Love It or Lose It

Chapter 2

Ninety percent of my real estate success was dependant on my mindset. I was a top-tier agent. The best of the best. Fear had no room on top. I wrestled with the most difficult clients and negotiated the most complicated agreements.

"Then why am I shaking?" I asked my reflection, but the question was not directed to me. My so-called besties had dragged me once again to the spa. This time, I had an appointment for a new haircut and colour. And return the fluffy robe (now full of chip crumbs and melted ice cream stains), which I had accidentally borrowed without permission.

Emma came into focus first, squeezing my shoulders. "This is for your own good. You're in excellent hands with Ruiz," she said, glancing towards the long-haired Latino who had just scrubbed the oil off my greying hair.

"Isn't this all a bit premature? Shouldn't we wait until I lose weight first?" I patted my wet, limp hair.

For a quick brow raise, Mandy took her focus away from her phone. "It's for inspiration. You feel good, you look good. You rock a sexy haircut, then you'll rock a sexy bod."

Emma shrugged. "Can't argue with that logic."

Before I could continue to protest, Ruiz returned with his mixture of colour cream in a small bowl. "Remember what we agreed on, right, Ruiz?"

He spouted off something in Spanish, and then showed me his winning smile.

"I have no idea what that means. Please. No crazy changes. I still have to show my face in public."

"Don't worry, honey, I take care of you!" Ruiz said, pulling on black latex gloves.

While I surrender myself to the Latino god of hair (even though his head is shinier than the surface of my mahogany dining table), Emma and Mandy busied themselves with coffee, spiked with whatever Mandy poured out of her purple flask, and oatmeal raisin cookies, which Emma supplied. I declined their offer to join them as I needed to keep all my wits when Ruiz revealed the new do.

When it finally happened, I had my girls hands gripped in each of mine. My eyes popped when Ruiz took off the towel wrapped around my wet hair.

"Oh my!" My friends both gasped.

I let go of their hands to run my fingers through the wet hair. "It's red." For years I'd stayed on the safe zone and begged Ruiz to let me keep my chestnut brown hair, only coloring it every now and then when I started showing off grey. After all, I was only thirty-five years old. My greys did not come out stylishly like a highlight either. They poked out of every corner, in every direction. Some women could pulled off silver, not me. Although, I never thought red would look good on me either.

After Ruiz was done with the cut and dry, I had to hold the applause. Va-va-voom came to mind. I was then carted off, flowing, shiny red hair and all, to the nearest make-up department and was taught by a girl, who was close to my daughter's age, how to create a flawless, natural look for the day and a hot vixen at night.

"For when you go out with your friends." Annie, the makeup consultant, waved a hand towards Emma and Mandy. I thought it was interesting how she didn't say "for when I go out on a date with my husband or boyfriend". I supposed I had more work to do.

After dinner, I called it a night, exhausted by the long hours sitting in Ruiz's chair. I washed my face, as per Annie's directions, took one last look at my unbelievably gorgeous hair, and told myself that tomorrow would be a new day. When I was in bed, I thrashed the entire time and fretted over going back to the gym.

"Back," I snorted, chuckling at myself. I had never once been in a gym. Well, not never, but not for its sole purpose. I'd had to go into one about five years ago to use their facilities. It was either the gym or the hardware store. When I'd entered, greeted by a tall, slender woman, I'd wished I'd chosen the hardware store. I'd used their bathroom in record time.