We spend the next couple of hours mingling with guests, and when it’s finally time to head to the stage and prepare the perfume that will be auctioned tonight, I squeeze Nathan’s hand tightly. Together, we watch one of Oliver’s chemists walk up and begin replicating the fragrance that Pierre and I worked so hard to create weeks ago.

Once he’s done, the judges approach and give their scores.

“That score should be yours,” Nathan mutters, pulling me closer as the final score ...