Page 9 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

Chapter Four

HEATHER DIDN'T KNOW whether to apologize or play dumb after seeing what just happened. She was already inside Valerian's office when she saw Poppy heading their way, and Heather couldn't recall feeling a more acute case of secondhand embarrassment when the penny dropped for the younger woman.

Heather was prepared for Poppy to break down at any point after that, but the girl's resilience was simply remarkable. By the time Poppy joined them at Valerian's office, she was her usual quietly efficient self.

"You remember how I like it trimmed?" Valerian asked.

"Yes, Mr. Rossfield."

Heather couldn't help raising a brow when Camelia suddenly insisted on sitting on the billionaire's lap while Poppy was still trimming his hair. Valerian's girlfriend had never been the showy and affectionate type. So why was this woman suddenly acting out of character?

Poppy used all of her might to focus her attention solely on her job. She was her to give her client a trim. That was it. The fact that the woman her client loved was sitting on his lap had nothing to do with her.

So stop feeling hurt, Poppy!

That is so not the way to act accordingly!

Don't you remember that he's TAKEN?!

Poppy nearly breathed a sigh of relief after snipping away the last stubborn hint of curls that dared to graze over the collar of Valerian's shirt. A part of her already felt empty at the thought of having to leave, now that she had done her job. But since the billionaire's girlfriend was now busy pawing him while gushing about how she super-oh-so-loved his hair super-oh-so-short, Poppy was more than ready to go, in more ways than one.

Heather could barely keep herself from gagging at the way Camelia was acting around Valerian. It was practically indecent, and when Heather was more than relieved to see the couple leave for a charity ball they had to attend.

What in the world was wrong with that woman?

Poppy waited until the billionaire and his girlfriend were out of the office before turning to Heather. "Um...if you're not too busy, I was hoping I could ask you about something?"

"Of course, Poppy." Heather already had a feeling she knew what the girl was about to say as she invited the latter to her office, and Poppy's next words confirmed her suspicions.

"I was wondering if perhaps there's someone more suitable—-"

"There's none."

Poppy's eyes widened at the speed at which Heather answered her. "But I'm just a j-junior stylist—-"

"It's not your skills alone that make you suitable, Ms. Cortez, but a matter of security as well. A few years back, a male hair stylist had almost succeeded in slitting his throat with a razor. His depression had caused him to harbor the delusion that his girlfriend was cheating on him with Valerian."

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