Chapter 45
At the salon, the ladies were talking about needing to hire more help. Ice was dreading it due to Kim being so picky.
“I have a cousin who’s just got her license. She was top of her class. She doesn’t have experience, but maybe you could do a trial period?” Sherry asked.
“Do you think she’d fit in here?” Kim asked.
“Yeah, she’s just like me. Most think we are sisters.” Sherry agreed.
“Ok, tell her to come by and see me.” Kim replied.
“Do you think we should hire another nail tech?” Ginger asked “I’m booked solid for the next month. And once those new customers come in, I’ll be adding returning appointments, and who knows how booked up that will make me. But I know I won’t be able to do any walk ins for quite a while.”
“I think you’re right. Plus, we need someone for pedicures and to answer the phone.” Kim replied.
“And you were worried you’d lose our money!” Ice laughed.
“Yeah, imagine that. Turns out I’m just losing my mind! If you weren’t doing all the paperwork, I have no idea how I’d keep going.” Kim sighed.
“Are you ok? You’ve been more tired lately, more than usual. You’ve been looking pale too. You coming down with something?” Ice asked concerned.Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
“No, it’s just I’ve been busier than usual. The stress of trying to keep up and all.” Kim replied.
“I can check with some of the girls that were in my class?” Ginger asked.
“Thanks Ginger, that sounds great!” Kim agreed.
A couple weeks passed, and Sherry’s cousin Anna gets hired to do hair. She fits in perfect with the group. Ginger contacted her teacher about needing another nail tech, and she sent over girls for interviews.
“Hi, I’m Mallory. I already got my license and I’m looking to get started right away.” Mallory replied.
“Well thank you for applying. I can start you off part time. Do you have a problem doing pedicures, answering the phone, clean up, and making appointments? In the beginning you’ll mostly do those types of things along with walk ins. Until you build up your client list. Once you have more appointments, you’ll get more hours.” Kim explained.
“That sounds amazing! And I’ll do whatever you need. Errands also to get food or coffee, you name it, I’m your girl.” Mallory smiled.
“Sounds great. Let’s get your paperwork done.” Kim walked her into the office where Ice was.
“Ice this is Mallory. She’s the new nail tech. I need you to get her paperwork done. I have a client in about ten minutes.” Kim explained.
“Ok baby. Whatever you need.” Ice agreed.
He stood up and kissed Kim before she left. He sat back down and motioned for Mallory to sit opposite side of the desk.
“Fill these out, and I need your driver’s license and social security card for tax purposes.” Ice explained.
“Sure thing. And you can check my age if you want. Everyone says I barely look 18, but I am actually 24.” Mallory laughed.
“As long as you have your license and Kim hired you, I could care less what age you are.” Ice replied dryly.
A week later all seemed well. Ginger noticed the looks Mallory gave Ice behind Kim’s back and the other brothers that stop by. She flirted big time with Smokey, but he’s a player anyway. She knew Sam would be pissed if she knew.
In fact, Sam would probably kick her ass. She smiled to herself; she’d love to see that. There was just something about Mallory that made her uncomfortable.
“Hey Red, don’t forget, no last-minute customers tonight. Date night remember?” Ice replied.
“I haven’t forgot. My last appointment is at three today. I’ll be done and out of here by five.” Kim replied.
Shortly after lunch Kim got sick to her stomach and threw up. She left and went home while Ice was gone to the bank. Ice came back and asked where she was.
“She got sick after she ate. Maybe food poisoning? She canceled her appointments and went home.” Ginger replied.
“Damn. I already bought tickets for our movie tonight and made dinner reservations.” Ice swore.
“Oh? What movie? I love to go to the movies! And I’ve been dying to try out some of the local restaurants. I haven’t lived here long.” Mallory stated.
“Well here, you can have both tickets and ask a friend to join you. I’ll just call and change our reservations to another night.” Ice replied.
He walked off leaving Mallory pouting. Ginger was watching her. “Yep, got my eye on you.” Ginger told herself.
Ice made the changes and then headed home to take care of Kim.
“Hey baby? Are you ok?” Ice asked.
Kim groaned. “Don’t come close. It could be a stomach virus. I don’t want you to catch it.”
“Not happening. My stomach is tough anyway. I changed our reservations. And since we can’t go out, we can watch a movie here, just lying in bed the two of us.” Ice explained.
“Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you and how much I love you?” Kim asked.
“Yes. But I never grow tire of hearing it.” Ice confirmed.
They cuddled in bed and watch the movie. The next day Kim felt well enough to go to work. After her second appointment is a no show, she decided to call them and find out why. She’s never had any clients to just not show up without calling to reschedule first.
After she called them, they told her someone from the shop had called and cancelled saying she was sick. Kim spent the next hour calling all her appointments for today to find out if they were cancelled also. And they were. She quickly rescheduled all them apologizing for the mix up.
“Ginger, who called and cancelled my appointments?” Kim asked.
“I have no idea. I called the two ladies you asked me to and rescheduled them. But that was it.” Ginger replied.
“Why? Did I not get their rescheduling right?” Ginger asked.
“No, those were fine. But someone cancelled all of my appointments for today too.” Kim explained.
“What? You’re kidding? Who? I promise it wasn’t me. I only did the two from yesterday.” Ginger assured her.
“I believe you.” Kim assured her.
“Ladies, did any of you cancel my appointments for today thinking maybe I was too sick to return?” Kim asked.
Everyone replied no. Kim walked into the office to talk to Ice. She shut the door. “We have a problem.”