t gone out of town and had a great time in forever. Let’s go.”

  Nicola scanned her regrets list. Her body begged her to let the yes pop out. To relax and not deal with traffic, scent briefs, collaboration meetings, and hearing that she didn’t sound passionate about her work after speaking at a society function. Desiree’s perfume was pretty much in the bag. She could delegate her other projects to Tia and assign the work of smaller projects to some of the other perfumers at the company. After she met with Desiree today, she’d be even closer to knowing what the singer wanted and could easily get away for a quick weekend.

  But what if Desiree demanded something Nicola hadn’t expected? What if her initial thoughts for the scent weren’t what the singer expected? She’d have to put in extra time to work on this. Plus, how would it look to skip out of town to Mexico when she was in the middle of an important project?

  Nicola turned her chair around so her back was to her computer and her list. Digital proof that she was forever a coward when it came to living her life to the fullest. “I’d love to, Shonda, but I can’t. Not right now with the Desiree project.”

  Shonda sighed. “I figured you would say no.”

  “Then why did you ask?”

  “So, you wouldn’t get mad when I told you that I am going. Oh, and Quinn is going too.”

  “You asked Quinn?” Before she asked her? That stung. Like a million mutant wasps attacking sting.

  “Yeah, I’m not turning down this deal,” Shonda said in a sorry-not-sorry tone. “Your sister has insisted we fly first class, but that’s fine. All tickets are on sale.”

  Which meant Shonda had called Quinn before calling her. “So, you two are going?” Plans made and bags packed. She’d been the afterthought. The obligatory invite.

  “Yep, and because you’re my best friend, I didn’t want to go without at least giving you the chance to say what I already knew you were going to say.”

  Nicola didn’t get a chance to reply to that, because LeShawn, her assistant, knocked on her door before pushing it open. “Desiree is here to see you.”

  She’d have to dissect her thoughts about Shonda and Quinn becoming BFFs and find a way to make sure she didn’t lose another friend to her more outgoing sister later. “Shonda, I’ve got to go.”

  “No problem. Hey, knock it out of the park with Desiree. I know you’re going to do great. Once this is over, we’ll plan another trip. Okay?” Nothing about Shonda’s tone indicated she believed they ever would go out of town.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  She got off the phone and tried to ignore the kernel of jealousy irritating her like popcorn stuck in her teeth. She minimized her list on the screen. No need to be reminded of all the reasons why no one expected her to do anything. By the time she stood and walked around her desk, LeShawn was escorting Desiree into her office.

  Desiree was just as stunning in person as she was on television. The thirty-year-old singer entered the office with a flourish behind a large male bodyguard. She wore a thin, bright yellow t-shirt that stopped right beneath her breasts and a tight miniskirt of the same color. The shade made her chestnut-brown skin glow and brightened her dark eyes.

  “Nicola, I can’t wait to smell what you’ve come up with for my perfume,” her husky voice filled the room and she walked with a sexy swagger Nicola could never emulate.

  Desiree hugged her. Sunshine, saltwater, and persimmon. That’s what Nicola got from their embrace. Nothing like the samples Nicola had put together for this meeting. Nicola shook away the tickle of self-doubt about what she’d created. Desiree wanted something new and fresh, otherwise she wouldn’t have liked what Nicola sent over the first time. Her perfume today didn’t mean anything about what she’d want to debut.

  Nicola gave Desiree a confident smile. “I took the notes you sent with the last samples and tweaked the formulas. Follow me into the lab and I can go over some of the various ideas.”

  She led Desiree and the bodyguard she felt scanning her and the room behind his dark shades toward her lab tables. “How was your trip?”

  A devilish gleam brightened the singer’s eye. “I had the best time. There is nothing like being spoiled by a prince. He’s about to make me give up dating men who don’t have their own country.” Desiree laughed. “Do you know how crazy royalty can be?”

  Nicola shrugged. “Actually, I do. Last year I made a special blend for the Prince of Marobi’s sister. She loved it so much he offered to let me pet his tiger.”

  Desiree’s perfectly manicured brows rose nearly to her hairline. A new spark of interest came to her eyes. “A tiger?”

  “I said no of course. I do my work to help the client, and not for privileges.”

  Quinn had called her crazy for not accepting the offer from the ruler of the eastern African nation. Hence the reason pet a tiger was on Nicola’s list. The next time royalty offered her a once in a lifetime experience, if ever, she was going to accept.

  “Tell everyone you know that you made perfume for a prince and you’ll be the perfumer everyone goes to. If I’d known that story, I would have chosen you to make my perfume sooner.” Desiree tilted her head to the side and eyed Nicola with a little more interest.

  “I don’t like to brag. Word of mouth combined with my end results is what brings people here. I just hope I meet their expectations.”

  The Marobi job had come thanks to Quinn. The princess was a fan of Quinn and her brother had reached out to see what she could recommend as a gift. Quinn had turned the blatant attempt at a hookup into a business opportunity for Queen Couture.

  Nicola waved to the row of vials on one of the tables in the lab. “Shall we?”

  They went through the fragrances. Each one Nicola explained how she’d tweaked the formula based on Desiree’s suggestions. She’d tried to be bold and daring. To portray Desiree’s sex appeal, fury, sweetness, and danger. As they talked, and Desiree made comments, Nicola realized she hadn’t met Desiree’s expectations. More musk here, too much vanilla there, too sweet, too bitter.

  “This still isn’t what I wanted.” Desiree shook her head and eyed the vials with disappointment. “I was hoping you’d understand my notes. I want life, desire, excitement, and comfort. I want realness that’s timeless in a bottle.”

  Nicola swallowed as unease tried to morph into panic. “I took your notes very seriously. I’ve studied the items you mentioned and made changes.”

  Desiree shook her head. “Something is still off. The perfumers at IFH sent me another sample that I like, but I don’t want to work with them. Keep trying and we’ll see what you come up with by the end of my tour, okay?”

  Nicola nodded and tried to smile. “Okay.” Her stomach hurt as if she’d swallowed the perfumes on the table. What if Desiree didn’t like what she came up with? She’d known IHF was still in the running, but Desiree’s enthusiasm to work with Queen Couture had made her overly confident they’d have the job. If she didn’t come up with an answer would she lose the account?

  She couldn’t lose the account. She would come up with the answer.

  Just like you did with the signature scent for Alexandria?

  Nicola pushed that thought to the very back of her mind. In the dark corner where her deepest regrets and memories were put to be forgotten.

  “One last thing,” Nicola said when Desiree looked as if she was ready to leave. “I was asked to do an interview on Your Morning Wake-
Up Call about my work, and specifically being a perfumer working with you. I have no intention of mentioning anything we discussed here, but I do want to let you know it’s happening.”

  Desiree pursed her full lips then flipped her wrist. “Fine, it’ll be good publicity before the launch. Everyone is trying to get an idea of what I’m going to do.”

  Nicola’s stomach settled a little. Desiree didn’t sound like she was ready to walk out on Queen Couture. Nicola forced herself to breathe. Clients could be challenging. She’d gone through thirty different combinations before settling on the perfume the Prince wanted for his sister. She could make this work for Desiree.

  “The show sent over a list of questions. I can go over the answers to them if you want me to.”

  Desiree nodded. “Sure, I’d love to read them.”

  “I can email them to you. I was working on that before you came.” Nicola pointed to her desk.

  “Oh, well I can look at them now.” Desiree strolled over and plopped down in the leather chair. “Is your computer password protected?”

  “Um . . . yeah. Just let me type it in.” She hurried over. She hadn’t really expected Desiree to want to go over everything now, but again, clients could be spontaneous along with challenging.

  “Really, Nicola, do you think I’m going to sneak in here later and steal your secrets. Just tell me the password.” Desiree laughed and wiggled her fingers back and forth in a come-on motion.

  She felt foolish for hesitating. Desiree was not coming back to steal her trade secrets. She rattled off her password. She’d change the password tomorrow.

  Desiree read a few sentences, then her eyes widened. “I solemnly swear that I will—”

  Nicola nearly peed her pants. “No, no, that’s not what you should be reading.” She rushed over to the computer.

  Desiree leaned toward the screen. “Wait a second. Tell a guy I love him. Sleep with a prince the next time I have a chance. Go on spring break.” Desiree’s eyes jumped to Nicola’s. “Do you really keep a list of regrets?”

  She would never open this list away from her house again. Her cheeks burned and she wanted to disappear into thin air. “If you’ll close that then we can open the actual document you need to review.”

  “Forget the television show. You and I need to talk about why you have so many items on this list. You rub elbows with some of the most influential people in the fashion industry. This makes no sense.”

  “Desiree, can we please not talk about this.” Nicola hurried round the desk and hastily pressed the button to close the document.

  Desiree jumped up, pushing Nicola’s hand away. “This explains it.”

  She tried to breathe, but her lungs felt frozen. “Explains what?” she asked in a tight voice.

  “Why you’re having trouble making a fragrance that is the essence of what I want. The essence of a life well lived. You haven’t lived.”

  Not from Desiree too. “I have lived. I’m very happy—”

  “Not if you’re keeping a list like this. You know what, spend the time I’m away thinking about those things and maybe you’ll make something better than that stuff over there.” She pointed with a flip of the wrist to the vials on the table. “And you are coming with me right now.”

  “Coming with you where?” She couldn’t leave. She had work to do. She had to fix the samples to try and meet what Desiree wanted. She needed to find and eat a pint of ice cream to cool the mortification burning through her midsection.

  “Go on a shopping trip with the next celebrity who invites you is on that list. I’m inviting you. We will get to the bottom of this.”

  Damn. Damn. Triple Damn! “I really have a lot of work to do. I’ve got to get those questions to the show today.” Not spend the day listening to one of the most desired singers in the word lecture her on how to be more interesting. Bad enough she had to hear that from her more interesting and desirable sister.

  “You have an assistant, right? Ask her to email it to the show. I trust your professional judgment. You wouldn’t say anything that will piss me off, but your personal judgment. That’s another thing.” Desiree hurried around the desk and linked her arm through Nicola’s. “Let’s go now.”

  Desiree pulled Nicola out of the office. Now mortification burned from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. Nicola would need a gallon of ice cream. The most outgoing and popular celebrity she could think of had just seen all of the things that made Nicola the most uninteresting person in the world. Maybe something good would come of this. Maybe shopping with Desiree would keep her happy and possibly make sure she continued working with Nicola.

  “LeShawn, please email the questions back to the producer of Your Morning Wake-Up Call.” Nicola said as Desiree tried to pull her out the door.

  LeShawn looked from Nicola to Desiree with wide eyes. “Are they saved on the network?”

  “No, but it’s open on my computer. Just send that over to her, please.” She’d been working on the questions before pulling up the list of regrets. That what she got for getting distracted and not focusing on work. If she’d never opened her list, Desiree wouldn’t have seen it, and she wouldn’t be dragging Nicola out to make her perfumer less dull.

  Desiree tugged on Nicola’s arm. LeShawn’s lips twitched as if she were holding back a laugh. She nodded. “I’ll do it now.”

  “Thank you,” Nicola called over her shoulder as she was pulled from the office.

  For a second, she worried about LeShawn seeing the list. But she was sure she’d closed the document before Desiree had pushed her away. She thought so at least. She really didn’t need her assistant to also discover that Nicola’s I can do anything attitude was just a front.

  Chapter 6

  “Today’s guest is someone whose name you probably haven’t heard before, but her work may touch you daily. She’s responsible for creating some of the most beloved and memorable fragrances, from celebrity perfumes to household items such as soaps, deodorants, and lotions. She is also the person international superstar Desiree sought out to help develop a new perfume. Something every one of her millions of fans is dying to get. Please welcome our latest guest in our series of spotlights on influential people, fragrance chemist and perfumer, Nicola King.”

  Nicola took a deep breath, smiled, and walked from the dim backstage to the brightly lit set of Your Morning Wake-Up Call. The live studio audience clapped on cue. The show’s hosts stood and greeted Nicola with handshakes and air kisses over her cheek.

  Even though she’d had a brief conversation with both of them backstage, she still couldn’t believe she was sitting there on a stage set up to mimic a living room, a huge cup of coffee in a Morning Wake-Up Call mug on the coffee table before her. The hosts, Tom Rogers and Cassandra Duncan, both wore megawatt smiles as they sat on a sofa next to Nicola. Tom, who was in his mid-forties and had been on the show for over a decade, looked trendy in a stylish aquamarine blazer and dark blue pants. Cassandra’s bright green eyes watched Nicola intently. She appeared elegant in a sleeveless white blouse and rust colored skirt that matched her red hair. Her small stature was dwarfed by Tom’s, but her over-the-top personality honed by years playing in daytime soaps allowed her to more than hold her own with the veteran next to her on camera.

  “Nicola, oh my God, thank you for coming onto the show,” Cassandra said.

  Nicola sat straight in the comfortable plush red seat next to Cassandra and Tom. She ran her hands over the navy skirt of her suit. Her nerves from being on live television preventing her from fully relaxing. “Thank you for having me.”

  “When I read through your list of accomplishments, I mean, I was blown away,” Cassandra said placing a warm hand on Nicola’s arm. “I hadn’t realized I’ve worn or smelled something you’ve created almost every day for the past few years. How did you get started?”

  Nicola licked her lips and shifted in the chair. She didn’t look at the audience. Tried not to think about the thousands of other peop
le seeing her live on the air. Just focus on Cassandra and Tom.

  “I’ve always been interested in science, chemistry especially. My mom started out working for another cosmetics company and after twenty years there decided to step out on her own. When I realized I could use my love of science and my interest in the fashion industry, well, I jumped at the chance.”

  Tom rubbed his chin and studied her. “But you do a lot more than perfumes. Isn’t that right?”

  “I do. When we first started of course our focus was on making perfume. We were very fortunate to make our signature scent that supermodel Alexandria put her name on.” There was applause and cheers from the audience. Nicola chuckled at their enthusiasm and relaxed a little. “Thank you. We were very excited about that and we made more perfumes, but then companies asked us to look into developing scents for other items. I’ve made fragrances for things like soaps and lotions to even a few fabric softeners and cleansers.”

  Cassandra clapped and nodded. “That is impressive. But, tell the truth. Making that other stuff isn’t as fun as making perfume though. Am I right?”

  Nicola leaned in and admitted in a conspiratorial whisper. “Not as fun.” The audience laughed right along with Cassandra and Tom. Nicola relaxed, now that her attempt at humor had landed. “The other projects are just as vital, but my focus is mostly perfumes.”

  “Speaking of perfumes, you’re close to landing the biggest partnership of the year. Working with Desiree. Tell me about that,” Cassandra said, then picked up her coffee mug and took a sip.

  “I’m very honored to be working with Desiree. When I heard she wanted to branch into perfumes I knew I had to at least try to be the person she worked with. I still can’t believe she reached out to me.”

  “Any hints on what she’s going to do?” Cassandra asked.

  Tom placed a hand on Cassandra’s shoulder. “Come on, Cassandra, you know she can’t spill the woman’s secrets on national television.”

  The audience cheered and begged for the secrets. Nicola’s face burned and her heart thumped. She knew this was just for show, but that didn’t stop her nerves from fluttering. “No, not here. You all will have to wait until the debut to find out. But, I can assure you that when working with someone as outgoing, influential, and original as Desiree, she’s going to insist on creating a scent people all over will love.”