DIRTY MONEY

| 5

Phoning...

Bianca went to bed pretty early after cleaning up, waking up to the sound of her alarm in her ear around seven in the morning. She was in a better mood, choosing to leave most thoughts of yesterday behind her but constantly thinking, should I hit up Abby?

She saw the stories on social media of Abby shopping in this jewelry store, sharing the photos with her followers and asking them what ring she should get.

She's never seen Abby post something like that, and knowing that dirty money is what got her there, Bianca was just a tad more tempted.

One call could make her stress levels lower, but it might also mess with her life.

Being a hairstylist was fun because she got to do what she loved, but the low pay and lack of recognition got to her.

Bianca was currently dissatisfied with where she was financially, missing the time when she was a kid. She had no cares or worries to give. And now she was wondering how in hell she was going to survive this expensive ass world.

Entering work with a latte in her hand, Bianca immediately notices two familiar faces, just as the two individuals noticed her.

Her jaw dropped because Hilda's mom and aunt were present in the shop, shocked to see the two.

"Bianca, how you been?" Hilda's mother, Beatrice, greeted as she rocked Bianca from side to side, "you are glowing," she complimented before lifting up to cup Bianca's face. She searched her eyes with slight concern, "you're not pregnant, are you?"

Bianca chuckled lightly and said, "no. It's this new moisturizer I got."

"Okay," Beatrice loved kids, but she was not ready for her daughter or Bianca to have one of their own any time soon.

Beatrice looked at Bianca as a daughter, so that meant Beatrice would have someone calling her grandma, and she was afraid of that.

Bianca greets Hilda's aunt, Eva, and gets wrapped in a warm hug.

"Te ves hermosa," Eva said in Spanish once the two were released from the hug. you look beautiful.

Bianca didn't do too much to her face; the individual lashes still hanging on well even after she did them herself. She had all her hair off her face, her real hair blending in with the extensions that were sewn into her head.

"Gracias," Bianca put on a smile with her words. thank you.

Beatrice announces while she takes off her scarf, "I came in to see you girls, see how things are, but I also need my hair done," the mess on her head now exposed.

"Why do you always come back like you went to war?" Hilda asked, Beatrice tossing the scarf in her daughter's face.

Beatrice warns while pointing a finger at her, "you're grown, but I'll kick ya ass."

Eva confesses, "I just came in for a root touch-up. Bianca, you're free to do me?"

Bianca nodded, "always," taking a sip of her coffee, knowing exactly what color red she used to make it appear like the whole head was done at once.

It took Eva some time to trust anyone to do her hair, Hilda not even getting the chance to do anything to it besides shampoo and condition it. But because Eva watched Bianca let a woman leave her chair with this beautiful blonde after bleaching the black hair, she knew she was worth a try.

"How's everything around here?" Eva asked as she took a seat in Bianca's chair.

"It's going good," she responded, "it's slow moments, but we pick back up by the end of the week."