Chapter 11 #2
Rohit eyed the faces in front of him, trying to catch any guilty faces in the crowd, but whoever had complained to Melanie Burgos from The Watch was not incriminating themselves today.
The staff gave away nothing, save for Cynthia’s assistant, Jilly, who appeared ready to shit a brick, but, then again, she always looked that way in her boss’s presence.
When Cynthia smiled, Rohit couldn’t help but inwardly wince. The smile seemed practiced and forced. “As part of this commitment to ensuring that staff look forward to and appreciate what Kumar Construction has to offer, we thought you might enjoy a little perk today,” she finished.
Rohit could tell from the dip in Cynthia’s voice that the words were heartfelt, but they didn’t sound like the right ones.
Whatever had possessed Cynthia to go rogue with the task Rich had given them was one thing, but colorful freebie drinks did not feel like a step in the right direction.
Judging from some of the employees who were now eyeing the refreshments dubiously, Rohit had a feeling he wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
Still, whether Cynthia had been referring to the royal We in her little speech or their failed tag team, Rohit also attempted an encouraging smile.
“Looks great,” he added, his voice sounding hollow to his own ears.
The lady next to Cynthia stepped forward, her smile a much more convincing combination of excitement and warmth.
“Good morning, everyone!” she sang, raising her hands as if addressing the congregation. “My name is Sahara, and I am your party rep today!” Sahara held up her phone, dramatically tapped its screen, and bobbed her head as the opening bars of the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” began to play.
Over the heads of the baffled, uncomfortable staff, Rohit’s eyes met Yannis’s in disbelief.
What in the actual fuck? his friend mouthed.
Luckily, after fifteen or so seconds, Cynthia stepped forward and placed a hand on Sahara’s shoulder just as the woman was starting to sway her hips to the beat. “I think that’s enough.”
Undeterred, Sahara silenced her phone and slipped it into her pocket.
“Now that we’re all in the right mood, let me introduce myself!
I’m a sales representative from TeamStart, where we provide healthy, organic products that will Change.
Your. Life.” Sahara paused to nod, and Rohit felt like he was watching a very bad, very low-budget late-night infomercial.
“Our selection of snacks, meal replacements, supplements, and energy drinks are all you need to jump-start your dreams.”
Jump-start your dreams? Out of the corner of his eye, Rohit caught Cynthia’s wince, and he fought to keep a straight face.
Sahara grabbed a stack of papers from the counter and began arranging place cards in front of each row of drinks.
“Today’s flavors include Citrus Mistress, Strawberry Fields of Serenity, Tropical Turn Up, and Ginger Vigor.
” Sahara winked and shimmied her shoulders.
Although the staff looked confused, she continued, oblivious.
“If you like what you taste today and are interested in learning more about our line of health products and receiving a complimentary coupon to use toward your next TeamStart purchase, leave your name and email on my sign-up sheet.” Sahara pointed to a clipboard on the counter behind her before straightening her jacket and raising her hands again.
“Enjoy and get ready to Change. Your. Life!”
From somewhere in the back of the group, someone let out a nervous giggle, but no one made a move toward the table.
Rohit glanced at Cynthia—that practiced smile was back on her face, but when the edges began to tremble, Rohit shot Yannis a meaningful stare until he shuffled forward and grabbed a few cups with a mumbled “Thanks.” Slowly, a few more staff followed suit and within minutes, everyone in the room held at least one cup of TeamStart’s life-changing refreshments in their hands and were conversing quietly.
Sahara didn’t waste any time and moved throughout the small groups, chatting animatedly. After the third time Rohit heard her exclaim the words change your life , Rohit pulled Cynthia aside.
“You couldn’t have given me a heads-up about this?” he asked in a low voice.
Cynthia busied herself with leftover contents on the table. “It was a last-minute decision,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “My dad said this project was urgent and I wanted to get a jump on things.”
“By yourself.”
“Well, as was pointed out in our meeting yesterday, you’re so busy with big clients.”
Although Rohit ached to sink down to her level and throw back something equally immature, a more embarrassing sentiment surfaced instead.
You stood me up , he wanted to say, but as he watched Cynthia bustle around the table, her hair falling forward to shield her face from him, he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
She didn’t need to know how pathetic he was, how he’d waited for her until after nine o’clock last night, his office reeking of deli meat.
In the corner of the room, Sahara’s enthusiasm was reaching new heights as she flapped her arms to punctuate whatever she was telling a smirking Yannis.
“Where did you even find her?” Rohit asked Cynthia.
“Who?”
“Sahara. TeamStart. These products that will ‘Change. Our. Lives.’?”
A smile flickered across Cynthia’s face and Rohit hated himself for catching it, for how his chest expanded in response.
Even now, despite his hurt feelings, a small part of him was wistful for her.
She must’ve cast some kind of spell on him that night, blinding his common sense with a seductive red dress and witchcraft.
“I went to high school with Sahara,” Cynthia replied.
“She’s reached out a couple of times in the last few years about her job at TeamStart and how she co-hosts group taste-testing experiences.
” Cynthia shrugged. “I never replied, or even really read her messages too closely, but she was willing to accommodate last minute and did this whole thing for free.”
Rohit’s eyebrows lifted. “Wait. This didn’t cost the company anything?”
Cynthia nodded. She looked so proud and sure of herself that Rohit had to fold his arms over his chest to smother the unwelcome flutter behind his breastbone.
“Not a dime,” she confirmed.
Forty-five minutes later, the room had cleared out and only a few cups of TeamStart’s life-changing drinks remained. Rohit was about to reach for a Citrus Mistress when Sahara let out a squeal of delight.
“Seventeen emails!” she said, waving her clipboard in the air. Her eyes were slightly misty as she looked up at Cynthia. “Thank you so, so much, Cynthia.”
Confusion splashed across Cynthia’s face. “Oh no, I should be thanking you for coming on such short notice.”
“Girl, you have no idea what this might mean for me,” Sahara replied, shooting back the remaining leftover samples with impressive gusto.
“TeamStart is going to be so pleased with me. I am three sign-ups away from a promotion! Really, thank you.” Sahara glanced at the clipboard.
“Your name isn’t on here, Cynthia. This could be your opportunity to Change. Your. Life.”
“No, I’m good,” Cynthia murmured, sounding as perplexed as Rohit felt.
Sahara shrugged. “Well, you know where to find me,” she said before shooting them a wonky little salute. She grabbed the handle of her rolling cooler and marched out, her clipboard tucked tightly underneath her arm.
Rohit watched her go as Cynthia grabbed a sponge to wipe down the table.
It occurred to him that he should just leave without a backward glance—it was her victory and her mess to clean up.
But instead, he grabbed the handful of chairs that had been scattered near the fridge and pushed them back into the table, aware that Cynthia was watching his every move.
“We were supposed to tackle this together,” he said above the squeak of her sponge’s efficient swipes across the table.
“Yeah, well, I decided to handle it by myself.”
“Right, but—”
“I’m capable, you know. I didn’t need your help.”
“I never said you did.”
“Then what’s the big deal, Rohit?” Cynthia tossed the sponge into the sink and planted a hand on her hip.
The pose accentuated her supple form and, combined with the stretchy midnight-black dress she wore, it was almost lethal.
Dealing with Cynthia would be so much easier if Rohit didn’t know the subtle curve of that hip so intimately, the imperfect triangle of beauty marks just above the crease where her hip met her long, shapely leg.
In moments like this, he almost wished they hadn’t met the way they did, hadn’t shared that unforgettable, perfect night together.
Almost.
“The big deal is that Rich is counting on me, too,” Rohit said, shoving the last chair back into the table a little more forcefully than necessary. “We’re supposed to work as a team.”
“And you’d hate to let my dad down.” Cynthia rolled her eyes.
“God, you’re like a golden retriever. Maybe you should thank me because now you have time for all those clients Rich hooked you up with.
” The words were biting, but something else sizzled behind her voice as she jerked open an overhead cabinet and grabbed a fresh roll of paper towels.
The metal holder clattered on the counter as she replaced the empty one.
“You think some free drinks are going to fix the problem?” Rohit asked in disbelief.
“Do you really believe this taste-testing thing is actually going to ‘change people’s lives’?
” He would regret using air quotes later but right now, lowering himself to Cynthia’s childish level felt pretty damn good.
“It’s a perk. People love free stuff.”
“These aren’t just random people, Cynthia. We should be thinking long-term and researching why the turnover—”
“Please,” Cynthia drawled with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Melanie was probably exaggerating the claims against Kumar Construction. So what if one person around here is disgruntled?”
“That’s not the point. We need to come up with a strategy. Your dad said—”
“You told my dad I stood you up, didn’t you?” Cynthia scoffed. “ Of course. ”
“What are you talking about?” Rohit shook his head.
“You guys are so—”
“Uh, excuse me?”
“What?” Rohit and Cynthia snapped in unison, turning toward the door where Yannis stood, discomfort stamped across his face for walking in on Mom and Dad fighting in the kitchen.
“Um.” Yannis cleared his throat and directed his gaze at Rohit. “I ran into the TeamStart lady in the elevator? Sarah?”
“Sahara,” Rohit and Cynthia corrected at the same time before cutting glares at each other.
“Right. Well, Sahara was telling me a little more about TeamStart and…” Yannis shot Cynthia a nervous glance.
“And…?” Rohit prodded.
“Are you aware it’s an MLM?” Yannis asked.
Cynthia’s eyes widened. “What? No, it’s not.”
“What’s an MLM?” Rohit asked, racking the special corner of his brain he reserved for filing away Canadian acronyms. Learning them was a feat he took seriously, a cultural trademark he felt was his duty, as an immigrant, to know.
“A multilevel marketing scheme,” Yannis explained. “My cousin is into them. It’s where…”
An icy bead of sweat slid down Rohit’s spine as Yannis explained the finer details of TeamStart.
He’d heard of these before, had received a few messages from Canadian university friends exalting the perks of their side hustle.
They always concluded with an invitation for him—and his family and friends—to learn more.
Suddenly, Rohit had a very good idea what Sahara’s messages to Cynthia must have looked like.
“Are you sure?” Cynthia asked, her voice weak.
“That’s what she said.” Yannis hesitated before adding, “She also said that she’s never been to a more successful recruitment event.”
“Recruitment…” Cynthia shot Rohit a look of horror.
“You know how it goes: they come in, show off the product, see if people are interested in signing up to sell it and make their dreams come true. The whole ‘be your own boss’ and ‘financial freedom’ schtick.” Yannis snickered.
“It’s pretty obvious when you think about it, but I did a quick search on my phone to confirm. ”
“Oh, God.” Cynthia covered her face with her hands.
Rohit turned to Cynthia. “We should’ve added our names to the sign-up sheet,” he said dully, “because we’ll definitely need a fallback when Rich finds out about this.”