Although I’m still freezing from my earlier soaking, I feel myself break out into a horrified sweat. I daren’t look up at Jennifer, but I feel her distressed gaze boring into me. At this point I’m not sure if I want to continue reading. But of course I have no choice but to keep going.
It’s probably my own fault for being so naive and trusting. The stylist they assigned me obviously wanted to make a name for herself by doing something bold and creative. She intimated that it would be good for my image to get a pixie cut, that people would love it, that I had “just the right bone structure to carry it off”. It was clear she thought my current style was out of date and I needed something “fresh and exciting”.
I can’t let the salon carry all of the blame as I stupidly let myself be talked into the makeover. But I’m writing this week’s column to serve as a warning to my readers against those hairdressers who think they know best and want to impose their thoughtless creative ideas onto poor unsuspecting customers. The whole thing has left me with a bad taste in my mouth and the feeling that I was taken advantage of. Not to mention the fact that it cost me a pretty penny too.
But never fear, you know me, I don’t stay glum for long. I’m sure next week’s column will be cheerier. Perhaps I’ll do a piece on wig shops. What do you think?
As always, love and peace,
Cassie x
I read it through twice before lifting my gaze to face Jennifer, who looks furiously close to tears, her eyes bright, her mouth pulled into a thin line. The piece is basically a hatchet job on an unnamed Shaftesbury salon, but everyone locally will know she’s referring to Waves.The absolute nerve of the woman.I feel physically sick as I hand Jennifer’s phone back to her.
‘I’ll call her,’ I offer. Although the thought of speaking to Cassie right now has me feeling even sicker.
‘It won’t do any good.’ Jennifer looks down at her phone again before switching it off in disgust. ‘It’s out there now. I’d be surprised if we get any new bookings after that.’
‘Everyone who knows us will know it’s all lies. The magazine can print a retraction. An apology. You could sue or, even better, contact a rival magazine. I bet they’d love to do a piece on your side of the story.’
Jennifer gives a bitter laugh and shakes her head. ‘That will only give her more oxygen. I’d rather just ignore it and let the whole thing die down.’
‘What a bitch. You know that it never happened like that. I was against the pixie cut from the start.’
‘I know you were, Zoe. But she’s your friend. You’ve known her for years, haven’t you?’ I’m starting to get an inkling that Jennifer might hold me partially responsible for what’s happened.
‘Cassie used to be my friend a long time ago, until she shafted me when we were at college.’ I never told Jennifer how Cassie ruined our friendship to further her career – mainly because it would have involved me potentially turning down my apprenticeship at the salon.
‘So you knew what she was like?’ Jennifer’s eyes narrow.
‘Yes, which is why, when I saw her in the appointment book, I asked if someone else could take her as a client. Although I had no idea she’d pull something as vile as this.’
Jennifer purses her lips, thinking for a moment. ‘Do you think this was all just some scheme to get back at you?’
‘I honestly don’t know. But I’ve never done a single bad thing to her, if that’s what you’re thinking. If anything, I should be the one to be upset with her, not the other way around.’
Jennifer throws her hands up in the air and gets to her feet. ‘You know what, I’m not interested in your childhood vendetta. All I know is that I’ve spent years building up a business, and now it’s being trashed by your ridiculous squabble.’
I take a breath, shocked by Jennifer’s outburst. And yet, I can’t blame her. I’d be upset if it was my business being bad-mouthed with no cause. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Well it’s a bit late for that.’
‘At least the piece doesn’t mention Waves by name. There are over half a dozen salons in the area. No one will even know which one it is.’
‘Oh come on, you don’t believe that any more than I do. Half the town saw Cassie bloody Barrington in here.’
Only because you insisted I put her by the window, I think to myself. My shoulders slump and in my head I curse Cassie. Why does she always have it in for me?
‘Anyway, I’d better get back out there.’ Jennifer walks towards the salon, her back rigid.
‘I’m so sorry, Jen.’
She shrugs without turning around and I feel like absolute crap. I try to work out whether this was my fault or not. Should I have warned Jennifer not to let Cassie into the salon?No.No one could have predicted that she’d do something like this. The woman is a menace.
I follow Jennifer back out into the salon, head to the reception desk and type Cassie’s name into the client database. Her details come up on screen and I compare her phone number to the old one of hers I have in my phone. It’s the same number so I return to the staffroom and bang out a text:
Cassie, that’s not what happened, and you know it.
Unsurprisingly, she doesn’t respond.