Raeleigh looked at the stylist. "Are all of you very afraid of Mr. Santiago?"
"Mr. Santiago isn't as reasonable as Mr. Jepherson. He talks with his fists. If he isn't happy, he will hit us. I fractured my hand once because of him."
The stylist smiled as he spoke. Raeleigh asked curiously, "You fractured your hand yet you're still smiling about it? Aren't you angry at all?"
"Though Mr. Santiago is not unreasonable, he doesn't talk through problems like Mr. Jepherson. Mr. Jepherson will never get physical while Mr. Santiago is the exact opposite. If he can solve his problems with his fists, he won't talk it out."
"In fact, Mr. Santiago is a good person. It's just that he's got quite the temper at times, and it's not something he can control."
"As long as we don't anger Mr. Santiago, then nothing will happen."
"Are you saying this because you work for him?" Raeleigh looked at the stylist strangely. She was surprised that the stylist was still defending Santaigo even though he had fractured his hand because of him.
The stylist smiled. "I'm not afraid of him. I respect him a lot. Mr. Santiago may sometimes act rashly, but he's not a bad person. He knows what he's doing."
"Mr. Santiago hired most of us here. Some of us were bullied out on the streets, and he was the one who saved us and arranged for us to work here. In fact, I'm proud to be working here and the pay is good; at least I will be able to find a girlfriend and not get bullied."
"But he hit you."
"I'm sure there was a reason. One time, I accidentally messed up Mr. Santiago's hair. He got up and gave me a hard push and I fell. When we went to the hospital, they told me I fractured my hand."
"Later, Mr. Jepherson came by the hospital to visit me and gave me a huge compensation. He even let me take medical leave without any salary deduction."
"You seem to hold Mr. Santiago and Mr. Jepherson in high regard."
"Yes, I have massive respect for both of them."
"In fact, when some people lose their temper, it's for our own good. It wasn't on purpose."
"My mother told me that it's like a parent-child relationship. He wants the best for us, that's why he scolds and hits us. Or else, why would he even bother?"
"That makes sense." Raeleigh fixed her eyes on the person in the mirror. She wondered whether Jepherson was the one who arranged for the stylist to come and tell her these things.
Santiago then came out of the changing room. Someone hurried over to straighten Santiago's suit and Raeleigh turned to look at him. He was wearing a black suit with a white shirt. There was a red rose boutonniere on the lapel of his suit jacket.
Raeleigh believed that Santiago was a work of art. She knew that he would get ahead of Jepherson eventually. It was only a matter of time.
One day, he would be extremely far ahead.
Santiago glanced at Raeleigh before straightening his sleeves. The stylist brought over a box of jewelry, opened it and let Santiago take a look at it. He decided to go with a wristwatch and a ruby ring.
Santiago glanced at his watch. It was time for them to leave.
"Come on, let's go." Santiago took off his coat as he walked towards Raeleigh. He draped the coat over Raeleigh's shoulders and took her hand in his as they walked out. Raeleigh tried to pull away, wanting him to let go. However, there were too many people around, with too many eyes fixed on them. Santiago had one hand in his pocket while the other held hers firmly as they strode outside.
Raeleigh couldn't do anything but to follow Santiago as they left the styling studio together.
Outside, Santiago opened the car door and helped Raeleigh into the car before getting in himself. The driver then started the car and drove them to the venue of the banquet.
While in the car, Santiago took out his tablet and briefly scrolled through the news. The Richards Group press conference had already begun.
Raeleigh leaned over and looked at his tablet. She could see Jepherson in a grey suit, answering the reporter's questions.
Jepherson left at the end of the press conference. Santiago put the tablet down and leaned against the window, gazing outside.
They soon arrived at the banquet venue. Santiago got out of the car and offered his hand to Raeleigh, but ignored his help and emerged from the car on her own.
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