Blinking back tears, I reminded myself that I was at a job interview. I had to appear confident and professional.
Taking a deep breath, I said a silent prayer, thankful that Sam had been able to help us. In fact, I didn’t think that I could thank the man enough. He’d been a rock for me, and Emma, during the last few months. He’d even helped us relocate to California, which we could have never done without him. We were currently staying with his brother, Fred, who was a retired cop, and had been with him since last winter. Although he was a little rough around the edges, he had a heart of gold, and I felt very safe in his house. But, I also didn’t want to over-stay our welcome. Thankfully, my mother had left us a life-insurance policy, of twenty-five thousand dollars, which, after paying for her funeral, had helped buy us a new car. I was also planning on purchasing us a house soon, after securing a dependable job. I had spent the last few months going back to beauty-school, and had acquired another license. Thus, my interview with the manager of Tangled. Apparently, Sam and Fred had grown up with his father in Alaska, and still kept in close contact. After hearing my story, Thane offered to interview me. I had to admit, however, although I appreciated his willingness to help me out, my feelings were mixed. I certainly didn’t want to be hired out of pity, and I planned on explaining that to him, face-to-face.
“Did I hear that you were waiting for Thane?” asked an attractive dark-skinned woman, stepping around the partition that separated the main salon. Her black hair hung in braids below her shoulders, she had perfectly manicured nails, and I could tell that the high-heels she wore cost more than my entire wardrobe.
Word traveled fast.
“Yes, I am.”
She smiled. “So, you two datin’?”
I laughed at that. “No. I’ve never even met the man.”
She waved her hand. “That don’t matter. I’ve met some guys online and set up dates without meetin’ ‘em. Sometimes it’s even better that way. You can escape before they realize you’re even trying to ditch them. Especially, if their online photos don’t match their real appearances, you know what I’m saying?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine. Especially if they know how to Photoshop. Probably happens all the time.”
“Girl, once I agreed to go out with this guy named Chris, and we hooked up at this bar in Stanton. I thought the guy was damn fine from his online pictures. Little did I know that the bar we were meeting at was a ‘gay’ bar and Chris used to be Christine.”
My eyes widened. “You really had no idea?”
“Hell no. I’d never been to Stanton, and as far as the date went - I didn’t even know that ‘he’ was a ‘she’ until we ended up back at my place and Chris asked to borrow a tampon. Apparently, she couldn’t fit one in her wallet.”
I giggled. “No way”
“Mm… hmm…” she replied, smirking. “It was pretty embarrassing for both of us. Then, when I thought the date was over, we shared a bottle of wine, and stayed up all night laughing about it and talking. Turns out that I liked her better than most of the guys I’d met on that dating site.”
“Well at least you found a new friend then, huh?”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a total waste of a date. In fact,” she grinned wickedly, “Chris introduced me to Dr. Johnson and now I go out with her when I want to just let loose and have fun,” She lowered her voice. “And to my nightstand when I don’t feel like shaving my legs, you know what I’m saying?”
I didn’t and was very confused, but I laughed anyway.
She stared at me in amusement. “Girl, I can tell you don’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about,” she said, taking out her smart-phone. She began pushing buttons and then after a few seconds, showed me the screen.
My face grew warm as I stared at the assortment of vibrators and dildos. I swallowed. “Uh, wow, that’s… quite a selection.”
“There’s something out there for everyone. I’m also a distributer now.” She reached into her smock and held up a business card. “So, if things don’t work out between you and Thane, check out my personal website. I’ll even give you a discount code for a free butt-plug when you place an order over fifty-dollars.”
“I’m just here for a job,” I said, my cheeks blazing now. I couldn’t believe how professional and impervious she appeared, talking about butt-plugs. “We’re not dating.”
“You have a man?”
“No. Not at the moment.”
She lowered her voice. “A woman? Don’t worry, I have nothing against lesbians. I respect what they do, I just can’t get myself to do it… you know what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I mean no… I don’t have a woman, nor am I a lesbian.”
She handed me a card. “Then you’re definitely going to need this.”
I looked at the business card quickly and then slid it into my purse. “Uh, thanks.”
Just then the front door jingled and a tall, rugged looking man stepped into the salon. He had longish blonde hair, deeply tanned skin, and was not only built, but dressed like a lumber jack.
“Speak of the devil,” said Felicia. “Where’d you go for lunch, Thane?”
“That Thai place, up the street, again,” he answered, staring at me. “You must be Sera?”
“Yes,” I said, trying to hide my shock. He wasn’t at all what I’d expected. Not that it was a bad thing. I’d just never imagined that the owner of Tangled, which was obviously a trendy and chic hair salon, would look like he’d just stepped out of the Rocky Mountains. With his broad shoulders, muscular thighs, and thick forearms, I imagined him swinging an ax, or carrying a large buck across his back. Not wielding a scissors and coaching a bunch of stylists on hair products. “I’m Sera Billings.”
“Thane Bishop.” He held out his hand, which was warm and massive, like the rest of him. I had to admit that the sheer manliness of Thane made my tingle in ways that I hadn’t in quite a long time.
“Nice to meet you,” I answered, staring into eyes the color of bronze and fire.
“You, too.” He released my hand and motioned for me to follow him. “Let’s go talk in my office.”
“Sure,” I answered, feeling as if the reception area had gone cooler, now that he was leaving it.
“Hold my calls, please,” he said to Felicia, passing her.
“I will,” she answered and then winked at me. “Have fun taming Mufasa.”
“Excuse me?”
She laughed. “That’s what we call him. Mufasa, from The Lion King, you know?”
“Oh.”
She lowered her voice. “Don’t let him intimidate you. He looks like a hard, grumpy grizzly, but he’s really more of a soft teddy bear.”
I didn’t think he looked grumpy. A little intimidating? Maybe.
I thanked her and quickly headed towards his office, which was in the back of the salon. As I moved past the stations, two stylists stared at me curiously, and I smiled. Both of them grinned back and then turned to each other.
“Close the door behind you, Ms. Billings. Please,” said Thane, as I entered his office.
“Okay.”
The room was large and very stylish. Thane’s desk was a massive black and white slab of marble, which sat in front of a window adorned with long, black linen curtains. Three of the walls were painted white, and the fourth was a black and faced his desk. On that particular wall were several, large portraits of women and men, with exotic hairstyles and makeup. One thing that jumped out at me was that although the office seemed voguish and chic, it was in no way his style or choice in décor. I didn’t even need to rely on my intuition to know that he preferred something much more traditional.
“Nice office,” I said, testing my theory.
He shrugged. “It’s okay. Not really my thing.”
“It’s kind of feminine.”
He grimaced. “Thanks for pointing that out. I thought it was my imagination.”
“No, it’s not. It actually reminds me of Cruella De Vil’s office.”
His eyebrow arched. “Who is Cruella De Vil?.”
I smiled. “Sorry, it’s from a Disney movie. One Hundred and One Dalmations. She’s an evil woman obsessed with everything black and white. Including puppies.”
“Puppies?”
“Yes, but not in a good way. She prefers to wear and not to play with them.”
He grunted. “That’s it. I’m having this place remodeled as soon as possible.”
“Sorry,” I replied, sitting down across from him, in one of the club chairs. “I wasn’t trying to insult, or creep you out. Besides, it’s just a movie.”
“I’ve heard of it and believe me, it takes a lot to creep me out. Anyway, I’ve been meaning to have it changed,” he answered, looking back at his computer.
I opened up my briefcase, and took out my resume. “Here,” I said, holding it out to him.
He continued typing. “Keep it. I don’t need it.”
I lowered the file. “Don’t you want to know where I’ve worked? Or see, my license?”
He sighed. “I suppose I should make sure that you are licensed. As far as your work history goes, it doesn’t particularly matter. You’re renting a space from me. It’s your business. I could care less what you’ve done in the past, as long as you perform well in the future.”
My eyes widened. “What if I’m a criminal or have a history of being a horrible nail technician? It could wreck your reputation.”
He smirked. “Believe me, Ms. Billings, my reputation was ruined a long time ago.”
“I meant the shop.”
“I know,” he answered, sitting back in the chair. “Look, I trust both Sam and Fred. Theirs is the only reference that I need. They say you’re dedicated to your daughter and although I know that you’re carrying around some baggage, I’ve been told that you’ve got your head on straight and are a hard worker.”
“Baggage?” I repeated dryly.
“Let me rephrase it for you… you’ve been through a lot of shit and could use a break, which I have the means to give.” His lips twitched. “Is that better?”
Although he was right, I still didn’t particularly care for the way he’d stated it. It almost hinted of… contempt.
“So, in other words, you’re really only hiring me because I’m a ‘hard-luck case’ and you feel compelled to be the good guy and help out?”
“That and Sam did mention that he’d cater our Christmas party if I gave you a chance,” he replied, staring at me in amusement. “How could I say no to that?”
“Oh.”
“You know, he’s got a lot of faith in you. You should be grateful,” he said, making me feel like a child.
“I am very grateful,” I replied stiffly. “He’s been wonderful to us.”
“Now you can pay it forward by showing him that you’re worth his services. I’m not sure if you know this, but Tangled brings in some very wealthy clients. Most nail technicians would be thrilled to work in this particular shop and I’m basically offering it to you on a silver platter.” He smiled. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“I’ll try not to,” I answered, clenching my fists on my lap. I was irritated with Thane, but I needed a job and after doing my research, had learned that it really was one of most respectable and busy salons in the area. So, I’d have to deal with another guy who thought he could move mountains with his hot air. If it meant making a decent living for me and Emma, then I’d swallow my pride and make him see that I was more than just a pity hire.
“Are you okay, Ms. Billings?” he asked, studying my face.
I forced a smile. “I’m fine, and… it’s Sera.”
He nodded and then turned back to his laptop.
“So, do you have any questions for me?” I asked, after watching him type quietly for a few minutes. The silence in the room made it almost uncomfortable.
He looked at me. “About?”
I stared at him in wonder. He seemed almost ignorant when it came to the hiring process. “I don’t know… anything that you might want to know about me? The hours I’m available, maybe?”
“Okay, when are you available?”
“For now, when Emma is in school, during the day. If that’s okay? And, maybe… Saturdays, if I can find a sitter.”
He continued typing. “Whatever works for you. Like I said, this is your business. As long as you make enough to pay rent and bring in extra clients, I’m fine with you working those hours.”
“Okay.”
“I imagine you have your own equipment?”
“Some of it.”
“The last technician, Amy, left quite a bit behind, so feel free to use what you’d like.”
“Thank you. I’ll check it out.”
He nodded.
“What about pricing?”
“Again, it’s your business and up to you. Amy left some brochures, listing all of her prices. You can use them as references. Once you’ve figured out what you’d like to charge, I’ll have new ones printed out, with your information, instead.”
“That would be great,” I answered. “I’m not from this area, so I really have no idea of what to charge.”
“Many of our clients are very wealthy. They expect to pay more and if you undercharge, they might not take you seriously. You could actually lose business.”
“I guess that makes some kind of sense, crazy as it sounds.”
Thane turned on the printer. “I’m going to print out the contract. Why don’t you look it over while I go and check on things in the shop?”
“Okay.”
When he was finished printing all of the forms, he handed them over to me, and then stood up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like some coffee or water?”
“I’m fine,” I answered, watching him as he stepped around the desk and headed towards the doorway. He wasn’t very personable, but he was definitely easy on the eyes.
He turned back around. “One more thing, before I forget. You’ll see a paragraph in there about client confidentiality. We do get some celebrities in here, occasionally, and it’s important that they we help keep some kind of anonymity. In other words-”
“Keep my mouth shut?”
He grinned. “Exactly.”
“I figured as much. By the way, they aren’t the only ones who appreciate anonymity, Mr. Bishop.”
“I understand,” he answered. His eyes hardened. “Which reminds me – do you know where your husband is, currently?”
“No idea.”
“Is there a warrant out for his arrest?”
I shook my head. “He’s just wanted for questioning. They don’t have any evidence linking him to the crime. He made sure of that, obviously.”
He sighed. “He definitely knows how to play the system.”
“He also still has friends on the force.”
He grunted and shook his head. “Incredible. And you wonder why so many people are leery of cops. Do you think he has any idea of where you are at the moment?”
“I certainly hope not.”
“Me, too,” he replied. “I’d hate to put any of my stylists in danger.”
“Well, if you’ve changed your mind about this, I’d totally understand,” I answered, feeling my stomach tighten. I really wanted the job and it made me ill to think that Ray could keep it from me.
“No, Sera,” he answered. “I want you here.”
I released the breath that I was holding and smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Mr. Bishop.”
“Thane.”
“Thane.”
Our eyes held again and I felt like he was going to say something else, but changed his mind. Instead, he walked out of the room and I began skimming the contract. When I got to the monthly lease price, my jaw dropped.
Two-hundred-fifty dollars per week.
Per week!
Back in Wisconsin, before I’d gotten pregnant with Emma, I’d only paid three hundred a month.
I closed my eyes and rubbed the bridge of my nose, wondering how
I was ever going to make it on my own.
Chapter Five
Thane
“So, who’s the gal in your office?” asked Sinclair, as I neared her station. Her chair was empty and she was sweeping up clippings from her last customer.
“New nail tech.”
Her eyebrow arched. “Oh. I thought you were going to hold off on hiring one until your niece, Anna, moved here next month.”
“She decided to try modeling, instead,” I answered, removing a rubber binder from around my wrist. I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and cinched it tightly.
Sinclair eyed my shaggy style, and I could tell she was still itching to cut it. She’d already offered several times. “Well, she’s beautiful enough. I’m sure she’d make more money modeling than doing nails anyway.”
“Maybe, but in L.A. there’s some stiff competition. At least I could have helped get her career started, so that one day she could own her own nail shop.”
“But, now she doesn’t want that?”
“Nope. Not anymore.”
She smiled. “From that expression, I take it you’re not happy about it?”
“Hell, I don’t know. You know, ever since we moved the family from Alaska, she’s had her head up in the clouds. She used to want to be a veterinarian and I know she would have been a damn good one. Then when she found out Uncle Thane was buying this place, she surprised the hell out of all of us, and said she wanted to run her own nail business. Now, she wants to be a runway model. I don’t think she really knows what she wants.”
Sinclair smiled. “She’s still young. She’ll figure it out.”
I scratched my stubbly chin, which also lacking attention. “Maybe.”
“Which reminds me,” she said, putting away the broom. “You must have surprised your entire family when you decided to invest in Tangled.”
Tangled Fury Page 4