Chapter 26 : The Perfume

On a picturesque day at Vera's lavish mansion, Angela found solace in picking flowers for Leonardo's bathroom vase. The act of gathering blossoms had always been her refuge, soothing her troubled mind. As she immersed herself in the task, a car rolled to a stop near the parking lot gate, drawing her attention. Frederick, wearing a sardonic smile, approached her.
"Well, well, you're still here," he quipped, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Angela glanced at him briefly before resuming her flower picking. With a smile of her own, she replied, "As long as my employer continues to pay my salary, sir, I see no reason to quit."
Frederick stood before her, his presence exuding an unsettling aura. He had always been a different person to Angela, his demeanor and tone now laced with menace.
"So, you're not afraid of me," Frederick murmured, a veiled threat underlying his words.
"Why should I be?" Angela retorted, her voice devoid of emotion. "I'm not the one burdened by guilt."
A flicker of anger flashed across Frederick's face. His tone grew more menacing as he replied, "Your time will come."
Angela's expression remained solemn as she uttered, "I'll be patient."
She contemplated retreating to the safety of the house when Lara emerged from the main door, providing a much-needed distraction. Relief washed over Angela, as she silently hoped for the two figures before her to vanish. Engaging in polite conversation, Lara extended an invitation to Frederick for a cup of coffee in the kitchen, shooting Angela a sharp gaze that did not go unnoticed.
As Angela observed the two menacing figures engrossed in conversation, her tension continued to mount. Seeking respite from her growing anger, she picked up the flower-filled vase and made her way to Leonardo's room. She informed him of Frederick's arrival, hoping for some support or guidance. However, Leonardo appeared disinterested in Frederick's plans for the art exhibit.
"Let them chatter about the art exhibit," Leonardo responded dismissively. "It's no longer my concern." He changed the subject abruptly, his tone weighted with curiosity. "Have you begun uncovering the truth about Esmeralda, Angela?"
Angela turned her attention to Leonardo. "Last night, my focus was elsewhere as I spent my first night in the pink room. However, I did see your mother near the orchard. Intrigued, I followed her and discovered that she is the mysterious 'lady in white.'"
Leonardo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What was she doing down there?"
"She was weeping on the veranda," Angela recounted, relaying every detail of her encounter with Leonardo's mother. She spoke of the confession his mother made, burdened with self-blame for Esmeralda's tragic fate and her regret over her harsh treatment of Esmeralda due to her love for Leonardo.
A melancholic sigh escaped Leonardo's lips. "It wasn't my mother's fault; it was mine."
"It's everyone's fault, including Esmeralda," Angela stated matter-of-factly. "She was entrusted with her life, yet she chose to sever it, and consequences shall follow accordingly."
A somber silence settled between them, broken only by Leonardo's sniff. "What is that fragrance?"
"It's the scent of flowers in the vase; I intended to bring some life into your bathroom," Angela explained, her voice brimming with eagerness. She began expounding on the transformative power of flowers, and how they could alleviate negative emotions and bring lightness to one's mood. However, Leonardo interrupted her, his tone grave.
"Before you proceed with your plans for my bathroom, you must retrieve something from Esmeralda's room."
Curiosity piqued, Angela inquired, "What is it?"
"A small bottle of perfume," Leonardo replied with a solemnity that commanded attention.

****
Angela meticulously searched through every drawer, determined to find the coveted bottle of perfume Leonardo had requested. To her surprise, it was nestled right at the top of the first drawer she opened. The small bottle exuded an air of opulence, instantly catching her eye. Carrying it delicately, she returned to Leonardo's room, intending to hand it to him.
"Here's the bottle," Angela announced, extending her hand to pass it over, their fingers briefly touching in exchange.
However, Leonardo's reaction left Angela bewildered. His face became a blank canvas, devoid of expression, as his sightless eyes seemed to gaze into nothingness. He stared emptily at the half-filled bottle of perfume as if he could truly see it. After a moment of silence, he began to mumble softly.
"I had given this perfume to Esmeralda on her seventeenth birthday. She wore it every day, and it brought her great joy. I miss the fragrance I crafted specifically for her," Leonardo whispered, lightly gripping the crimson bottle.
Angela felt a pang of sympathy for Leonardo's lingering guilt. She sensed that words wouldn't be enough to assuage the pain of his past. Thus, she opted to maintain a tranquil atmosphere in his room, allowing him to release his pent-up grief. However, his final statement shook Angela to her core, rendering her momentarily speechless.
"Wear this perfume every day," Leonardo declared emphatically.
"What?" Angela blurted out, taken aback by his unexpected request. She was hesitant to comply. Wearing Esmeralda's scent daily felt uncomfortable and unsettling, akin to embracing the essence of the departed.
"Can't you decipher my intentions? You're supposed to be intelligent," Leonardo sarcastically remarked, oblivious to Angela's internal resistance.
"Please, just get to the point. I've grown weary of guessing," Angela retorted, her irritation mounting. She shot Leonardo a sharp, reproachful glare, even if he couldn't perceive her reaction.
Leonardo shifted his gaze towards her, his voice taking on a stern tone. "I want to smell Esmeralda's scent on you every day, Angela."
"What?" Angela was utterly taken aback by his demand. The weight of his words bore down heavily upon her.
"You are dismissed. I will have breakfast in the kitchen," Leonardo declared, moving toward his bed and lying down in silence, signaling that Angela should leave his room.

***
A few hours later, Angela found herself gazing at her reflection in the mirror of the pink room. She imagined Esmeralda doing the same when she was alive. Angela was adorned in a floral off-the-shoulder dress, her lips lightly painted with a touch of lipstick. On the dresser sat a small, luxurious bottle labeled N°5 Chanel Perfume. She slowly lifted it, taking a spritz on her wrist and dabbing some on her shoulders, her eyes fixated on the crimson bottle.
"Wow," Angela whispered, closing her eyes and inhaling the exquisite fragrance that permeated the air. She lingered at the moment, savoring the scent that now enveloped her. Finally, she left the room to prepare breakfast for Leonardo while he slept. Before doing so, she decided to indulge in a cup of coffee. In the kitchen, she found Lara assisting Mrs. Gale in the breakfast preparations, with Mrs. Vera nowhere to be seen.
"Leonardo enjoys my crispy fried chicken," Lara boasted, a smile gracing her lips. "Please pass me the tray, and I'll take care of preparing his breakfast," she added her eagerness to please her fiancé evident. Throughout her time in Vera's mansion, Lara had made it her mission to attend to every need of her soon-to-be husband.
"Mrs. Gale, Leonardo requested to have his breakfast here in the kitchen," Angela mentioned as she entered the bustling room.
"No need for that, dear. His meal has already been prepared, and he..." Lara's voice trailed off as she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. "Angela, are you wearing Chanel perfume?" Lara asked, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Yes, Miss Chavez, is there a problem?" Angela responded nonchalantly, moving to pour herself a glass of water.
"Where did you get that perfume?" Lara exclaimed, her tone laced with disbelief. "A nurse like you couldn't possibly afford such an expensive fragrance."
"Well, you're right, Miss Chavez," Angela replied with a smile. "I can't afford to buy expensive perfumes, so I rely on the generosity of someone wealthy to grant me the opportunity to smell like a lady of means, just like you."
"Take a shower and change your scent, woman! You have no right to wear that fragrance!" Lara shouted, her anger escalating.
"Why? Is it because it was Esmeralda's scent?" Angela retorted, her irritation palpable.
"You're such a nuisance!" Lara yelled, her anger unabated. "Do as I say! Remove that scent from your skin! Get out of here!"
The sudden outburst startled everyone in the kitchen. Mrs. Gale's eyes widened in disbelief, her expression mirroring the astonishment shared by the others present. Angela couldn't comprehend the cause of Lara's explosive anger. She reasoned that it must be linked to Leonardo's request for her to wear Esmeralda's perfume.
"Perhaps you should inform Leonardo to forbid me from using it," Angela retorted stubbornly, refusing to back down.