Page 61 of Runaway Pride

“Good.” Jessa exhaled a reproving breath. “Your brother… is an idiot. I didn’t want to get this nasty because you’re my boss and he’s your brother. But he is absolutely useless. So far, he has mixed up five appointments. We’ve gotten a lot of complaints and two one-star reviews on the internet. And he just blew off a walk-in. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. If this goes on, we will lose customers. I don’t know how he could screw up something so simple. My professional advice, boss, is we let him go.”

Charlie blinked, perplexed. “But I heard he was doing well.”

Jessa rolled her eyes. “Things were fine when he had Kendra doing his work. But he dumped her, so she quit yesterday.”

Closing her eyes and trying a quick meditation method she learned to calm herself, Charlie nodded at Jessa. “Okay, let me talk to him. Where is he?”

“The break room, for the fourth time today, and it’s only noon,” Jessa emphasized with distinct annoyance.

“Thanks, Jess.” Giving one of her staff a signal, Charlie left the studio in search of her brother.

What was it going to take? Even their mother had given up on him. Was the next step really to drop him on the streets to learn lessons there? No, he’ll just mooch off his friends until he can’t. That was his motto. Mooching. It was the easy way. Pathetic, but easy.

In the break room, Charlie caught Ryan lounging on the couch. His yellow bleached tip hair blended with the leather upholstery.

He had his back to her, engrossed with his phone. A bag of chips sat on his lap, and he smelled like overpriced cologne and cheese. Irritated, Charlie came up and smacked him behind the head, getting his attention.

“Hey! What was that for?” he complained, rubbing his nape.

“Have you no shame?” she seethed. “Why aren’t you working?”

“I’m tired,” he said plainly.

“You have done nothing since you came in!” She smacked him again. “What’s not clicking?” She poked the crown of his head with exerted force. “What’s so thick in there that nothing gets in?”

“Hey, violence is against the law.” He scooted deeper to the other side of the couch. “I can report you.”

“You don’t even have the money for a lawyer to take it to court.” Charlie blew an exasperated breath. “Out of all the things going on in my life, you’re that one sore spot who won’t quit! Do you hate me?”

Ryan snorted. “Chill out. You’re making it into a big deal.”

“You messed up five of our customer’s appointments and caused our bad reviews.” She gritted her teeth. “We just opened! We shouldn’t be garnering a bad reputation this soon!”

“Reviews are stupid, anyway. Who cares?”

“I care! I want you to get out of your ass and do what you’re supposed to!” She stopped, holding onto her head and feeling itsplit like a knife carving down to her brain stem. “Here’s what’s going to happen. If you still don’t shape up by the end of the day tomorrow, consider yourself fired. Get out of my face, and my life.”

Ryan stared back at her, unblinking. “Are you serious?”

“Yes!” Charlie grabbed the tissue box on the dining table and flung it at her idiot brother. He dodged it, and she stormed out of the room.

Nineteen

When Rick was alloweda small break from the tedious makeover, he took two minutes to use the restroom and snack before looking for Charlie. He was mindful about keeping his distance and giving her space, but he wanted to be close to her when possible.

One look at himself in the bathroom mirror and he cringed, barely recognizing himself. There wasn’t a patch of skin on his face that wasn’t covered. Foundation, powder, BB/CC/DD cream or whatever the hell, tinted moisturizer. He had them all. There had to be five layers of gloop on his face.

Beauty standards nowadays were ridiculous. Was it attractive to look like a soulless mannequin?

Charlie always looked good without appearing like a plastic doll, and the difference when she was bare-faced wasn’t too far off. Getting his photos taken was an eye-opener. The techniques that went behind the scenes were completely superficial and manufactured. Nothing was natural.

The job was tedious, but it was all worth it if he got to see Charlie. His intention to right all the wrongs he did to her was a priority over his discomfort. If he wanted to show her his sincerity,then he’d have to suck it up, even if it meant being used and pushed around like a mannequin.

Seeing her office empty, he pulled out his phone to text her when he heard her heels clicking in the hallway. She was polished in her white business dress, shaping her body as she walked, and he wanted so badly to take her into his arms.

“Hey,” he called softly, then noticed the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t seem to notice him until he approached, distress overriding her face. “Oh, Rick. Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

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