Page 32 of Mama Si's Paradise

A walk.I could take a walk with Mama Si. After all, I always enjoyed her company, even if it was something I wasn’t used to. Her energy, her aura, the touch of her hand and her smile—they were out of the ordinary, all right, even if I didn’t understandhow. She was just different. She was Mama Si.

“Of course,” I finally said, and I stepped outside with my hand in hers still, closing the door to my room behind me.

“You are breathtaking, Fall Doll,” she said as we slowly walked down the hallway. “And you’re walking much better on those heels than you did the first time.”

My cheeks flushed bright scarlet. “The girls and Adam gave me tips.”

“I told you the girls would come around,” she said with a wink.

That’s when it clicked that it had been her. I’d basically complained to her without meaning to that night at the party, and Mama Si had changed the girls’ minds about me by taking them with at the shopping mall even though they’d already gone shopping for the month. It had beenher.

“And they do say that we look exactly how we feel inside, that the energy that radiates from our person could never lie about what goes on in here—” She let go of my hand and brought it to her chest. I instantly felt…coldersomehow, and I didn’t like it. That’s why I wrapped my arms around my torso just to make sure they’d be busy in case she wanted to touch me again.

“So, tell me—how do you feel? Because your energy is thriving, Fall Doll,” she concluded.

She wasn’t wrong. “I feel great, actually,” I admitted as we turned the corner and headed for the main stairways. No guards, but Assa was waiting by the second one farthest away,watching us approaching with her hands behind her, her face as expressionless as ever.

“Happy to hear it,” Mama Si said. “I’ll admit you adjusted to the Paradise faster than I thought you would.” She laughed and it was sweet and warm, filling my chest with warm, fuzzy feelings. Now I suddenly wanted to touch her again, feel her skin against mine. “I knew you were special the moment I laid eyes on you.”

And that reminded me. “Why did you pick me, Mama Si?” I wondered. The girls had had to go through a whole process to be admitted when they first applied to Mama Si, and most had started out as justgirls,entertainers, before being basically promoted todolls.But when I asked what the difference was, all they said was that I’d find out soon enough.

Mama Si turned to look at me, surprised, blonde brows raised high on her flawless forehead. I’d never understand how she looked sooldbut so young at the same time.

“The other girls had to apply. They had to go through a series of interviews—they told me about it. And nobody knew a position was even open,” I continued when she refused to answer for a loaded second.

“It wasn’t,” she finally said. “I had no plan to hire another doll. I had no need for one, either. And I did interview you, but you are an open book, Fall Doll. One doesn’t need to manipulate you to see your true face—you show it. Which was one of the things that drew me to you.”Fragile. Vulnerable…yes, I remembered those words she’d said to me just fine. “Do try to keep your hands to the sides or behind you. This position screamsweak.” And she slowly pushed my arms down to my side.

“Oh.”

“Our posture says everything the world needs to hear about us. Forget looks and clothes and energy and everythingelse—our posture tells people who we are first. It tells them how we demand to be treated. Shoulders back.”

I moved like my body was at her command.

“So why?” I insisted when we reached the second stairway, and Assa stepped aside to let us climb, then followed behind us without a single sound.

“Because you looked like you needed help, Fall Doll,” Mama Si told me. “And I truly believe we can help each other out.”

I nodded as if I understood, when in fact I had no clue what the hell she was talking about. How couldIhelp someone like Mama Si? She already had everything and more.

We climbed up the stairs to the third floor where I’d never been before. So much of it I had yet to explore, and Marissa encouraged me to come out and look, tried to lure me in by promising me art rooms and libraries like they have in the movies, greenhouses and aquariums as big as my room. Though all of it sounded incredibly tempting, I’d only been here just over a week. I was still getting used to this new routine with the girls, and I was still a foreigner to these walls.

And maybe secretly, I still wanted to avoid having to understand what this place truly was for as long as I could.

“You look afraid, Fall Doll,” Mama Si said, putting her hand on the small of my back as she led me down the hallway to the left. Everything here looked pretty much the same, fancy and rich, shiny and golden, but the hallway on the third floor was darker, the overhead lights off, and the lamps on the walls between the paintings turned down almost all the way.

“I’m not. I’m just…” My voice trailed off. Iwasafraid. I was fucking terrified.

“Don’t be,” Mama Si whispered, and again, she grabbed my hand in hers, squeezing my fingers lightly. “You’re okay. I promise you are perfectly safe as long as you’re in my Paradise. Nothing here can hurt you.”

Maybe I was naïve—or just a damn fool—because I believed her wholeheartedly.

“The Paradise is a place like no other,” Mama Si continued, as Assa moved forward to open a door for us to my right. “We cater to our clients’ needs in every way. Entertainment in the Paradise is our goal. Comfort and luxury are just pluses. We aim to make our clients feel good in their skin, Fall Doll. And nothing in the world soothes a wounded soul like a woman’s touch and smile and presence. Please, come on in.”

She stopped by the door and waved for me to go through first.

“Thank you.”

On the other side was a narrow corridor, with small photographs hanging in gold frames on the otherwise white walls. So different from the rest of the mansion, but the lights were on and I could see the doors on the right just fine. They were far apart from one another, and they were all marked with letters and numbers engraved on golden plaques that didn’t really make any sense to me.

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