Chapter 2
2262 Words
“You have to go to a photoshoot later, Dion,” Mrs. Corden, my boss, told me. “It was supposed to be Hayne’s job but she fell ill so we need you to replace her.”
I looked at her while I was fixing the hair of Mrs. Chiong, our avid customer. “What time, Ma’am?” I asked as I placed it on under the hair color processor.
Mrs. Corden looked at the clock. “At around three this afternoon,” she replied. “Will you be finished with her by then?” she asked, pertaining to Mrs. Chiong.
It’s already one o’clock. It would take two more hours for coloring, perming, and hair treatment. I shook my head.
“Okay, I’ll ask Freya to continue for you,” Mrs. Corden said before walking to the haircutting area to call Freya, one of our newbies.
“You’re leaving?” Mrs. Chiong asked me.
I smiled at her through the mirror. “Yes, Ma’am. We have to service a photoshoot and they assigned makeup artist fell ill so I need to take her place.”
She nodded. “Aren’t you the manager now?” she asked. “Gemma told me.” Apparently, she’s friends with Mrs. Corden because they live in the same subdivision.
I chuckled. “I got promoted last month, Ma’am,” I replied. “But nothing really changed except for the paper works,” I kidded.
She laughed. “I know, dear. Even Gemma gets pissed off by the number of paper works she has to do in order to run her salon,” she replied. “But look at it now. It’s the biggest salon in Arizona. Most of the people I know from the corporate world come here.”
I nodded. That’s right. GC Styling is probably one of the best in the state. And not only that, it has been consistently on the Top 10 Most Recommended Styling Salons in the whole America for the past eight years. It’s actually a good feat, considering that it hasn’t even been fifteen years since it was established.
That’s also the reason why this why my first choice when I started applying for a job after finishing my associate degree in cosmetology.
Freya came in with Mrs. Corden behind her. She smiled at me and I nodded. She’s actually a cheerful girl. She looks friendly which is a good asset for the customers.
“You can pass on your job to her, Dion,” Mrs. Corden said before tapping Mrs. Chiong’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Vanessa. Dion needs to go as a substitute for the make-up artist that was sick.”
Mrs. Chiong smiled and nodded. She glanced at Freya and smiled. “This one looks nice, too,” she said as she waved at Freya. “Besides, Dion should stop doing this now. She’s already a manager.”
Mrs. Corden sighed. “As much as I want her to assume the managerial loads, we’re running out of the staff so she had to do the staff duties, too.”
“You can’t be real, Gemma,” Mrs. Chiong said. “This is one of the best salons in the state. For sure, people are lining up to be a part of your team!”
Mrs. Corden chuckled. “We’re training some members right now that’s why we’re understaffed. It’s only for a few days,” she explained and then turned to Freya. “Freya, you can take it from here, right?” she asked.
Freya nodded and I started giving her instructions on what Mrs. Chiong wants to happen with her hair. When she finally got it, I prepared to leave for the photoshoot.
The team I will be assembled by the lobby. It’s a good team, to be honest. I cannot criticize Hayne’s team because they always show the best results. They’re one of the teams with the best feedback from the clients which is why they are often assigned to big projects.
“Are you ready?” I asked them and they all nodded. “Good, let’s go.”
***
It was a tiring shoot but it ended well. It was for a lingerie line so the make-up needed to be precise to exude the look that’s needed.
“Are you going home after this?” Genina, one of the members of the team I worked with, asked me.
I sighed and nodded. “Yeah,” I replied. “I want to sleep.” It’s almost ten in the evening. I can’t believe we stayed there for more than seven hours because the shoot started two hours late.
Genina frowned. “Really? That’s sad. We were just going to ask you if you want to come with us to the club,” she said.
I smiled weakly. “I partied last night that’s why I’m feeling so tired.”
She chuckled and nodded in understanding. “Alright, we get it.” She winked. “Anyway, if you change your mind, we’ll be J-Town, the new club.”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll pass.”
She shrugged before taking all our things to place them all in the company car.
“You can go ahead. I’ll drive the car back to the building,” I told them. I want to be considerate. It’s ten in the evening and they’re planning to party. It’s only right for them to go and have fun now.
Genina and the other five looked at me. “Really, Miss D?” she asked.
I chuckled and nodded. “No worries,” I told them. “I hope to party with you soon.”
They nodded at me. “We party every Friday because it’s TGIF.”
I laughed. “That’s good,” I replied. “Then, see you next Friday?”
They all giggled and nodded before walking to Ania’s car. They waved at me for the last time before driving away.
I sighed and climbed up the driver’s seat of the company van. I was already revving the engine when I received a message from Caitlynn.
Caitlynn:
Where are you? Come home. We’re having fun in the backyard.
I narrowed my eyes and sighed as I typed in my reply.
Me:
I’m still at work. I had to do make-up for a photo shoot.
I turned on some music and connected my phone to the Bluetooth of the van before driving back to the building to get my car.
Minutes later, a call came. It was Ryder. With a heavy heart, I accepted the call.
“What?” I asked, already annoyed even without hearing his voice yet. He’s a good companion when it comes to clubbing but nope, not when he’s sober. He’s so talkative.
Ryder chuckled. “Come on, Dion! We didn’t teach the guy a lesson so please come here. The whole pack is having a barbecue night.” I could hear people singing from the background.
Why did they even think of having a barbecue party tonight? Caitlynn is seven months pregnant and she just arrived from a long drive. She must be tired right now.
“I’m tired, Ryder. I’ll go next time,” I replied because I really feel exhausted after a long day. Added the fact that I partied with him last night so I only had four hours of sleep in total.
He whined. “Why are you like that? Come on!” he insisted. “Besides, we asked Pyro to fetch you so he’s probably there.”
My eyes widened and I suddenly stepped on the brakes in the middle of the road. Good thing there weren’t any vehicles or else. But what? Pyro?
“Hello? Dion? Are you still there?” Ryder asked when he noticed that I hadn’t spoken.
I pursed my lips and calmed myself before hitting the road again. “What do you mean Pyro is here to fetch me?” I managed to ask.
“Well, Neil can’t go. I can go but I had to fix some things in the barn. Pyro was the only free to fetch you so Ambrose told him to do so.”
I sighed. Of all the people who could fetch me, they chose Pyro. And Ambrose ordered him. Traitors, ugh!
Well, there’s nothing wrong with Pyro aside from the fact that I think he already rejected me as his mate. He hasn’t said anything about that yet but he doesn’t acknowledge me so he looked for another one. And that makes it awkward for me because my wolf is still excited whenever I see him.
Stupid wolf.
“I won’t come,” I reiterated. “I am tired.”
“Oh, come on, D! You’re the only one who’s not here! It’s not fun!”
I rolled my eyes as I turned to the curb. “It doesn’t sound like you’re not having fun, moron. The whole background is noisy.” I could hear people singing and cheering and this i***t says it’s not fun. Who is he kidding?
He grunted. “Come on, D! Ambrose is going to kill me if you don’t come,” he said. “Our Luna is not having fun enough. She’s only talking to Ceira.”
I scoffed. “Then talk to her!” I rebutted. But then, I can imagine Caitlynn just sitting in the corner while talking to Ceira who’s also a little boring.
“Come on!” Ryder insisted with desperation so evident in his voice. “I promise I will take you to a club in Los Angeles. All expenses paid!”
I raised my brow as I looked at the screen of my phone, wondering if that is really Ryder. “Fine,” I replied. “But call Pyro and tell him to just go home. I’m going to drive my car.”
“Yes!” Ryder beamed. “Okay. I’ll call him right away after this,” he said as he hung up. I shook my head and just focused on driving back to the building.
When I arrived, I immediately asked the security guard to call some maintenance to help me bring the materials back to the make-up room.
But as I was waiting for the men to come, I saw Pyro walking up to me with anger written all over his face.
“Where were you?” he asked in a controlled voice. I can already sense that he’s mad at me even with the way he approached me.
I narrowed my eyes. “Why are you still here? Didn’t Ryder tell you to go home now?” I asked, dodging his question.
“I am here since five in the afternoon,” he replied, irritation evidently heard from his tone. “Where were you?” he asked again.
I gave him a look. “Work,” I said as I motioned to the van filled with the materials and equipment we used in the shoot. “Were you stupid to wait for me for five hours? You should have called me or just left.”
“How could I call you when I don’t know your number?” he hissed and his jaw ticked.
I raised my brow. “Well…” I trailed, slightly taken aback by his rebuttal. Right, he has a point. He couldn’t call me when he doesn’t have my number. Shall I give him my number? Stupid. “…you should have called Ryder or Ambrose.” I shrugged. “I can’t believe you waited for me.” I couldn’t help but chuckle to lighten up the atmosphere.
“I was f*****g worried that something bad would have happened to you,” he uttered and I stopped laughing.
I looked at him and saw his ocean blue eyes staring at me intently. Ah, f**k it. I know I shouldn’t stare into his eyes because that would only make my heart skip a beat. It’s not nice to feel this way when I already know that he already rejected me.
I averted my gaze and thanked heavens that the maintenance staff arrived. I waved my hand and pointed at the things we need to put upstairs.
Pyro stepped aside and let the men do what they have to do.
“I’ll come with you,” I told the staff and he nodded. This was the opportunity I need to break away from Pyro who already sent my heart beating erratically with just one stare. This is becoming annoying. I should stop feeling like this for him.
- Writer
