The next morning, the boutique smelled faintly of fresh paint and vanilla. The rain had finally stopped, leaving puddles that shimmered like little mirrors outside Beauty Booth Bliss. Mira was crouched behind the counter, rummaging through a stack of boxes that had arrived earlier. Every label looked identical, yet she was convinced the one she wanted was buried somewhere at the very bottom.
"Come on," she muttered, tugging at the last carton. "Where are you hiding, you elusive little miracle?"
The bell above the door jingled. "Talking to the products again?" Ryan's voice carried an amused tone.
Mira popped her head up from behind the counter, hair slightly disheveled. "Don't start. Shade 47 is missing, and I think it's personal."
Ryan walked in, brushing a bit of drizzle from his sleeves. "Shade 47?"
She nodded dramatically. "Our best-selling lipstick color from last year. The one that disappeared from production. It was the perfect tone — soft rose with just enough shimmer to make people feel like their lips were poetry."
He raised an eyebrow. "Poetry?"
"Yes," she said firmly. "It was that good. Customers still ask for it."
Ryan leaned against the counter, smirking. "So, what's the plan? A rescue mission?"
"Something like that," she said, slicing open another box. "The supplier swears it was discontinued, but I heard rumors that a leftover batch might still exist."
He tilted his head. "Rumors?"
She grinned mischievously. "You learn a lot when you chat with warehouse staff at midnight."
He laughed. "You're unbelievable."
"Unstoppable," she corrected, pulling out a tray of sample tubes. "Aha! Wait—" She frowned, twisting a cap open. "Nope. Shade 46. Close but not quite. It's like the universe is teasing me."
Ryan crossed his arms. "Let me guess — you're not going to rest until you find it."
"You know me well already," she said, flashing him a grin.
"Unfortunately," he said, smiling back. "Alright, detective Mira. How can I assist in your noble quest for lipstick justice?"
She pointed toward the shelves. "Start with that box. And careful — some of those are mislabeled. Last time, I ended up with twelve bottles of glitter primer instead of matte foundation."
He groaned. "I'm risking glitter exposure for this?"
"Occupational hazard," she said with mock seriousness.
For the next hour, they dug through packaging and samples, the boutique turning into a colorful battlefield. Tubes, brushes, and ribbons covered every inch of the counter. Ryan found a small stack of inventory sheets and squinted at them. "You seriously name your shades like this? Listen to this: 'Sunset Confession,' 'Peach With a Secret,' 'Blushing on Purpose.'"
Mira looked up, feigning offense. "Hey! Those names sell emotion. You don't buy lipstick; you buy a feeling."
"Then Shade 47 must be… what? 'Kiss of the Universe'?" he teased.
Her eyes lit up. "Close. 'Blissful Muse.' It was our signature shade."
Ryan stopped joking when he saw the look in her eyes. "You really loved that one, didn't you?"
Mira nodded slowly. "It was the first color I ever mixed myself when I opened this shop. I stayed up all night getting it right. Customers said it made them feel confident — like they could walk into any room and own it."
He studied her expression, the pride and nostalgia written all over it. "Then we'll find it," he said quietly. "Even if we have to call every supplier in the country."
Mira blinked, momentarily speechless. "You'd actually do that?"
He shrugged lightly. "You're not the only one who doesn't like losing."
Before she could reply, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and gasped. "Oh no. It's Priya."
Ryan frowned. "Who's Priya?"
"Our influencer for next week's event," Mira said, panicked. "I sent her some samples yesterday, but if she got the wrong batch—"
She answered immediately. "Hey, Priya! Did the package arrive?"
A pause. Then, a cheerful but slightly confused voice came through. "It did! But, uh… all the lipsticks are green?"
Mira froze. "Green?"
Ryan winced. "Oh no."
"Yes," Priya continued, laughing awkwardly. "Is this a new theme? Because if it's Halloween-inspired, I love it. If not, I'm a little concerned."
Mira forced a laugh. "Totally intentional! It's, um, part of our 'Eco-Glam' preview. You know, testing bold colors for environmental awareness."
Ryan covered his face, trying not to laugh out loud.
"That's… creative!" Priya said. "I'll make a teaser video then. Let me know when the real launch is ready!"
"Will do!" Mira ended the call and slumped against the counter. "I just lied to an influencer."
Ryan burst out laughing. "Eco-Glam? That's gold."
"Don't mock me," she said, trying not to smile. "You have no idea how hard this business is. One wrong color and you're internet history."
He handed her a tissue. "Then let's make sure your comeback shade is legendary."
Mira sighed. "If only we could find it."
Just then, Ryan picked up one of the open boxes and frowned. "Wait a minute." He pulled out a small, dust-covered container from the bottom. The label had faded, but the numbers were still visible.
"Forty-seven," he read aloud.
Mira froze. "You're joking."
He handed it to her carefully, as though it were a sacred artifact. "Found behind a box of discontinued nail polish. You're welcome."
She turned the tube in her hands. The gold lettering was scratched, but there it was — Blissful Muse. "Ryan," she whispered. "You have no idea what this means."
He smiled softly. "Guess I'm officially promoted to treasure hunter."
She twisted the cap open. The color gleamed under the light — the same soft rose with a shimmer that caught the eye just right. It was perfect. She swiped a bit on her wrist, and nostalgia hit her like perfume from an old memory.
"This shade built Beauty Booth Bliss," she said quietly. "Back when it was just me, a folding chair, and two shelves."
Ryan watched her. "You know what I see? A story. You've got your viral comeback right here."
"How?" she asked.
He pulled out his phone. "We build a campaign around rediscovering the shade that started it all. Call it 'The Return of Blissful Muse.' A limited revival — nostalgia meets authenticity. It's not just a color; it's a symbol."
Her eyes widened. "You actually sound excited."
"I am," he admitted. "You've got something real here. It's not polished, it's not corporate — it's you. And that's exactly what people connect to."
For a long moment, they just looked at each other — the kind of silence that said more than words.
Finally, Mira smiled. "Alright, partner. Let's bring it back to life."
They spent the rest of the day mixing samples, adjusting tones, and photographing the rediscovered shade. Ryan handled the lighting while Mira directed with artistic flair. Every picture told a story — the rebirth of something lost and loved.
As evening fell, the boutique was glowing again. The counter was covered in rose-tinted swatches and camera lenses. Mira leaned back on a stool, tired but glowing.
"I can't believe we found it," she said.
Ryan nodded. "It's funny, isn't it? Sometimes the best things are just buried under a little dust."
"Kind of like people," she murmured, her voice soft but thoughtful.
He looked at her for a moment, then smiled. "Maybe so."
Outside, the city lights flickered on, their reflections painting golden trails across the boutique window. Inside, Blissful Muse sat proudly on display, its shimmer catching the last glow of the day.
Mira stared at it, feeling something she hadn't felt in a long time — pride mixed with hope.
"Ryan," she said, turning to him. "Do you think people will love it again?"
He met her gaze and said, simply, "They already will. Because you do."
For a moment, the world outside faded. The rain clouds had cleared, leaving only the quiet hum of the city and the soft warmth between two people who, without realizing it, had started to believe in each other.
Mira smiled, picking up the lipstick and placing it carefully on the front shelf. "Then it's settled," she said. "Shade 47 is coming back."
Ryan grinned. "And so is Beauty Booth Bliss.
"
As the boutique lights dimmed, the reflection of Blissful Muse lingered in the glass — a small, shining promise that some colors never fade.