Apple was at work slightly annoyed as she was working on a birthday party that had Petunia's shut down for the whole afternoon. To have the whole shop shit down meant you had money, so Apple didn't really complain she just wanted her work to speak for itself.
She sighed not wanting really be there as she looked at each customer and laid out products that she would need at each station. She hummed lowly as she looked at the door open.
Tulip walked into the salon locking the door back swishing her thick ass hips carrying her Louis Vuitton bag. She shook her head as she looked around her salon catching side eyes and stares. She worked too long and too hard to let any of these young ladies throw her off. Her eyes landed on Apple who was busy setting things up and cleaning for when she had to start beating faces. Although she would never say it she liked Apple. She saw her potential and always lifted her up when she felt like falling. Blessed with two angels of her own Tulip made it her mission to make her feel welcome.
Apple smiled at Tulip and she waved in response as she chucked finally getting to the back.
Tulip sat down at her friend Raqi's station not wanting to get in the way of the birthday party. Tulip may not have liked the girl who's party it was but she wasn't beyond taking her money. All money spent the same so she thought why not charge her extra. She looked on and sighed ready to see the drama that would unfold in her establishment like it always did.
Heaven was loudly giggling as she was leaning onto Kandi who was a frequent customer.
"Girl I told Royal he could kiss my ass having me running around looking crazy."
Kandi smiled a little shaking her head at her friends shenanigans. She couldn't help but notice the dirty looks Mercy was giving them but chose to keep it to herself.
Kandi heard a few things about Mercy from around the way. The girl was bouji but the bitch was bonkers especially when it came to Apple. So if the conversation was going left it had everything to do with Apple. From Royal's track record so far Mercy wasn't anywhere on that list.
Apple continued to prep hearing Heaven gush about her love life and rolled her eyes. Royal was never faithful and he didn't lie about it but it was starting to become a hassle. The girl sat in front of her smirking as she showed Kandi her phone.
"See the motherfucker just don't learn." She chuckles heartily.
Heaven was as possessive as she was sneaky. Heaven had her eye on a few of the big hitters around the way. She sunk her teeth into every man with money that passed by her.
Royal was her meal ticket but Kandi had given her a proposal and she just couldn't pass it up. She did research on Lucky. He had legal and illegal money and Heaven wanted a piece of it all. The only problem she found visible while conducting research was about a girl named Emerald from the other side of town.
Heaven strategically looked at Apple noticing she wouldn't engage with her like everyone else was.
"What's wrong with the lil MUA broad." Heaven sucked her teeth.
Tulip's face twisted up as Raqi sighed and shook her head.
"Tulip do not and I repeat do not react." Raqi said lowly as she looked at her Michael Kors watch.
Tulip nodded but cut her eyes at the girl. Her people were her people and she couldn't believe Kandi brought such foolishness into her shop to begin with.
Apple stayed silent and just focused on herself. She shook her head just looking at her. Heaven was a cute girl. She had dark skin, shoulder length hair that was dyed copper and a tongue ring with a large pink and lime green die on it. Her eyes were chinky and her face was little chin just despite having a petite nose.
She shrugged her off as she let her work speak for itself as she started doing one of the girls from the group that were being serviced.
The timing couldn't have been worse as Royal came strolling into the shop with food for Apple. Heaven and Kandi watched him as Mercy just smirked and continuing to braid her down for a sew in.
"Wassup with you baby." Royal smiled hugging his lady from behind.
Apple didn't say much she stayed quiet for the most part as she just gave a weak smile.
"I'm working as you can see. That's the jerk chicken and cabbage right?"
Royal smiled just admiring her for a second.
"Yeah with the white rice like you always eat it."
Apple nodded thankfully and as she opened her mouth to thank him Heaven spoke.
"Where's my food baby daddy?"
Royal turned his head spooked as if he had seen a ghost as he turned around.
"Wassup Heaven."
"That's all I get Royal. After being pregnant with your baby and having a miscarriage?"
Apple looked at him like he was crazy and continued applying the makeup to the client's face. She was embarrassed but she wouldn't let it show and sure as hell wasn't interested in whatever lame ass explanation he had.
"Apple let me explain."
"It's okay. It makes perfect sense. I'd rather you just leave. Thanks for the food though." Apple murmured as she stayed focused
Heaven laughed and shook her head.
"Damn Royal you really ain't shit. I mean you really got the audacity to try and defend what you doing to that girl in front of the girl you been doing it with. Like does she know that you been fucking me for the past year and a half."
"Year and a half." Apples eyes pricked a little as she frowned. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid.
A year and a half wasted with somebody who said they were planning forever with her just for it all to be a lie.
Apple looked Tulip and sighed. Tulip came over to her and rubbed her shoulders as she stared a hole through Royal who just stood there.
"Apple take the rest of the day off. Me and Raqi can handle makeup."
She nodded relieved to get a break so she could collect her thoughts. Since it was Friday, Apple's mom would go get Izzy from school and take her for the weekend.
"Apple I swear baby its not like that."
Apple just shook her head holding her hand up taking her food and ginger ale to the back with her. She was tired of the excuses and as of lately wasn't feeling too much of a connection and this confirmed it. She was hurt, she couldn't believe her ears or eyes. She held her head high careful not to let a bitch think she was too far on the edge.
As Apple walked into the locker room she reached into her smock and felt a card and when she pulled it out it was pink. She sighed and shook her head.
She contemplated it for a few minutes but took her phone out to call him.
"Hello?" He answered in a defensive tone.
"It's the red head... can you come get me from my job please."
She sounded pitiful and for some reason it bothered Lucky. From his brief encounters with her she didn't seem easily shaken or bothered so he shrugged it off.
"Yeah I can do that. Send me the address."
Apple sniffled a little bit and smiled. Maybe this guy wasn't so bad. He could be cool.
