Tattooed on my heart

The rejection

Jessicas’ POV -

Hearing my own name again by the client, I had quickly popped out of the kitchen a bit annoyed to be disturbed in the middle of lunch saying “A bit of patience! Here I am.”

As I looked towards the reception desk and saw the client all annoyance disappeared immediately, quickly I said “I meant thank you for your patience, here I am” and gave him the sweetest smile mixed with siren eyes, I saw him looking at me once over but I couldn’t really understand his vibes, I wasn’t sure what that look meant.

He then started speaking “I think there was a misunderstanding, no offence to you Jessica, I’m sure you’re amazing at what you do”

My heart raced at the compliment, when I heard him going on “actually all of you are” he looked towards the girls, they smiled politely and thanked him with a nod, he nodded back and said “I’ve seen your i********:, but I’m looking for the artist who did this one” he pointed at the phone showing Thalia’s latest tattoo on the shop’s story “Pretty sure her name is Thalia”.

For a second I was really irked, why would he prefer sloppy, shaky lines to my meticulous artwork? But then I realised this was even better! We did have a ‘no dating the clients policy’ that I’ve implemented, and really he was muuuucchhh more interesting to me as a potential lover than a client.

“Sure thing!” I said with a smile “unfortunately she’s still working on a client at the moment, we can schedule you in for another time for a consultation or you can wait if you’d like, I don’t know when she’ll finish tho.”

He nodded and said “If it’s not an inconvenience, I’d rather wait”, I nodded back “no problem at all, take a sit, would you like a coffe or water?” I said as I gestured towards the sofa.

“I’ll go out for a smoke, perhaps after that a coffee would be nice, thank you.”

Handsome and polite, I had one more thing in mind “One thing before you’re out, we need to put you on the schedule on the computer for Thalia, can I ask for your name please?”

He nodded and responded with calm “Sure, it’s Tommaso Arne.” He turned and walked out the door.

The girls looked wide eyed, Mari spoke first “You don’t think this is THE Tommaso Arne, do you?”, Elena looked at her and rolled her eyes

“How many Italians with the last name Arne do you know?”, Mari shrugged.

“Well, he definitely fits the title, I mean ex athlete and business man, he looks the part of both.”

Elena looked and said “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I had figured you’d be mad he said he wanted Thalia..”

I smiled with a raised eyebrow “why would I be? I mean can’t date clients, but if he’s her client, when it comes to dating he’s all mine.. and speaking of I think I’ll go smoke too”.

Tommaso’s POV -

I rarely smoke, it contradicts my whole lifestyle and yet, it’s a habit I picked up in high school and I only do it when I’m nervous or when drinking while I go out.

No idea why I felt this nervous, it’s a business deal like any other.

I finished rolling my cigarette and looked for the lighter as Jessica or ‘Jess’ came out, she stepped on the chair leaning against the wall and set on top of the wall and moved closer to me, she pulled out a lighter from her breasts “Here” she said as she lit the cigarette I was holding in my mouth, I nodded as a sign of thanks.

She then lit her own, and said “sorry if we didn’t recognise you right away, we’re not really big sports fans..” I nodded “It’s fine. I never expect to be recognised. Sometimes it’s even better when I’m not”.

She put a sweet smile on her face, but it didn’t seem genuine, she blew some smoke and said “well now that we’ve seen you, I don’t think we can forget! Nor will I want to..”

She laughed as she touched my shoulder, I looked away and didn’t respond, I wasn’t about to flirt, I wasn’t interested, definitely not in her.

I had finished smoking and had smashed it in the ashtray next to the wall, as I started walking away, Jessica spoke again “Do you mind?” She reached her hand out asking for support to hop off the wall.

I offered my hand to help, as she hopped off she landed badly on her huge heels and I instinctively pulled her over to me for support, she clung to my chest and straightened up, looking upwards at my face “All ok?” I asked.

She smiled with big doe eyes “thanks to you, I am”, she started to reach her hands up my chest towards my neck, I used my hand to reach her wrist to make her stop.

She frowned at me, I’m sure she wasn’t used to rejection at all, seemed that made her snap “So? What does a girl has to do to get you to take her out?”

I made sure she was stable and moved from her “Nothing” I said “if I’m interested I make it known”.

I walked back into the shop, quickly put in my AirPods and played some music, I looked down at my hands as I did, so no one tries to make anymore contact or conversation with me as I waited.

Jessica’s POV -

Well, now? Now I was really annoyed.

Not interested? Was he blind or just an i***t?

In any case I wasn’t one to give up that easily, he’ll be coming in for a consultation and tattoo and a touch up for sure, with Thalia’s work it was certain.

I will have time to see him again, by then I’ll have time to stalk his socials, get to know a bit more about him and spark said interest in him.

I regrouped and stood straight, chest first, I wanted him to see all he was missing as I walked in, I opened the door just to see him staring at his own hands, I tried to make some noise to get his attention, but nothing.

As I passed by the sofa I noticed he had earphones in, I rolled my eyes and continued to the kitchen so I can stalk his socials in privet.

Thalia’s POV -

The music softly played in the back room, I hummed along as I was finishing the touchup.

I looked up, smiled as I applied some green soap water and wiping it clean gently “we’re all done! Some pics, I’ll wrap you and you’re good to go.”

I took off my gloves as a very excited Mari and Elena walked into the back room.

“Do I get more help with the photos?” I smiled sweetly at Mari, she softly chuckled “Sure girl”.

She came over and held the ring light for me again, she’s a godsend.

“Yeah, yeah that’s cute and all, but we’re here cause this hot! HOT god of a man is looking for you!!!!” She whisper yelled and then looked at the uncomfortable client, she cringed and said “sorry”, he chuckled and looked back to me, with a clean glove I grabbed a piece of second skin wrap.

“This time you have this as protection and pleaseeeee be careful”, he scratched the back of his head and said “Will do, thanks again and I’m so sorry Thalia”, I smiled and nodded over to the register “Do one of you mind?” I asked Mari and Ele, they both nodded, but Elena already had the healing instructions for second skin in her hand and was walking towards the door “come on” she said to the client who thanked me again, waved and Mari and scurried along.

Mari grabbed a glove and started helping wrap up once again today “You really are spoiling me, you know?”

She laughed quietly “I do what I can, plus, I really can’t wait for you to see this extremely beautiful man!” I raised an eyebrow at her,

She nodded “Might get over Mika!” She said.

That stung a bit, Mika she was a complicated story for me and I didn’t understand how a handsome client was gonna do that, my head hung low.

“NO nononononoooo, I’m sorry, but he’s really just so handsome and he was looking for you andddd he rejected Jess which was hilarious and I mean after the tattoo he’s not your client no more! So maybe..?” She blurted all of that out really really fast, this time I chuckled “wait, Jess rejected? Now that’s a story I need to hear!”.

Mari laughed “ok, so..” she whispered as we cleaned and disinfected everything in the back and told me all they saw through the window.