The Salon – Part 17

The Perfect Revenge

Mia’s shoulders sagged the moment she saw the name of the day’s first guest in the booking log.

“Oh no. Poor Nico!”

Lara straightened up with a start from the little metal bin she’d been lining with a fresh trash bag.

“What? What happened?”

“Anette…”

A flash of pain crossed Lara’s face.

“I thought after last time she’d sworn us off for good.”

Mia waved a hand, unimpressed.

“Please. I think she loved it, honestly.”

“What, that Nico did a terrible job on purpose?”

“She’s the one who brought that awful hair dye!” Mia hissed. “Nico told her a thousand times it wouldn’t turn out right. She insisted anyway, and then screamed bloody murder when her head came out pink.”

Lara burst out laughing.

“Like a giant scoop of strawberry ice cream!”

Gael stuck his head out of the massage room at the words “strawberry ice cream.”

“Are you two talking about Anette?”

“Was it the ice cream that gave it away, or the fact that neither of us can just be glad she’s back?”

“Both. Though honestly, I think she liked that hair. Made her look like somebody’s sweet old grandma. You’d never guess just from looking at her that she’s actually a nightmare.”

Lara shushed him, alarmed.

“Are you insane? She could walk in any second and you’re back there trashing her.”

A lazy grin spread across Gael’s face.

“Relax. We could be talking about anyone.”

Mia stepped up to him, rose onto her toes, and gave his cheek a gentle pat.

“We don’t say mean things about the clients.”

“She’s the one who called Nico a clumsy little brat. And now, a year later, she’s back so he can ruin her hair all over again?”

“Relax, it’s just a wash and blow-dry today. That shouldn’t be enough to start a war,” Mia said, and looped her arms around Gael’s neck. “And if it is, she’s never setting foot in here again.”

Gael gently peeled the clinging receptionist off him. Mia slunk back to her desk, deflated.

She almost didn’t recognize the raven-haired older woman who walked in and, instead of a greeting, simply asked:

“Nico?”

Mia forced the corners of her mouth up just enough that it wouldn’t look like a grimace.

“Have a seat, Anette. Nico will be right with you.”

The old woman’s eyes went wide.

“He’s not even here yet?” she trilled. “How’s he supposed to get ready for me, then?”

Mia raised an eyebrow.

“For… the wash?”

“Obviously!” Anette snapped. “Every job takes preparation. You can’t just do things on autopilot. Especially not something this personal,” she grumbled.

Luckily, by the time she finished, Nico had walked in.

“Anette!” he beamed. “So good to see you again! I’ve already washed your hair in my head about four times, and I spent the whole tram ride warming up my wrists for the blow-dry.”

Something flickered in the old woman’s eyes, but she stayed quiet. She gave a curt nod and headed for the wash station.

“Today’s going to be a good day,” she sighed as she settled in.

“Of course it is! There’s something to be glad about in every day.”

“I really screwed my husband over this morning. He had it coming.”

Nico’s hand froze mid-air, the black, gold-trimmed showerhead still running, water spilling uselessly onto the black basin beside it. It took him a few seconds to get his hands moving again. A knot of dread tightened in his stomach.

“What did he do to deserve that?” he asked carefully.

“He’s driving me up the wall with his hoarding. A few months back he bought a hedge trimmer, a nice one. Lent it to the neighbor for the weekend, and the man wrecked it. Never did say how, but he ran right out and bought us a new one,” she rattled on. “So I told my husband, throw the old one out, I’m not keeping junk around. But no, he had to hang onto it, just in case it might come in handy someday. That useless piece of garbage. As if those things ever come in handy,” she huffed. “So this morning he really got under my skin, and on my way over here I grabbed the broken one and dumped it by the trash cans. Saw in my rearview mirror some idiot already grinning over it like a monkey with a banana,” she chuckled. “Well, he’s in for a nasty surprise too.”

Nico wiped his forehead. Somehow he’d been braced for something much worse. Just a bit of petty revenge dressed up as spring cleaning — practically innocent, for Anette. Even so, he gave the wash and blow-dry every bit of care he had.

Anette seemed satisfied enough with her victory over her husband, because she left without a single complaint. Nico only let himself breathe out in relief once a good ten minutes had passed since she’d gone. So when someone rapped on the salon’s glass door from outside, he jumped, startled.

“Relax,” Mia laughed. “Just a man.”

She went over and pushed down the handle. The customer had a large cardboard box tucked under one arm. Going by the picture on the side, it was a hedge trimmer.

“Sorry for bringing this in, too — didn’t want to leave it in the car, in case someone smashed the window for it. Someone just dumped it by the trash cans.”

“D-does it work?” Mia asked, fighting to swallow her laughter.

“Tried it myself, works perfectly. Brand new, even still has the receipt inside. A few days old, bought this weekend, and already thrown out today…” He shook his head in disbelief. “I just don’t get rich people. Instead of returning it once they realized they didn’t need it, they just threw it away! Such a waste. Not that I’m complaining, though — I’m thrilled.”