I stood in a daze, my mind a tangled mess as I tried to understand Raymond's actions. Everything he did lately felt calculated, deliberate, like a chess move I could not quite decipher. Why was he doing all this? What exactly was he planning?
"My name is Mabel, but most people call me Mama," the stylist introduced herself, breaking me from my reverie.
"Lena," I replied, still trying to steady my thoughts.
"Yeah, I know who you are," she said with a smile.
The way she said it made something tighten in my chest.
"Come with me."
She started walking, the sharp, confident sound of her heels hitting the polished floor echoing through the hall. Her employees hailed her respectfully as she passed them.
"Good afternoon, Mama."
"Welcome back, Mama."
She acknowledged them with a nod, her presence commanding yet warm.
