~Ava~
“Are you going to be late again, today? I swear CPT was created just for you.”
I rolled my eyes at Evie’s exaggeration. “Who are you talking to? Honey, you’re Afro-Dominican! So, not only are you on Caribbean people’s time, but you’re also Black and Hispanic. Three strikes, you’re out!” I yelled into the phone.
But, despite my abuse of well-known stereotypes, she was right. I was going to be late because of the long line at my favorite coffee place that morning. Despite having done absolutely nothing all weekend, I still wound up waking up way past the blaring of the alarm and desperately huffed and puffed my way down the street. After the adrenaline rush of making it to the shop, I felt my eyes starting to droop right back to sleep. Oh, but how I needed the caffeine. It is truly the eighth wonder of the world!
My platform heels tapped sporadically as my impatience grew. I eventually hung up on Evie, not in the mood for her complaining. We had been best friends since I began working at the firm. There was no one else who understood my sarcasm and who could appreciate my attitude. Maybe it was because we were one of the few women of color at Durand, Park, & Associates. Either way, we made eye contact during one of the employee orientations and decided then and there that we would wind up being best friends. What had begun as a superficial need to have an ally actually turned out for the best. Evie was quite literally my ride or die chick. And I was hers.
My eyes kept reverting back to the ticking clock as I did the math in my head. This should only take me ten more minutes. If I leave by then, I’ll still only have five minutes left to rush to work. While I usually don’t make a habit of being late, I for sure wasn’t looking forward to the covert glances of disparagement as I scrambled into the office.
But, despite my sigh of relief after finally receiving my steaming cup-of-Joe, I had a complete out-of-body experience as my body flew forward. Jerking from the force, my precious coffee sailed from my fingers and some of the dark, steaming liquid splashed onto the floor and the front of my neatly pressed work pants. As with any embarrassing accident, there seemed to be a silence that encompassed the cafe as people watched with rapt attention. As realization of what just happened finally settled in my mind, I could already feel the steam leaving my ears like Yosemite Sam. It is so on! I turned to the culprit, ready to wage war. You’re going down, Bugs Bunny!
My invisible guns fell limply to my sides at the sight before me, however. Bugs Bunny has officially been re-casted as Loki, people! Why did no one give me a heads up? My mouth gaped open slightly, but I felt my sticky pants brushing against the soft skin of my thighs and came back to my senses. It’s still on! I stared up at this man- this gorgeous man- who just further ruined my day! However good-looking he is, that doesn’t excuse his pushy behavior.
“What the hell is your problem!” My voice came out much louder than I had planned and further caught the attention of the line of customers and the workers behind the counter.
As if to further irritate me, he held up his hands and gave me a sheepish grin. Oh, I could care less how sexy his lips are. “Sorry lady. I didn’t see you there.” He pointed a finger to the large bag hanging off his shoulder. What the hell? Is there a body in there? Serves me right, being attracted to a fucking murderer! “You must have gotten caught in the crossfire when I moved.”
As if to add fuel to the fire, he walked past me to the counter, effectively dismissing my ire and ending any opportunity for me to buy another cup without having to get back in line. I must have been standing there gaping like a fish for several moments because when I finally came to, several customers were staring at me with a mixture of concern, humor, and annoyance. And I could hear his sexy, deep baritone after receiving his cup-o-Joe,
“Thank you. Have a good day!”
The warmth from his body heat and a whiff of cologne brushed past my senses in the direction of the door. But I wasn’t done with this man. Entering onto the street, I rushed to catch up with him and took a strong stance in front of his path with my arms crossed. I gave him my fiercest bitch-you-don’t-want-to-fuck-with-me look. Him being a goddamn giant didn’t help with the intimidation factor, but I refused to be deterred.
“Give me your coffee,” I said simply.
He looked down at me with a raised brow. “What?”
“You heard what I said! Give me your coffee. That’s mine!” Without waiting for a response, I reached out towards his cup, but he was too quick.
Taking a step back, his eyes narrowed- all humor gone. “Listen lady, it’s not my fault you dropped your cup. Now kindly put a lid on the crazy and get out of my way.”
“You’re the crazy one if you think I’m going to stand in line for ten minutes, have my cup shoved out of my hands because of some stranger’s idiocy and not hold him accountable! Now, hand over the cup!”
His bright green eyes narrowed as I refused to let him pass. Every time he stepped right, I stepped left. I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Maybe I was dazed by how attractive this man was. Whatever the reason, he made the situation worse by calling me crazy. Never call a crazy woman crazy. You’ve read the handbook, haven’t you? He was just asking to be beat down.
“You really are out of your mind!” The sexy giant accused, when he saw just how serious I was. “Fine! You want my coffee, here.”
I hesitated a bit, shocked by how soon he had given in. But he was. Yes, Yosemite Sam for the win! He reached out with the cup of coffee in his hands. Even though my attention should’ve been on the prize, my eyes took in how large and well formed his hands were. I also noticed the tip of what looked like a tattoo peeking from beneath his long-sleeved shirt. It surprised me because otherwise, he looked so clean-cut.
But I should have been paying attention, because as soon as I reached out to grab hold of the cup, his demeanor changed. A mischievous grin spread across his handsome features, giving me a glimpse of some pretty attractive teeth. And like the devil he was, he flipped his hand and poured the cup onto the concrete beneath us. It splattered, effectively ruining my pumps and the bottom of my work pants!
I gasped in horror, jumping back to salvage what I could. My favorite velvet pumps!
My senses were thrown even more into disarray when I felt his breath against my cheek as he whispered,
“Next time, ask nicely.”
And, just like that, he disappeared. What the fuck?
~Thor~
The familiar bell jingled as I entered my parlor. After seeing her gaping in shock on the sidewalk, I walked like a peacock that had just attracted the finest honey of them all. What are female peacocks called again? Whatever, it served her right! Seriously, though, who does that? Now, I may have felt just the tiniest inkling of guilt having ruined her shoes, but that had never been part of the plan. No, seriously. I’m not that big of a jerk! Just as she was reaching for the cup, I realized just how ridiculous the situation was and couldn’t help myself. It wasn’t my fault she didn’t have the coordination to hold onto her coffee. Stop trying to make me feel guiltier! Okay, I get it. I should have acted more like a gentleman. Nah, who am I kidding? No one would ever describe me as a gentleman.
I dropped the large gym bag on my shoulder to the floor of my office. It wasn’t that big of a space, but I was proud of the little tattoo parlor I owned and successfully managed for the past couple of years. Business had been going strong for quite some time because of my and the other staff’s talent. I prided myself on only hiring the best of the best. And while many customers asked for me after seeing my portfolio, there was never a shortage of staff members who could do the same if not better work. The walls were decorated with many of the award-winning designs we were lauded for. Every time I stepped onto the linoleum floor, I always felt my heart soar. Is this what love is like? If so, I’ve found my soul mate. And her name is Thor’s Edge Tattoos. And my baby is FIONE.
“What the hell happened to your pants?”
My daydreaming was cut short as I looked behind me to find Axel, one of the first tattoo artists I hired when I opened the joint. I followed his gaze and found the bottom of my jeans covered in the fallen coffee. Battle scars. I chuckled slightly at the thought.
“Nothing. Just ran into some trouble.”
Axel didn’t ask for any more information. Running his hands through his blonde frohawk, he shrugged, “Whatever, man. But you should probably clean yourself up before our new applicant comes in. I scheduled her for ten o’clock.”
“Oh, damn. I completely forgot about that! Yeah, you’re right.” I reached into my gym bag; thankful I always carried an extra pair of clothes with me for emergencies. Or when I end up falling asleep in the shop. I may be a horn dog, but I’m also a hard-worker. Remember that. “So, you got a resume for me?”
Wordlessly, he handed over the sheet of paper. I glanced over it, taking into account the arts background. On paper, this person looked pretty qualified. But, there was no telling with people nowadays. They go around holding their degree on their chest as if that means anything to me. Talent is talent, and some of my most sought after tattoo artists hadn’t even graduated high school.
Axel eventually left me to change and look over our potentially new Edge member. The next hour flew by, and I held back the wolf whistle when the mysterious applicant walked through our door. As the owner of a tattoo shop, I come across my fair share of hard-edged women. But while other men may find them intimidating, they make my cock hard. I know, pretty crass. But, have you forgotten who I am? With sleeve tattoos, a boyish cut, a set of large, grey doe-eyes and kissable, voluptuous lips, my mind began to run with all the potential fun in store.
Axel and I greeted her in the waiting/sitting area of the shop. Unlike other places that looked like someone had shit Hot Topic memorabilia all over the walls and floors, my establishment catered to a different clientele. I aimed for a welcoming and fresh look that wouldn’t deter tattoo virgins from stepping into our doors. Axel and I had done our best to create a culture that distanced tattoos’ common association with delinquency. What we did was art, and the design of the shop reflected that.
I could tell Ruby, the owner of the impressive resume, was please by what she saw. Any tattoo artists would be happy to work in an establishment that didn’t reek of body odor, old tattoo guns, and skulls as the only decorative tattoo design. My eyes scoured her petite frame as she walked up to us, and I couldn’t refrain a grin of appreciation.
She reached out her thin, soft hands to Axel and I. “Hello, it’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m Ruby.”
Axel and I exchanged a glance. Without words, we’d already communicated just how much business would increase with Ruby on the pay scale. Men would come flocking in, and women too! Her short hair accentuated her thin, swan-like neck and revealed the elegant tattoos drawn behind her ear. I also got a peek of some by her clavicle in the tank top she wore.
We led her to the back office to conduct the interview. But, as soon as I got a look at her portfolio, I was ready to hire her on the spot. What do you mean it was just my dick talking? I concede that the girl was wildly attractive, but her talent really sealed the deal for me.
“So, why tattoos?” I asked simply. This was a quintessential question to all potential employees. Owning a tattoo parlor wasn’t just something I did to make a little extra money, it was part of my very essence as a human being.
“What do you mean ‘why tattoos?’ The only step up from being an artist to me is becoming art. And tattoos give people that opportunity, whether they have the talent themselves or not.” Ruby pointed to the cursive design on her neck. “You see this?”
Axel and I both nodded.
“It is the last words my father told me before he left and was killed in 9/11. So, why tattoos? They’re permanent. My shoddy-ass memory can’t take his words away. They’re a part of me now. Forever. Tattoos have that power.”
Axel whistled lightly at her response. “Damn.”
And, truthfully, there were no other words for us. Well, besides: “You’re hired.”
A beautiful smile broke across her features. My eyes couldn’t help but to hone in on the way her lips glistened, but I reverted my gaze. Only to find her staring as intensely at me. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was a flirtatious glint in her eyes as they explored my body. Yeah, she was off limits. But only for now.