even.
“Yep. Went to get myself some lunch,” I said, once again holding the bag out as proof.
“I thought I went over this with you already. We want a manager here at all times.”
Before I could stop it, my mouth dropped open. Was he kidding? “Um, I’ve been here all day. I literally was gone for seven minutes to get myself some lunch,” I said, my hand beginning to shake.
Kevin shook his head, looking down at his phone. “Julia isn’t trained enough to be left here by herself. What if something had happened and she couldn’t fix it? The whole salon would have looked bad.”
My anger was to a boiling point. I had come in on my day off, worked my ass off, filled in for him, who couldn’t bother to call anyone including his wife to say he couldn’t come in, and now I was getting reprimanded for getting myself food? For having lunch at four o’clock instead of a decent lunch hour? “Kevin, I’m sorry, but I haven’t eaten yet today. I had to have some food or I would have literally fainted at the desk. I was called in this morning, on my day off, to fill in.” I wanted to say for your sorry ass, but I wasn’t feeling bold enough. “I’m not sure what I could have done differently in this situation. I rushed here this morning to try to open on time so I couldn’t get breakfast or lunch to pick up. I had to eat at some point.” I was surprised at how level my voice was coming out. I wanted to scream at him. How could I not be granted a lunch break?
“Next time, get something delivered. Or have one of the employees get it for you,” Kevin snapped back at me. His phone started ringing at that moment. “I have to take this. This Kevin,” he hollered into the phone, storming out of the office.
I stood there, stunned. So I couldn’t take a lunch break. I wonder if that was noted anywhere in the employee handbook. Or if the other employees were aware that I could force them to go get me food. Like I would ever ask anyone to do that. I ate my lunch without really tasting it, wanting to cry. I was bone-tired, furious, and really needed to turn my mood around. I couldn’t be snapping at Henry and taking my frustrations out on him. I needed to get out of this place. This soul-sucking, happiness-draining chamber called Blissful. What a joke.
I threw my fast food bag away and bundled myself up. Grabbing my purse, I opened the office door and started to walk down the hallway. As I passed the spa area, I could hear low voices coming from one of the rooms. I paused outside room number one, Allie’s main room. I could definitely make out Kevin’s low rumble and then Allie’s high-pitched laugh. I wondered what they could be discussing. I hoped it wasn’t me. Kevin wouldn’t talk shit about his own manager to another employee though–– would he? I hoped not. But after what I had seen today, I knew not to trust Kevin.
I was just getting ready to keep walking when I heard a different noise. It sounded like–– no, it couldn’t be. Kissing? Disbelief crawled through my skin. The soft smacking noise sure sounded like kissing to me. Before I could react, the door was pressed all the way closed. The click had me jumping out of my skin, and I practically ran the rest of the way into the salon area. Mandy caught my eye when I walked in, cocking her head in a silent question. I knew my smile was weak, but I forced it anyway and continued to rush to the front desk. Maybe it was Kevin and Dani in the room. Maybe they just needed a private moment. Maybe––
“Taking off then, Alex?” Dani asked me. Fuck. It wasn’t her. What the hell was Allie doing in her massage room with Kevin? And what the hell was Kevin doing with Allie just hours after he got done with Kamille? I felt dizzy.
“Yep, I’m off. I’ll see you on Tuesday.” My voice sounded shaky to my ears.
“Have fun tonight on your date. I can’t wait to meet this Henry guy,” Dani said, giving me a friendly wave. I waved back and said good-bye to Julia, then hurried out to my car.
What the hell was going on with Kevin Dohlman and the