Miranda's Big Mistake - Jill Mansell [128]
`Miranda isn't here.' As she spoke, Bev moved around slightly to block the man's view of the salon.
To her fury he reached across the counter, gripped her by the elbows and moved her firmly back again.
`Yes she is. Over there. See?' He pointed out Miranda, emerging from the back room with a mountain of towels.
`She doesn't want to see you,' Bev replied firmly. Typical, this had to happen just when Fenn had popped out for ten minutes.
`You think I'm a journalist, don't you? I'm not a journalist.'
This, of course, was exactly the kind of thing a journalist would say.
`Please,' said the journalist.
In return, Bev gave him one of her best frosty glares - the one that went so well with her perfectly applied frosted-beige lipstick.
Uh… no.'
He began to lose patience.
`Jesus, who do you think you are?'
`Me?' said Bev. `I'm the person telling you that if you know what's good for you, you'll get out of here before I-'
`AAARGHH!'
A shrill scream from the back of the salon made everyone jump and stopped Bev in her tracks. All eyes swivelled in the direction of the screamer - a salon regular, the pampered young wife of a newspaper baron.
`I don't believe it! I said a quarter of an inch above my eyebrows and you've taken off at least half an inch! What are you, a complete IMBECILE?'
The woman was one of Corinne's clients. With Corinne away, Lucy was cutting her hair for the first time. As Lucy reddened, the woman drummed her high heels against the black marble floor and shrieked, `You've wrecked it, you've totally wrecked my hair… you do realise I'll have to cancel my holiday now, I can't be seen out with a fringe like this. Jesus, you've ruined my life - hey, you!' She jabbed a finger in Miranda's direction. `Get me my bag, this minute.'
Miranda, who had been cutting up squares of foil, obediently hastened to the desk and located the bag - Hermиs, naturally. Returning and handing it over to the woman, who immediately yanked out a bottle of Valium, tipped half a dozen tablets into her hand and downed them in one, she said, `Your hair's great, it suits you like that. Makes you look younger.'
`Oh, don't give me that! How gullible do you think I am? Look at it, look at it, she's wrecked my fringe!'
`I'm not just saying it to make you feel better. It's the truth,' said Miranda.
`Oh well, if it's the truth you're so keen on, you won't mind me telling you that you're not looking so hot yourself. Face like a wet weekend, that's what you've got,' jeered the blonde. `Not exactly the cheeriest little soul in Santa's grotto, are you? Christ, I've seen happier-looking bloodhounds. What happened - boyfriend dump you, did he? Can't say I'm surprised.'
The whole salon held its breath. There was the kind of appalled silence that might follow someone accidentally breaking wind in front of the Queen. Everyone waited for Miranda's reaction and wondered what form it would take. Would she scream back at the woman, perhaps? Burst into tears and run out of the shop? Or - hopefully - pin her back in her chair, grab the nearest pair of scissors and reduce her whole head to stubble?
The journalist, granite-jawed with outrage, made a move towards them. It was Bev's turn to put out an arm and hiss, `Don't you dare.'
Miranda, to everyone's astonishment, simply rested a hand on the woman's shoulder and gave it a sympathetic squeeze. The woman promptly burst into noisy tears and buried her face in Miranda's front.
`What's really the matter?' said Miranda.
`Oh God, everything!' the woman sobbed. `The children's nanny handed in her notice this morning… my teeth need rebleaching and my dentist's gone off to bloody Florida for a month… my cellulite's back… my whole life's falling to pieces.'
`Come on, it isn't really.' Miranda's tone was gentle.
`You'll get through this, you know you will. Shall we find you a cab?'
The woman nodded like a small child.
`Sorry I shouted.'
`Doesn't matter. But I meant it when I said your fringe was fine.'
Disentangling