Scented Claudia

As soon as i arrived at Araneta Tower, my bodyguards fell in step behind me.

Employees were lined up outside, waiting to greet me, just like they always did.

I knew why.

I looked intimidating.

"Good morning, Ma'am," they said in unison.

I gave a curt nod and stepped into the elevator.

People moved aside, some even stepping out entirely.

I never told them to.

They just assumed i wanted the space to myself.

Funny, really.

They feared me when there was nothing to be afraid of.

When i reached my office, I took off my sunglasses and tossed them onto my desk before sinking into my chair.

Stacks of paperwork waited for me, everything that piled up during my week-long vacation in Europe.

I was about to start signing when my secretary, Vanessa Rodriguez, walked in.

"Vanessa. What's first on the agenda?" I asked, flipping through the top few pages.

She adjusted her glasses, holding a folder.

"Ma'am, you have pending approvals for the new perfume line, an investor meeting at three, and—" She paused.

I looked up. "And?"

She exhaled and set another document in front of me. "You might want to see this."

I picked it up.

My eyes narrowed.

A loan contract.

The name was unfamiliar, but the amount was clear.

Three million pesos.

My money.

"Bullshit," I snapped, slamming the folder onto my desk. My voice echoed.

Vanessa didn't even flinch.

She'd worked for me too long. "It was Samuel, Ma'am," she said evenly. "He authorized the loan without telling you."

I inhaled sharply and reached for my phone. "Call him. Now."

Minutes later, Samuel walked in.

Calm as ever.

I threw the folder at him.

"What is this, Samuel?"

He caught it awkwardly, then straightened.

"Ate, let me explain. The loan, it was for a friend. She was scammed. Lost three million in crypto. She needed help, and I—"

"Used my money without asking?"

"She was desperate, Ate."

I leaned back, arms crossed. "Who is she?"

"Viviena Cane Gutierrez."

I didn't know the name.

"She's what, twenty-something?" I muttered. "How the hell does someone that young lose that much?"

Samuel sighed. "It was an investment scam. She trusted the wrong people."

"That's not my problem," I said coldly. "You should have told me."

Silence.

I made up my mind.

"I'll collect the debt myself."

Samuel's eyes widened. "Ate, please—"

"Enough," I said, standing. "Set a meeting with her. If she doesn't pay, she'll regret it."

—

I pushed that issue aside for now.

Before the investor meeting, I had to review our newest perfumes.

Vanessa returned with a sleek black tray lined with crystal bottles.

She did the scent testing for me, since i was born without a sense of smell.

"Describe them," I ordered.

She picked up the first bottle. "Lueur Reverie. Deep black vanilla, aged whiskey, a hint of charred wood. It's seductive, but dangerous. The kind of scent that makes sure you're never forgotten."

I nodded. "Next."

She lifted another. "Lueur Dawn. Light and fresh. White tea, jasmine petals, citrus. Like early mornings in Santorini."

I tapped my fingers on the desk. "That will sell well."

Finally, she picked up Lueur Montage.

"This one is unique. Warm, but not heavy. Saffron, dark amber, fig. It's the lingering heat of someone who was just in the room."

I smirked. "That's it. Market it as the scent of someone unforgettable."

Vanessa smiled. "Noted, Ma'am."

With that done, I leaned back in my chair and exhaled.

—

By three o'clock, i was at the fine-dining restaurant Vanessa had booked.

The place had soft classical music and an air of practiced elegance.

I walked to the private room where Mr. Ramon Lim and Mrs. Irene Chua were waiting.

Both were respected business moguls in their fields, united by one goal: bringing Lueur Empire to China.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lim, Mrs. Chua," I greeted smoothly, shaking their hands.

"Miss Araneta," Mr. Lim said with a smile. "It's an honor to finally meet you in person."

Mrs. Chua nodded. "Your reputation precedes you. Your brand is impressive."

"Thank you," I said, taking my seat. "I've prepared samples of the fragrances we plan to launch in China."

I handed them the black box with our newest line: Lueur Reverie, Lueur Dawn, Lueur Montage.

Mrs. Chua tested Lueur Reverie first. "This... is divine. Bold but elegant."

Mr. Lim tried Lueur Dawn. "Clean. Fresh. Everyday luxury."

Mrs. Chua lingered on Lueur Montage. "This one is mysterious. It leaves a trace even after you're gone. I love it."

I smiled. "So... do we have a deal?"

Mr. Lim exchanged a quick glance with Mrs. Chua before signing the agreement. She followed without hesitation.

"Thank you," I said, taking the papers.

"This is only the beginning," Mr. Lim told me. "Your brand will take China by storm."

We lingered over dinner, talking expansion strategies and the challenges of running global brands.

An hour later, I excused myself. "I'd love to stay longer, but i promised my parents i'd be home for dinner."

They understood, and after polite farewells, I left the restaurant.

—

Halfway through dinner, Dad set down his fork.

That was never a good sign.

"Claudia," he began, his voice steady. "Your mother and I have been thinking. It's time you take over everything."

I raised a brow. "I'm already running Lueur. That's more than enough."

"You know that's not all we have," Mom interjected. "There are the hotels, the malls, the publishing arm. The entire group needs a leader who can look beyond one company."

I let out a quiet laugh. "You mean you want me to drop everything i've built just to juggle everything else."

"No one's asking you to abandon Lueur," Dad said. "But you have to accept that it's part of a bigger legacy. You can't just pick and choose which parts you want."

"Lueur is my life," I said sharply. "I've spent years turning it into something people respect."

"And you've done well," Mom said gently. "But if you want full control, if you want the final say over every business, there's a condition."

I set my fork down. "Of course there is."

Dad folded his hands on the table. "You need to get married."

I stared at him. "You can't be serious."

"We're very serious," Mom said quietly. "You can't carry all this alone forever. You need someone who can share the weight."

"I don't need anyone," I said, my voice flat.

"Especially not a husband i didn't choose."

"Then you don't want the family businesses as much as you claim," Dad replied calmly.

I clenched my jaw.

They knew exactly what they were doing.

Lueur was mine in every way that mattered, but on paper, it was still part of the Araneta holdings.

If i walked away now, I risked losing the one thing i'd poured my entire life into.

Mom reached across the table, her expression softening. "We just want you to have a partner. Someone to stand beside you when we're gone."

"Don't turn this into a sentimental lecture," I said, my tone low. "If this is about legacy, just admit it."

Dad didn't deny it. "Legacy matters. And stability matters. If you can't show investors and the rest of the board, that you're ready to build a life beyond work, we can't hand everything over."

I swallowed, keeping my face unreadable.

"You can keep running Lueur," Dad continued. "You can have it all. But you need to take this step."

I looked down at my plate. I'd fought too hard, sacrificed too much to let anyone take Lueur from me.

So i did what any woman backed into a corner would do.

"I already have someone," I lied smoothly.

Mom and Dad exchanged a look.

"You do?" Mom asked.

"Yes." I lifted my chin. "We've been together for a while."

Dad's brows rose. "Who?"

"He's private," I said before i could stop myself.

Samuel, who'd been silently shoveling rice into his mouth, choked.

Mom folded her arms. "Then bring him to dinner. Next week."

"Fine," I said, my voice calm even as my heart pounded.

Dad nodded, satisfied. "If he's real, and if you're serious, then you'll have our blessing. And the businesses."

"Perfect," I said coolly, picking up my wineglass.

But inside, I was already calculating exactly how i'd find a man before the week was over.