‘You’ve done a great job, thanks; it will wear out though, yes?’ Tony looked in the mirror. Most of it had gone, although his ego still hurt.

Christine assured him it would. ‘Another couple of washes and you’ll be back to normal. Do you want me to come back tomorrow or the day after and give it a conditioning treatment?’

Tony took her hand and kissed the back of it. ‘That would be lovely, Christine. Thank you.’ Tony gave her his best smile; in all of his anger he hadn’t noticed what a pretty young woman she was.

‘You’re wasting your time, Tony,’ Sharon said, with a bored expression. She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling then looked at Christine. ‘Sorry, Chris, he can’t help it. Please come back when you’re free, tomorrow or the day after. And be sure to say hello to Michelle, your wife, from me.’ Sharon emphasised the word ‘wife’, letting Tony know that Christine was a very happily married woman, who wasn’t interested in him.

Tony blushed and reached for his wallet. ‘Sorry, Christine. Here, take this for all your trouble and coming around here so promptly. Thanks.’ Tony handed Christine a couple of fifty-pound notes. She initially refused such a huge amount, but he insisted she take it, not only for her hard work, but because he had made a fool of himself. ‘See you soon. Thanks again.’

Sharon showed Christine to the door. ‘Phew!’ she said, when she came back. ‘Thank goodness that’s all over with. Well, Tony, you’re more or less sorted out, but what about Denise?’

‘Apart from strangling her with my bare hands, I am going to let the whole world know it was her who made me look like this and she did it because I dumped her!’

‘Nice to know you’re taking it on the chin and have learned a valuable lesson in life. There’s nothing worse than a woman scorned, and let’s be honest, if the newspapers get a hold of this, women all over London will cheer, because you’ve had your comeuppance.’

‘Are you still going to this charity night, tonight, and then seeing that Ami, as planned?’ Jake handed Tony a whisky; he felt he deserved one.

‘I am, Jake; I won’t let her stop me. That’s why she’s done it, thinking she can force me to stay in tonight. Well, I’m not. I won’t have any woman dictate to me.’

‘So, what happens when you show Ami your blue-tinted pubic hair?’

Jake and Sharon burst out laughing. ‘Christine!’ they both shouted together. ‘You’re needed again, and bring your hair dye.’

Tony opened the front of his robe and looked down. He was going to have to sit in the bath for a very long time.

There was a full-size boxing ring set up in the main club area, ready for the police charity boxing night. Police stations far and wide competed against each other, not only for a cup, but also for charity.