The Prestigious

Kim Chante didn't know what to do. In a matter of hours, she would be meeting Royal's family. They seemed nice over the phone but she had no idea what to expect.

"Kim, you awake?" she heard an even voice asked over her shoulder.

Kim looked up and found Royal Rodriguez, her boyfriend of a year and a half, standing over her holding a Chinese food menu.

"Yeah," she said shifting on her side of the bed, "Why, are you ordering anything?"

Royal nodded. "Yup, but I couldn't until I knew if you wanted anything. Do you?"

"An iced tea would be good."

"Come on Kim, you know you gotta come better than that. What is the number one rule of Royal?"

Kim chuckled. "'When Royal asks if you want something from Yung Ho's, you better order half the got damn menu.'"

Royal raised his fist, "Right on, Kimmie, you have a beautiful memory. Absolutely amazing. You remember how we met, right."

Kim nodded. "Like yesterday."

As crazy as it may seem, Kim remembered the scene quite vividly.

***

It was a regular day at Theunique, the successful hair salon that Kim owned and ran for the last two years. It was noon and Kim was busy keeping everyone pressed, curled and relaxed.

"I only got two hands." Kim said as she shampooed a little girl. "Can somebody handle the next customer for me please?"

"Kim they said that they only want to be seen by you." Caliya, a eighteen-year old girl who could braid like she came from the motherland

Kim huffed. "Tell them that they'll be sitting there all day cause I'm booked solid."

Caliya sighed. "Kim, just move a couple of people around."

"No, I have a group of bridesmaids that need a flat, cobra, and Chinese braid."

"With extensions?"

"Yes," she said draining out the last few drops of water out of the poor girls aching head. "And nobody is special enough to make me move anything around."

"What about royal enough?"

"Caliya, what are you talking about?"

They had just turned the corner when Kim had caught sight of something heavenly. A fine caramel brother.

He was about 5"11' and had a mass of curly black hair hanging around his face and back. His perfect white teeth and almond shaped hazel eyes had slowed traffic down to a halt.

"I'm Royal," he smiled extending his hand

Kim shook it and replied, "Welcome to Theunique. I'm Kim Chante, owner and manager."

"Nice to meet you." He said looking her directly in the eye. "Is there anyone around to help me? I need my hair braided."

Kim hesitated. "Unless you're willing to-"

"I can wait." Royal replied

"All day?" Caliya said, examining him through disbelieving eyes.

"My mother taught me that patience in a man is very rare and that a real good woman would value it." Royal said, staring at Kim intently.

"Well then your mother is a very smart woman." Kim replied, glancing at him through the corner of her eye. "I'll see what I can do."

Royal nodded. "Or you could just call me and-"