Sin Series novel Chapter 8

Arella

IGNORING MY hammering heart was hard enough, but what was harder was facing the man who never left my mind these past days. He left me standing outside my apartment two days ago with a billion-dollar question that might remain unanswered.

Right now, I was facing a deja vu as my body hummed to his closeness while he was talking to our head chemist, Dr. Duke Mackenzie. The disappointment plastered on our faces when Skip didn't like any of our samples. He said it was too sweet for women and too strong for men.

But instead of taking it as an insult, it encouraged and drove me to work harder for this project. I wanted to prove to him that we could compete with the top leading fragrance laboratories all over the world. I able to come up with some ideas now I knew what he liked.

He faced me. "Ms. Rogue-"

"It's James," I corrected him, smiling sweetly. I was still Arella James in our lab-my ex-husband surname. Though legally, I already changed it after our divorce.

His jaw instantly clenched, shoving his hands on his dark grey tailored-suit pants. If his eyes were warmed when he arrived earlier with his assistant, Eli, now they shot me with cold and flinty stares.

"Okay, Ms. James. I want the scent is simple, sweet, yet seductive, and that lasts longer. I think you should conduct a survey on what men want in women, and so as for women-"

"I don't think we have much time to conduct a survey, Mr. Linton. We already wasted eight months-"

"Make time, Ms. James," he cut me off. "We made a deal, and I will ask all over again for as long as I'm not satisfied with the samples your team had come up with. You and your time have until six weeks to come up with new samples, otherwise, I will cut the deal myself."

Dr. Mackenzie looked alarmed, then cleared his throat. "We will make sure the samples are ready by the end of next month. We always ended up satisfying our partners, Mr. Linton. I can guarantee you that. We have the best team, and our products had been tested with our previous clients."

"Good. See you after three weeks then, Dr. Mackenzie." Skip shook his hand, then turned to me. "With the survey." He then walked away, leaving us all stunned.

Dr. Mac followed him after throwing me a glare.

"Are, what was that all about? You are rude to hot British owner of the Everly brand." Maj, my co-chemist nudged me.

"I wasn't rude, Maj. You knew we worked hard for those samples. My olfactory nerves were literally damaged, but he didn't like every single one of them. Then he wanted a survey? We don't have time for his bull!"

"Hush. Lower your voice down. We'll be in deep trouble if Mac hears you say that. What's got your knickers in a twist anyway?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired, and the pressure was all on me. Why did Mac have to tell him that I lead this project were in fact, it's him, Maj?" I stomped out of the testing room, still annoyed.

It all started when I succeeded in creating a signature fragrance for a famous baseball player. Now, it was stuck to Mac's head that I could possibly do other scents for this project. Besides, I would do anything he asked for because I was just a trainee.

Maj's high heels echoed in the entire hallway as she followed me. "Are, wait!"

I stopped to a halt and turned. I was so annoyed for some unknown reason. Or I was annoyed at Skip for bailing out on me two days ago. He had the right, I knew, but did he have to be cold then warm, then cold again? Couldn't he just tell me what was wrong? Because I was not a freaking fortune teller to guess his twisted game. Didn't he really remember me? Or it wasn't worth remembering at all?

"Are you listening, Are? Quit frowning!" She pressed her forefinger between my eyebrows. "I'm asking you. How did he know you're a Rogue? Did you two happened to have a wild night together?" Her caramel face lit up in a mischievous way.

A long wild night, yeah.

"Hell no!" I pointed to my ID, and she looked down.

"Thank, God! You got new! Good for you, Rogue. Let's go out tonight, then and have a few drinks? Stop overthinking everything, Are. We are a team, remember? We can do it. We always did!" She kissed my cheek and left.

How did I become such a liar after that night? Not a big big lie, but it was still a lie.

"Are!"

Holy crap!

"Mac, if you're going to fire me, just do it! I don't want another pep talk," I started before he could.

He was a good boss, nosy, but tolerable. He propped his hands on his hips, then blew an exasperating breath. He pressed his lips into a thin line as he continued looking at me with brows drew together as if deciding to fire me or I still had used to him. "I don't wanna lost my best shot, but if you're gonna be rude again, I'll spank your ass, woman."

I huffed. "You don't like my ass, I know, but Linton was also an ass. Did you see his reaction every time he smelled our best works? Does he even know perfumery? I bet his daddy dear only promoted him because he's an heir to the throne of the Everly Cosmetics and Fragrances, and he knows nothing!"