Dixieland Dead by Penny Burwell Ewing

Author:Penny Burwell Ewing [Ewing, Penny Burwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, fantasy, sweet
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2016-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The Jade Elephant

“We have a business meeting at six with Robert Burns,” Deena said. “He’s looking for the right salon, and stylist, for Scarlett’s replacement, Tammy Hodges. He advised me he was strongly considering other salons, so this is our only chance to convince him to give Dixieland another chance. No more mistakes. We need this contract.”

Billie Jo and I were having lunch in her office. “Anthony will have a hissy fit if another salon is chosen.” I took another bite of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “He’s got it in his mind that the position should be his since he was Scarlett’s stylist.”

“Anthony’s hiding something,” Billie Jo said.

I looked over at my sister who was crunching a carrot stick. “You’re right, but what?” After his unwelcome appearance in my house yesterday, I’d pulled him aside and threatened to introduce him to Mini Pearl if he ever pulled a stupid stunt like that again. Hopefully, I’d put the fear of God into him because I wouldn’t want to follow through on my threat.

“Never mind,” Deena said. “We’re short on time and need to discuss our strategy for keeping our business in the media. The positive side, I would add.”

We decided on the straightforward approach. Deena would be our spokeswoman, and Billie Jo and I would answer any technical questions regarding styles and makeup.

The rest of the day passed in a blur as I permed, cut, and colored my way to exhaustion. My last client waltzed out the door precisely at five. I left the salon, promising to meet my sisters at WXYB in forty-five minutes, and raced home to shower and change into comfortable slacks and a short-sleeved blouse.

At 5:45, I pulled into the TV station parking lot. Billie Jo and Deena were waiting for me at the front entrance. I parked and joined them. The receptionist escorted us to Robert’s secretary—a pretty brunette, who ushered us into his opulent office.

“Sit down, ladies.” Robert motioned us to the chairs before his massive cherry wood desk. “I’ve been expecting you.”

Tired beyond thought, I sank down into the pale ivory plush sofa, leaving the two wingback chairs for my sisters, as I preferred to stay in the background. Billie Jo scowled at me but followed Deena to the chairs facing the TV executive.

Since it’d been decided that Deena, as salon manager, would be in charge, I allowed the conversation to fade into the background. I laid my head back, and the comfort of the expensive fabric embraced me. The murmur of voices flowed over me like warm bath water. I slipped off my heels and plunged my toes into the lush green carpet. The lightest scent of vanilla wafted throughout the space and as I inhaled deeply, the mental picture of homemade sugar cookies popped into my mind.

My stomach rumbled loudly, and I opened my eyes to find Billie Jo frowning at me from her chair. From the sound of the pleasant conversation, matters were under control and my presence wasn’t required, so I excused myself and escaped into the outer office.

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