Chapter One
Tessa Garcia’s hands gently brushed over the white roses. Her deep brown eyes open wide, she inhaled deeply. The scent of pollen-laden bees shimmering in a graveyard on a hot summer afternoon wrapped around her. Glinting in the early morning sunlight, the lustre of the green vase reflected the angular figure of Didier Giles as he stepped away from her. He had brought the roses from Coty’s Perfume City at Suresnes where the vast fields and greenhouses cultivated flowers and plants to create the world famous Coty perfumes. Tessa had hastily arranged them and then carried the rose filled vase into the room for her employer to inspect. Both she and Didier were now waiting for his arrival in the large oriental themed office in the Chateau de Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne, Paris.
“What you are planning to do is suicide,” Didier half-smiled. Tessa leant closer to the tightly packed blooms. “You know what he’s like,” his voice hovered more seriously.
“What would you call a perfume that smelt of these?” Tessa stroked a petal between her fingertips.
“Sickly,” he placed the art folder he had been holding on the desk, “You can’t leave when you’ve not even been here a year.”
“It’s eighteen months, same as you, and it was just a thought,” said Tessa.
“It’s not like you to say something you don’t mean,” Didier circled the table.
“I’m just wondering if it’s enough, that’s all. A lot of the time I feel as if there is only half of me here. D’you know what I mean?” Tessa dipped her face amongst the snow-like bouquet.
“I’m perfectly happy,” Didier said.
“Yes, we’re lucky to be here considering how young we are,” she glanced around at the tastefully furnished room where she knew every item on every shelf and surface.
“Coty has put time and effort into us precisely because we are young and he intends to get a very long period of pay back,” Didier ran his tongue over his slightly crooked teeth, “Do you think a man like that will stomach having his judgement proved wrong in front of everybody?”
“He’s not wrong! I’m excellent at my job, you know that,” Tessa was indignant, “How can you say I’d embarrass him?”
“He’s trained you up and you’re going to tell him you’re leaving him. I’m only repeating what you said,” added Didier.
“Let’s change the subject. He’ll be here soon.” Tessa turned her dark eyes away.
“Just remember, he has destroyed the man who shines his shoes for less,” Didier’s voice was measured.
“Ah, but the difference is, he thinks of me as part of the family,” Tessa’s face lit up as it always did when she smiled.
“Does he?” They stared at each other, “Well, if that’s the case, I think he’d react as any father would when he is disappointed by a daughter.”
“Sickly,” he placed the art folder he had been holding on the desk, “You can’t leave when you’ve not even been here a year.”
“It’s eighteen months, same as you, and it was just a thought,” said Tessa.
“It’s not like you to say something you don’t mean,” Didier circled the table.
“I’m just wondering if it’s enough, that’s all. A lot of the time I feel as if there is only half of me here. D’you know what I mean?” Tessa dipped her face amongst the snow-
“Yes, we’re lucky to be here considering how young we are,” she glanced around at the tastefully furnished room where she knew every item on every shelf and surface.
“Coty has put time and effort into us precisely because we are young and he intends to get a very long period of pay back,” Didier ran his tongue over his slightly crooked teeth, “Do you think a man like that will stomach having his judgement proved wrong in front of everybody?”
“He’s not wrong! I’m excellent at my job, you know that,” Tessa was indignant, “How can you say I’d embarrass him?”
“He’s trained you up and you’re going to tell him you’re leaving him. I’m only repeating what you said,” added Didier.
“Let’s change the subject. He’ll be here soon.” Tessa turned her dark eyes away.
“Just remember, he has destroyed the man who shines his shoes for less,” Didier’s voice was measured.
“Ah, but the difference is, he thinks of me as part of the family,” Tessa’s face lit up as it always did when she smiled.
“Does he?” They stared at each other, “Well, if that’s the case, I think he’d react as any father would when he is disappointed by a daughter.”
