Tattooed on my heart

It’s not personal, just business

Thalia’s POV -

I threw the last pieces of paper to the trash and took out the bag so I can throw it away as contaminated waste, I looked at Mari and said “Well, time to see said super handsome man” and rolled my eyes.

Mari smirked and said “ooohhh I can’t wait to see your face, I know you think we’re being over the top” she laughed.

She was right, I knew how they were, Mari was gay and every decent looking guy that wasn’t gross and hairy she would say looks good, and practically married Elena agreed with her always.

She quickly walked out the door and led the way, I quickly washed my hands and adjusted myself in the mirror, you know just in case he really was good looking, then I followed Mari, she pointed with her head towards the waiting area sofa, as I got closer all I could see was a man hunched over looking down at his hands, his back was big and muscular and he had his long hair tied in a neat man bun.

I stood behind him and said “Hey, sorry for the wait!” But no response, I took another step ahead just to see he had his earphones in and was looking at his hands, I wondered.

I snapped my finger near his face hoping he’d notice but he seemed like he was deep in thoughts, I looked at Mari and Ele and put my hands out in a gesture of ‘what do I do?’.

Elena nudged Mari with her hand on the shoulder then pointed at me and him as if saying ‘just give him a nudge’.

I wasn’t a big fan of invading peoples’ personal space but I really didn’t feel I had any choice, I didn’t want to poke or nudge him so I opted for placing my hand on his shoulder, it was a light touch and as soon as I noticed him reacting to the touch I pulled my hand away.

Tommaso’s POV -

I was just looking at my hands waiting for the time to pass, I was thinking about it all, I wanted this to go as a business meeting, so I figured I should strategise.

Next thing I know I feel a warm touch on my shoulder, it snapped me from my thoughts, I started to straighten up as I felt the hand pull away as quick as it came.

I was pulling my AirPods out of my ears and placing them in their charge box as I looked up.

“Thank you for waiting and so sorry to have invaded your personal space but you weren’t responding..” she said nervously, her big brown eyes looked to be moving uncomfortably for a moment but then safely and with conviction stared right into my eyes.

Then I realised it was my gaze the made her get uncomfortable there, I realised in a few seconds I scanned her over, she was the same as the video live before, prettier in real life actually, you could see she had a dimple in her chin when she smiled, her tattoos and piercings more visible, through her tight shirt you could tell her n*****s are pierced as well - I could understand why my gaze would have made her feel uncomfortable.

“It’s really fine, I should have had my volume down..” I stood up towering at least 20cm over her, she looked up and put her hand to shake mine “Thalia” she said, as our hands pressed hard and confidently, she wasn’t a shy one “Tommaso, a pleasure”.

She nodded over to the back room and said, “we can have the consultation there or here, as long as there are no clients, we’re good”.

I nodded “the back is fine, if someone comes in we’ll figure it out”.

She led the way and I followed her swaying hips, the gap in the back of her jeans exposed the color of her fluorescent green thong - from my angle I could see it all.

It was going to be hard conducting business if I was so easily distracted.

She pointed to a chair as we walked in and she set on the tattoo bed, she smiled softly “so? Any ideas? Thoughts? Did you see something you like? The girls told me you saw my work on Instagram..”

I couldn’t help but smile back “Ummm yeah, a couple of things, there was an available sketch I saw on your page but mostly I wanted to get a chest piece” my chest was my next idea for a while and I knew I wanted it in color, some general info but not too much.

I looked at her, she seemed a bit shocked “Um wow. Ok. So if you can first show me what you saw online?” She pulled a book with her art in, all the things she had online.

I flipped over and found the one I wanted, it was a beautiful purple flower sticking out of a two dimensional bullet casing, like it’s growing from it or using it as a vase.

“This one” I gave the book back to her, shock again, but then a big smile, I like that it made her smile, I felt a warmth creeping into my heart.

“Oohhh the Cosmo! It’s one of my favourites, means a lot to me actually and I feel like the bullet casing scares people away from it always”, she looked down at her work with a glint in her eye.

“Well the contrast of the two is what I liked most about it, and it would be ideal to see if we can continue from that one to the chest piece” she looked up and said “ummm, same day?”.

I realised I wasn’t specific “eh, sorry I wasn’t clear, I meant we can do this one while it heals we can plan the chest piece. When is it the closest date you have for the flower?”.

Excitement clear in her eyes, she pointed to the door “let’s go check on the schedule!”

She hopped off the Tattoo bed, and scurried out of the room, leading the way. With quick short steps, it made me wonder if the hips sway before was just for me or was it the mood change? I shook the thought out of my head, better not linger over that I figured.

She stood behind the reception desk, and I in front of it. She clicked on some things and looked at the screen before she said, “ seems I have an appointment in a couple of days in the afternoon, is it too soon?“ I shook my head “Not at all, how much is it?” The slander girl came up to the computer as I asked that, she presented herself “Hey, sorry to intervene, I’m Mari, one of the owners, I do the pricing so if you don’t mind what did you settle on?”

Thalia showed her the image from the book, she nodded and asked “Location? Size?”

Thalia answered “We didn’t get that far, ideally an arm? Back of the leg?” She questioned me, I knew the location I wanted, I rolled up my sleeve and showed her a clear patch of skin at the back of my forearm “Here, ideally for me it would fill up as much of that space”.

Mari nodded “well for that area, I’d recommend second skin for the healing, considering size, colors and tax it’s going to be 650€, how does that sound?”

I smiled “Perfect”, she nodded with a smile back “So we usually ask for 150€ deposit..”

I interrupted her “Here” I gave her the full price in cash, she stopped and stared at me “ummm you sure? I mean we do offer refunds and..” I cut her again “I don’t mean to be rude, it’s all ok, I don’t need refunds and I have no intention of backing out, if there’s any problems we will deal with it. I just need the receipt that it’s been paid”.

Mari nodded and with no other words she handed me the receipt.

“Thank you, and Thalia?” She looked at me with big curious eyes and a questioning look “if you have time, I’d like to discuss the chest piece.” She relaxed her expression “I was about to head out for today, but if you have time we can sit here” pointed to the sofa “and we can plan, I’d offer the back but as you can see, soon Elena will need it”.

I looked back to the back room and saw the small framed girl was wrapping and cleaning her space to work “seeing you’re headed out can I offer you to discuss it over coffee? Drink? Something to eat? My treat of course”

She looked hesitant, glanced at Mari that nodded a small yes with her head.

“Ummm sure, let me grab my things” Thalia said “there’s a place nearby we can go there”

I nodded “I appreciate your time, I’ll wait”.

She then again hurried to the back and not a half minute later she was back with her bags.

I walked towards the door and held it open for her as we left.