In The Cut Read Free Page B

one of your business cards, but lucky for me, I was able to copy down your number from one you gave to a friend of mine at the show. Anyway… I was just wondering if we could hook up for lunch, strictly business, of course…” Olivia looked like she wanted to vomit. “I think we can really take your men’s salon to the next level. I’m talking having one in every major city. With my connections, we can’t go wrong. Give me a call.”
    “He must not know that you get men coming in here everyday trying to sell you a dream so they can sample a piece of your pie.”
    “I swear, when I told him I was married, he started getting a hard on right then and there.”
    “Well, you got nothing to worry about. If he shows his stalking-ass up in here, Jon-Jon and Mike are a phone call away. You know they ain’t going to let anything happen to their baby sis.”
    “If dude walks up in here, I’m going to round-house kick them green contacts out of his eyes.”
    “You go, girl. All the money you be spending on them kick boxing classes, you need to get your money’s worth and start kicking some ass, for real.”
    Olivia’s intercom beeped, it was Miki. “Baby, if you’re in there, you’re ten o’clock appointment is here.”
    “Sit him in my chair, I’ll be right out,” Baby said loud enough for Miki to hear.
    Olivia took a long sip of her coffee. She balled up her fist and slammed it on the desk. “Damn that’s some strong-ass coffee, Baby. Just the way I like it. Remind me to give you a raise.”
    “I’m still reminding you about the raise you promised me three months ago.”
    “When I get around to giving it to you, remind me to double it.”
    “Yeah, I won’t hold my breath on that one.”
    “Knock, knock,” Grace said, peeking into Olivia’s office.
    “C’mon in, girl, Baby was just leaving.”
    “I’ll kick it with you, later,” Baby said to Grace. “You know you got to let me know how the show went down.”
    “Girl… It went down . Olivia hooked up with a man.”
    Baby’s mouth dropped open. “You mean to tell me that I was in this office for ten minutes and you didn’t tell me you hooked up with someone?”
    “I didn’t hook up with anyone, you know how Grace exaggerates.”
    “She told him the truth about the rock on her finer,” Grace said.
    “Oh hell no, I know Grace ain’t exaggerating, now. Gimme the rundown.”
    “Don’t you have someone sitting in your chair, waiting for you?” Olivia asked.
    “That ain’t nobody, but Sam. He can wait.”
    “We don’t keep our customers waiting. Drag your ass out of here before I kick it. I’ve been dying to use my kick boxing in a real life situation,” Olivia said, smiling.
    “I’ll be back in an hour, and I want to know every single detail.”
    “GO!” Olivia said, crumpling up a piece of paper and throwing it at her. “You see what you started?” she said to Grace.
    “The girl is happy for you. I’m happy for you, and in about ten minutes, everybody in the salon is going to be happy for you.”
    “You think it will take Baby that long to tell everybody my business?”
    “You’re right. Everybody probably knew the second she left the office.”
    “Which means Jon-Jon will be knocking on my door with the third degree.”
    “Tell your brother, Jon-Jon that you’re grown and that you can fuck whoever you want, whenever you want.”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    “What? You scared of him? What happened to all that Tae Bo, kicking ass for real shit you were just spitting?”
    “Don’t you have somebody’s hair to cut?”
    “I just came in to tell you that Glenn asked me to accompany him to a Black Tie event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.”
    “That’s great.”
    “The top designers from all over the world are going to be there, and of all the models, Glenn asked me to showcase one of his dresses. Do you know what that means?”
    “That means you’re on your way to a modeling career.”
    “No, silly. Do you know how much