Helping Janine Mayer

After they ended their work at Primavera at 5 PM, all the competition participants headed to Scitech Laboratory to work on their perfume creation.

Some already had good ideas about what to make, but most of them spent their time at the library to research ideas.

Janine first lurked around the laboratory building, hoping to take a peek at what fragrances her rivals put together.

Alas, her workstation just happened to be located on the ground floor, while all the other researchers had their workstations on the third or fourth floor. Janine did not even have a reason to visit the floor, let alone peek into their individual workstations.

Dejected, she decided to go to the library. Maybe, just maybe, inspiration was waiting to strike her there.

And that was when she met the most gorgeous beauty she ever beheld.

Next to this golden-haired goddess with her brilliant emerald eyes, Janine felt like the ugliest mouse in the world.

Not to mention the designer clothing and the newest summer bag from Ralph Lauren's collection. Janine bit into her lips in envy.

Beautiful, rich, and smart. Because if she was not smart, what was she doing in the laboratory building?

"Excuse me," the goddess smiled at Janine and caught her off guard.

"Oh, uh, yes?"

The beauty gestured toward a book on the upper shelf, just above Janine's head.

"I would like to get that book."

"Oh, certainly, um..."

Janine stepped aside.

"You maybe need a stepladder to reach it... never mind," she quickly said when she saw the gorgeous woman standing on tiptoe and reaching the book.

The golden bangle, dotted with small diamond stones, jingled when she shook her wrist.

Janine felt wronged.

God truly did not exist, she thought.

Because how could someone like this woman exist when she, a pauper, could not even create a perfume to save her life???

The beauty looked even more beautiful when she smiled.

"Thanks," she said.

"Sure, um..."

Janine's eyes were drawn to the book in the other woman's hands.

"Oh, this? I am participating in the Best Original Perfume Competition this year," the woman said. "I reckon that I should take a look at some unique ingredients to give myself additional points for the judgment."

Janine pursed her lips.

"Maybe they are unique, but they have been used a lot in the perfume industry. I doubt that they will yield original perfumes."

The woman pressed a manicured hand against her lips and gasped.

"Really? Then maybe I should stick to my original recipe. Thanks for the help!"

Janine was about to kick herself.

Why did she help this woman again?

She should have encouraged her to use those boring, well-known ingredients!

The beauty went to sit at the table.

Janine took random books with her and went to sit next to the blonde woman.

Her book lay open in front of her, but she was not paying attention to it at all. She was busy trying her best to peek without getting caught.

The woman next to her was scribbling something in her notebook. It looked a lot like a perfume recipe.

A list of ingredients already stood neatly on the top half of the page.

And now, she was writing down the preparation instructions.

Janine swallowed hard.

What was that?

Did she just read... gooseberry? What?

While Janine was trying her best to read, the woman was done writing.

She closed her notebook ruthlessly and beamed at Janine.

"Excuse me, do you mind watching my stuff?"

"Watching your wha...?"

The woman gestured toward the door.

"I need to go to the toilet. It is a little far from here. Can you please?"

Janine was waiting for inspiration to strike, but she welcomed good luck more than anything.

"I... of course! Go ahead!"

"Thank you."

Janine extended the blonde woman enough courtesy to wait until she disappeared behind the door before she grabbed the leather notebook and peered inside.

Damn, she thought to herself. The woman was a genius! She might just win the competition!!!

Janine snapped a few pictures from the last pages.

By the time the woman came back, Janine was already busy pretending to read her book again.

"Oh, look at the time," Janine glanced at her wristwatch and then stifled a yawn.

"It is late. Well, why don't I just... head home for tonight. Good luck with the perfume competition!" Janine was all smiles when she bid farewell to the beautiful woman whom she just stole from.

Not long after Janine left, the woman too rose to her feet to leave.

After she left the library, she went to visit the office of the Scitech Laboratory's owner.

"Ms. Mitchell!" the elder woman exclaimed. "You sure are hardworking. Most of the people left a long time ago."

Irene smiled graciously at the elder woman.

"I have finished my work here," she announced. "Thank you for hosting me these two days. I would like to return my key."