Chapter 72: Makeover.
Kyle made preparations for his important meeting later that night. He managed to return home without Calista spotting him, using a different exit from the building to avoid any potential confrontation.
Isabella understood his decision; she knew it was for the best, especially since Kyle was the owner and couldn’t risk revealing too much to anyone who might be watching.
His safety was the primary concern, more than anything else.
Once home, it was time to get him a proper suit. Kyle knew that appearance was key in such business dealings.
He went to one of the more elegant stores in the area, hoping to find something that would make him look expensive and, most importantly, command the respect he was aiming for in this meeting.
It took over an hour to sort everything out, but Kyle ended up buying more than five suits, ensuring he had a variety of choices for future occasions.
Kyle didn’t want to make trips to the shop every time he needed something new, so he decided to buy in bulk.
Along with the suits, he also purchased other corporate clothing he might need in the future.
Fashion wasn’t exactly his strong suit, and he wasn’t sure which items would be most appropriate for these types of high-stakes meetings.
However, he knew he had to look the part if he wanted to succeed in this new world.
Afterward, Kyle got into his car and headed back home, though he hoped he wouldn’t run into Aiysha.
He was starting to dread their interactions, uncertain of how long it would be before that line was inevitably crossed.
That was one thing he couldn’t afford to do—betray Jones, especially considering Jones had saved his life in the past.
However, Kyle couldn’t help but wonder if he might actually be doing Jones a favor if Aiysha turned out to be unfaithful.
After all, if she was being unfaithful, it wouldn’t be surprising if she did such things with her clients.
Then again, was this thought influenced by his own pornographic fantasies?
Arriving home, Kyle noticed Jones’ car parked in the driveway, which brought him an unexpected sense of relief.
"Wait, Jones should have an idea," Kyle thought to himself.
However, he wasn’t going to knock on Jones’ door just yet, as he wasn’t sure if Aiysha was home at that moment.
The best option was to make a phone call, since he had Jones’ number.
Kyle went inside, quickly taking a shower.
He hoped the water wouldn’t cut out midway, and fortunately, it didn’t. It was the perfect opportunity to finalize the building’s quota and move forward with some necessary paperwork.
Kyle gave Jones the go-ahead to proceed with involving a lawyer to draw up a contract.
As Kyle dried off, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and couldn’t help but smile.
"Goddamn! I actually look good," he muttered.
The dark bags under his eyes were fading, and he no longer looked like a haggard old man.
No one would guess what his life had been like just a few days ago. It was as if he had transformed into a completely different person.
Despite the changes, there was one area where Kyle still wasn’t satisfied: his body.
He wanted to build a little muscle, just enough to give him the physical power to defend himself—and Jane—if necessary.
It would be beyond embarrassing if he confronted Mike and Mike ended up beating the crap out of him.
That was one scenario Kyle knew he had to avoid at all costs.
Kyle finally decided to call Mr. Jones, dialing his number. It only rang twice before Jones answered.
"Jones here," came the familiar voice on the other end.
"Kyle here. Are you home? I could really use your help," Kyle said, cutting straight to the point.
"I’m home... Is this a sex thing?" Jones asked after a brief pause.
Kyle raised his eyebrows at the question.
"What the hell? If this was a sex thing, I would have the decency to take you out first," he retorted, though the fact that he was engaging with Jones like this showed just how their relationship had evolved.
"I’m allergic to garlic," Jones responded awkwardly, causing an uncomfortable silence between them.
"I AM NOT TAKING YOU OUT!" Kyle shouted.
"Excuse me for thinking I’m worth a dinner," Jones shot back, not backing down.
Kyle sighed and took a deep breath, knowing he had to calm down before Jones won this playful exchange. "Fine, I’ll get you some dinner," Kyle finally conceded.
"Ah! I knew this was a sex thing!" Jones barked, and Kyle wondered why he didn’t just go to Jones’ place and drag him over.
"JUST GET HERE!" Kyle yelled, now slightly exasperated.
There was a time when he would never have spoken to Jones like this, but their dynamic had shifted.
This wasn’t just about his newfound status; their relationship had evolved into something more genuine.
Kyle didn’t have to wait long, as there was a knock on his door just moments later.
He heaved a sigh of relief as he walked toward the door, towel still wrapped around his waist.
However, he paused, realizing that if he opened the door like this, Jones would definitely make another remark about the "sex thing."
Kyle grumbled, realizing he had to go grab a pair of pants before opening the door.
After quickly changing into some trousers, Kyle returned to open the door, where Jones was waiting.
He wanted to ask why Jones wasn’t at work, but he knew that could wait for another time. His upcoming meeting took priority now.
"Is there something wrong?" Jones asked, his demeanor shifting the moment they came face-to-face.
"No, but I need your help picking out a suit. I have a very important meeting tonight, and I didn’t know who else to call..." Kyle said, getting straight to the point.
Jones could tell by the seriousness in Kyle’s voice that this was something important.
He also felt flattered that Kyle trusted him enough to ask for his help. Without hesitation, Kyle went to fetch the suits he had recently bought and laid them across the table for Jones to inspect.
Jones couldn’t help but admire the improvements Kyle had made to his apartment.
It was clear Kyle had put a lot of thought into it, and this could be the model for how every room in the building might look. But for now, Jones focused on the task at hand.
"I need your opinion—what do you think would be appropriate for this meeting?" Kyle asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"I need to know more about the setting," Jones replied, taking the situation seriously.
"It’s a potential partnership with a huge entertainment company, but the meeting is being held at night, which is a bit unusual," Kyle explained, taking a seat across from Jones after laying out the suits.
"A meeting at night with a big entertainment company? You don’t want to dress too formal, but you also can’t look too casual. You need to show you have a sense of fashion. Wearing a suit at night might make you seem like someone who plays by the rules, which could be bad, especially if it’s a big corporation. They might see you as rigid. A blazer would work better. Also, I notice you don’t wear accessories—no jewelry, for example. You should probably get some to complete the look," Jones offered, giving a detailed analysis of Kyle’s options.
Kyle was surprised by how insightful Jones’ suggestions were.
He hadn’t even considered some of these things, but they made perfect sense. Kyle realized that he was spot on—if he dressed too formally, the company might think he was inflexible, but a blazer would help keep his options open.
He also realized that he didn’t own any jewelry, but if Jones thought it would help, there was no harm in giving it a try.
"I don’t have any jewelry, and I don’t even know what would be appropriate to wear," Kyle admitted.
"You don’t need to worry about that, but first, how do you feel about piercing your ears?" Jones asked, a surprising question that made Kyle raise an eyebrow.
"Huh?" Kyle replied, confused by the suggestion.
Jones was taking this much more seriously than Kyle expected. It felt as though he wanted to use Kyle as some kind of guinea pig for an unrealized dream.
Kyle had already come this far, so he saw no reason to back out now.
A few hours later, Kyle looked like a completely different person.
He was stunned at how Jones had transformed him. He now looked like a model, not just an everyday guy.
Jones had also convinced him to get ear piercings, and Kyle had even dyed the tip of one side of his hair green for a bold, edgy look.
The final test was still ahead—his big meeting in just a few hours. Kyle crossed his fingers, hoping that his new look would be enough to make the right impression.
