Page 37 of 12 Days

“Hey, Finn!”

I look over to find Bill from accounting waving at me.

“Bill, how are you doing?” I steer Alyssa over to him, and introduce her. “Alyssa, this is Bill. He oversees many of our large overseas accounts and handles much of our distribution network. He actually built a significant portion of it himself!”

“He's being too kind.” Bill shakes hands with Alyssa. “I was only doing my job.”

“Only doing his job!” I gesture incredulously at Bill. “This guy saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars last year!”

Looking back at Bill, I ask, “Did you get the tickets? How'd your boys like the seats?”

“They were great, thank you again!”

“My pleasure!”

Alyssa finally manages to greet Bill back. “It's a pleasure to meet you too, Bill. I actually have some questions that I wanted to ask you about the company's dealings with?”

While she is shuffling through her notes trying to find her questions, I gently take her by the arm. “We're sorry to rush out on you, Bill, but we were just on our way to meet with the fellas.”

“Oh, okay. No problem. Let them know I said hello, and thanks again.”

I gently encourage Alyssa to continue walking, and she readily follows my lead. Touching her arm is as electrifying as hugging her. It feels great to be this close to her, and I yearn for another opportunity. To that effect, I throw my arm across her shoulder as we walk, as if I am talking to her about something important or sinister.

“You were asking me about something? Lilies, right?”

“What? No, I mean, was it lilies? In the perfume? Is that the ingredient?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Do you know something I don't?”

She regards me for a second, wondering if I am being genuine or evasive, no doubt. Apparently settling on the former, she says, “No, I'm sure that I don't.”

She looks back over her shoulder to where we left Bill. “Shame, I wanted to ask him about some rumors I had heard about the shipping means that the company uses in different countries. Maybe you could answer them?”

“Sure can, but hold that thought.” I duck into an open door in the hall and wave to a gentleman in a white lab coat. “Alister, how are you today?”

He looks up, smiles at us, and comes over to us. “Good, Finn, good. How're you doing?”

“Couldn't be better. Alister, I would like to introduce you to Alyssa. She is our...Alyssa. She has some fascinating ideas about a perfume using lilies as a primary ingredient.”

“Interesting. Yes, we have used lilies in a number of our scents, but never as the primary ingredient.” Alister mulls the idea over in his mind for a minute. Alyssa tries to seize the opportunity.

“I didn't mean to suggest...I was just asking if that was one of the ingredients in...oh, but it's a pleasure to meet you. I actually have a number of questions that I would like to ask you, if you could just hold on a quick?”

“You know, Alyssa, Rose and Jasmine are the two main floral scents that are used in most perfumes, but this concept of yours to center an entire scent around only lilies...it's a fascinating concept.”

Shuffling through her notes, “Thank you, but I have to admit, it wasn't my idea. I do have some questions that I would really appreciate you answering?”

Alister turns to me. “Finn, I am inspired. I like her. I will get right on this!”

“Thank you, Alister.”

“If you could, before you go, I just have a quick question or two…” Alyssa tries again.

Alister turns and walks into the lab, calling for assistants to join him immediately.

“There he goes,” I say, watching Alister walk off. “You won't get his attention again. At least he likes your idea.”

Turning to Alyssa, I say, “Speaking of, we should get going, too. Don't want to keep the guys waiting.”

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