Day Eight…
~~*****~~
Stephen brought Abigail to the Salon and Spa owned by Aiden's cousin, Kathleen. It was called K.D. Cox Salon and Spa.
"Stephen!" Kathleen was so glad to see him. "To whom do I owe the pleasure of having you here in my Salon and Spa?" She anchored her hands around him as she pulled him into the client's receiving area.
"Hi Kath… I'm here because of her." Stephen pointed his finger at Abigail who was standing at the entrance door. Kathleen didn't notice her a while ago as her attention was so focused on Stephen.
Kathleen gasped when she recognized the woman who was now tracing her steps toward them.
"A-Abigail… S-Scarlet? What are you doing here? I thought… you committed suicide and you were in a critical condition." Kathleen was so updated with the showbiz's happenings.
"Did you fake your suicide attempt?" she asked her suspiciously.
"Kathleen, stop talking about it. We don't have time for this. We need you to give her a makeover!" Stephen intervened, stopping Kathleen from questioning Abigail further.
"Duh? She doesn't need a makeover. She is already pretty." Kathleen said exasperatedly.
"I know! But we need to further impress the guy whom she is going to date tonight." Stephen explained.
"Who? Is it my cousin, Aiden? You don't have to impress him. A beautiful woman like her has already passed his taste." Kathleen joked around about Aiden's preference.
Stephen shook his head. "Nope. It's Nathan!"
Her eyes went round and her jaw dropped when she heard that. "OMG?! Nathan? As in Nathan Sparks?" Kathleen darted her gaze back and forth between Stephen and Abigail.
Both of them nodded confirming it. Kathleen dramatically covered her mouth using both hands, her eyes scanning Abigail from top to bottom and vice versa.
Kathleen pushed Stephen aside as she closed the gaps between Abigail and her. She immediately grabbed her hand and said, "Finally! Someone is going to help Nate to move on and forget about Monica! Come with me! I will make Nate unable to resist your beauty!"
Kathleen dragged Abigail inside a private room for VIP clients. Abigail couldn't understand why Kathleen was being enthusiastic about this.
Stephen could only smile while shaking his head. Kathleen never liked Monica. She didn't hide her displeasure the moment she met Monica. She said Monica was such a faker and a pretentious woman… just like her sister, Veronica. She hated those two women.
There was a time Aiden and Nathan argued because of Kathleen's behavior toward Monica. Nathan was always protective of his woman. And he didn't like the way Kathleen was treating Monica rudely.
Inside the private room, Kathleen let Abigail lie on the massage bed as she summoned her staff. She would give her the best services of her Salon and Spa– Body scrub and massage, foot spa, waxing, manicure, pedicure, and many more. After that, they would do her hair and makeup.
It was only 1:00 pm. They could still do all those things before the start of the birthday party.
Stephen was left in the lounge, waiting for Abigail and Kathleen. After half an hour, Aiden arrived at his cousin's Salon and Spa, bringing all the items he bought.
"Eh, I thought you would send these to Sparks Mansion?" Stephen asked, wondering why Aiden was holding so many paper bags, along with his chauffeur.
"Ethan told me to go here straight." Aiden dropped the paper bags, joining Stephen on the sofa. He looked so exhausted.
"Where is Miss Abi?" Aiden turned his head from left to right, searching for Abigail.
"Kathleen is already doing her job. Let's just wait." Stephen tapped his shoulder.
*****
The two men didn't expect that they would have to wait for four hours. Stephen had finished reading and skimming all the magazines there while Aiden had finished watching two movies on his phone.
"What the hell is my cousin doing to Miss Abi? She is taking so long!" Aiden complained as he stood up. He could no longer wait.
Aiden marched forward, approaching the front desk. "Where did my naughty cousin bring Abigail? What room number?"
"Eh… Sir… I can't disclose the room number. Please wait. They are about to finish." Kathleen's staff tried to persuade Aiden who was being impatient now.
"Four hours had passed since they entered the private room!" Aiden showed him his wristwatch. It was already 5:00 pm. The Masquerade Ball would start at Seven but Nathan would be at the hotel by 6:00 pm. It only meant they only had one hour left since Nathan told them to send Abigail by 6:00 as he still had instructions to give her.
Stephen also approached them. "Calm down, Aiden. You will see her soon. Don't pressure Kathleen, okay?"
"Sigh. I don't want to argue with Nathan once again because of her. What if she is intentionally doing this, making Miss Abi become late so that Nathan will be pissed off? Remember what trouble she caused when Monica was still alive? I thought Nathan would kick me out of his circle of friends!"
Stephen let out a husky laugh. He knew where Aiden was coming from. But he didn't have to worry. When he saw how Kathleen dragged Abigail a while ago, he could tell that she liked Abigail.
"You are just overthinking. Kathleen will never do that. Trust me."
"No. I have to see them now!" Aiden stubbornly said. "Give. Me. The. Room. Number." He asked the staff sternly.
"Why are you causing ruckus again, my dear cousin?" Kathleen's voice was heard at the back.
Aiden and Stephen turned around to see Kathleen. But their gaze stopped at the beautiful woman standing next to her. They were done with Abigail's makeover!
Both Aiden and Stephen were stupefied for several seconds. They had lost the ability to speak as their eyes feasted on the lovely woman in her red dress.
'Holy Crap?! Am I seeing the living goddess Aphrodite?' Aiden thought to himself, gawking at Abigail.
Stephen had the same look in his eyes. He couldn't help but admire the lovely maiden in front of them.