“Amara,” she said gently, stepping beside her daughter. “What happened?”
Before Amara could answer, Linda interjected smoothly. “Your daughter selected a premium gown, and I simply advised her to ensure she had the appropriate support before proceeding.”
Renee turned her head slowly. “Appropriate support?”
“Yes,” Linda continued. “It’s an expensive piece.”
Renee studied her daughter’s face—the flushed cheeks, the tight jaw—and then looked at the dress still displayed on the mannequin. “She told me to look at cheaper options,” Amara said quietly. “And that I should bring an adult before touching it.”
Renee’s gaze sharpened, though her voice remained calm. “Did you?”
Linda hesitated for half a second. “We encourage responsible purchasing.”
“Responsible,” Renee repeated softly, as though testing the word. She stepped forward and gently lifted the pink satin dress from the mannequin herself, inspecting the stitching and fabric with a practiced eye. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “And my daughter has excellent taste.”
Linda forced a polite smile. “Of course. It’s just important that expectations align with reality.”
Renee reached into her tote and removed a slim portfolio. She opened it carefully, revealing a business card. Renee Brooks, Vice President of Operations, Harper & Sloan Retail Group.
Linda’s expression flickered.
“We oversee compliance and diversity training for over two hundred retail locations nationwide,” Renee continued evenly. “Including boutiques similar to this one.”
The silence that followed was heavy and unmistakable.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
