Echo in Her Mind

Twenty-Three.

Ruben wasn't back by the time a chair freed up, so she followed the stylist to her open chair and silently hoped that he was okay, and that he didn't get caught snooping.

"What are we doing for you today, dear?" The woman that now stood above her, asked. Bethany looked at herself in the mirror and realized how blah her long blonde hair suddenly appeared to her.

"I'm not really sure. I want something different; surprise me?" She knew she was taking a risk, but her change in hair style would be the least destructive thing that had happen in her life as of recently.

"I know just what you need. I won't let you down." And with that, a cloth was snapped around her neck to prevent any hair that fell from getting all over her clothes, and she watched in the mirror as the stylist chopped away at her length.

Bethany moved her eyes towards the hallway again;still no sight of Ruben, and a bad feeling began to churn in her stomach thatsomething wasn't right.

*****

Ruben trailed down the hallway in search of the bathroom, at least that's what the receptionist thought. Lined along the walls were pictures of several different cities, all beautiful in their own way. He stood there, admiring them, and that's when he heard a female voice coming from a few doors down. Slowly, Ruben crept outside the door that was cracked open, and sitting at a desk was Harper Seether, owner and manager of the salon. She was talking to someone on the phone, and the conversation didn't appear to be a delightful one.

"I don't care how much it costs, I cannot have that Veronica Winston owning a more successful salon than me. Do your job and take care of it." She hung up the phone viciously and Ruben took that as a cue to work his magic. He lightly knocked on the door, gaining the attention of Harper.

"Can I help you?" She asked from within the room. Ruben pushed open the door and strutted his way inside. It was clear that she was annoyed, but as soon as he came into eye sight, her expression changed. The smirk that came across her face already told him everything that he needed to know. Whatever it was that he wanted, she was interested. Which was exactly what he was hoping for.

"And what may I do to assist this handsome fellow that waltzed into my office?" Harper asked and she sat back in her chair, enjoying the view. Ruben played along.

"I was just wandering around while my friend got her hair done; you have a lovely establishment here," he advised. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and Ruben already knew he had used the wrong pronoun.

"She? Don't tell me you're in here flirting with me while you have a female friend out there waiting for you?" The green-eyed monster was clearly evident now, and envy began to surface. Clearly, nothing Ruben had been saying would be considered flirting, but in order for his pitch to work, he was going to have to do so.

"My lady, the female I speak of is more like a young sister to me. I'm interested in a real woman." One show of his marvelous grin instantly brought her back under his spell.

Good.

"Why don't you sit that nice-looking bottom of yours down and I'll pour us some drinks." She stood up from her chair, and headed over to the cabinet on the far wall that was filled with several different kinds of wine. "Red or white?" She turned back to Ruben, attempting to look as seductive as possible.

"Always red, my dear," he replied, to which she smiled in delight.

"Excellent choice."

Harper strutted her way back to her desk, holding two wine glasses in one hand, and a bottle in the other. On the way, she kicked her door shut, clearly wanting to avoid any interruptions that might arise. She sat back down in her chair across from Ruben, and poured the wine into the glasses. Making eye contact with him again, she smiled.

"Cheers," she said, holding up her glass. Ruben clinked his to hers, and took a small sip of his.

The hunger in her eyes was very noticeable, and Ruben hoped she was as easily persuaded as her body language was making her out to be.

This should be an easy conquest.

*****

Bethany stared at herself in the mirror. Her long blonde hair was now up to her chin, layered, and making her look like a completely different person.

"Do you like it?" The stylist asked her when Bethany didn't say anything.

"It's amazing," was all she could say. And she felt amazing as well. She was surprised how different a haircut could make her feel about herself.

The stylist dusted off the excess hair that may have fallen on her. "I'll ring you out up front."

Bethany followed her to the register and looked around the place; Ruben was still nowhere in sight. The stomach pain instantly returned, and she completely forgot about her new haircut. She had to find Ruben.

After paying for the service, she pulled the name move as Ruben had a half hour previous, "I'm just going to use the bathroom." The stylist simply nodded, no longer caring about Bethany's existence as her work with her was done.

She headed towards the back of the building and made her way down the hallway. Bethany wasn't sure if her mind was deceiving her, but she swore she could hear laugher coming from the last room in the hall.

Feeling bold, she chose not to knock on the door, and simply barged in, clearly interrupting the conversation that was taking place.

Appalled, she took in the sight of Ruben, glass of wine in hand, who was sitting across from a gorgeous woman who appeared to be in her late 30's. She did not look happy with the interruption.

"If you're looking for the bathroom, you passed it up. Please close the door on your way back out." The lady shoed Bethany away, and that caused her anger to flare.

"Actually, I'm here for him," she snapped back. Bethany knew who was sitting in front of her. The aurora that was blazing around her was hard to miss, and she wondered if it would be ideal to kill this lady in her own office.

Ruben cleared his throat, finally coming back to reality. "Bethany, this is Harper Seether," he advised, clearly still keeping up the act. "She has agreed to show us around town since we are new here." She looked over to Harper, who had an obvious scowl placed on her face. Bethany stayed silent.

"Actually, I would prefer for just you to accompany me on this adventure, Ruben." Harper smiled, sourly. "Sorry, little one."

It took everything Bethany had in her to not jump across the desk and complete this task and one solid motion.

"I apologize, Miss Harper, but as I advised, Bethany is like my little sister; where I go, she must as well."

Little Sister?!

Bethany couldn't help but wonder what their conversation consisted of about her prior to her making an entrance, but clearly Harper was threatened by even the knowledge of another female surrounding Ruben.

With a roll of her eyes, Harper agreed. "Fine, whatever." Clearly having Ruben around as eye candy with his sister around, was better than no eye candy at all.

"Thank you, Harper; we very much appreciate your kindness." It was Bethany's turn to roll her eyes.

As she studied Harper, she began to wonder if this overwhelming jealousy was something that she even wanted to feel again. She was so insecure and envious, it was unattractive to say the least.

However, as Harper glared daggers at her, even if she didn't want the emotion back, she was definitely not going to regret killing this one.