Page 47 of 12 Days

Chapter 20

Alyssa

The True Love facilities are more impressive than even I guessed. Everything is so streamlined and modern. The techs seem happy to be here and Simon has great rapport with the employees.

Sean and Tristan seem to be making a point of brushing against me as often as they can. I’m really enjoying the attention. Being escorted around the facilities by these three extremely handsome men is only somewhat distracting.

A part of me still believes they might be an evil corporation out for world domination but, mostly, it just seems like they want to create wonderful perfumes and make a bunch of money to afford glamorous lifestyles. It’s getting harder to want to shut them down.

Simon walks in front of me and I have a wonderful view of his perfectly round ass in his designer slacks. He lost the jacket somewhere around the corporate offices, so I can also see the play of his broad shoulders under his white shirt when he is pointing to various details of the extensive lab campus.

Sean and Tristan flank me on either side, occasionally touching my arm to point something out that they think Simon didn’t do justice to. Each time, they brush my breast and lean in close to whisper in my ear whatever trivia they could use as an excuse.

“Over there is the file room, super boring to go through. Nothing but old formula notes and some taxes. Honestly, Tate would be the only one interested in showing you that, he loves his future straddles strategies,” Simon mentions as we pass a door labeled 337.

“I don’t know if he’s the only one.” whispers Sean, sliding a hand around my waist. “I like to think about future straddling, don’t you Alyssa?” His hand tightens around me pulling me into him. His breath is hot on my neck. I close my eyes for a moment and enjoy the scent and feel of the strong man beside me.

“Cute,” I whisper back. I want to make a joke back, but I can’t think of anything. I’m a little distracted trying to remember where exactly we are. A file room full of formula notes might be just what I need to make a break with my job.

A few minutes and a couple of naughty puns later, we come to a set of security doors. Now or never, I think to myself.

“Gentlemen, it has been some time since coffee this morning. I’m going to run powder my nose before we continue with the next part of the tour.” I interrupt Simon before he can open the door.

“Of course, I’ll take you back to the ladies’ lounge on this floor.” Offers Tristan. “There is a really nice couch in there, cozy, absorbent.” he continues teasing.

“That’s alright, I can find it.” I call, already heading back down the hall. I hate ignoring Tristan’s teasing, but I need to check that file room. Something I can’t do with a horny executive following me. I am a little intrigued by that couch though.

My trip back down the hall is a quicker without my distracting tour guides, and I almost miss room 337 imagining Tristan taking me on a couch in the ladies’ lounge. I actually reach room 335 before I realize that I went too far.

I hurry back to the correct room and check the halls. This part of the labs has very little traffic and is a secure area. Fingers crossed, I’m hoping this door is unlocked.

CLICK

It is. I push the door open to a room the size of my whole apartment filled with large filing cabinets. Crap, this could take longer than a trip to the restroom can explain. I close the door behind me and start looking around. I have to make the most of my time. I’m sure if I can find notes or a draft of a formula, I will be home free.

The first cabinet I try really is for tax documents. The initials on most of the forms are “T” scribble. Looks like Tate really does have a hand in most of the finance stuff.

The second cabinet is for personnel-related files. Without digging very far, it becomes clear that the corporate office has unusually high turnover in assistants, all in the C-block. I wonder if these guys are just super demanding, or if something else is going on there.

Third bank of files…jackpot! Mostly handwritten notes that would be incomprehensible without my chemistry background, but I’ve been doing this for a very long time. I’m also great at reading crappy handwriting, thank goodness for my TA days in college.

The second drawer I check though, seems to have final drafts of all the True Love scents.

“Project Partridge,” I murmur to myself. I found it. There it is, the formula for the latest True Love signature scent. The thing they didn’t want to turn over to the FDA so they didn’t have to go public and open themselves up to a dupe.

I realize how long I have been gone and just grab the final draft. I don’t even read it over. I hastily close the file cabinet, now shy of one Project Partridge final formula. I fold the single sheet of paper and put it in my makeup bag in my purse. I hurry to the door and listen for people on the other side.

Seems clear so I hurry out. I rush down the hall and back to the waiting guys.

“I knew I should have taken you.” Tristan says when I rejoin them. “You tried the couch out on your own, didn’t you?” He gives me a mock stern look and the four of us walk through the security doors. They click behind us.

I know that I never would have gotten back on the other side without arousing suspicions. I breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’m not sure if she likes us or just our furniture.” Sean says, wrapping his arm around my waist again. “What do you say Alyssa? Are you here for a divan or a deviant?” The last part he whispers in my ear, sending shivers up my spine.

“I’m here for work.” I answer smiling. “Remember you have a business to run, and Simon is showing me around. What are you here for Sean?”

“You.” He replies simply. “We run a perfume company and you smell delicious.” He kisses my cheek and I feel myself blush.

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