Freya

Vivian, as always, wouldn’t keep her mouth shut even after the heavy slap she had received. She turned to the manager, her voice loud and blabbering.

“Ma’am, does she look as if she can afford this piece? I feel you should sell it to Helene now.”

The manager, of course, agreed to her request and nodded.

She turned to me, her expression polite but firm. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we can’t sell this to you.”

“But I asked first.”

“But you haven’t paid yet.”

“And she hasn’t paid either.”

The manager exhaled deeply, her shoulders rising and falling with exaggerated patience. “Look, Miss Freya. Everyone knows about the recent...