Chloe sat at the edge of the stool, leaning over the desk of her vanity as she applied her new berry coloured lipstick. A woman at her previous party had given it to her as a “first meeting” type of gift and she didn’t think anything of it. Maybe Chloe had too much to drink that night, but she could barely remember the woman’s name.
Gilman. That was all she could remember. Whether or not it was her first name was something she was unsure of. She had beautiful red hair that had a pinkish tint to it when in the lighting of a candle, and big brown eyes that gave Vera a sense of warmth. Belonging. Seduction, even. She could’ve sworn they leaned more into rosewood. The way the woman’s eyelashes fluttered when they made eye contact for the first time. Those eyes felt like they were looking right through Chloe. It felt as though the woman could see into Chloe’s soul, see and feel her intentions, read her very thoughts. The woman was absolutely mesmerizing .
Chloe couldn’t remember her full name. Gilman . It had to be the woman’s last name. She needed to find her again so she could make sure.
Chloe blinked as she realized how long she was staring into the reflection of her pale face in the mirror. A solid ten minutes remembering how that woman appeared when being introduced to her by a friend. She picked up the cap for the lipstick and slid the cosmetic back down into its small container, slipping the cap back on and setting it aside with the other countless cosmetics she owned.
Being rich had its perks of free items from other high-end businesses, most of which being makeup. Eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes, sometimes perfumes of scents that Vera has already smelled before. She would always accept with a smile and give the person a short, “Merci beaucoup! I appreciate this so much.” However, Chloe had no use for such things. Keeping up her image was yet another hassle in her daily life.
She stood from where she sat and ran a hand through her short brunette hair. Giving herself a final look in the vanity mirror, she turned to step towards her bed and lay down at the foot of it, still fully clothed in the black dress she had custom made years back. She was told by an older man that the white hair she had when she originally dyed it before a party went much better with the dress compared to her natural brunette hair. But who was she to listen to what someone else preferred on her? If she wished to dye her hair again, she would.
Rolling over and stuffing her face into her pillow, Chloe thought. A black head covering that mimicked a nun’s, a coif paired with a choker, a deep V-neck dress that showed just a bit of cleavage with open sleeves and bandaged hands, dark nylon thigh-high tights with boots. The prettiest round face with curious dark makeup beneath her eyes and circle frame glasses. The overhat she wore had horns sculpted from the top. Whether or not she was into the occult was totally foreign to Vera but she was interested all the same.
“Are you cold, madame?” Vera had asked her.
“Oh, not at all! It’s quite warm in here, surrounded by so many flashy individuals. You yourself are much flashier than the rest, however,” the woman responded.
Chloe’s face flushed as she recalled the conversation she had with the woman. Occasionally, she felt herself checking out the woman’s outfit. Most of the women at the party they had both attended wore the brightest, flashiest gowns and dresses paired with expensive jewellery. They must’ve been wearing gold if they could afford something so designer in fashion.
The two women had stood next to each other, drinks in hand as they spoke away from the bustle of people inside the room. Chandeliers lit up the room, many wealthy people sitting at tables discussing family or business matters or dancing to the live music performance of the most famous musicians in France.
“My, you’re glamorous. I can only imagine your ring alone costs a fortune,” the woman laughed.
“I’m really not, dear. Save the compliments for a lady who truly deserves them.”
“But you are! Your mole ties it all together. You’re beautiful.”
Chloe knew the woman was only being kind, but what if she reciprocated the same attraction Chloe had for her? It’s not like they’d meet again for a good while. She didn’t even ask for a business number so that she could contact the woman. Oh, how dumb she felt. The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind when they met. To ask for contact information so that they could speak again. Chloe already missed her voice. Inviting like melted chocolate and accents of cherry. She was picky with scents given she had a sensitive sense of smell, but she easily applied many pleasing scents to this woman’s existence. She was beautiful. She is beautiful.
And Chloe wished to see her again. Bask in her ethereal presence, dance with her, drink with her, experience those intimacies in which only couples perform with each other. Vera was drawn to her in a way she was never drawn to someone before. Something about her was so captivating that Chloe felt as though she needed more. She craved more. Like this mysterious Gilman was a drug. Vera needed more, to overdose on obsession and be cradled in Gilman’s arms, blanketed with such love. She needed Gilman more than she thought she’d need anyone. They had only met once and yet she felt like they had known each other for a lifetime.
They had only met one. Once. And Chloe was head over heels in love, obsessed, as though they were already lovers. Anyone in their right mind would call her strange, out of her mind for having fallen for someone from just a single meeting. Was this the love at first sight that long-term couples had spoken of? Gilman was perfect, No, she is perfect. The two fit together like missing puzzle pieces of a greater picture. Chloe needed to see her again.
“By the way, Miss Nair, what fragrance is that you're wearing? It smells delightful.”
“Oh, that’s a secret, Miss Gilman. If you stopped by my shop, you’d surely find it. It is, however, on the pricier side so only the wealthiest seem to be able to afford it.”
Vera had plucked the perfume bottle from her purse and spritzed some more onto the skin of her collarbones. She enjoyed showing off her wealth to others that she knew would be able to afford such a product. The best form of advertisement. In that moment, Vera felt as though she could scream and jump up and down from excitement of making a beautiful woman interested in what she sold.
She had batted her eyelashes and given Gilman a smile, to which the woman chuckled. The best compliment Vera received that night were several other women and some very wealthy men asking her for the fragrance name. Chloe had given them the same response as she gave Gilman, that it had a high price tag that only the wealthy could get their hands on. The reason being that it took Chloe ages to get the scent perfect for what she was aiming for and the ingredients weren’t cheap when stopping by other stores to purchase them for the perfume.
“Here’s my business card if you ever wish to stop by, mon ami,” Vera had said as she handed Gilman a small card with the perfume shop’s street address and the number to call in to place an order.
“Ah, merci!” Gilman replied. The forced French accent gave Vera a laugh at the pronunciation.
She knew Gilman had to have some wealth to her name given how she was at one of these luxurious parties. Vera briefly remembered seeing Gilman on billboards, model posters and magazine covers whenever she took a trip to Paris. Gilman wasn’t French but who was Chloe to judge? If those companies and Gilman made money off of the advertisements, then good for them.
She thought back on whenever she made prolonged eye contact with Gilman. How her beautiful eyes felt like they were spiraling. Gilman looked like her soul was elsewhere. Her body in the present but her thoughts, her being were not there in the moment. Was she, too, an overthinker like Vera? It would be rude to ask. If they were alike, Vera would fall even harder for her.
Perhaps Gilman was more than just human. Originating from elsewhere. Another plane of existence. Those eyes looked like they had seen unspeakable horrors but kept up the mask of being a normal person living a normal life. Gilman was there but not wholly there. Chloe didn’t mind, however. She would do anything for this woman if she truly was human. If not? She wouldn’t care. She would worship the ground that Gilman walks on if given the chance.
Chloe knew her thought process was extreme. She couldn’t help it or the things she thought about Gilman. Her beauty was otherworldly and she silently hoped that the woman would stop by the shop one of these days. That would be so lovely , Chloe thought. She wished to see Gilman again soon.
With heavy eyelids, Chloe shifted in her bed and slowly drifted off to sleep without cleaning off any of her makeup. She had a busy day tomorrow and silently decided to freshen up as soon as she woke up the next morning. Lots of restocking to do and making a list of custom scents that plenty of rich clients of hers requested she make for them.
Chloe had woken up early as she usually did and rolled out of her bed. She didn’t remember falling asleep fully clothed and with makeup on but she did do this more often than she thought. That or her drunken ramblings to herself in the mirror, shouting profanities and accusations at no one in particular. Thankfully she was sober the night before. She headed to the bathroom just down the hall from her bedroom to clean off her makeup. On the way there, one of the maids stopped her to let her know that breakfast was ready and, with a smile, Chloe thanked her.
Once her face was bare and she had stripped down to her underwear, she turned the shower nozzle to let the water start running as she pulled bobby pins from her hair and detangled any knots she had with a hairbrush. She did admit she looks a bit like a mess with frizzy hair from the static but that would change. Chloe unhooked her bra and slid her panties down her thighs and let them drop to her feet and kicked them off to the side, then stepped into the steaming hot shower.
The typical morning routine wasn’t different from every other day. Blow drying her wet hair after the shower, heading back to her room and handing off her dirty clothing to a maid to be washed just so she can get dressed without anything else taking up her time. Chloe sifted through the dresses in her wardrobe until she found one suitable and pulled it off from its hanger. She laid the dress flat on her bed and went through her dresser, finding some clean underwear to put on before unzipping the back of the dress and stepping into it, then zipping it back up. She stood in front of the full-body mirror to examine herself, straightening any wrinkles in the dress’s fabric until she was satisfied. [See: Fragrance Queen B-tier skin]
Chloe crouched down and looked through her collection of shoes at the bottom of her wardrobe and picked a pair of heels that matched the colour of her dress. Today was another day of work at her perfume shop and she, as per usual, had to look presentable. She was the Vera Nair, and Vera Nair was always beautiful. Vera Nair was always fashionable, and many impressionable teenage girls wished to have Vera’s sense of fashion. She was beautiful no matter what she was dressed in. Chloe was absolutely sure if she just wore a paper bag, the press would still find her stunning.
Chloe sat in front of her vanity as she pulled up her hair into a bun with a thin hair tie and set some bobby pins in to hold her hair in place. It was a simple hairstyle that took only a minute or so. Then she did her daily makeup. Not too much eyeshadow or blush and a more natural lipstick. Nothing too bright or too dark. She knew she was attractive and would take advantage of it.
She looked down as she was putting her makeup away when she noticed the lipstick she was gifted by Miss Gilman. She felt a pang in her chest as she remembered what she was thinking about last night before she fell asleep fully clothed, but sighed and set the lipstick behind her makeup bag. Not right now. She needed to focus on getting to work and setting up shop for the day.
There weren’t a lot of orders this week, thankfully. Less work for her to do. Chloe opened up shop around 9am and began restocking the most popular fragrances, placing the glass perfume bottles onto shelves with their matched fragrance. These were more affordable and many women loved them. Occasionally, men would come in and buy perfumes as a gift for their wives or daughters. It was sweet, Chloe had thought. Still, she worried. She worried about what people would say if they knew she wasn't who they thought she was. The fact she stole her own sister's identity or that she didn't have a vagina. Nobody could tell, however, but she was still afraid. A shiver went down her spine and she forced herself to stand from her crouching position, then picked up the empty box to toss out.
The restocking process didn't take too long today. Chloe sighed of relief and headed to the back of the front register counter, fully prepared for today's customers. She was rearranging some bottles beneath the counter as the bell rang to alert her that somebody had entered the store. She quickly looked up to greet them with a 'Good morning,' however... She froze when she made eye contact with the woman standing in front of her.
"Bonjour, Madame Nair," the woman smiled. The same red hair and glossy chocolate brown eyes. Chloe felt her heart jump into her throat.
"G-Good morning!" Chloe stuttered, face flushing red when she realized how she struggled to get the words out. Out of all of the days she could possibly meet Gilman again, it had to be today. This morning.
"My, my, you're as red as a tomato. Are you alright?" Gilman asked. Chloe nodded rapidly in response, her lips quivering as she tried to reply.
"Oui, I'm f-fine! Everything is fine. Are you here to pick up something, Miss...?"
"Gilman. Fiona Gilman."
Chloe didn't say anything. Fiona gazed back at her, tilting her head slightly to the side in confusion. It wasn't normal for Chloe to be acting this way, especially not around another person.
"Well, oui, I'm here to purchase one of your lovely fragrances, however I'm unsure of which one I should go with. Are there any you would recommend for me?" Fiona's cherry red lips curled into a smile. It felt like she was taunting Chloe to show some restraint.
"That fully depends on, um.. What scents you enjoy. Floral fragrances, sweet fruits, or something more specific?" Chloe's mind was blanking. What was Fiona doing to her?
"I enjoy the scent you wear, Madame. You smell lovely," Fiona chuckled. Chloe squeaked.
She gripped the counter, trying her best to not make it obvious of how flustered she was just talking to Fiona. She needed to get herself together. If just one woman had this much of an affect on her and made it this difficult to think, then...
"I-I'd be happy to tell you what it is! Please, right this way."
Chloe came out from behind the counter and pointed with her hands to a special collection of much more expensive perfumes. Their bottles and labels had much more care put into their creation with many different colours varying from reds and pinks to oranges and yellows. They were all scents that had to do with different flowers or fruits to enhance their already delightful smells. Fiona looked over the colourful bottles before looking back up at Chloe.
"So, it's one of these?" Fiona asked, picking up an apple scented perfume and looking at the bottle.
"Actually, it's a scent I made for myself. I don't put it up front or advertise it because it takes longer than other perfumes to make, however..."
The two made eye contact again.
"I can make you a personal bottle. The only problem is that it costs the same to make as one of these," she gestured to the expensive bottles.
"I can afford it, Madame," Fiona assured her. Internally, Chloe's heart felt like it exploded into a million fireworks. Fiona was actually interested in having the same fragrance as her? She thought she'd faint right then and there.
"Then I'll place your request as an order and get to work on it as soon as I'm home!" Chloe smiled, trying her best to contain her excitement. It was almost impossible to hide how happy she felt in this moment. Fiona appeared to be satisfied with that response and placed the apple perfume back with the other collection of glasses bottles with a clink of the glass.
"Will that be all?" Chloe asked, heading back to the register and grabbing an empty perfume bottle from the shelf behind her.
"Yes, that's all," Fiona replied.
"Perfect! This is your price," Chloe said as she showed Fiona the cost of the perfume she was asking for, "I should have it ready by next week. I'm not as busy lately so you're free to come in any time next week. I'll have it ready for you."
"Just a moment, Madame Nair."
Chloe looked up at Fiona. Their eyes met. Once again, there was that feeling that Fiona could see into her soul.
"Smile more. For me specifically. You're gorgeous when you smile."
Fiona opened up her purse to fetch her wallet and pull out some dollar bills to pay for the special perfume and set it on the counter. Chloe, on the other hand, looked like she was in a daze as she felt the bills in front of her and slid them into the register.
"Oui.. M-Merci beaucoup! I-I'll have your perfume ready next week. Is that... All?"
Chloe could feel Fiona really looking her over. From her hair down to her bust, and then her hands. On the inside, Chloe wished for Fiona to keep looking at her.
"Hmm? You already asked me that. But yes, this is all I'm getting."
"Alright! Then I'll see you next week. Have a good da--"
Fiona reached forward and placed her hand on top of Chloe's, making Chloe's heart skip a beat.
"Thank you, Vera. Enjoy your day, too~"
Fiona put her wallet back into her purse and gave Chloe a small wave as she exited the store, the small bell ringing as the door opened and closed.
Chloe inhaled deeply and let out a big sigh. Her gentle hands were trembling, and the same question popped up in her head.
What was Fiona doing to her?