Shear Visions was just like any other mid-scale salon specializing in everything from acrylic nails to fusion weaves and all other services provided in the world ethnic beauty. A girl could get her hair done, fake lashes applied and a fresh pedicure all in the same setting. There were all of the usual characters one finds in a salon. An eccentric owner named Tia, who was college educated but prided herself on being true to her ghetto upbringing, causing her to constantly use neighborhood slang as her preferred form of conversing. The stylist to die for, Monique, whom stayed booked two months ahead with an extensive list of clients, who would rather be hit by a bus than miss their appointment with her. Trisha, the salon gossip, who kept constant trouble stirred up with her word of mouth news that she spread throughout the salon like fire through a bush, all before even bothering to get the entire story. There was the flamboyant gay guy, Will and the token male chauvinist Mark, both of whom were masters of their craft, rounded out the cast of characters in the salon. Each were key factors to its running like a well-oiled machine. Typical salon. But the workings of a salon are not our focus. We are here for the story and it is that story that makes this salon anything but typical.
It was a Tuesday morning when Nicolette Resont strolled through the front door of Shear Visions with what everyone thought was a business proposal in her hands and a smile on her face. Nikki, as she was known around town, was what most women strive to be; that is, beautiful, smart, with a body to die for and money to burn made her every girl’s idol and every man’s fantasy. She sashayed across the floor with the stride of a model and on her face, the smiled that had won her countless tiaras during her pageant days. She had actually been a model but retired from it at the ripe old age of twenty-four and invested her money in some housing development projects, night clubs and she owned several rental properties. She smiled as her designer stilettos clicked across the tiled floor of the reception area. She warmly greeted the receptionist, who took her information and asked her to have a seat in the waiting area, which Nikki did with a polite smile.
It was easy to both envy and hate Nikki just for being the person she appeared to be. A woman that blessed had to be a total bitch or so it would seem, but underneath all of that Dior makeup, she was just as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside…or at least she seemed to be. She was so undeniably gorgeous. The girl could easily give beauties like Beyonce and Ashanti a run for their money; and probably one of the few women who had a walk anywhere close to the fierceness Naomi stomped across the most elite of runways. Yes, with all that beauty, it was easy to take for granted that anyone with her looks had to be lacking in the personality department, but that was not the case when it came to Nikki. She went out of her way to make others feel welcomed and was always willing to give the designer shirt off her back if someone asked her to. In fact, she was so generous she was unknowingly sharing her husband with Tia. Someone needed to give this girl a medal and a clue.
At the receptionist’s request she rose from her seat and made her way to Tia’s office, which was located in the rear of the salon. She made sure to smile and greet each of the stylists by name as she passed their station. It was this kind of cordial behavior that gave her a reputation as a friendly, down to earth person, despite her social standing within the community. Truth be told, most people couldn’t find a negative thing to say about her even though many of the women still tried but that was more out of jealously than anything else.
Nikki casually sashayed into Tia’s office on that Tuesday morning and confidently strolled out ten minutes later, with a yelling and screaming Tia dead on her heels, but this is where the facts end and the speculation begins. It is pure speculation as to what occurred on the other side of the door, but in dead center of the salon the conversation was loud and clear. Nikki continued her calm, confident stride towards the door while Tia let everyone within earshot in on what had taken place behind closed doors.
“You WILL be hearing from my lawyer, Bitch!” screamed an irate Tia, acting out in true, and for lack of a better term, “ghetto” fashion with her neck rolling from side to side and index finger waving, all while she stormed behind a smiling Nikki. “It’s not my fault that you can’t keep your husband at home.”
Nikki stopped dead in her tracks and spun around quickly on her heels to face Tia, never losing her composure. She smiled like a woman who was holding all of the cards, “Alienation of Affection, dear…it’s called alienation of affection. If you spent more time researching the consequences of sleeping with a married man and less time fucking them, then you would know that the law says IT…is your fault. So, this is about to be mine,” she said as she made a circular motion with her finger, “so, I hope the sex was worth it.” She paused for a second and then shifted all of her weight to one side and continued “but I’ve slept with my husband, so I know that it wasn’t.” She turned to the other stylists and said in a very loud yet polite voice, “So, stylist you may want to start looking for another place to practice your craft because thanks to this whore, you’re all about to be out of job. You all have a good day!” And with that she strutted like the runway diva she once had been out of the salon leaving behind only the sound of an awkward silence.
Well, that little incident sent pandemonium throughout the shop and the gossip of the morning happenings shot out north, south, east and west. The embellishments of what had occurred ranged from a physical altercation to Tia begging Nikki not to take her shop. The only part of the story that had remained in tact was that Nikki confronted Tia about sleeping with her husband. He got the privilege of finding out about his wife’s visit via a frantic phone call from Tia. Their conversation ended with his insisting that he would handle the whole situation and reassuring Tia that she was not going to lose her shop, something he was in no position to do.
Hell have no fury and Heaven help the man brave enough to cross a woman with immediate access to Melody Montgomery, one of the most well connected, influential and vengeful women in town. Nikki just happened to be her goddaughter. When it came to power, Melody had it and used it to bend others to her will just for the sake of knowing that she still could. She was married to the most power defense attorneys in three counties, George Montgomery and had been for the past thirty years. Nikki had gone crying to Melody for guidance as soon as she found out about her husband and Melody had advise her on just the steps she needed to take in order to discipline her man and had even set some of the wheels in motion to leave this young brother sailing up shit creek without a paddle.
