it while I do your hair and makeup. You’ll be relaxed by the time
we go downstairs.”
As I showered, I counted myself lucky to have a gay man
to take care of me. Left on my own, I probably would’ve tried
to wear my Mickey Mouse sleep shirt under my top to hide my
breasts. I could apply my own makeup, but if Marvin could do
with my face what he’d done with my hair when he cut it, then I
wouldn’t look half bad.
With my robe on, I sat on a padded stool while Marvin went
through the cosmetics that Kalen had thrown into my suitcase. “I
don’t like a lot of color,” I said to him as he perused the eye shadows.
He smiled at me. “I’m not saying this because you’re my boss.
You, my dear, are a good-looking woman without any makeup.
I’m just going to enhance what you’re working with. Trust me?”
If he hadn’t already transformed me with a single haircut, I
probably wouldn’t have been sitting there. I took a healthy swallow
of my Bloody Mary. “Work your magic.” And magic was what
he made. When he’d finished my hair and makeup, a different
woman stared back at me in the mirror. I may’ve been a ball of
nerves on the inside, but outwardly, I looked like a model.
The foundation he used blended with my skin tone and
hid what the sun had spent a lifetime doing to my face. He’d
conservatively used a pale brown eye shadow and black mascara
that made my dark eyes shimmer. The lipstick a shade darker
than my lips added the final touch.
11
Pitifully Ugly
I turned my head from side to side, taking in what he’d done
with my hair. It was wispy and gave the impression that time
had been taken with it, but it wasn’t carefully coiffed. “You are
amazing,” I said, smiling back at my reflection.
He patted my shoulders, apparently pleased with my comment
and his handiwork. “It’s going to take me about thirty minutes to
get dressed. Enjoy the rest of your drink, then put on your clothes
right before we have to leave. That’ll spare you a few wrinkles.”
I followed his instruction to the letter. I met him in the sitting
area a while later. Since coming aboard with us, Marvin had toned
down his look. He no longer wore fingernail polish, though it was
obvious he spent time with the manicurist. The faux hawk had
grown out a bit on the sides, and the longer portion in the middle
of his head had been trimmed and blended in. His hair was parted
on the side and pushed back off his forehead.
Marvin not only knew how to dress me, but he knew how to
make himself look spectacular. His button-down white shirt was
tucked into a pair of stylish black slacks with a matching pair of
shoes. “I didn’t want us to look like twins,” he said as he twirled.
“And you can’t go wrong with black and white.”
When we walked into the reception, I felt my stomach drop.
I looked over the large crowed and felt immediately intimidated.
Marvin took my hand and looped it around his arm. “Let’s make
contact with Angela first, then we can mingle for a little while.
Then if you’re about to go insane, we can sneak out.”
I discreetly pointed toward Angela, who stood with a couple
of men. As we made our way toward her, she excused herself and
met us halfway. “No offense, but I almost didn’t recognize you,”
she said as she gave me a brief hug. “I think the last time I saw
you, you were wearing a ball cap.”
“You have Marvin to thank for my appearance,” I said,
smiling at him.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Angela said with a smile as
she shook Marvin’s hand. “Look, I hate to cut to the chase, but I
need to tell you that I’m under a lot of pressure right now. Sales
are down and heads are rolling. The man in the gray suit that I
11
Robin Alexander
was talking to is Thad Mays, the CEO of our company.” Angela
stepped to the side so I could get a good look at him.
“He never comes to these things,” Angela continued. “I don’t
have a lot of big accounts, but I do have an extensive amount of
small ones. I don’t want to be in the next round of layoffs, so I
need to make a good impression.”
I was already feeling nervous, and Angela made me want to
run screaming from the room. Frankly, I would’ve done that, but
Kalen considered Angela a friend.
“To be honest…” Angela leaned in closer to us. “If he weren’t
here, I would make my rounds and hit the clubs.”
Angela didn’t look like a party girl to me dressed in her
burgundy business suit. Although as I looked at her, I could picture
her letting down the long glossy waves of blond hair that were
pinned back conservatively and donning a tight pair of jeans.
“You can count on us to represent,” Marvin said. “The
presentation that Kalen has prepared is phenomenal. I use your
products every day, and I have never been disappointed.”
Angela’s shoulders relaxed as she smiled back at Marvin.
“Thank you, thank you both. You’re doing me a huge favor and I
won’t forget it.”
“Your boss is headed over here,” I said, glancing over Angela’s
shoulder.
He smiled as Angela turned to look at him. “Mr. Mays, I’d like
to introduce you to Shannon Brycen. She owns Brycen Sisters in
New Orleans with her sister, Kalen.”
“It’s a pleasure.” He took my hand limply into his own. I tried
not to stiffen as he continued to hold it.
“I was just asking Shannon where her partner was,” Angela
said. “Forgive me, what was her name again?” Angela looked me
in the eyes.
I was taken aback by the odd change in topics but recovered
when Marvin shifted his stance and bumped into me slightly.
“Hailey, and she couldn’t make it this time.” Mr. Mays released
my hand. “This is Marvin Henderson. He’s one of our most
talented stylists.” I stepped back as Marvin moved in and shook
his hand.
120
Pitifully Ugly
“We were just telling Angela how proud we are to be here
representing Natural Beauty,” Marvin said. “I especially love
your hair-coloring products. I use them on all my clients.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Mays said with a slight nod.
To me, he looked as though he hadn’t a clue about their
products. I imagined he had a staff that worried about product
lines while he looked at the numbers generated by sales. I felt for
Angela, who was dependent on his favor, and made the effort to
speak on her behalf. “I’m sure you have many clients much larger
than we are, but Angela treats us like a major player. Your products
are excellent, but her service is what demands our loyalty.”
Thad’s gaze moved through the crowd as I spoke, probably
looking for someone far more prestigious to mingle with before
he looked back at me and Angela. “I’m very pleased to know
that,” he said with another slight nod. “If you’ll excuse me.” He
didn’t say more as he walked off.
“He’s an asshole,” Angela said quietly. “And a womanizer.
That’s why I made that comment about your partner. I hope
you don’t mind, but I wanted to make it clear that you weren’t