(1) I was a chemist at the Amos Cosmetics factory in New Jersey, USA, trying to design a new perfume when it happened. (2) I never thought I would discover something quite so amazing by ________. (3) Not me. (4) I was only 23 and it was my second year at the factory. (5) I liked my job very much but I was not a lucky person. (6) I had come straight from the university then, but now I was a chemist in one of the biggest factories in New Jersey. (7) It was an important position to have and meant lots of work.

(8) I was ________ out all the usual mixes of flowers and things — just as I always did — when I decided to throw in a ________ of the fruitcake Mummy had packed for my lunch. (9) I don’t know why I did it — just did it. (10) I put it into the mix with all the other things.

(11) I thought it ________ nice, but there was nothing special about it, so I put the bottle into my handbag. (12) I couldn’t give something like that to my boss. (13) After all, I was a chemist and my job was to make perfumes in the proper ________.

(14) If I told him how I made this one he would tell me not to be a silly girl. (15) Later, he would probably ________ a joke about it to his friends at the golf club.

(16) “Anna!”

(17) It was my boss, David Amos. (18) He happened to be walking past where I worked. (19) I couldn’t ________ being nervous. (20)He was fairly sure of his good looks and never spoke to ordinary-looking girls like me. (21) I was thrilled.