Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

virtues of their products, then you’re free for a few hours before

you come back in the afternoon.”

“I don’t know anything about their products except that we

use them and we get great discounts.”

“But I do,” Marvin said with a smile. “You’ll defer to me and

I’ll sing their praises.”

“I don’t know what we’re paying you for this yet, but did Kalen

offer you a bonus at least?” I asked, grateful for his company.

“Y’all paid for my new clothes,” Marvin said with a beaming

smile, “and I get a bonus when I get back.”

“Speaking of clothing, how should I dress for this social thing

we’re going to?”

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He followed me to my room and went through my closet,

humming as he pulled out a pair of navy blue slacks, matching

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Robin Alexander

pumps, and an azure blouse that buttoned up only so far. I liked

the color and cut but was a bit timid about showing the cleavage

that the shirt would reveal. Marvin held it up and looked over at me.

“Did you bring a chemise?”

“No, Kalen said that these shirts,” I pointed at the row of

them, “are made like this for a reason. I’m not happy about it.”

Marvin put a hand on his hip as he looked closely at the blouse.

“It’s gonna look awkward if you try to pin it. You’re gonna have to

keep your shoulders back. No slouching like you’re doing now.”

I sat up a little straighter and began to feel anxious.

Marvin glanced at me and smiled sympathetically. “I’m

going to make you a Bloody Mary while you shower. You can sip

it while I do your hair and makeup. You’ll be relaxed by the time

we go downstairs.”

As I showered, I counted myself lucky to have a gay man

to take care of me. Left on my own, I probably would’ve tried

to wear my Mickey Mouse sleep shirt under my top to hide my

breasts. I could apply my own makeup, but if Marvin could do

with my face what he’d done with my hair when he cut it, then I

wouldn’t look half bad.

With my robe on, I sat on a padded stool while Marvin went

through the cosmetics that Kalen had thrown into my suitcase. “I

don’t like a lot of color,” I said to him as he perused the eye shadows.

He smiled at me. “I’m not saying this because you’re my boss.

You, my dear, are a good-looking woman without any makeup.

I’m just going to enhance what you’re working with. Trust me?”

If he hadn’t already transformed me with a single haircut, I

probably wouldn’t have been sitting there. I took a healthy swallow

of my Bloody Mary. “Work your magic.” And magic was what

he made. When he’d finished my hair and makeup, a different

woman stared back at me in the mirror. I may’ve been a ball of

nerves on the inside, but outwardly, I looked like a model.

The foundation he used blended with my skin tone and

hid what the sun had spent a lifetime doing to my face. He’d

conservatively used a pale brown eye shadow and black mascara

that made my dark eyes shimmer. The lipstick a shade darker

than my lips added the final touch.

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Pitifully Ugly

I turned my head from side to side, taking in what he’d done

with my hair. It was wispy and gave the impression that time

had been taken with it, but it wasn’t carefully coiffed. “You are

amazing,” I said, smiling back at my reflection.

He patted my shoulders, apparently pleased with my comment

and his handiwork. “It’s going to take me about thirty minutes to

get dressed. Enjoy the rest of your drink, then put on your clothes

right before we have to leave. That’ll spare you a few wrinkles.”

I followed his instruction to the letter. I met him in the sitting

area a while later. Since coming aboard with us, Marvin had toned

down his look. He no longer wore fingernail polish, though it was

obvious he spent time with the manicurist. The faux hawk had

grown out a bit on the sides, and the longer portion in the middle

of his head had been trimmed and blended in. His hair was parted

on the side and pushed back off his forehead.

Marvin not only knew how to dress me, but he knew how to

make himself look spectacular. His button-down white shirt was

tucked into a pair of stylish black slacks with a matching pair of

shoes. “I didn’t want us to look like twins,” he said as he twirled.

“And you can’t go wrong with black and white.”

When we walked into the reception, I felt my stomach drop.

I looked over the large crowed and felt immediately intimidated.

Marvin took my hand and looped it around his arm. “Let’s make

contact with Angela first, then we can mingle for a little while.

Then if you’re about to go insane, we can sneak out.”

I discreetly pointed toward Angela, who stood with a couple

of men. As we made our way toward her, she excused herself and

met us halfway. “No offense, but I almost didn’t recognize you,”

she said as she gave me a brief hug. “I think the last time I saw

you, you were wearing a ball cap.”

“You have Marvin to thank for my appearance,” I said,

smiling at him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Angela said with a smile as

she shook Marvin’s hand. “Look, I hate to cut to the chase, but I

need to tell you that I’m under a lot of pressure right now. Sales

are down and heads are rolling. The man in the gray suit that I

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Robin Alexander

was talking to is Thad Mays, the CEO of our company.” Angela

stepped to the side so I could get a good look at him.

“He never comes to these things,” Angela continued. “I don’t

have a lot of big accounts, but I do have an extensive amount of

small ones. I don’t want to be in the next round of layoffs, so I

need to make a good impression.”

I was already feeling nervous, and Angela made me want to

run screaming from the room. Frankly, I would’ve done that, but

Kalen considered Angela a friend.

“To be honest…” Angela leaned in closer to us. “If he weren’t

here, I would make my rounds and hit the clubs.”

Angela didn’t look like a party girl to me dressed in her

burgundy business suit. Although as I looked at her, I could picture

her letting down the long glossy waves of blond hair that were

pinned back conservatively and donning a tight pair of jeans.

“You can count on us to represent,” Marvin said. “The

presentation that Kalen has prepared is phenomenal. I use your

products every day, and I have never been disappointed.”

Angela’s shoulders relaxed as she smiled back at Marvin.

“Thank you, thank you both. You’re doing me a huge favor and I

won’t forget it.”

“Your boss is headed over here,” I said, glancing over Angela’s

shoulder.

He smiled as Angela turned to look at him. “Mr. Mays, I’d like

to introduce you to Shannon Brycen. She owns Brycen Sisters in

New Orleans with her sister, Kalen.”

“It’s a pleasure.” He took my hand limply into his own. I tried

not to stiffen as he continued to hold it.

“I was just asking Shannon where her partner was,” Angela

said. “Forgive me, what was her name again?” Angela looked me

in the eyes.

I was taken aback by the odd change in topics but recovered

when Marvin shifted his stance and bumped into me slightly.

“Hailey, and she couldn’t make it this time.” Mr. Mays released