Read Online All That the Heart Desires by June Moonbridge - Free Book Online Page B

punishment.” She had a big smile on her face.
    “What? Why?” Michelle looked at Lucille and I thought I saw a conspiratorial smile on both their faces.
    “You’ll see. We’ll have a lot of work today.”
    I wanted to argue with them, but they disappeared into the back office and closed the door. I had a funny feeling they were cooking up something, I just wasn’t sure what.
    But they were right. Not a minute later, three customers came in, all three asking for the same thing. Demain . At first I was shocked and surprised. I had a hard time trying to explain that the perfume was not for sale. All three ladies were not pleased; nevertheless I managed to sell them their usual perfume.
    The last customer left the perfumery and I was heading to the back office to see what the girls were doing, when I was stopped by another customer coming in and asking for the same thing right from the door.
    “I want Demain . Now!” I was accustomed to a lot of things, but really bad manners always threw me.
    “We don’t have it…,” I answered. Before I was able to continue with my explanation, she twirled around and left, muttering under her breath.
    “I know when someone is a lying bitch.”
    My eyes widened. Although I had seen many different customers in the last three years, the ‘lady’ that had just left had the worst manners of them all. I hoped I would never have the displeasure of meeting her again.
    There were similar scenes through the rest of the morning and I was tired. I was not even able to ask the girls to help me. I knew I’d made a mess in the office and, although I didn’t care, Michelle and Lucille were afraid of Dame, like the devil himself.
    Finally, at one o’clock, I managed to escort out the last customer and closed the door. Without hesitation, I locked the doors and turned around the ‘back in half an hour’ sign. We never closed the boutique during the day. I just couldn’t believe what had happened. Somehow Demain had become hot stuff in Monte Carlo and everyone wanted it, and without even knowing how it smelt.
    I asked several customers how they learned about it. All I got in return were odd looks. Something smelt and I was wondering who was responsible for that.
    But I was lucky. All the customers who had come looking for Demain had at least bought something, with the exception of one. I should be grateful, but the ignorance of not knowing what had happened tortured me enormously. Why the sudden interest in my perfume?
    I was heading straight to the back office and found both girls working on the papers. All the bills were sorted as they should have been a long time ago. Everything was cleaned. There was no trace of Friday’s meltdown.
    “What’s going on?” I asked after I opened the door. They both became pale.
    “We asked Mr Dame and he said we could do it,” Lucille said with trembling voice. I sighed.
    “I didn’t mean this. What is going on today? Why do all the customers want Demain ? Who told them about it?”
    They were looking at me like I was from another planet.
    “You really don’t know?” Michelle asked.
    I shook my head. When they exchanged their look again it started to annoy me.
    “What don’t I know?” I asked them. It was then that I realised that Skype was open. Suddenly I heard Dame’s voice.
    “Show her.”
    “But that means we need to close the perfumery,” Michelle replied.
    “I already did that!” I said.
    “Do what needs to be done,” was his answer, as if he hadn’t heard me.
    “Miss Desiree, bear in mind that I share part of the blame. Afterwards I need to talk to you. You will call me?”
    I rolled my eyes, happy he was not able to see me.
    “Yes, Mr Dame. I’ll call you.”
    “She isn’t in trouble, is she?” Lucille asked him.
    “Well, that’s to be seen. You did a good job today. Well done.” His last words before he disconnected the line pleased them both.
    “Come.” Michelle led me out of the perfumery and out of the hotel.