AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Nope. So far, looks like everyone’s gonna show. Umm, did Alicia call you?” she asks as she hands me the mail.
“No, she hasn’t. Why?”
“Chile, don’t quote me or anything. But I think she’s gonna ask you if she can have her job back.”
Now, between you and me, I really like Alicia. And maybe if she was paying rent like everyone else up in here I might be a bit more open to reconsider my decision to let her go. But since she’s working off commission, and had the nerve to call out because she got messy, then comes up in here the next day and gets tossed around in my office, there’s no room for a change of heart. Not only did she cost me paper, the bitch came up in here bringing drama to my place of business. Whether intentional or not, I don’t give a goddamn. There’s nothing to discuss. It’s nothing personal. She has three small kids to feed, but that’s not my problem. This is a business. And I’m about the business of running a classy, upscale salon. And fighting up in my shop isn’t it. It’s bad enough a motherfucker came up in here and tried to bring it to me. But, this…unh, not acceptable!
“Well, I don’t know why she’d do that. She can’t be that crazy to part her lips to even come at me with that nonsense. After that shit that went down up in here there’s no way she’ll ever step foot through these doors again.” I feel like a two-faced, hypocrite. And I should. Still, it’s my shop; my rules. So, it is what it is.
“I hear that. Oh, before I forget. Your three o’clock is gonna be fifteen minutes late. Gina called to cancel her hair appointment for tomorrow. She said she’ll call back later to reschedule. And Bianca wants to know if you can squeeze her in for next Tuesday.”
“I’ll call her,” I say, gathering my things to head to my office. As Robyn gets up to walk over to Shuwanda’s workstation, out of the corner of my eye, I glance over at her man, wondering if he’s even recognized who I am. I’m hoping he hasn’t. But judging by the way he’s checking me on the sly, I can tell he’s trying to figure it out.
“By the way,” Felecia says, “a package came for you. I put it on your desk.”
“Okay, thanks.” As I’m about to walk off, I realize that I left my phone in my car. I sit my things back up on the counter, then head for the door. “I gotta go back outside. I left my phone in the car.”
As I’m walking out the door, I see this thug-type nigga standing across the street, looking over in the direction of the salon not too far from where my car is, like he was standing there waiting for someone, or something. I can’t really make out who he is since he has a brown hoodie pulled up over his head—which I think is odd since it’s almost seventy degrees today. Anyway, the nigga looks like he’s up to no good. However, I don’t put too much attention into it.
As soon as I step to the curb waiting for cars to go by, I glance over my shoulder and see Robyn’s man coming outside as well. He speaks. “How long you been working here?”
“Since it opened,” I answer, eyeing him. I glance back across the street. The hooded man is standing in the same spot, staring.
“It’s a nice spot.”
“Yeah, it is,” I say, moving a strand of hair from my face as I take him in. I can’t deny he’s a handsome nigga. He has a chiseled face with deep, piercing brown eyes, full lips, and a dimpled chin. His hair is cut close and his neatly trimmed goatee makes him look sexier than he already is. He’s wearing a brown, short-sleeved POLO button-up, beige khakis and a pair of brown designer loafers. For some reason, he reminds me of a computer geek.
He looks back toward the shop, then at me. Instinctively, we both step out of the view of the shops window in case someone was looking. “Congratulations to you,” he says, giving me the onceover.
“Thanks.”
He licks his lips, pulling in his bottom lip. “I was hoping you were gonna be here today.”
“
Why?” I ask, pretending to be clueless. “James, right?”
He nods. “Yeah. When I initially saw you the other week, you looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t put my finger on where I knew you from. I went home and kept thinking about it. Then it hit me. Damn, I didn’t think I was ever gonna run into you again.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “Umm, I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
He smiles. “I’d never forget a face or set of lips like yours.” I nervously shift my eyes, looking around to make sure no one else is in earshot. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna put you out like that,” he says, sensing my uneasiness. “Your secret is safe with me. I just wanted to let you know, I remember who you are. Shit. I actually haven’t stopped thinking about that night in the park.”
I want to ask him which park he’s referring to, but decide against it. The fact is it doesn’t matter where I had sucked his dick. The point is I did it. He goes onto tell me how that was the best mind-blowing head he’s ever experienced in his life. It’s meant to be a compliment, but it has me feeling extremely uncomfortable. I swallow my nerves down, not believing how shit is unfolding right before my eyes. Of all the times I’ve gone out cock prowling, he’s the first man who I have actually run into in public—surprisingly, my goddamn salon.
I decide to be honest with him. “I remembered you when you were here two weeks ago. I’d definitely like to keep this quiet.”
He chuckles. “I’m engaged, remember? Who you think I’m gonna tell?”
I let out a sigh. “Point taken.”
The cell in his hand chimes, alerting he has a text. He looks down at it. “Listen, that’s her texting me.”
I put a hand up, waving him on. “I gotta get my phone out of my car anyway.”
He shoots his future wife a quick text back, then says, “It was nice talking to you. Maybe we can hook up one more time before we both tie the knot.”
I smile. “Perhaps we shouldn’t. With your wife-to-be coming into the salon now as a client, it’s too close for comfort. The last thing I need in my shop is drama.”
