Julian gently held her chin and applied lipstick to her lips, a moment so tender it made others envious. Heather watched, her face full of admiration. “She’s so lucky. If only I could find someone who would touch up my lipstick anytime I needed it,” she sighed.
Yet Ian’s mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t help but wonder why Aurora’s lipstick had faded in the first place. His envy was directed at Julian, who could so effortlessly touch the woman Ian admired but found unattainable. Julian wiped away a smudge of misplaced lipstick.
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Alright.” Aurora smiled and bid him farewell before leading Ian and Heather to the cafe. They were meeting NE in person today.
Without Julian’s connections, securing a meeting with this master would have been nearly impossible-especially when a dozen other companies were vying for the rights to distribute his new perfume.
As they entered the upscale cafe, a server warmly approached them.
“Miss, do you have a reservation?”
“Yes, Room 22.”
“Please follow me.”
“Have the other guests arrived?” Aurora casually asked.
“There’s already one lady waiting.”
“Got it,” Aurora replied, though a flicker of curiosity crossed her mind. She had been told over the phone that NE was a man around Julian’s age. So, who was this woman?
While the situation felt unusual, Aurora didn’t overthink it and followed the server into the private room.
“Miss, this is your room.” The server opened the door.
Aurora walked in with poise. The room carried a faint, soothing fragrance, and its traditional yet elegant decor contrasted sharply with the typical ambiance of a cafe.
For Ian and Heather, it was their first time in such an upscale establishment. They knew the prices here must be exorbitant-even a glass of plain water had a minimum charge of $198 per person.
Suppressing their excitement, they tried to act composed, not wanting to embarrass Aurora.
“Thank you,” Aurora said coolly before stepping further into the room. It was large and tastefully decorated, resembling a cozy living room where friends might gather over an indulgent afternoon drink.
Seated with her back to Aurora was a woman with curly blonde hair.
“Good afternoon. I’m Aurora,” she introduced herself as a gesture of professional courtesy.
“There’s no need for introductions. We know each other quite well.”
The familiar voice made Aurora pause. Before the woman even turned around, Aurora’s expression began to shift. Why was she here?
The woman stood, dressed in a light blue suit with bold red lipstick. She removed her black sunglasses, a sly smile curving her lips.
“Miss Montgomery, wouldn’t you agree that we’re quite familiar with each other?” She extended her hand.
“Susan? What are you doing here?” Aurora asked, disbelief flashing across her face. NE, as Aurora had been informed, was supposed to be a man slightly older than her, not Susan.
At first, Aurora thought Susan might be playing a trick on her, but a quick mental review of the morning’s call confirmed the location and arrangement were correct.
“If you can be here, why can’t I?” Susan replied with a cryptic smile.
Before Aurora could process her confusion, footsteps echoed behind her. A man’s voice followed.
“Ah, you’re all here. Have you introduced yourselves?”
Aurora turned to see a man in an elegant suit enter the room, accompanied by a cold-faced assistant.
“She and I went to the same high school-we know each other well. No need for introductions,” Susan interjected with an almost intimate familiarity.
She didn’t call him NE but instead addressed him as Marcos.
Marcos Giron. That was NE’s real name, a detail not widely known. Clearly, Susan and Marcos shared more than just a casual acquaintance.
“Well, that makes things easier,” Marcos remarked with a slight smile.
“Hello, NE. I’m Aurora.” Pushing aside her curiosity about their relationship, Aurora extended her hand.
“Hello. I’ve known Julian for years. He’s not one to speak highly of others, so I was curious to meet the person he recommended. Miss Montgomery, you’re as talented as I’ve heard,” NE said, his tone warm and flattering.
As Aurora and NE began their conversation, Susan quickly stepped forward, linking her arm with NE’s.
“Marcos, standing and talking is so tiring. Why don’t we all sit down and chat properly?” Susan said, her words deliberately distancing Aurora from the conversation while emphasizing her own closeness to NE.
“Yes, yes, you’re right. Let’s sit,” NE agreed, not pulling away from Susan. The two of them sat on one side of the table, while Aurora, Heather, and Ian took the other.
Aurora briefly introduced Ian and Heather, though her mind remained preoccupied. Susan had once been passionately in love with Hayden, yet now she clung to another man. What was going on?
“NE, I heard from Mr. Barnet about the new perfume you’ve developed. I’m very interested in acquiring the distribution rights,” Aurora said, cutting straight to the point.
She hadn’t even smelled the perfume yet, but anything created by NE was bound to be exceptional-especially with so many companies competing for it.
“I see. Mina, bring the samples to Miss Montgomery,” NE instructed his assistant.
As Aurora and her team sampled the fragrance, NE continued speaking.
“Miss Montgomery, I’ve heard that your company is newly established. If not for Julian’s recommendation, I wouldn’t have considered entrusting my work to such a young enterprise.
I’m an artist, but I’m also a businessman. I need a broad and reliable platform to showcase my creations.”
NE’s candor was refreshing. Aurora understood his hesitation; as a new company, earning trust was always an uphill battle.
“I completely understand your concerns. Beautiful creations deserve to be shared with as many people as possible. I’ve just smelled the perfume, and your craftsmanship speaks for itself.
As a woman and a consumer, I’m captivated by this scent. I believe it will quickly win the hearts of women everywhere.
Its subtle yet sophisticated aroma makes it versatile-perfect for work, travel, or more casual outings. It’s suitable for a wide range of occasions.
If your worry is that our company’s platform is too small, rest assured. I’ve already arranged with Mr. Barnet to set up exclusive counters for the perfume in all his citywide retail chains.
Even if you don’t trust me, you can trust Mr. Barnet’s platform. With his support, it’ll be nearly impossible for this perfume not to succeed. Soon, every woman will know that this masterpiece was created by you.”
Aurora’s confident and eloquent response addressed NE’s concerns, subtly flattering him in the process. Her words left NE in high spirits.
“Haha, Julian certainly has an eye for talent. I’ll be straightforward. I’m willing to grant you the distribution rights to this perfume-but on one condition.
Susan must be the face of the perfume.”