Scent Stories: Coco Mademoiselle

She tiptoed quietly into the room in her pale pink dressing gown, the morning sun streaming in from the window and caressing her skin. She sat at her dressing table and perused it, wondering what jewellery to wear and which powder to apply to her nose. She crosses her legs, then uncrosses then recrosses. She's slightly anxious, it's her fiance's surprise party and everything needs to be perfect. The caterers have arrived and the decorations have been done, the live band and the DJ are setting up. She's always had a flair for throwing exceptional parties and this one was to be no exception. She opts for her pearls and slips into her white slip dress and white louboutins, a slightly sexier version of what she's imagined of herself as a bride.

She went down to the living room to do her final checks as she awaited the 20 invited guests, a glass of rose in her hand to calm her nerves. It felt like their wedding day all over again. The food was laid out, the candles were lit to give a romantic feel and the doorbell buzzes announcing the arrival of her first guests. They are greeted at the door with bellinis by cocktail waiters and ooh and aah at what she's done with the place while she fusses over them and makes them feel welcome. It's 7.20 now, 10 minutes before her husband is due home, all the guests have arrived, thank goodness. He thinks he's coming to pick her up for dinner at a nearby restaurant, little does he know. She hears his horn and compels all the guests to be still and silent as she hurries outside to meet him. "Mademoiselle" he calls to her, as he's always done since the day they met, even though neither of them are French.

She smiles a wide smile at her dashing fiance and kisses him softly on his lips and urges him to come in briefly as she grabs her purse. They enter the house and the dim lights flicker on as all the guests scream "Surprise!". She sees the looks of shock, then confusion and finally realisation pass on his face as she turns to him and says "Happy birthday, my love"