Chapter One

"Hi, Mrs. Viet. This is Selena with—"

"Not interested." Click.

"Hi, Mr. Wantz. This is Selena with Panda Tea products. We make—"

"Fuck off, bitch!" Click!!

"Hi, Mr. Sanford. This is Selena with Panda Tea products. We make a green tea validated for your health that is guaranteed to help you maintain good health and ensure long-lasting—"

"I told you guys to take my name off your list. You just woke me up. Shit!" Click.

"Well, good day, sir," I said as the man hung up on me. This was hell. It was eight a.m., and I'd made hundreds of calls around the globe. I'd ticked off women in Tacoma, irritated men in Vancouver, and woken sleeping women with beautiful dreams in NY.

I stared around the boiler room at the telemarketers screaming into their phones, trying to sell the Panda product. At least Mr. Sanford gave me a chance to introduce it.

The door to the boiler room opened, and Kay Gordy, the boiler room diva who also happened to be my friend, came in with popcorn in hand. Her little son, Junior, held a popsicle in one hand too.

"Back from your little lunch break, I see." I turned my chair to face her table that stood next to mine.

"Lunch break ain't even enough. When's your shift ending today?" Kay asked, dropping a piece of popcorn.

"In a minute. I just ticked off the last victim of our terrible torture." I grinned, making Kay nod with pride. Taking the night shift is not the easiest thing to do, but at least the calls are fewer.

"Them Pandamites better get used to us." She whooped her hands in the air. Her little boy asked for water, and she pointed him to the dispenser that stood a far distance away. He trotted off happily to get a drink like a lost camel in the Sahara.

"I better tell Corby I'm about to leave," I said, standing up. I shoved most of the things I needed to take home into my work bag before giving Kay a kiss on the cheek.

"Dinner is on me tonight." Kay said. I hurried out of the boiler room after shutting down my computer. The next person on the morning shift could easily turn it on. I took the winding steps to my boss's office, the VP of Panda Health Tea. Over the years, we've grown friendly, and he's taken a liking to me.

The sight of his wooden door came into view, and I sighed in relief that he was even in. I rapped twice on the door, and it pushed open. I walked in confidently.

"Miss Brookes," Corby Cox said, pointing to the chair in front of him. I sat down. I just came in to say I was off, but if he wanted me to sit, he had something to say. Corby is a nice boss in his late forties and a fish-loving guy who has become my friend over the years I've worked with him, starting from when I was an intern.

"Hope I ain't disturbing you," I said, moving my thick-rimmed glasses above my nose.

"You know I always make time for you." He dropped his pen and leaned back in his leather chair. "You were headed home, right?"

"Yeah. I'm off for today, but I don't get back until eight tonight."

"Wrong twice," Corby said, and I eyed him from above my glasses.

"I'm sending you to Florida on a business assignment," Corby prompted, and I was all ears now.

"Florida? I've never done business assignments outside of Seattle. And by the way, I thought Michelle did all the assignments. My job is to ring people," I said, even though he already knew that. Corby shook his head and then got to his feet while I remained seated. I'd had a long night.

"The company chose Michelle, but I'm choosing you right now."

I stared at Corby, and he wasn't backing down. I didn't know what made him feel he could actually trust me enough to handle an assignment and to an important investor, I'm sure.

"What assignment is it, anyway?" I crossed my arms.

Corby smirked and came to stand behind his desk. He tapped away with his fingers until he decided to talk.

"This is a very important assignment, Selena. We've been in touch with many investors over the years, and the company's shares are growing large. But this guy...he's the real deal." Corby slammed his hands together as if making a point.

"So why can't Michelle just do it?" I shrugged.

"Again with Michelle?" Corby shut his eyes for a few seconds, counting, before snapping them open again. "All that woman cares about is fashion and what dress to buy next. No doubt, if I send her to our newest investor, she'll just misbehave around him."

So what makes him feel I won't care about fashion? I looked down at my brown, odd blazer suit and pants that flared at the end. My shoes were flat because I can't stand heels sometimes. And my red wig was a nightmare, looking all messed up and in a loose bun. My rimmed glasses too were a fall. Indeed, I had no fashion sense and never desired one.

"You know what happened the last time Michelle went to Dubai to meet with an investor," Corby spoke out again, and I took my eyes off my hideous suit.

"I know."

"Good. And we don't want that to happen again. Michelle was sent on an important assignment, but she ended up sleeping with the CEO." Corby shook his head as if ridding himself of an evil spirit. "The company paid a lot of money to wipe that scandal."

"Why is Michelle still working here then? A damage like that should've gone through extreme measures."

Corby hit his knuckles against his palm. "You damn well know why, alright. Her uncle is the fucking President of Panda Health Tea."

I didn't know that fact until now, but now I understood why she felt she could come into the boiler room and make nasty comments about how desperate and stupid we all looked. Personally, I've had an argument with her, and I'm sure she's ticked me off on her blacklist.

I stared at Corby. "I'll do it."

"That's my girl. I knew you'd be up for the challenge." Corby finally took his seat. "Now, our newest investor is Fabric Zunino Valenquez. He's an Italian man with a lot of wealth and one of the richest men in Miami. He has a nationwide production company."

"What's the name of his company?" I asked.

"RR Enterprise. Stands for Ross Rowling. That's the name of his empire. Ross. The man produces many things: cars, various equipment, and even guns." Corby smirked at the last part. "Rumor has it that his dad was an Italian mobster, but we don't know how true that is."

I moved around in my seat. "Why would he be interested in tea when he makes guns and weapons?" I shrugged, and Corby eyed me carefully as if scrutinizing whether I was fit for the task. But I was. I really was. I wanted to prove to Michelle that I was better than her. I wanted to prove to the world that I wasn't just a silly telemarketer.

"The man puts his hands in all kinds of businesses that would profit him a great deal. Just last year, he went into estate management. The man is a realtor." Corby said with such enthusiasm.

"So he wants to invest in a healthy tea company."

"Exactly, and that is why PHT is the best for him. We have to secure this opportunity now."

I nodded and arranged my bag on my shoulder.

"So, when do I leave for Florida?"

"Tomorrow morning." Corby placed a paper in front of me. "In there are your flight details, lodging details, and the appointments and meetings scheduled. If there are any changes, I'll contact you. But while you're there, I'm sure you can handle yourself well."

I snapped the paper right up and stuffed it in my bag before getting up.

"Thanks, Corby."

"Don't mention it. Now go and rest so you don't miss your flight tomorrow morning." He literally shooed me out of his office. I walked down the stairs with new determination. Going to Florida could be a life-changing experience for me, but at the same time, I hoped for a little peace.