The Mistress Purchase Read Free

press?’
    When Sadie shook her head Mary grinned.
    â€˜Wow, is he something else! His great-grandparents were Greek, and they settled in Australia as a young couple.’
    â€˜You seem to know a lot about him,’ Sadie challenged her.
    â€˜Like I just said, he’s a very sexy man—and I’m a sexy-man-hungry woman!’ Mary grinned. ‘Speaking of which, you are crazy, you know, hiding yourself away down here in Pembroke when you could be living the high life in Paris and Cannes—not to mention flying here, there and everywhere mixing powerfully potent perfumes for your celeb clients. How does Raoul feel about your business, by the way?’ she asked.
    â€˜Francine no longer makes one-off perfumes to order,’ Sadie responded, ‘so there is no conflict of interest there. But…’
    When she paused, Mary urged her to continue. ‘But?’
    Sadie gave a small sigh.
    â€˜Well, Raoul is pressing me to produce a new perfume. The one he tricked me into wearing at the trade fair was one of his late father’s “mistakes”. Grandmère always said her brother did not have a “nose”, and her nephew seems to lack one also! Now he wants me to create a new perfume for Francine.’
    â€˜But you don’t want to?’ Mary guessed.
    Sadie gave an exasperated sigh.
    â€˜I do want to. I want to very much. In fact it would be a dream come true for me to create a new Francine perfume. But…’ Sadie lifted her hands expressively.
    â€˜As you know, my perfumes come from wholly natural materials, and are made in a traditional way, whereas Raoul favours modern procedures and chemically manufactured products. And it’s not just that! I just hope that I can persuade him not to go ahead with this sale, Mary. Raoul is the majority shareholder, of course, but we are one of the last few remaining traditional perfume houses, and to sell our birthright for—’
    â€˜A mess of pottage?’ Mary interrupted obligingly, tongue in cheek.
    â€˜I just don’t want to sell the business to this Greek billionaire, and I have said as much to Raoul.’
    â€˜Mmm. All this talk of potions and lotions reminds me—how about mixing up a little something special and man-attracting for me?’
    â€˜I make perfume, not magic potions,’ Sadie reminded her sternly.
    Mary gave her a wicked look.
    â€˜Same thing, isn’t it?’ Her expression changed when she saw how sombre Sadie was looking. ‘Something else is worrying you, isn’t it?’ she guessed.
    Sadie frowned.
    â€˜Everything is so complicated, Mary. As it stands now Francine is worth very little in financial terms. The business is almost all dried up, and the staff are mainly freelancers. In reality all that is left is the name. And it is the name that this Greek Destroyer wants to buy.’
    â€˜Just the name?’
    â€˜I don’t know! Raoul rang me last night and told me that he has informed Leoneadis Stapinopolous that I am working on a new scent, and that my scent and my skills will be part of the deal. I told him that he had no right to say any such thing. I am a minor shareholder in Francine, that is all. I do not work for the house!’
    Angrily Sadie paced the floor.
    â€˜Raoul accused me of being deliberately difficult and of not realising what a wonderful opportunity this sale is. But an opportunity for what, Mary? Granted, it will give us both a considerable sum of money—especially Raoul, since he is the majority shareholder. But it will destroy the true essence of Francine and I just cannot agree to that. Never mind create a new scent. Raoul is putting so much pressure on me, though…’
    She gave Mary a wry smile. ‘If I do what Raoul wants me to do I shall be selling my birthright and my creative soul! Raoul reminded me last night that I was very fortunate to have been left the formula for Francine’s most famous perfume