I didn't bother responding. My gaze drifted to the digital screen mounted on the wall.
This afternoon's "Anniversary Live Injectable Treatment Special" was still playing on a loop. More than 30 influencers grinned at the camera. Every smile looked brighter and sweeter than the last.
Beside them, a huge banner flashed Mia's signature sales pitch: 100% authentic. If it's fake, you get 100 times your money back.
The comments were still flying across the screen.
A: [Can you add extra slots for tomorrow?]
Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps thundered outside.
A man in a suit rushed through the door with several people behind him, sweat glistening across his forehead.
"Where's the injectable stock? Tomorrow's completely booked. Did you order enough?"
The moment he spotted the official seals plastered across the shelves, he stopped dead.
He turned sharply toward the lead officer.
"Officer, why is this place sealed off? We've got more than 300 clients booked for tomorrow. They're all expecting to come in!"
The lead officer answered in a firm, official tone, "This store is under investigation for using unapproved medical devices and pharmaceuticals. We're sealing the evidence in accordance with the law. No one is authorized to break these seals until the investigation is complete."
The man's face went pale. Sweat trickled down his jaw.
"You can't seal the place! If we can't operate tomorrow, refunds and compensation alone will cost us 3 million!"
The lead officer shook his head, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"Rules are rules. You'll have to explain the situation to your clients yourselves."
The law enforcement vehicles pulled away, their lights flashing as they disappeared down the street.
A suffocating silence settled over the salon.
The man turned around, eyes bloodshot, and glared at Mia. "Mia, you'd better start talking. What the hell is going on?"
Mia flinched under the heat of his stare but pulled herself back together fast. "What's the point of yelling at me, Mr. Hayes?"
She extended a perfectly manicured finger and jabbed it straight at me.
"Ask this broke i***t! She wanted the extra commission so badly that she insisted on using that cheap batch. Now that we've been caught, she's trying to pin everything on me!"
Mr. Hayes trembled with rage and pointed at the sealed shelves.
"She insisted on using them? Do you think I'm an i***t? Legitimate injectables cost 800 a unit. That garbage cost only 200. What employee in her right mind would deliberately choose the cheap stuff and screw herself over?"
I watched Mia's pathetic performance without a flicker of emotion.
Then I slipped a hand into the pocket of my white coat and pulled out my phone.
"Mr. Hayes, I recorded our conversation when the shipment arrived."
I pressed play.
Mia's sharp, impatient voice immediately echoed through the salon.
"Either do the damn job or get the hell out! Don't forget, you signed a five-year non-compete agreement."
The second it ended, Mr. Hayes's face went dark. He lunged and grabbed Mia by the collar. "You actually used counterfeit product for the anniversary event just to save a few bucks? Let me make this real clear. If we can't serve clients tomorrow, your salon eats every cent of the penalty."
Mia tore herself out of his grip, straightened her collar, and looked completely unfazed.
"Penalty fees? You're really throwing the contract in my face now, Mr. Hayes? We've been partners long enough to skip the formalities, haven't we? You're seriously going to make a huge deal out of this little mess?"
She pulled out the premium cigarette and tried to press it into Mr. Hayes's hand.
"Worst-case scenario, I'll restock in a couple of days. Just have the clients wait. It's no big deal."
Mr. Hayes slapped the cigarette out of her hand. His voice cracked with fury.
"Wait? You think this is some damn game? More than 30 influencers have been promoting this event all over the internet, and we've got clients booked back-to-back from dawn to dusk! You're telling me to make all those people wait?
"The contract is crystal clear. If we can't provide the services during the event period, the penalty is 3 million."
The moment the words "3 million" left his mouth, the corner of Mia's eye twitched.
But she still refused to back down.
"3 million? You're robbing me! I had the stock ready. The FDA is the one stopping us from using it. Why the hell should I pay? If you want compensation, go yell at the FDA! Or that good-for-nothing injector!"
Mr. Hayes was completely fed up with her shameless excuses.
He didn't waste another breath arguing. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Mr. Lawson, we've got a problem. The clinic was shut down by the FDA for using counterfeit products. Tomorrow's event is completely screwed."
The person on the other end started shouting so loudly that his voice practically blasted through the speaker.
Mr. Hayes nodded, over and over. "Got it. Got it. I'll start the penalty process per the contract right away."
He hung up and pinned Mia with an icy stare. "Mia, the boss made the call. You don't get this place open by noon tomorrow, there'll be a lawyer's notice on your door the day after."
Aksara