Thanks for reading The Beautician and the Billionaire. If this is your first time, please start at the Beginning!
When they walked out from behind the partition, Charisse guessed that Conor was still scowling because Marie gave her a look that said, “What did you do to him?”
Charisse shrugged and tried to say, “I’m sorry,” with her eyes.
Tanya sat in one of the waiting chairs with a magazine in her lap, but it wasn’t even open. Her eyes practically glowed with delight as the drama continued to unfold. She had to be chilly by now with the air conditioner blowing on her wet head. At least the rest of the salon didn’t stare so openly at them.
Marie stood by the salon chair and spun it around for Conor to sit in. “What happened? Did Charisse burn you? I’m always telling her she keeps the water heater too high.”
Charisse bit her lip. Conor was already mad—maybe because he fell asleep or maybe because she called him a rat bastard—but whatever it was, Charisse didn’t want to exacerbate it by arguing with Marie.
“The water was perfect. I can smell the coffee in here. What do I have to do to get a cup?” He dropped down into the chair still looking one full moon away from changing into a wolf.
“Mei, please get Mr. Grishin a cup of coffee. Would you like cream and sugar?”
“Black.”
The receptionist ran back to the coffee maker. Even Marie appeared as if she had second thoughts about trying to flirt with him.
“You should offer it right away,” he snapped.
Maybe he hadn’t had enough caffeine, and that was why he’d fallen asleep. “Mei always offers a coffee or water right away, but I’m afraid Marie interrupted her, and then you were so anxious to get your hair cut.” Charisse mentally patted herself on the back for not pointing out that he’d kicked a customer out of her chair.
She pulled out a fresh comb and scissors from her drawer and began to work. Though he seemed to seethe, he didn’t comment further. At least he wouldn’t be able to complain about the coffee. It was one of the secrets to the success of her salon.
Mei soon appeared with his coffee in a fine china cup. Charisse’s comb paused in midstream as she watched him sip. He had a flash of surprise in his eyes, and his anger ebbed.
“You should offer chocolate too.”
Not even a compliment for the coffee. “Chocolate?”
“Yes, so your customers feel like they’re part of Louis XIV’s court.”
“That’s a brilliant idea,” gushed Marie, who’d never commented on the Versailles theme. “You could get those little dark chocolate squares. No wonder you’re a billionaire.”
Charisse cringed. Marie was trying way too hard. She couldn’t really blame her though; he hadn’t even looked Marie’s way since he sat down.
Conor drained half the cup and put it on the countertop. How did he do that without burning his mouth?
Conor said, “So how are you improving on my stylist of ten years who’s trained all over the world?”
Please continue on to Scene 7!
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Evelyn Aster 