Charisse unpacked boxes of shampoo and conditioner in the quiet of Ma Charisse Monday morning. Strains of Mozart played gently in the background, and the scent of coffee pervaded without any stylists dying hair or giving manicures. Continue reading
Category: The Beautician and the Billionaire
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 8
The heaviness of a hand on her side drew Charisse to the brink of wakefulness. A kiss on her neck made her reach up and caress Conor’s cheek.
With a lurch of wakefulness she opened her eyes wide and flipped onto her back. The swing swayed. Continue reading
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 7
Conor rushed into his apartment and went straight for his bedroom. An empty bed stared back at him. The door to his bathroom was open, and the light was off. There was no indication she’d even been back there. It was early for bed, but since she’d fallen asleep in the middle of New York, he’d just assumed she would already be in bed. Continue reading
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 6
“Charisse, are you okay?”
Charisse sat bolt upright and tried to pretend like she hadn’t dozed off at a bus stop in front of the hospital. Raul had his hand on her shoulder and concern in his eyes. Continue reading
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 5
Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend! I started work on the next Holiday Cafe book and the publishing version of Shifting into Love. Lots of stuff coming up after Episode 9!
Conor touched a button on the steering wheel to end the call with Charisse and pressed down on the accelerator of his Bugatti Chiron. He needed to get to Charisse. He’d wanted to surprise her on Tuesday, but screw that. She needed comfort now.
The car felt like a plane flying through traffic, but Conor was only focused on getting to his destination and not the enjoyment.
After five minutes, he called Raul.
“How does she look?”
Raul answered with distraction in his voice. “She was pale before she went in to meet Gianna.”
“And now?”
“I’m just pulling up to get her…oh no.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“She’s asleep on a bench in front of the hospital.”
“Asleep? Get me Dr. Beaumont’s number now.”
Raul’s voice sounded sharp. “Where are you, sir?”
“Halfway there.”
“And who’s driving?”
“I am.”
“Then I’m not getting you the number. She wouldn’t tell you anything anyway.”
“She should. I’m paying the bill.”
“You know better. If Charisse needs another doctor I’ll call one here. Now do you want to keep arguing and get in a wreck, or should I go get Charisse?”
“Go get Charisse,” he growled and hung up. He hated being useless. He should’ve left the mansion sooner, but the teleconference with his lawyers had dragged on. Darnell hadn’t been happy with Conor staying behind, but that’s why he got the big bucks.
Conor thought strategically it might turn out better. His lawyers could suss out the situation, bring the fear and then he could show up to make the heads roll.
He turned the music up and pressed down on the accelerator again. Raul would take care of Charisse. She was fine. But he kept driving faster like he didn’t believe it.
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 4d
“Calm down,” whispered Marie outside the room. “She’s here to make peace.”
“So far I’m not impressed with her attempt.” She glowered back at Marie. Continue reading
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 4c
Good morning! Sorry my time for posting has shifted so much. I’m sleeping in a little more to make up for the late hours of writing. I hope you’re enjoying Episode 9!
Charisse backed out the door, terrified that she’d brought on another heart attack. Continue reading
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 4b
Inside the hospital, the lights were too bright like they were trying to cover up all the sickness inside. A family stood at the information desk with worried expressions while a toddler zoomed around oblivious to concerns. Other people slumped in chairs in the expansive lobby.
She clicked on the texts from Marie and found the room number. As she rode the elevator up, she put lip gloss on and scrunched her hair, more out of habit than a last ditch attempt to impress her mother. Maybe Gianna wouldn’t be there.
The doors opened on Daddy’s floor, and she asked a nurse which way to the room.
“I’m so glad you made it,” said the nurse, who was short and round with happy crinkles at the corners of her eyes. “He’s been asking for you.” She showed her to the room.
Charisse took a deep breath and stepped inside. No Gianna. No Marie. Just Daddy with an IV in his arm. He looked like he’d aged ten years.
“Princess,” he said, lighting up.
“Daddy,” she said, rushing to his bedside and giving him a hug.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t come. I’m sorry about everything: the salon, the investigator, everything. Becca called and told me she didn’t really believe Conor killed his wife. She was just angry and blaming him for the loss of her sister. I was only trying to protect you.”
Charisse had never heard her father gush out an apology. She pulled away but held his hand. “The salon is all mine, so I’d like to put that behind us. I don’t need your protection anymore. I need you to be honest with me. Do you have any idea how devastated I was knowing I couldn’t trust you anymore?”
“It was all to keep you safe, but I know. I’ll be different from now on. I promise.”
Charisse had her doubts, but he seemed genuine in trying to make amends. “And Conor’s my boyfriend, so you’ll have to be nice to him.”
Daddy started to bluster and then saw her arm. “Be nice to him? Did he do that to you?” He pointed a fat finger at the bruises and scratches.
Charisse released his hand and held her arm to cover it up. “Josh did that.” Her pregnancy hormones were trying to get the better of her by making tears spring to her eyes. It suddenly all felt overwhelming. Just yesterday she saw Josh, and now her dad was in the hospital and her mom was back. And Conor was on his way to China.
“Josh? What the hell is he doing here?”
The machine monitoring his pulse started to beep like crazy.
“Daddy, calm down. It’s over. I’m fine.” She was so stupid. She hadn’t even thought about covering up her arm to see him.
The machine kept beeping faster, and a couple of nurses rushed in.
“What happened?” asked the one who’d greeted her.
“It’s my fault. I said something to upset him.”
“Why don’t you go out for a minute?”
The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 9: Scene 4
Charisse had kicked her black sneakers off long ago and had her knees pulled up to her chest. She’d spent the drive talking to Raul about moving in with Conor instead of about Gianna as she’d planned. Moving arrangements were a far easier discussion to have than her long lost mother giving her dad a heart attack by returning unannounced. Continue reading
Free Nail Art Book!
Hello! I hope you’re having a great weekend. I sent all the personalized copies of Nails for a Billionaire to all of the winners in my voting contest. If you won, and you haven’t received an email from me, please contact me at evelynaster@aol.com.
I have exciting news for the rest of you: Nails for a Billionaire is FREE for a limited time at All Romance! You can download it for Kindle, Nook, any epub reader or pdf. Honestly I like the pdf file the best on my laptop because I can see the details of the nails the most.
Summary:
This is a glimpse into the Beautician and the Billionaire series with over 70 nail designs you’ll want to show to your manicurist. This is NOT a DIY guide. If you want to snag a billionaire, you have to spend the bucks!
There’s a running monologue throughout with a bit of a story that I hope you enjoy in addition to the nail designs. Thanks for being my readers! Please enjoy my gift to you!
Evelyn Aster 