Luliyah followed Esther into her office. A desk and work chair was at the end of the room along with sophisticated computer sets. Meanwhile, on the side wall there was a bookshelf that had books about perfumes.
However, Esther did not walk to her desk as Luliyah thought. Instead, she walked over to one of the large bookshelves and pushed it away. Suddenly the wall behind the shelf opened, showing a laboratory.
'It is a hidden laboratory...'
Luliyah was flabbergasted as she stepped into the secret laboratory. It was like the scene she'd seen in movies.
"There, are some of the spices commonly used in my laboratory on the table. How many spices do you know? Can you smell it and tell the difference?" Esther stood aside, with her arms folded across her chest. She looked closely at Luliyah.
Luliyah walked over to the table, scanning the whole laboratory with sparkling eyes. She fell in love at first sight. This was truly her dream workplace.
Usually she would make perfume in a normal place, not a hidden place that was huge and full of different spices and herbs like this.
"Can I touch it?" Luliyah asked Esther.
"Please. These are the spices I chose for the job interview." Esther replied, as she told Luliyah to touch the spices.
Luliyah touched the spices on the table and watched them closely, "Cardamom, Iris, Balsam...." She named them as she glanced at Esther. She didn't know whether she should continue or not.
"Hmm .. How about that one?" Esther pointed at the spice.
Luliyah took the spices Esther pointed to and perceived it. She closed her eyes and tried to remember the familiar scent in her mind.Her eyes lit up as they opened again, "Benzoin?"
"Yes! Continue." Esther nodded in satisfaction.
"Lemon extract, rose essential oil, violet flowers, lavender, tuberose, musk..."
When Luliyah mentioned the spices one by one, suddenly Esther's cell phone rang. Esther took her phone out of her lab coat and saw Imelda's name on the screen.
She did not immediately answer the call. She turned to look at Luliyah first and asked, "Can you make perfume?"
"Yes." Luliyah replied, nodding her head.
"Make a unique perfume of your own with the existing spices. Your work clothes are over there. I'll pick up the phone for a moment." Esther said, pointing to a shelf in the corner of the room. After that, she turned around and walked out of the laboratory.
The laboratory doors then closed, leaving Luliyah there. However, she didn't mind at all. She was currently in the perfume world. Her heart has never been this peaceful.
She closed her eyes and perceived the spices, while thinking about the kind of perfume she would make. She had to think about the theme first.
When she closed her eyes, Kelvin's face suddenly appeared in her mind. Today was her first date with Kelvin. Maybe she should make a perfume about love.
She immediately put on the work coat that Esther showed her, avoiding any dirt that would change the scent of her perfume.
.....
Meanwhile, Esther sat down at her desk. She received a call from Imelda while looking at the computer in front of her which was connected to the CCTV in the laboratory room. She observed Luliyah's movements in the laboratory.
"Esther, don't let the wolves enter your cage. Luliyah Parker is no ordinary person. She is the daughter of Diana Lover." Imelda said across the phone.
Esther listened to Imelda's warning as she tapped her fingers on the table and smiled.
"In my eyes, Luliyah is just a college girl who needs money and a job. I don't care who her mother is." Esther replied casually.
"I'm good enough to remind you not to fall like me. I had a big loss because of Diana. Don't be sorry if you get stuck like me." Imelda said irritably before hanging up the phone unilaterally.
After the call ended, Esther did not return to the laboratory. She watched Luliyah from her computer secretly. She did not want to disturb the girl's concentration when creating her own perfume.
Luliyah's face was full of smiles when she mixed various spices for her perfume. She really enjoyed the process.
Until finally, Luliyah lifted her head and her face was filled with satisfaction. Esther rose from her chair and entered the laboratory.
Luliyah handed Esther a small bottle of perfume filled with enthusiasm, "Mrs. Esther, this is a perfume that I made myself. I named it, First Love." Luliyah's face looked shy when she said it.
The smell of green tea mixed with jasmine was filled in the air. Like a spoiled little girl who fell in love for the first time.
Not only that, Esther was surprised as the scent of flowers slowly disappeared and was replaced with a soft and faint lemon scent. All the scents were perceived alternately, felt light and none of which stood out from each other. Truly like an inexperienced girl, tasting love for the first time.
Esther was excited with Luliyah's perfume, but she tried to hide it and said calmly, "You are accepted. Tomorrow you can start work."
Luliyah felt so happy. She got hired. She did not expect things to go this smoothly.
"Thank you, ma'am. I will work hard." Luliyah thanked her as she bowed her head. Her joy could not be expressed in words.
Esther just stared at her with a smile, "Regarding work hours and salary, ask Ben. He is the store manager in charge of all the employees in this shop. He will explain everything to you.
"Well, Thanks again, Mrs. Esther. I will say goodbye first." Luliyah said as she hurried towards the door.
Being too excited, she forgot that she was still wearing the lab coat. "Ehem ... Please return the laboratory coat." Esther said, clearing her throat.
Luliyah smiled, then she took off the coat and hung them on the shelf.
Esther's gaze lingered on Luliyah until she could no longer be seen from her study.
...
Outside Esther's office, Luliyah met Ben again. They descended together towards the lower floor.
"Tomorrow, Mrs. Esther won't come to the shop. You can work on the first floor and adapt to the shop environment first. You also have to quickly learn about Rose's products." Ben explained.
"Alright" Luliyah replied. "What about my working hours?"
"Work hours are from 8 am to 5 pm every day and you can rest at 12 o'clock. Your salary will be calculated by the hour. Are there any other questions?" Ben asked
"Nothing." Luliyah answered. She had absolutely no objection to the arrangement. She was very much ready to start her work.
Ben nodded at Luliyah's answer, satisfied that Luliyah didn't complain. "These are products made by Rose. There are perfumes, essential oils, and aromatherapy candles. We also receive special orders from customers who want to make their own perfume." Ben gave Luliyah a brief explanation about Rose.
When Luliyah walked around the shop with Ben and learnt about the products, when someone suddenly mentioned her name.
"Luliyah" It was a woman's voice that sounded shrill, coming from the direction of the store door.
Luliyah lifted her head and looked towards the store door. A young girl stood in front of the shop with a fancy cloth, heels and a branded bag.
Seeing the girl, Luliyah felt like hiding. She had to get out of this place immediately.
Raisa was standing in front of the door of Rose Scent.
The employees at the shop immediately greeted her with warmth and a big smile, "Welcome to Rose Scent."
"Sir, it looks like a customer has come. You should be busy right now. I will say goodbye first. Tomorrow I'll start working." Luliyah said hastily. She then turned around and walked towards the side door with brisk steps.
Raisa immediately ran and blocked Luliyah's path when she saw that the woman was about to leave from the side door.
"Luliyah ..." Raisa said her name with a smile.
However, the cute smile on the girl's face made Luliyah to have a bad feeling.