Tangled Fury by Kristen Middleton, Book Cover By Design, K. L. Middleton Read Free Book Online

had learned that it really was one of most respectable and busy salons in the area. So, I’d have to deal with another guy who thought he could move mountains with his hot air. If it meant making a decent living for me and Emma, then I’d swallow my pride and make him see that I was more than just a pity hire.
    “Are you okay, M s. Billings?” he asked, studying my face.
    I forced a smile . “I’m fine, and… it’s Sera.”
    He nodded and then turned back to his laptop.
    “So, do you have any questions for me?” I asked , after watching him type quietly for a few minutes. The silence in the room made it almost uncomfortable.
    He looked at me. “About?”
    I stared at him i n wonder. He seemed almost ignorant when it came to the hiring process. “I don’t know… anything that you might want to know about me? The hours I’m available, maybe?”
    “ Okay, when are you available?”
    “For now, when Emma is in school , during the day. If that’s okay? And, maybe… Saturdays, if I can find a sitter.”
    He continued typing. “Whatever works for you. Like I said, this is your business. As lon g as you make enough to pay rent and bring in extra clients, I’m fine with you working those hours.”
    “Okay .”
    “I imagine you have your own equipment?”
    “Some of it.”
    “T he last technician, Amy, left quite a bit behind, so feel free to use what you’d like.”
    “Thank you. I’ll check it out .”
    He nodded.
    “What about pricing?”
    “Again, it’s your business and up to you. Amy left some brochures, listing all of her prices. You can use them as references. Once you’ve figured out what you’d like to charge, I’ll have new ones printed out, with your information, instead.”
    “That would be great,” I answered. “I’m not from this area, so I really have no idea of what to charge.”
    “Many of our clients are very wealthy. They expect to pay more and if you undercharge, they might not take you seriously. You could actually lose business.”
    “ I guess that makes some kind of sense, crazy as it sounds.”
    Thane turned on the p rinter. “I’m going to print out the contract. Why don’t you look it over while I go and check on things in the shop?”
    “Okay.”
    When he was finished printing all of the forms, he handed them over to me, and then stood up. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like some coffee or water?”
    “I’m fine,” I answered, watching him as he stepped around the desk and headed towards the doorway. He wasn’t very personable, but he was definitely easy on the eyes.
    He turned back around. “One more thing, before I forget. You’ll see a paragraph in there about client confidentiality. We do get some celebrities in here, occasionally, and it’s important that they we help keep some kind of anonymity. In other words-”
    “Keep my mouth shut?”
    He grinned. “Exactly.”
    “I figured as much. By the way, they aren’t the only ones who appreciate anonymity, Mr. Bishop.”
    “I understand,” he answered. His eyes hardened. “Which reminds me – do you know where your husband is, currently?”
    “No idea .”
    “Is there a warrant out for his arrest?”
    I shook my h ead. “He’s just wanted for questioning. They don’t have any evidence linking him to the crime. He made sure of that, obviously.”
    He sighed. “He definitely knows how to play the system.”
    “He also still has friends on the force.”
    He grunted and shook his head. “Incredible. And you wonder why so many people are leery of cops. Do you think he has any idea of where you are at the moment?”
    “I certainly hope not.”
    “Me, too,” he replied. “I’d hate to put any of my stylists in danger.”
    “Well, if you’ve changed your mind about this, I’d totally understand,” I answered, feeling my stomach tighten. I really wanted the job and it made me ill to think that Ray could keep it from me.
    “No, Sera,” he answered. “I want you here.”
    I