Chapter 3: The Invoice With His Mother's Name
Desmond drove straight to the salon.
He didn't call Nadia again.
He wanted to see the paperwork himself.
When he entered, Nadia was standing behind the reception counter, talking to a woman who appeared to be one of her first regular customers.
She wore a fitted black dress and gold earrings. Her hair was perfectly styled, and the salon looked almost identical to the photographs she had posted online the previous evening.
The customer glanced up.
“Good morning.””
Desmond nodded politely.
Nadia's smile disappeared.
“Can we talk?””
“Of course.””
She turned toward the customer.
“Give me a few minutes, please.””
The woman settled into one of the styling chairs and began scrolling through her phone.
Nadia led Desmond into the small office behind the reception area.
The door closed.
“What are you doing here?”” she asked.
“I need to ask you about the equipment order.””
She rolled her eyes.
“Not this again.””
“You told the supplier to put additional charges on our family account.””
“I told them to send the invoice to the person who paid for the original equipment.””
“That's not the same thing.””
“Desmond, you promised to support my salon.””
“I have supported your salon.””
“And now you're keeping score?””
He looked at her.
“I'm trying to understand why you used my mother's name on a second invoice.””
Nadia's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But he noticed.
“Who told you that?””
“The supplier.””
“They made a mistake.””
“Did they?””
“Yes.””
“Then explain why they have an invoice addressed to Margaret.””
Nadia crossed her arms.
“Because I needed to arrange the payment properly.””
“Why would you use my mother's name?””
“I didn't use it without permission.””
Desmond stared at her.
“Did you ask her?””
Nadia didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she walked around the desk and picked up a bottle of water.
“You're making this sound like some kind of crime.””
“I didn't say that.””
“Then stop interrogating me.””
Desmond took a breath.
He had come to the salon expecting an explanation. He hadn't expected every question to become an argument.
“What exactly did you order?””
“Equipment.””
“How much?””
“Why does it matter?””
“Because the supplier says there's an outstanding balance.””
Nadia placed the bottle down.
“Fine. I ordered two more styling chairs and some additional equipment. The salon needs to look impressive. People won't come back if everything looks cheap.””
“The salon already looks impressive.””
“Not to me.””
Desmond looked through the office window.
One of the new chairs was still wrapped in protective plastic.
He turned back.
“Why didn't you discuss the extra order with me?””
“Because I knew you'd say no.””
That answer landed harder than he expected.
“So you made the decision without telling me?””
“I was trying to build something for us.””
“For us?””
“Yes. You benefit from this business too.””
Desmond shook his head.
“Nadia, I never asked you to build a business for me. I wanted you to have something of your own.””
She looked away.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she picked up her phone.
“You know what your problem is?””
“Tell me.””
“You think because you paid for the salon, you get to control everything.””
“I haven't controlled anything.””
“You question every expense. You question every decision. And now you're questioning me because I want to make my business successful.””
“I asked about one invoice.””
“After paying for your mother's roof.””
Desmond closed his eyes briefly.
There it was again.
No matter what he said, the conversation returned to Margaret.
“Why does helping my mother bother you so much?””
Nadia laughed without humor.
“Because there's always something with her.””
“She's your mother-in-law.””
“She has a pension.””
“A small one.””
“She has a house.””
“A house with a leaking roof.””
“And you have to be the one who saves her?””
Desmond's voice became quieter.
“She's my mother, Nadia.””
“And I'm your wife!””
Her shout echoed through the office.
Outside, the customer stopped scrolling.
Nadia lowered her voice.
“I don't want to compete with an old woman for my husband's attention.””
Desmond stared at her.
“She's not competing with you.””
“That's what you keep saying.””
“Because it's true.””
Nadia turned away and began rearranging papers on her desk.
Desmond noticed a folded document beneath the supplier's invoice.
He reached toward it.
Nadia quickly placed her hand over the papers.
“Don't touch that.””
He stopped.
“What is it?””
“Private business paperwork.””
“Is it related to the invoice?””
“No.””
“Then why are you hiding it?””
“Because you're acting like you own this office.””
Desmond stepped back.
He didn't want to argue in front of her employees or customers.
But he wasn't going to pretend the situation was normal.
“I'm going to call the supplier and clarify the payment arrangement. Until then, please don't authorize anything else using our family account.””
Nadia's face hardened.
“You can't tell me what to do.””
“I can tell you that I won't approve charges I haven't agreed to.””
She picked up her phone.
“Fine. I'll handle everything myself.””
Desmond nodded.
“That's your choice.””
He turned toward the door.
Then Nadia spoke again.
“Desmond?””
He looked back.
“You really think your mother appreciates all this?””
He said nothing.
“She'll keep taking your money until there's nothing left. And when you finally have nothing, she'll still expect you to rescue her.””
Desmond's jaw tightened.
“My mother never asked me for a single thing this morning.””
“Really?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did the supplier receive an invoice with her name on it?””
Desmond froze.
Nadia looked down at the paperwork.
For the first time, she seemed to realize she had revealed more than she intended.
He walked back toward the desk.
“Explain that.””
She folded her arms again.
“I already told you. It was a mistake.””
“Then let me see the document.””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I said no.””
Desmond studied her face.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message from the supplier's accounts department appeared.
Mr. Desmond, we've located the original authorization form. There is a second purchase agreement associated with your family account. Please call us before proceeding with payment.
He opened the attachment.
The first page showed the salon equipment order.
The second page showed an authorization for additional credit.
But the third page made his stomach tighten.
It contained a handwritten address.
His mother's house.
And beneath the address was a description of the property, along with an estimated value.
Desmond slowly raised his eyes.
“Nadia…”
She didn't move.
“Why is my mother's house listed on this document?””
Her lips parted.
Then she reached across the desk and snatched the paperwork from his hand.
“Give me that!””
He held on for another second before releasing it.
“Nadia, what have you done?””
She shoved the pages into a drawer and locked it.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain it to me.””
“Not here.””
“Where?””
She glanced toward the office door, where the customer was still waiting.
Then she leaned closer and whispered:
“If you want to know why your mother's house is involved, ask your mother what she signed six months ago.””
Desmond felt the room tilt.
Six months ago?
He remembered visiting Margaret that afternoon.
He remembered bringing her groceries.
He remembered helping her complete a stack of documents she had received from an insurance company.
But he had never seen anything involving his wife's salon.
He looked at Nadia.
“Did my mother sign something for you?””
Nadia didn't answer.
Instead, she opened the office door.
“Your customer is waiting,” she said coldly.
Desmond remained where he was.
Outside, the salon's front bell rang again.
A familiar voice called his name.
“Desmond?””
He turned.
Margaret was standing at the entrance, holding a small envelope in both hands.
Her face was pale.
She looked at Nadia, then at her son.
May you like
And finally, she whispered:
“Sweetheart, I think you need to see what I found in my bedroom.””
