The Green Ticket (18 page)

I shuffled my way into the office first, placing my winter coat on the rack behind the door and unwinding the blue and pink scarf from my around my neck. Placing my briefcase on the desk, I snapped it open and took out a few reports. Even though I was slammed with homework last night, I still took a stack home with me to work on. I was afraid for my latest Musical Appreciation assignment. I couldn’t concentrate on my report about the elements of opera when our hairspray sales were in desperate need of a boost. How could I think about libretto and supernumeraries when a real crisis was happening in the store?

The more I went through the reports on Thursday night, the more I saw that sales were slipping overall. The bonus idea that I had for the employees helped raise the numbers from previous months before I was around, but they still needed help. Especially during the week.

I sat at the desk and tapped a pen against my mouth. Something was nagging me, an idea I thought I had....I flipped through my notebook, where I would often jot down passing ideas or tasks for me to complete. There, written in pink pen: “Have specials on Tuesdays? Wednesdays? 20% off? SLOW DAYS!”

I sat up straighter in my chair. Okay, this was good. This gave me a start. I could put together an advertising plan for the slow middle of the week days. Help move products off the shelf.

Before I could start outlining my ideas, Blissful’s phone rang. I picked up the office extension, shaking the computer mouse alive so I could pull up the schedule if necessary.

“Thank you for calling Blissful Salon and Spa. This is Alex, how can I help you?” I cooed into the phone.

“Oh, Alex, hi. Wow, you’re there early.” Dani.

A satisfied smile spread across my face. I was trying to think of ways to casually mention my early start, but this worked perfectly. “Hey, Dani! Yeah, I have some new marketing ideas that I wanted to try to plan out before next week. Since I have the weekend off, I figured I could come early and get a jump on it.”

“That’s great, hon. Lots of initiative, that’s what we like to see.” Score! “Hey, sweetie, is Kevin there by chance?”

My euphoric feeling dropped. Not this again. “No, I don’t think so. I didn’t see his cars anywhere, and I’ve been through the whole salon this morning.” A white lie, but I think I would have realized by now if Kevin was in the store.

“Well, shoot. He didn’t come home last night and I need help with the girls.” Awkward pause. “I’m sure he was just staying at his buddy’s house,” she quickly interjected. “Kevin got a DUI last year and is really careful now not to drink and drive.”

Something was telling me that wasn’t the whole truth, but I still said, “I see.”

“Shoot, shoot, shoot. I don’t know how to be in two places at once. Do you know what time Allie comes in?”

I didn’t have to check the schedule. I practically knew it by heart. “She should be in around 9:30 for set-up.”

“Alex, sweetie, I hate to ask this of you, but I think you’re my only hope. Would you be able to help me out today for a little bit? Allie can handle the store I’m sure. Who’s at the desk this morning?”

“It’s Kamille.” Again, no checking needed. “What do you need me to do?”

“I have to drop Trinity off at her daycare in ten minutes. Camilla’s baby-sitter is in the daycare center as well, so both girls will be there. But Brianna was supposed to bring snacks to her school party today, and I put her on the bus without them. They’re sitting on my kitchen table.”

I was still unsure about what she needed me for. And did she really want me to leave the salon–– on a Friday? What happened to always being here? “Okay.”

“So I need to get the girls out the door, but they are in the opposite direction of Brianna’s school. Would you be able to swing out here and grab Brianna’s snacks and take them to the school? I don’t want her to get in trouble for not having them. Or have the other kids give her trouble. Kids are so angry these days.”

Dani and Kevin’s house was a good twenty minutes away from Blissful. Twenty minutes there and back, plus picking up the supplies, driving to Brianna’s school, finding the classroom, making small talk with the teachers...I was looking at being gone for over an hour from the salon. And right when I was in the middle of a brainstorm. But how could I say no? This was Dani, my boss and my pseudo friend. I had to do it. “Okay, sure. How do I get into your house?”

“The code on the garage is 17456. Just type that in and the door will open. The door to get into the house is unlocked. Just be sure to close the garage door when you leave.”

“And where is Brianna’s school?” I stood up and shrugged my coat back on while listening to Dani spout directions.

“Thank you so much, Alex! I owe you one. And of course I’ll pay you gas money for all your troubles. Just leave a note for Allie and let her know one of us will be there shortly.”

We hung up and I scribbled a note for Allie, letting her know I had to help Dani but one of us would be back at the salon near opening time. I left my notebooks and briefcase on the desk, grabbing only my purse as I rushed out, making sure the salon doors were locked behind me.

The early morning traffic didn’t help me get to Dani’s any faster. I jumped out of my car, leaving the engine running, and scrambled to the garage. Punching in the numbers that I scribbled on the piece of paper, I ducked under the door and tromped up the three wooden steps leading into the house. Luckily, the plate of cookies and box of juice boxes were on the table like Dani said, so I scooped them up and rushed back out of the house. With my hands full, I had to first drop the boxes off in my car, then run back to close the garage.

Speeding to get to Brianna’s school and trying to carefully read my directions, I heard my cell phone ringing from the depths of my purse. The ringtone alerted me that it was coming from my Blissful phone. Dani and Kevin had given me my own cell phone my first week on the job and paid for the phone bill. They told me I could get rid of my regular cell phone but I hadn’t had the time to cancel my service yet. It was on my to-do list....somewhere.

I missed the phone call and pushed harder on the gas pedal. My car clock read 9:45. Blissful opened in fifteen minutes. Damn it. It was going to be closer to eleven when I finally got back.

After successfully delivering the cookies to the classroom, waving at Brianna who gave me an eyebrow raise back (really? A seven-year old can do the one eyebrow raise?) and jumping back in the car, I finally dug out my company phone and listened to my voicemails.

9:28. “Hey, Alex, it’s Allie. Just wondering if you’re coming in today. I figured you would already be here by now. Let me know!”

9:34. “Me again. I checked the schedule and it said you would be here at nine. Everything okay? Are you sleeping? Wake up, silly!”

9:46. “I just called Dani and she said you were running a favor for her. Glad to hear everything is okay. See you when you get here!”

All three messages from Allie. I must have not heard my phone ringing when she called the first two times. But didn’t she go into the office and see my note? Allie always left her belongings in the office as well; she should have seen the note taped to the computer. I shook my head and continued driving.

Pulling into Blissful at 10:48, I parked over the line but didn’t care. I would fix it later. I jumped out and hightailed it into the salon, throwing open the front door and hearing the bells chime. I was greeted by Kamille’s smiling face. Weird. She never smiled at me.

“Hey, Kamille,” I said breathlessly. “How are things going in here?”

“Great!” she trilled, making me even more suspicious. Kamille did not trill. To anyone, especially not me.

“Great,” I echoed. “Is Dani here?”

“Yep. Her and Kevin are in the back.” More smiles.

“Oh, um, okay. Great. Thanks. I’ll just head back there then.” I walked past the desk and into the salon, where I was glad to see Lindsey and Carolyn with clients in their chairs. I waved my hellos and continued back, once again stripping off my winter coat and scarf.

“I’m back!” I announced, opening the office door. Dani, Kevin, and Allie were all in the office, hunched over some papers on the desk.

“Alex, sweetie, I’m so glad! Thank you so much for your help. This day would have been a disaster without you.” Dani put her arms around me and squished me into her chest. I patted her on the arms, feeling slightly uncomfortable that her enormous boobs were all over me.

“No problem. It all worked out and Brianna’s teacher was thrilled that the kids wouldn’t have to miss snack time,” I said. “Allie–– I got your voicemails. Did you not see my note?” I asked, shoving my purse in a desk drawer.

“A note? No, I didn’t see one from you.” Allie looked confused.

“It was right here, taped on the computer screen. You sure you didn’t get it?” I pressed, looking at the computer for my note. Then around the computer. On the desk. The floor. Where the hell was my note? I knew I wrote one.

“No, sorry. I didn’t see anything.” I studied Allie’s face. She looked genuinely confused. I believed her.

“Huh, that’s strange. I know I left one. I even taped it on the computer.” I shook my head, trying to figure it out. “That is so weird.”

“Kamille got here before me, but she said she didn’t see anything either. And I don’t know why she would have come into the office for anything. I think she just looked around up front,” Allie said.

Kamille. Would she have thrown away my note? Is that why she was all smiley at me when I came in? But what would be the point? Obviously, she had to deduct that I was doing something for Dani since the note stated so. Did she really think she could try to pass me off for being late on my own accord?

“Actually, speaking of Kamille, she came to me this morning with a great idea!” Dani interjected.

I turned my attention to her. “Well, that’s wonderful. What’s her idea?”

Kevin piped in. “Our sales tend to suffer during the middle of the week. Less appointments, people aren’t getting their paychecks yet, blah, blah, blah. Tuesday and Wednesday seem to take big hits on sales.”

“I don’t know how Kamille figured that out. She must have overheard us chatting about it,” Dani said.

I started to get a cold feeling throughout my body. No. It couldn’t be. She didn’t.

“So Kamille came up with some plans, some advertising strategies to try. Check these out.” Kevin thrust some loose-leaf papers my way, and I scanned them over. Kamille had taken my ideas. She had outright stolen my plans for Take Two Tuesday and Want Me Wednesday.

I was speechless. I stared at my plans, taking in all the details. She hadn’t changed anything. Not one idea on here was hers. They were all mine. She hadn’t bothered to change a fucking thing. My mind raced. Did I tell Kevin and Dani that these were my ideas? How would I get proof? My briefcase!

I turned around to face the desk I had been working on before Dani called. All my papers that were scattered around were gone. I opened up my briefcase. Nothing in there except my notebook and usual folders. She must have found the papers, copied everything, then disposed of them. She must have found the note I left for Allie and got rid of that too. That sneaky little bitch!

“Alex? Hello! Come on, don’t you think this is great? We decided to start it next week and see how it goes,” Kevin said, snapping me back to reality. I couldn’t tell them the ideas were mine. I had no way of proving it. I would just have to play along.

“That’s great. Very wonderful.” I forced a smile on my lips. “Let’s roll it out on Tuesday. I’ll contact Peter and see if he can make up some new signs for us to put around the salon. And I’ll bring it up on Monday’s staff meeting as well so everyone knows to push it.” I started moving around the office on auto-pilot, hastily scribbling a to-do list.

“Terrific! Maybe we should think about giving Kamille a little bonus as well. Such a fabulous idea. I wish I could claim it myself!” Dani said, and Kevin and Allie chuckled. I forced myself a small laugh, all while thinking,
yeah, me too.
I didn’t know how, but that bitch was going to be called out on this.

Alex’s To-Do List:

Peter––signage

Prepare for Monday staff meeting

Manicure for Henry date

Take Kamille down!

Chapter 12

“You’re home! Finally. We didn’t think you were ever coming back.” I was greeted by Lila’s scolding on Friday night when I finally walked into our apartment just minutes before nine. Even though my shift ended at seven I had all the cleaning duties to take care of, and tried to work on even better marketing ideas. And figure out how to show Kevin and Dani that Kamille stole my original ideas.

“Home. Finally. Hi, ladies. What’s everyone doing here?” Lila was sitting in the living room along with Emma, Carmen, and Hannah. All were dressed casually, so I assumed there was no partying happening that night. Though everyone but Hannah was holding a margarita.

“Well, it feels like ages since we’ve seen you last. What the hell have you been up to?” Emma said.

I quickly dumped my purse and briefcase on the kitchen table, then wedged myself between Lila and Hannah on the couch. “I know, I know. I’ve been a terrible friend lately. I’ve been so busy at Blissful. And when I’m not physically there, I’m either taking work home with me, thinking about work or...” I trailed off, rubbing my eyes. I was exhausted. Usually my Friday nights were filled with drinking, getting ready to go out, and then parties. Now, it was barely nine and all I wanted to do was sleep.

“I figured you would be tired tonight–– since you usually look like you’re dragging when you get home–– so I invited the girls up so we could just hang out here. No need to get dressed up or be anywhere. Just the five of us tonight.”

I looked at my roommate, my eyes softening. “Thanks, Lila. You don’t know how much I appreciate that.”

She picked up my hand and gave it a squeeze. “It’s nothing. But we have some serious catching up to do. These guys have barely heard about Blissful, you have a big second date tomorrow, and Hannah has some news of her own to share.”