Page 33 of You Belong With Me

We go over every detail thoroughly, discussing strategies for sustaining these high levels over upcoming months as well as how to best use these additional resources to enhance the customer experience within each store location.

After our meeting wraps up, we shake hands warmly before heading out into the main area of the restaurant again.

I head back toward my house with a better attitude now that I know not everything is in the toilet today. Right as I pull into my driveway, my phone dings with an incoming text.

ALANA MEYER:

Hey, Andreas. I wanted to double-check that we were still meeting up tonight. I know you’re busy. Just making sure nothing has come up. Thanks!

ANDREAS RIVERA:

You’re not getting rid of me that easily. I’ll see you later, Alana.

I grab my laptop bag from the back seat, head inside, and quickly check the clock as I enter my home: two o’clock, plenty of time for me to call a florist and arrange for something bright and exotic.

Just as I’m about to get ready for the night, my phone dings again. This time, it’s a call from HR. My heart drops into my stomach as soon as I see the name flash across the screen.

I take a deep breath before answering, wondering what the fuck happened now.

“This is Andreas.”

“Hello, sir. Sorry to call you again. I thought you should know the two female employees are moving forward with criminal charges against the dishwasher for unwelcome touches and lewd comments. He’s also been contacting them through different social media accounts,” the HR representative informs me.

“Make sure they don’t have to pay a dime for legal fees, okay? And that they have the complete support of the company. Use my name personally.” Ice runs through my veins at the thought of my employees feeling unsafe working in a building I own.

We finish talking, and I put away my phone, feeling a mix of emotions. I’m glad the women are pursuing charges, and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure he’s brought to justice. But God, it fucking sucks to know something like that happened on my watch.

I reach out to our company lawyer via email, informing them to check for any captured acts in the camera footage from that location. If there’s anything, let the police department know and have it sent over.

Hopefully, this evening goes better than the morning has, or I’m in store for one hell of a first date.

25

Chapter Twenty Five

Alana

The salon is freaking adorable. It looks like it used to be a small single-family home, but they’ve renovated it into a commercial space. The house is white with blue windows and a blue door. There’s a white fence that goes around the entire property, and the landscaping is full of dark mulch and tons of fresh flowers and foliage.

There are pops of almost every color imaginable. My favorite part is the porch. It’s as long as the length of the house, held up by four white columns. They have white wicker furniture with pillows and cushions, the same colors as the windows, and a delightful porch swing in the corner. There’s a small glass table in front of the furniture, and next to the table is a dog bed. I could sit out here and read for hours.

I walk up the four steps to the porch, and as I open the front door, I hear the unmistakable sound of bamboo chimes. It makes me smile because my dad has a collection of bamboo chimes in the backyard. A super cute blonde sitting behind a white wooden desk smiles warmly at me as I enter and says, “Hello, welcome to Cutting Edge. Did you have an appointment?” She glances at her computer to check names, then looks back at me expectantly.

“Yes, I did! I believe I’m scheduled for a cut and style with Miriam. This is my first time, and I used the online scheduling app. My name is Alana Meyer, and my appointment is at one-thirty.”

The receptionist stands and walks around the desk, and I realize she’s tiny. I’m not a giant, but she’s maybe four foot eleven, tops. Her features are Elven, with milky white skin. Her nose is small and almost appears to be pointed, and she has the cutest freckles dusted over the top. She has a platinum pixie cut and bright green eyes. I’m stunned by how dainty and whimsical she seems in the flowing, bright yellow skirt and off-the-shoulder white crop top. She motions for me to follow her, and we head behind the dividing wall to a salon chair. There are pictures of a cute family taped to the large mirror, and I can’t help but notice how immaculately clean the space is.

“Miriam will be right with you, Alana. Would you like a bottled water while you wait?” the mystical blonde asks while walking toward a mini fridge.

“Yes, please. Thank you so much,” I answer as she bends over and grabs a Smart Water from the mini fridge. She walks over to me and hands me the water, then floats back to her desk. I look around while I wait and see there are three other salon chairs with giant mirrors, as well as four hair washing stations. The black porcelain is almost shiny enough to see my reflection. Hair and skin care products cover the wall I’m facing from top to bottom, and the floor consists of light gray tile.

I jump when the hairstylist walks up and says hello.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I thought you saw me walk up beside you. My name is Miriam, and I’ll be cutting and styling your hair for you today. I. Am. Obsessed. With. Your. Hair. Color,” she says.

She reaches out to shake my hand, and I say, “I’m Alana. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Alana. What are we doing today?” she asks.

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