Lila worked obsessively in the lab. Every fragrance she blended now contained faint notes of defiance, fear, curiosity… and one other thing she named privately but refused to declare aloud:
Attraction that felt suspiciously structural.
Morgan Fragrance's relaunch line neared completion. Distribution interest from global boutiques exceeded projections. Investors sniffed brand equity like sommeliers sniffed wine.
But while the market wanted the product, Dorian wanted the perfumer.
He visited the lab so often the technicians assumed part of their job description was now "pretend not to notice the CEO staring at scent glass like it contained a woman, not a formula."
One evening, a technician named Omar Wei commented:
"Sir, perfume has molecules, not ghosts."
Dorian replied:
"Then explain why I keep smelling memories that haven't happened yet."
Omar wisely resigned from emotional commentary after that.