After months of increasing meetings and being introduced to retired owners all over town, his boss announced that they’re almost done. Done for what he wasn’t sure, but he was at the point that he didn’t openly question her any more. She was still quick to anger but she had come to accept him and even listen to his analysis of situations, so he was loathe to reset that trust.
Directing him through the streets to a short nondescript black building, he stopped the car. It was a fancy looking building of black marble and mirrored windows, but it lacked any corporate identity. What is this place? She smiled and proclaimed it to be the business world’s greatest secret. Past the first door, she flashed a badge to a burly man blocking a second set of doors and told him that her assistant was with her. He checked a tablet and nodded, welcoming them both.
Inside, the air was fragrant and warm, barely audible music played over natural sounds of running water and a gentle breeze. He gawked around at how calm he immediately felt, when a door that almost perfectly blended into the wall opened and out walked several of his boss’s compatriots. He was made to wait while she went over and they discussed some matters. With their discussion over, the ladies waved to him, quite used to his presence as an assistant now. The boss summoned him to another set of mirrored doors. As they walked down the dim hallway she explained that his club was a secret among business women of her authority. A quiet spa where no business is done, they can meet as regular people, and deep meaningful bonds and friendships are made. They may fight in the board room, but here, everybody is equal. And most importantly, everybody gossips with their stylists.
They entered a plush, dark waiting area and she pointed out all the stylists that strutted through, and more importantly, who their major clients are. The staff may not spill secrets on the premises, buuut if you happen to invite them over to your house for an emergency touch-up, a truly skilled manager could leech a few rumors from them.
A young woman soon approached the pair and gave the boss air kisses and a respectful hug. He looked around for a magazine as the boss and stylist walked towards a room, but jolted to his feet when she shouted for him to stop falling behind. Inside the spa room, the boss suddenly stepped aside and let the stylist take his hand. He looked around in confusion but the boss pointed him to the chair and the stylist pulled him to it. Protest was quickly silenced as the stylist unloaded a hefty tray of unmarked bottles and said it would be a busy day.
Hours later proved she was not wrong. He felt like he’d been sprayed with every chemical, goo, rub, and rinse in the industry. A break for lunch apparently meant the two of them left for food while he soaked in a bubbling mud spa sipping smoothies with a shower cap full of goop latched on his head.
With the final step of the stylist painting a thick substance on his lips, she finally announced her work was done. He sighed and sunk in the chair and the fluffy spa robe they supplied. But his boss decreed that there was one more piece. She retrieved a crate with an unknown logo and popped the heavy locks on it to remove something as steam escaped from the container. She held out what looked like a thin wet suit to him and instructed him to put it on. As soon as he touched it, he knew that warm sticky material was the same as the padding he wore each day. He sighed but got to work. The suit slipped on surprisingly easily up until it was time to seal it and it pinched tight at his waist. He looked himself over but incredulously glared at his boss and pointed at the falsies that were easily twice as large as his normal padding. She simply nodded and assured him they would help today.
The spa visit was capped off by providing him with a new outfit. A shimmering and soft business suit colored a pastel purple and a deeper purple skirt wrapped tightly on his legs. Balanced on his highest heels yet, it took a few steps before he got an appropriate stride dialed in. The pair said their good-byes to the staff and were directed to another disguised door that led to a hidden exit. His boss took his keys and said she would bring the car around. He protested and said it was his job to drive her, but she simply replied not in that skirt and those heels. He let her walk out to the garage in silent agreement that maybe being the passenger was the best this time.