Chapter 2 – The Updo

After my meeting with Mr. Cullen, I went to my bank the next morning to talk to Mr. Cheney, my assets manager, about investing in the shop.

"Bella, after looking this over, I have to say I'd advise you against it as it stands. If you really want to do something with this place, I'd suggest you do it on a much smaller scale and take out a secured loan, using your savings as collateral. The place has a second story that could be used as a living space. Instead of using the area like is planned here, I think you should consider renting out the space to start with to help with the cost of running the salon. Businesses usually don't make any kind of return the first year, and I don't want to see you fail. I can contact my brother, Bradley, and have him look over the architecture plans, if you're still interested."

Mr. Cheney was making a lot more sense than Mr. Cullen had. Ben was only six years my senior, but he was the pocket-protecting math genius who kept my finances in the black.

"If he wouldn't mind. I believe Mr. Cullen is rather anxious to start the renovations. I'd like to have something ready, when I meet up with him again to give him a sort of counteroffer."

"Of course, I'll get Bradley on it now."

Bradley Cheney did amazing work. He'd taken the plans Mr. Cullen had left with me and rearranged them on a much smaller scale, while also leaving the option of expanding later on.

Downstairs, there would be four semi-private hair booths, two stations for mani-pedis with massaging chairs, plus a massage/body wrap room and a room for waxing private areas, with a full bathroom between the two. The back of the building held a half bathroom for hair and nail customers to use, a small kitchen staging area designed for serving hors d'oeuvres and beverages, as well as a full laundry room, which was to be used by the business and also the tenants who would live upstairs. There were four studio apartments on the upper floor that could later be converted for more extensive spa treatments.

I had my new plans and was ready to face Mr. Cullen. If he truly wanted to reopen his grandparents' place, this would be the only way I'd concede.

He looked confused, when I walked into the shop carrying a second set of plans and a TV tray table to lay them out for him to look over.

"Mr. Cullen, if you want to do this, we need to do it in such a way that I feel comfortable. You're asking me to take a huge risk and put my financial life in a precarious position. I do have a counteroffer with the same plan for an upscale salon, with the option to expand once business has stabilized." I rolled out the new plans, and he looked over them with a furrowed brow.

"What are these spaces upstairs?"

"They're studio apartments, to help bring in some money, until business is stabilized. This would be my livelihood. I need a sure form of income to help cover the loan and utility payments to run this place, until we have a steady, established client base. How quickly do you think you can get this plan completed?" I tapped my finger on my alternate blueprints.

"This wasn't what we agreed upon."

"I haven't signed any contracts, Mr. Cullen. If you wish to go with a different investor, by all means, you're free to do so."

I started to roll up my plans and fold up my table.

"Wait, just…can I take the plans and look them over?"

I handed them over with a smile. "You have my number, Mr. Cullen. I'm ready when you are."

He'd railroaded me the first time around, but I wouldn't allow him to do it a second time. I was a strong, independent woman. He would hear me roar if he didn't submit.

When I looked back, he wore a crooked smile, as he studied the plans I had given him. I had a feeling he would concede to my changes. I honestly hoped he would. Looking over the blueprints Bradley Cheney had drawn up had gotten me excited.

"Ms. Swan," he called after me. I turned around to see him looking disturbed. "What is this room across from the massage room? It's marked special treatments. I want to make it clear that this building will not be renovated into an establishment of ill repute."

It took me a minute to catch up and be offended. "I'm not a whore or a pimp, Mr. Cullen. That room is for waxing."

"Like eyebrows and mustaches?"

"Brazilians."

"I doubt there are enough Brazilians in the area to warrant dedicating a whole room to them."

"No, Mr. Cullen, a Brazilian wax is a service, not a reference to people."

"There's no body part named after Brazil. Do you really think you can pull a fast one on me, Ms. Swan?"

I let out a frustrated sigh and looked up Brazilian waxing on my cell phone. I held up a textbook drawn picture for him to see. "It's a pussy wax, Mr. Cullen. Some women do it for special occasions, like wedding nights or anniversaries."

His eyes went wide and then darted down to my crotch. I suddenly became very self-conscious. "A trained cosmetologist should know this information, Mr. Cullen. Are you licensed?" I asked, as I discreetly dropped my hands to my crotch.

He cleared his throat, leading me to believe that he wasn't. "I'm working on it."

Mr. Cullen ultimately accepted the changes to the plans, and work was started immediately. It quickly turned into a money pit, sucking down funds faster than they were approved. Thankfully, Mr. Cheney had seen the age of the building, when he'd looked over the first contract, and he had planned for such a crisis.

I was waiting for an electrician, when Alice Cullen, Mr. Cullen's meddling sprite of a sister, popped in. She and their mother had been hell bent on spending every last penny on ridiculously extravagant decorating, causing us to butt heads repeatedly. They'd both made it very clear they weren't happy with the changes. I was firm, though, and thankfully, Edward, or Mr. Cullen, backed me. Neither of us thought it was necessary to have Italian marble flooring or premiere-grade granite countertops in the hidden business kitchenette.

"Isabella," she greeted me with a tight smile.

"Alice, was there something you needed?"

She let out a little huff. "You know, this place would look magnificent if you'd let me and my mother do our job."

"It'd end up being an over-decorated rat trap. This is a business, not a doll house. Wasting funds that need to be in reserve to do maintenance while we build a client base won't help anyone."

"This is my family's building!"

"It's partly mine now as well."

Edward came walking in the back door. "Has the electrician shown up yet?"

"No, but your sister has," I said with a bit of disdain in my voice.

He frowned at his sister. "Was there something you needed help with, Alice? I thought you and mom got all the measurements last week."

"Yes, but I was thinking if we just rearranged…"

"No, Alice, we can't afford to do any more at this point in time."

"This place was supposed to be bigger and grander!"

"And open. I should've considered our business strategy first. Ms. Swan's plan is sound. This place will be successful, if you'll quit fighting us every step of the way and do your job within the bounds of the budget!" he argued.

"Did someone call for an electrician?" a man called from the front door.

"Yeah, come on back. There's some work that needs to be done upstairs. Do you have your work order?" I asked.

"Yes, it's pretty extensive."

"Believe me, I know," I grumbled. "I need these apartments ready by the end of the month."

My first loan payment was coming due fast, and it'd be coming out of my savings. The renting of the four studios would bring in enough to cover the loan payment and what we projected would be half of the utilities, but with the need to replace everything, we were going with energy efficient stuff, which, of course, caused another tantrum by the Cullen women. They weren't pleased we were limiting their options, but those limits were loosening up funds that would keep the shop open, even if business was slow, and I had a feeling that it'd be very slow to begin with. The option to be able to cover one hundred percent of the utilities was a no-brainer. Thankfully, Edward backed me on that decision as well. Now if I could just get the poor fool to stop looking at my crotch, everything would be peachy keen.

It was time to start interviewing technicians. There wasn't a very wide pool to pick from, and I knew our choices could make or break the shop. One bad haircut or treatment could send the whole town running in the other direction.

The first few interviews we did weren't promising. I asked the first girl, who I was sure was naturally blonde, if she had her own tools.

"Why would I need tools? I thought we were just doing hair."

"Do you cut hair?" Edward asked patiently.

"Yes," she answered like he was stupid.

"With what?"

"Scissors," she scoffed.

Her lack of using the word shears made me put a huge red "X" next to her name. "Do you have a license?"

"You saw I parked out front."

"I think that's all we need for today, thank you."

I quickly dismissed myself, needing a break from the exposure to the mind-numbingly low IQ. I was about ready to get back into the thick of things, when Alice stopped in.

"Edward," she let out her signature huff, so I stayed in the back a little longer to avoid her. "I have the final paint swatches for the apartments. Thank god we were allowed to get the good stuff."

"Excuse me," a deep southern-sounding voice drew everyone's attention, pulling me out of my hiding place.

"Can I help you?" I asked the hot buff guy standing in the doorway.

He gave me a cheeky grin. "Possibly, if you can tell me where to find Mr. Cullen and Ms. Swan."

"That's us," I pointed to Edward, who was eyeing the man's full-sleeve tattooed arm. I think Alice might have stopped breathing. I bumped her for good measure, or possibly shoved her, but I'd swear it was for her own health if accused.

"Please, come with me," I directed him toward where we had a little table set up.

"Yes, Ma'am, that's something I'll gladly take direction on."

Edward yanked on my shirt. "I think he made a lewd remark," he hissed in my ear.

I giggled. "I know."

"Do you have a resume, references?" Edward asked a little snippily.

The man pulled out a thick stack of papers. "Yes, Sir, all glowing, of course."

Edward handed me a copy of the resume. "Jasper Whitlock, it says you just moved here from Texas?"

"Yes, Ma'am, my sister's husband is serving overseas, and he asked me to come up here and keep an eye on her."

"That's very sweet of you." I was already impressed.

I noticed Jasper glance behind us several times during the interview, and I thought it might have been him trying to recall facts, but then I heard Alice stumbling around, and I had a sneaking suspicion it was her grabbing his attention.

"I see you have a variety of talents, Mr. Whitlock."

He gave me a mischievous grin. "You could say that, Ma'am."

"What skills would you be looking to employ if given a chance to lease a space with us?"

"I'm very well versed in men's hair and grooming. I work a straight razor like I'm frosting a cake, and I'm licensed to pierce and tattoo as well."

"I don't think we'd want to offer those services…" Edward started to shoot him down.

I squeezed his shoulder, trying to settle him down. "I think piercing would be beneficial to add to our list of offered services." Edward looked at me like I had grown a second head. "I think with a little research, you'll find it's difficult to locate a store close by to pierce little girls' ears."

"There isn't one," Jasper answered bluntly. "I looked around, when I first started job hunting. There's a tattoo parlor down by the dock that does piercings, but I wouldn't take my dog in there. I can't see how they're still licensed. It's definitely not a place a lady should go, let alone a little girl. I do piercings of all types, I have all my own equipment, and as you'll see from my references, I'm highly skilled and very good at what I do."

"Yes, well, isn't that interesting." Edward was definitely flustered.

"I see that my associate and I have some discussing to do, but I'm sure we'll be in touch with you shortly, Mr. Whitlock," I smiled.

"Oh, and here's this," he handed me a lease application for one of the studio apartments.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Whitlock. I really appreciate your interest."

"It's been my pleasure, Ms. Swan, Mr. Cullen," Jasper said, getting up.

"Alice Cullen," Alice pushed forward, butting in to shake his hand, when she saw Jasper was leaving.

Jasper's eyes darted to Edward, I was sure wondering if Alice was his wife.

"Oh, I'm not related to him," she waved at Edward.

"You're my sister!" Edward said, appalled.

"Not related in any way that matters!" she insisted.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you as well, Miss Alice Cullen," Jasper said with his southern drawl and kissed her hand. I'd swear she looked like she was about to faint.

He headed for the door, and Alice kept her eyes on him, or his butt, I should say. I glanced at Edward to see how he was handling his little sister gawking at Jasper. He had a scowl firmly affixed on his face. I smacked the apartment application against his chest to get his attention. "He seems promising. You should do the background check on him."

"Yes, I should," Edward growled and turned away, just in time to miss Jasper looking back at Alice and catching her perving on his backside. He gave it a little shake, making her jump and look up at his face. He gave her a few quick suggestive tongue flicks, flashing the tongue ring he had in. Yeah, definitely a good thing Edward had missed that.