As the days went by, business started to decline sharply. Clients who had been loyal for years suddenly stopped showing up. Regulars canceled their appointments at the last minute, and new customers were scarce. The atmosphere in the salon grew tense, and the camaraderie among her staff began to fade.
The situation worsened when her storefront was vandalized. Graffiti marred the pristine windows of “The Hair Affair,” an occurrence that had never happened in the two years since she opened. Emma was at a loss, unable to figure out why her once-thriving business was unraveling.