Wild Fiction

His thick lips spread into a huge grin. ‘That’s so exciting,’ he said clapping his hands together. His grin suddenly disappeared from his face and he held his hand forward and pulled the hair back from Genevieve’s forehead. ‘My dear, what on earth has happened to you? Has he been beating you? Are you all right?’
‘I’m fine, I fell that’s all.’
‘Twice? And what about this?’ he asked tracing a gold ringed index finger along the line around her neck.
‘I fell through a thicket in the woods and got scratched and bruised. I promise, it’s nothing more sinister than that.’
‘Okay darling, but promise me that if anybody ever does do anything to you, then you’ll come straight to Gunther and I’ll sort them out for you.’
Genevieve laughed. ‘You’re going to get the Gay Mafia on to them, I suppose.’
Gunther smiled back. ‘Don’t under estimate the connections I have, darling. You know who I’m talking about.’
Genevieve’s smile disappeared. ‘Okay, to business then. I want Rebecca and me seated together and given the full treatment. Three stage shampoo, don’t forget the scalp massage with that, and then conditioner. Rinse, towel dry, and then Paul Mitchell stay-in-conditioner before you comb it out and cut. With the dry and style, don’t use too much heat. We’re not interested in a Sahara experience, we’re here for V&I. Now, as a special request, we’d like to have a face pack done at the same time. Gunther darling, can you handle all that?’
‘Genevieve, darling, I know my job. Don’t worry, you’re in the hands of a professional. When it comes to the hair part of V&I, I’m the best. Trust me darling.’ Gunther’s hands had returned to their bird impersonating flapping. This time it was more like a hummingbird on heroine. His wing-like motions ushered them to the chairs at the side of the salon.
Gunther and Pelolina had just finished working in Paul Mitchell’s stay-in-conditioner when the door chime sounded. Four pairs of eyes looked at the reflection of the door in the mirror. It was a thin man, tall, wearing a dark suit and carry a bag in his hand. A large white plaster covered his broken nose. Purple bruising hung in small half moons below his eyes. He looked straight past the girls and directly at Gunther. He marched across the floor of the salon and towards a door at the back. There, he turned and beckoned Gunther with his index finger.