Everyone in the salon froze, especially the men, who couldn't help but gawk at the new arrival.
She was a vision of unparalleled beauty, wrapped in a body-hugging red dress that accentuated every curve, her shoulders draped in a luxurious white fur coat that exuded wealth and power.
She was adorned with millions of dollars' worth of jewelry, each piece sparkling under the salon lights, and carried a limited edition Hermès clutch, the kind only the elite could possess.
Her hair, a cascade of pink curls, was styled elegantly to one side, perfectly complementing her striking ruby-red eyes that gleamed with an icy detachment. Her face was a masterpiece of cold perfection — unapproachable, indifferent, and yet irresistibly captivating.
There was nothing soft or warm about her demeanor, but the sheer force of her presence was undeniable, leaving a trail of awestruck silence in her wake.
Victor was visibly flustered, and he lowered his head even further, while Cain instinctively stepped aside as the woman approached Mr. Richardson.
It was a narrow escape — if he hadn't moved, they might have collided, and that would've been disastrous, at least for him.
No matter how stunning she was, Cain couldn't bear the thought of being touched by her.
The woman briefly glanced at Cain, noticing his exaggerated sidestep. When she saw him relax with a visible sigh of relief, an inexplicable annoyance flickered within her. She didn't know why though.
"Father," she called, her voice smooth but firm. "Are you done here?"
Mr. Richardson laughed as he stood up, his salon gown sliding off to reveal the tattoos snaking up his neck and arms.
"Ah, my beautiful daughter," Mr. Richardson teased, his tone light. "How do I look?"
Usually, Felice would brush him off, saying he looked the same as always or that she couldn't care less. But this time, Carl was taken aback when his daughter actually responded differently.
"The hairstyle . . . It looks different. It suits you better this way."
Victor still maintained his professional façade as he spoke up, "You should be grateful Mr. Richardson liked your style. It would have been trouble if he hadn't."
He gestured for the staff to clean up the area, his eyes still fixed on Cain.
Cain faced him with a scowl. "You know the stakes, and yet you assigned me to him on my first day. What's the deal? Trying to get me fired before I even start?"
Victor's face was impassive as he expertly flipped a pair of scissors, and replied, "Alexander may believe in your skills from just watching your videos, but many of us here had doubts. Is it so wrong to clear that doubt first?"
Cain was taken aback, glancing around at the staff. Their smiles seemed genuine now.
"Not many could impress Mr. Richardson like that. Good job, C.C."
"Sorry, we thought most of your videos were edited, so we had our doubts."
"I guess you really do have the skills."
"Welcome to the team, C.C."
Cain swallowed hard, trying to quench the dryness in his throat. What's with this sudden wave of goodwill? He felt uncomfortable with their affection.
Fifi beamed from the sidelines, and commented, "Well, what do you know. I thought they're just snobbish because you got in through the back door. They're actually good people."
Cain was even more surprised when Victor extended his hand to him.
"Welcome to Daddy's Salon."
Cain blinked in surprise before a small smile stretched across his face as he accepted Victor's handshake.
This was the start of his new life, and he hoped that everything would went well.