Page 151 of Irreversible

With a sharp exhale, I yank open the heavy door and am immediately struck with an elixir of lily of the valley, jasmine, and warm amber. It’s a soothing balm to my rattled nerves.

A rust-haired man with apricot freckles nods at me as I traipse through the dimly lit hallway. I likely look just as lost as I feel. “Hi.” I swerve in front of him, visibly flustered. “I’m trying to remember where the dressing room is?”

The man eyes me, heels to hair. “You’re the new hire?”

“I am.” I swallow hard. “I’m Bee.”

He takes the hand I offer in a firm grip. “Fitting,” he says, still giving me a once-over. “Queenie was just asking about you. She’s excited to see what you can do.”

“She told me to get here an hour early. I hope that’s okay.”

“Yep. Take a left at the end of the hall and it’s the first door on the right. Can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.”

“Name’s Len,” he adds before I sweep past him. “If you need anything, I’m your guy.”

The man is huge and intimidating, but his eyes are soft and safe. “Noted.”

I nibble my thumbnail as I send him a nervous smile, then continue my trek down the darkened hall. Voices chatter, laughter rings out. Music thumps in the distance, almost loud enough to override my pounding heartbeats.

An unfamiliar woman greets me like we’ve been friends for years, halting me just before I reach the dressing room. Raven-black hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, the shiny tresses falling over one shoulder. “Hey! Bee, right?” She scans her gaze over me, her teeth flashing white. “Girl, there’s a big crowd out there. Not to freak you out, but Halloween weekend is our busiest next to the Super Bowl. Your tips are going to be insane.”

She’s dressed up like some sort of spider queen as glittery web-like lace spills off her light-brown skin.

“No pressure.” I breathe out a strained laugh, catching a whiff of honeysuckle perfume. “Where’s Queenie?”

“In the dressing room, asking about you every two minutes.” She waggles her eyebrows. “This is such a full-circle moment for her. She says you’re going to make big waves.”

I wring my hands together. The only waves coursing through me right now are riddled with nausea. “Well, thanks for the warm welcome. You look gorgeous.”

“Oh, thanks.” She flips her ponytail over her shoulder and snaps a wad of pink bubblegum. “We’re a family here. Zero competition. We build each other up, like a sisterhood.”

“I love that.”

Smacking me on the butt, she shoots me a wink. “I’m Ariel, the resident shoe hoarder. If you ever need a spare pair of heels, my locker is jam-packed. Help yourself.”

Watching her skip away, I smile at her retreating back before turning toward the door adorned with a silver plaque titled “Dressing Room.”

Here we go…

I push through the doorway and step into the room, quickly spotting Queenie near the beauty counter. One of the girls is helping her pick out a wig. Her golden-brown eyes follow me as I toss my purse into one of the empty lockers and pop it shut, then glance at the adjacent locker that showcases the nameArielcrossed out and replaced withShoes, Shoes, and More Shoes.

“You came,” Queenie says, puffing on a cigarette, looking regal and composed. “I questioned it.”

Sauntering over to her, I swipe my sweaty palms down my outfit. “The truth?”

“Always.”

“I questioned it, too.”

Crossing one leg over the other, she sends me a smile, her dark-brown skin glowing with beauty oil. “I know.” Then she waves a hand at the girl tending to her wig as she stands fromthe rolling chair and approaches me like a graceful gazelle. “You look just like your mama.”

My skin warms at the sentiment. “Her hair isn’t as big.”

“No, but her heart is.” Her eyes dance over me with affection. “I have two rules, so listen up, Angel Baby.”

I shuffle on both feet. “Okay.”

---