Enticing Mr. Wrong - Ch. 2.1

“You’re our new boss? We thought Fredrico was going to be our new boss,” the man in the pink shirt blurted out, asking the question that all inquiring minds wanted to know.

Before Aisha could respond, another gentleman in a conservative blue suit stepped forward. “Please excuse Berry’s outburst. Everyone naturally assumed that I would take over the salon since I’ve been here from its inception,” he said, unwittingly revealing a few things about himself in those few words.

“Which means you must be Fredrico, right?” Aisha replied, immediately sizing up the extremely attractive man in blue. Yes, he’d shown leadership abilities just now, but he’d also revealed an underlying touch of arrogance. Aisha detested arrogance in anyone.

“Right.” Fredrico smiled, extending a hand of greeting towards her.

“Nice to meet you, Fredrico.” Though Aisha courteously returned his smile and shook the hand she’d been offered, she kept her guard up. There was something about Fredrico that didn’t quite sit well with her. Something other than his arrogance.

“Shall we finish our conversation in the back?” Fredrico asked discreetly, mindful of the curious onlookers about them.

“Of course,” Aisha replied, grateful for the distinguished man’s tact, despite her instant dislike of him. After all, theirs was a conversation best left to a more private setting.

* * *

After Aisha and Fredrico exited the main area, Berry wasted no time going over to Faith, one of the senior hairstylists. “Girl, I think they’re going back there to have it out. What do you think?” Berry’s eyes were full of intrigue and a touch of excitement. He loved drama.

“I think you need to mind your own business,” Faith replied, returning to her client’s hair.

Following her lead, other stylists returned to their clients, as well. The music was turned back up and the Asian masseuse returned to her enclosed work station. Soon the place had all the familiar sounds of a busy salon again.

“Dominic always made good decisions concerning the salon,” Faith continued. “He wouldn’t leave somebody in charge that couldn’t handle it,” she added, deftly using a pair of curlers to finish another hair masterpiece.

That kind of expertise is what made Faith one of the most requested stylists at the salon. Combine that with her innate wisdom and it was no wonder she carried so much seniority around the place. In fact, if Fredrico hadn’t been so tight with Dominic, Faith would have been second in command a long time ago.

“I hear what you’re saying, girl,” Berry said after giving Faith’s words a bit of thought. “I just hope Dominic was in his right mind when he made this particular decision,” he added, sharing a knowing look with her. Inwardly, Berry wondered how he could sneak in the back and find out what was really going on.

© 2005 by Suprina Frazier