(Author's Note: This story, like The Funeral, are set quite a while after Chloe's Introduction. Dedicated to my friend, Judeinthenorth!)
I sat in the car, next to a small string of shops, and twirled the calling card in my fingers, staring at it. It had seemed like such a weird thing when it was handed to me...
I had been working freelance as a sound engineer for Lioness Productions, a small film company based in the midlands. They produced a series of sexy, racy erotic films, the like of which hadn't been seen since the early 90's.
The owner of the company was a woman called Elaine and she had called me to a meeting in her office, last Friday. She was a very hot, attractive woman in her early forties and was always impeccably, and stylishly dressed, compared to my skin-tight jeans, bovver boots and tee-shirt. As usual, her personal assistant was at her shoulder. Her hair had been drastically cut short since I last saw her, now in a very sexy, Louise Brooks-style bob.
I had to admit, I wasn't sure why I was there. Elaine could be very enigmatic and would make an awesome poker player, her cards were always so close to her lovely chest. Was she letting me go? I was used to work drying up but confident enough that I could latch on to another production quickly. After thirty years in the business, I had built up quite a reputation as a skilled professional.
"You are quite the skilled professional, Jude", Elaine said. I almost spilled my coffee; it was like she was reading my mind.
"I like to think so, Elaine, I've never been out of employ long." I wanted so much to match her level of confidence but without sounding cocky about it.
"Indeed. I've had Mia do some sums." The girl behind Elaine smiled. Her haircut was pretty spectacular, the more I stared at it, the more I appreciated the work that had gone into shaping it.
"She's worked out that on our last three productions, you have helped prevent any over-runs and on the last shoot, you actually managed to save us a day."
I nodded. They had all been tight shoots, but I'd been able to bring some experience to them and keep things running smoothly.
"I'd be remiss if I let that sort of talent slip through my fingers, Jude. I would like to offer you an exclusive contract, be part of our permanent production team."
Wow. It was a hell of an offer, as I looked over the contract and offer of salary. An actual salary -- guaranteed money coming into my pocket without having to win new contracts. That in itself was tempting but this was a dream team to work with anyway, receptive to ideas and no egos to rub against.
"I'm in!" I smiled, scribbling my signature across the bottom of the contract.
"Excellent! This calls for something stronger than coffee. Mia darling..." The girl bent down and opened a small cabinet, fetching out an ice bucket containing a nice bottle of champagne. Usually, I'm a pint of lager girl but I could go with the sense of occasion.
"Cheers!" I said, clinking glasses with Mia and Elaine.
"I thought I'd have had more of a fight out of you, Jude." I took a long sip of the cool bubbles.
"Oh, I think you sized me up just right, actually."
Elaine smiled. "Care to explain?" she asked.
I took another sip.
"I know the dance. The negotiation, offer, counteroffer." I said. "We both could have played that game. And I'm sure if I had pushed, you had some room to manoeuvre. But you also know that I'm a team player, Elaine. Mia's confirmed that for you in hard numbers. You came in high, not quite all-in, but enough for me to feel wanted."
Elaine said nothing for a moment, she just smiled that sparkling smile at me. Mia topped up our glasses and couldn't stop grinning.
"Okay Mia, you were right. Stop grinning!"
"Yes madame," she said. Madame! Good grief, I thought.
"It was Mia who suggested we go high; she had assessed you just as you said. I was looking forward to a bit of back and forth with you, to tell you the truth." I honestly could have read volumes into that comment but decided to treat it at face value.
I looked at Mia, who was still grinning and had one arched eyebrow. I smiled back and gave her a wink, which made her blush somewhat. She was very sexy in her own right, and that haircut was really doing it for me.
"You've changed your hair since I last saw you, Mia. Just before we made that film, Wet Curves."
"Yes, I had it done shortly after that wrapped. Do you like it?"
"It's lovely, it suits you perfectly. Where did you have it done?"
For such an innocent question, I wasn't expecting their response. Mia suddenly looked a little uncomfortable and looked to Elaine, the pair sharing a strange unspoken communication.
Then Elaine smiled at me, and nodded to Mia, who opened her folder (she was always carrying something) and took out a small card.
"Be there at 10am on Tuesday dear. You can consider it a welcome gift from Mia and I."
So there I was on Tuesday morning, sat in my car, outside the address on the card. It had "Edwina's Salon" scrawled in joined-up writing on one side, with the address, and on the other, was a symbol, the fleur-de-lis.
I looked out at the salon. It really wasn't what I expected. Mia's hair looked like it had been cut with skilled precision, whereas this place, on the outside at least, made Supercuts look good. It was situated in the middle of a line of shops, including a grocery and an artisanal bakery, and two takeaway restaurants. There was a large picture window in which I could see two hood dryers. Do people even still use those?
And the way Elaine and Mia had handed this card to me...as if it were some sort of esteemed gift. Were they being serious, or was this some sort of gag between them? I admit I was very sceptical but nevertheless got out of my car and walked up to the door. It had a "closed" sign on it, but I pressed the buzzer as I'd been instructed.
It took a moment, but a young woman opened the door. A Beautiful young woman, with a perfectly shaped bob haircut and engaging smile. She wore a simple salon smock with buttons along one side.
"Yes?" She asked. I handed her the card. She flicked it over and registered the symbol on the back.
