by Aspen Drake
“Yes! We totally are. Come in and I’ll introduce you to the boss.” Olivia feeds off my excitement and nods vigorously for just a moment before her face falls.
“What?” I ask, anxious to get in there. I’m irrationally afraid he’s in the middle of hiring someone else for my job.
“I have to warn you.” She looks me dead in the eye. “Nate is a little…intense. Don’t feel bad if he acts like an ass. He’s just like that.”
Nodding my head, I smile. “I got this.” And I do. I need this job so if I have to stand up to some asshole, I will.
“Yay!” She grabs my hand and drags me down the street. “Come with me to get a coffee and we can catch up first.”
I nod and let her pull me away, glancing longingly at the salon I hope to be working at in the near future.
Chapter Six
Nate
Paige is a great receptionist but she doesn’t do well under pressure. She’s frantically taking calls and writing lists of messages. When I catch her eye, she jogs to my station and places the notes on my counter. “There are at least sixty people that ‘would love the opportunity to talk to you about their unique talents.’”
I laugh at her mocking tone of the idiots that refused to email their resume like I asked. “I’m sorry, Paige. I know this sucks for you but give it another day or two. I’ll pull the ad after I get a handful of decent resumes.”
She nods and walks away, blowing out a long breath as she does. Laughing to myself, I stretch my arms out and twist my bulky torso toward the front window.
Olivia is outside talking to a woman I don’t recognize. The stranger’s dark hair and round ass is distracting enough that I almost don’t hear Julia next to me. “Should I tell her you’ll be there?”
“Hmm.” I turn back toward Jules, my hand lightly smacking the exposed skin of my abs from where my shirt pulled up. “What was that?”
“Your mom wants you to come by for dinner tonight. Can you go?”
I blow out a breath. “Yeah. Tell her I’ll be there around seven.”
~**~
I’m just finishing up Brittany’s asymmetrical bob when Olivia walks up to me. “Excuse me, Nate.”
I look up and expect to see more melting hair or some other disaster but there doesn’t seem to be one.
“Yes.”
“A friend of mine is interested in job.” She grabs a broom and starts sweeping up behind my chair. “Do you have a few minutes to talk to her?”
I glance at my watch. It’s a quarter to four. “I’ve got fifteen minutes until my next client. After that, I’m back to back until six thirty.”
She nods and sweeps a pile of hair into the touchless dustpan across from my station. “No problem. She’s waiting up front whenever you’re ready.”
I’m curious about the girl with the brown hair and rockin ass she was talking to earlier. I didn’t get a good look at her face but that’s probably for the best. If she’s interested in working for me, she’s off limits. I may be the player everyone thinks I am but I do have enough business sense to never mess around with employees.
“Well, beautiful.” With one final pass of my comb across Brittany’s hair, I turn her around and let her take her first look. “What do you think?”
The wide smile that covers her face is answer enough. “I love it.” Her hands immediately tug at the longest strands. “It’s so short…but it’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you think so.” I smile and turn her again. She accepts the mirror I’m holding and angles it to see the back. “I think it makes you look more mature. It’s very chic.”
A pink blush fills her cheeks and she won’t make eye contact. Brittany is going into her freshman year of high school and is self-conscious about a large strawberry birthmark across her forehead. This cut hides the mark enough that the rest of her pretty face can shine.
“Thanks, Nate.” She glances up at me as I remove her drape. “I truly love it.”
“Well, I better not get a call from your dad because the boys are lining up outside your house.”
She laughs and the pink is back in her cheeks. “Don’t worry. That’s not gonna happen.”
As she stands, I put my arm around her shoulder and give her a squeeze. “Don’t be so sure. If I was fifteen, I’d be the first in line.”
Her eyes are bright as she nods and walks to the front desk. I hope there is a boy smart enough to see past the birthmark to the beautiful girl behind it.
When I turn back to my chair, I realize Olivia and her friend are standing a few feet away, both wiping their eyes.
Fuck. I hate when the girls see me without my walls up. It makes it so much harder to maintain professional boundaries.
When they don’t say anything, I look to Olivia. “Can I help you?”
“Oh, yeah.” She puts her hand on the brunette’s shoulder. “This is Amy, the friend I was telling you about. She’s interested in Marisa’s chair.”
“Amy.” I nod and offer my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Nate.”
“It’s really nice to meet you too.” She wipes her hand on the sides of her dress before taking mine. It’s warm and soft and the twitch in my pants pisses me off. “I’m sorry for the short notice.”
She’s a pretty girl. Much shorter than most of the women I date. Probably only five four or five five. The few freckles across her nose and cheeks make her seem young. Really young. Too young. She barely looks legal.
I glace at my watch then look over at Jules. She catches my eye and nods toward Marilyn, my four o’clock. She’s a few minutes early but I don’t keep clients waiting if I can avoid it.
“No problem but my next appointment just arrived.”
Amy’s smile immediately drops into a frown and she looks like she might cry.
“Oh.” She takes a step back. “I understand.”
“Hold on.” I smile and take her elbow, walking her up front. “If you’ll sit tight for a few minutes, I’ll get Marilyn set up with Frankie and we can talk for a few minutes. Okay?”
“Of course.” She definitely wears her heart on her sleeve. I can see the different emotions cross her face as she feels them. She’s now relieved. “I’ve got nothing but time.”
I gesture to the leather chairs in the waiting area then turn toward one of my favorite clients. Marilyn is my mom’s friend and tells me all the shit Mom says about me. She’s the only one that will.
“How’s my best girl.” I wrap one arm around Marilyn and give her a light kiss on the cheek.
“I’m wonderful.” She returns the cheek peck with one of her own.
“Champagne today?”
She looks at her diamond studded watch as if the time of day matters. “I suppose I could sneak in a glass.”
I wink and gesture for her to walk ahead. “After you.”
“If you’re not ready for me,” Marilyn nods toward Amy, “I can wait a few minutes.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Much like my mom, she’s also waiting for me to settle down and make some grandbabies. Marilyn never had kids of her own and was like a second mom for most of my life.
She’s the mom that’s always been supportive of me no matter how stupid my family thought I was being. That’s why her opinion matters more than just about anyone’s.
“Don’t be silly.” I place my hand on her back and guide her directly into the shampoo room. “Frankie will get you settled and I’ll be waiting for you with your glass.”
“You’re too good to me, Natey.” She pats my cheek then turns to Frankie.
Frankie is even more of a flirt than I am so I know I’ve got about ten minutes before Marilyn is back in my chair. I fill a glass with champagne and grab a water bottle. This is always my first test.
Amy is fully engrossed in what she’s reading so she doesn’t even look up when I sit in the chair next to her. This amuses me. She seemed so nervous a few minutes ago and now she is lost in a magazine. I’m not sure if this is a good sign or a bad
sign.
Her eyebrows furrow as if she’s reading something upsetting. “Interesting article?”
She startles and almost throws the magazine onto the glass table in front of us. “No. Nothing.” She smooths the front of her dress from under her breasts down to her knees. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“No worries.” I hold the glass in one hand and the water bottle in the other. “Would you like a drink?”
She looks between the two and hesitates only a second before reaching for the water. “That would be great. Thank you.” She rolls the bottle between her palms but doesn’t open it. Good girl.
“So, tell me why you’re interested in working at Fierce.” I set the glass on the table and turn toward Amy. She takes a deep breath and shifts slightly toward me.
“I saw your ad this morning and would love the opportunity to—“
I cut her off. “You saw the ad on craigslist?”
She nods, a bit startled about being interrupted but she keeps going. “Yes, and since I live just—“
I stand and offer her my hand. “I’m sorry, Miss. I thought you were a referral from a current employee.”
“I am. Olivia and I worked—”
I hold up my hand to stop her. “The ad you saw clearly stated that resumes should be submitted via email. I’m sorry but I can’t hire someone unable to follow directions.”
“But, you don’t understand.”
“I do understand that you decided to disregard the application instructions.” I turn to walk away. “Have a good day.”
“Please, wait.” Her small hand wraps around my bicep and tugs me backward. I stop short and look down at her fingers. They are so pale compared to the dark olive of my skin. I want to shrug her off but my body doesn’t move. “Please, just hear me out. I would have sent a resume but I don’t have a computer and I just lost my job and my apartment and my boyfriend. I really need you to give me a chance.”
With my eyes closed, I inhale deeply and count to five. Turning into her arm so I’m facing her, I’m shocked by my body’s instinctive reaction to her. I want to reach out and touch the skin of neck, her cheeks…her lips. Damn.
Her chin is level with my nipples but she holds it high and doesn’t break eye contact.
“Please. Just let me show you what I can do.”
I exhale into her face and she doesn’t flinch. It looks like she’s actually breathing in my air. I have to admit, I’m intrigued. Most of my employees tip toe around me like I’ll blow up if they piss me off. I rarely raise my voice so I don’t know why everyone’s afraid of me but I like that Amy isn’t.
“You think you can impress me enough to make me forgive your lack of regard to my instructions?”
“Yes, sir.” She nods once and drops her hand from my bicep. “I know I will.”
I look at my station. Marilyn isn’t back yet.
“You’ve got two minutes to tell me why you want to work here.”
We walk back to the chairs and both take a seat.
She clears her throat and begins.
“Well, the salon I’ve been at for the past three years just closed, um, yesterday, in fact.” She takes another deep breath and looks up. I see her eyes glisten but no tears fall. I wonder if she’s always so emotional. I can’t have a crier in here. We’ve had a few over the years and they drove me insane.
“Just yesterday? Well, I commend your initiative to already be looking for your next job.” I can feel her eyes on my mouth. I wonder briefly if I’ve got something in my teeth then I remember I haven’t had anything to eat or drink since I brushed. “Where were you working?”
“Fabulous Hair. It’s just around the corner.” Her pain is obvious but I’m surprised by her words.
“Ming’s salon shut down?”
“You know Ming?” Amy perks up with a mix of interest and sadness.
“Yeah, I just saw her last week and she didn’t mention it.” For the past year, I’ve had a standing coffee date with Ming every Wednesday morning. She’s referred a few stylists to me and I’ve referred clients to her that were looking for a more affordable salon.
“Huh.” She barks out a short laugh. “I saw her three days ago and she didn’t mention it. I had to have the landlord unlock the door so I could grab my license and tools.”
“She didn’t warn you?” I think about the last time we spoke and whether she hinted at anything being really wrong. “I hope she’s okay.”
Amy cocks her head. “You really knew her that well?”
I nod. “We talked.” Then I realize who Amy actually is. “How long have you had your license?”
Her confidence breaks for just a second before she squares up her shoulders and looks me in the eye. “Six months but I’ve been working closely with Ming for three years.”
“So you’re the brilliant apprentice she’s been bragging about?”
Amy’s jaw actually drops. She’s shaking her head but a smile starts to form. “No…really? She talked about me?”
“Were you her only apprentice?”
Amy nods and her grin gets wider.
“In that case, I suppose I can overlook your earlier misstep.” I stand and offer her my hand. “Welcome to Fierce. I can start you as a junior stylist. Jules will get you the paperwork you need. I’ve got to get to Marilyn but you can hang out with Olivia today and come in tomorrow at nine thirty for an assessment.”
“I got the job?” She jumps up and gives me a hug. “Thank you so much.”
Surprised, I pat her back awkwardly. “Um…you’re welcome.”
“Oh my god.” Realizing her faux pas, she peels away from me like the contact burned her palms. “I’m so sorry. It’s just been a….rough few days.”
“Okay, well, you might want that champagne after all.” I smile and hand the glass to her. “I’m gonna let you go tell Olivia the good news.”
“No need.” Olivia is at my side and tugging at my arm. “Thanks, Nate. You won’t regret it.”
“Yeah.” I squeeze her hand and back away. “Show her around and get with Jules for the paperwork.”
Chapter Seven
Amy
I got the job? I got the job. I got the fucking job! I can’t believe it. As soon as I mentioned Ming, Nate seemed to completely change his demeanor. He went from terrifying to polite in two seconds. He’s the most intimidating man I’ve ever met.
And the most beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so ruggedly handsome and still…pretty. He’s tall and tan and his crystal blue eyes seem to penetrate right through me. I wanted to touch his lips just to see if they were as soft as they looked. His chiseled jaw is covered in a light dusting of dark hair that makes me want to rake my teeth over it. He’s oozing sex but his eyes never dropped to my chest once while we talked about the job.
Gay. Of course. They always are. But this is for the best. If he was straight, I would humiliate myself by drooling over him when he’s obviously miles out of my league. This way, I can admire his beauty without seeming like I think I have a chance.
Olivia pulls my arm toward the blonde at the front desk with boobs that are not from nature. She appears to be in her thirties and has pictures of a redheaded baby hidden behind her computer. “Oh, what a cutie! Is that your baby?”
The pretty receptionist beams at the photo then back to me. “Yes, that’s little Parker.”
“He’s adorable.”
“Thanks.” She holds out her hand to me. “I’m Julia. Are you our new stylist?”
“I think I am.” I’m still in shock at how fast everything is happening.
Olivia smiles brightly. “Yup, Amy is starting tomorrow as a junior stylist. Nate said you’d have paperwork for her?”
“Welcome, Amy. It’s great to have you.” She stands up and turns toward a file cabinet then pulls out a folder.
“Fill these out and bring them in tomorrow. Your commission is 40% of services and 10% of retail. Your benefits will kick in immediately and all
you need to bring are your shears and a good attitude.” She was surprisingly chipper while being professional. I liked her immediately.
“Benefits?” I look to Olivia. “I haven’t had medical coverage since I left school.” The freedom to just go to a doctor or dentist was almost overwhelming. I can feel my throat tightening but I keep my smile and don’t let any tears fill my eyes. I’ve never been overly emotional but these past few days have been one extreme feeling after another.
“You’re gonna love it here.” Olivia takes the folder of papers from Jules as I thank her for the overview.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone later but I want to make sure you know where the break room is and supplies and stuff before my next client gets here.” I feel like all eyes are on me as Olivia pulls me through the center of the salon. I’m not sure anyone even heard the conversation with Jules but gossip always travels fast in any salon so I hold my head high and smile at anyone I lock eyes with.
As we turn into a back room, I notice Nate watching me. His crystal eyes are intense like he’s looking right inside of me. He isn’t smiling but he doesn’t seem angry. He’s hard to read. I wonder if he’s already regretting his quick decision to hire me but I’ll prove my worth soon enough.
Even though I’m newly licensed, I know my clients are always happy when they leave my chair. Just as I walk out of view, I catch the wide smile on his client’s face as she gazes up at him. That cougar is prowling up the wrong tree.
~**~
“He did not!” Frankie slaps his thigh and looks up indignantly.
“Honest to god. He hired her after like thirty seconds of conversation. She starts tomorrow.” Olivia is whispering with purpose.
“Is that unusual?” I ask, wondering what the big deal is.
“Girl, you don’t understand. He made me write an essay and promise my first born just to sweep up in this place. He usually requires a cut and color and at least three references from past employers and a guarantee of clients.” Frankie is shaking his head and tweaking the pinkish spikes on top of it. “Are you sure you aren’t related to him?”
