Chapter 20 Temptation

Allie kicked off her spiel, going on about how Latin dancing could whip your body into shape, torch fat, slim down your legs, help you sleep better, fix those nagging health issues, and even boost your mood. She even threw in a bit about how it could totally change your vibe.

Ellie just sat there, listening in silence, feeling like her cousin had somehow gotten roped into some kind of pyramid scheme. Especially when she thought about that guy who had approached her, she felt this weird connection, and the bad vibes just got stronger.

A while back, she and her mom were at the supermarket when this young dude came up to them, handing out flyers about eyebrow and lip embroidery. He even said they could try out eyebrow shaping right then and there, which totally freaked her out.

Thinking back to the day that guy handed her a business card, Ellie got even more spooked. Maybe it wasn't just a random approach...

"Ellie, remember how I used to walk all hunched over with a hump in my back? It's only been a little over a month of practicing..." Allie said, straightening her back and puffing out her chest.
"Look, isn't it erect?" Allie asked, showing off her posture.

Before Ellie could respond, the woman driving in front burst out laughing. "Not just erect, but also big!"

"Hahaha, get away!" Allie laughed and scolded, but Ellie couldn't find anything funny about it.

Trying to keep her cool, Ellie asked, pretending to be curious, "Are the teachers there any good?"

"They're awesome! Especially Mr. Richardson, who teaches our class. Not only is he a great dancer, but he's also super handsome!"

Hearing the name "Richardson" and seeing her cousin's starry-eyed look, Ellie was even more convinced that her cousin had fallen into some kind of trap. But right now, it was all just her hunch.

She couldn't be sure if Mr. Richardson was the guy she was thinking of, and it wouldn't be cool to just blurt out her suspicions to her cousin. Even if she was certain, without any solid proof, she couldn't just accuse someone of being a scammer based on her gut feeling...

Honestly, she didn't want to get mixed up in this mess, but now it was her cousin who might be getting played.
She couldn't just sit back and do nothing, so she decided to find out if this Mr. Richardson, the dance teacher, was really the guy.

"Um... Is the membership expensive?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

When Allie heard her asking about the price, she thought she had already won her over, and that made her super happy.

"It's a bit pricier than other small training classes, but it's totally worth it! The environment is great, the teachers are top-notch, and the service is—"

"Alright then..." Ellie pretended to hesitate, pausing for effect before looking up and saying, "Can I go and check it out first?"

She figured it was a good plan to see if this Mr. Richardson was the same guy and to chat more with her cousin to get the full picture.

Seeing that Ellie wanted to go and see, Allie got even more excited.

"Of course, you can go and check it out. But Mr. Richardson's class is in the evening. Let's go shopping first, and then my cousin will treat you to dinner. We'll hit the class after breakfast."
The evening class, Ellie was more sure about her hunch.

While they were out shopping, Ellie subtly asked about the training class and whether her cousin was getting any commission. Her cousin just laughed and playfully scolded her for overthinking it.

She explained that she just thought Mr. Richardson was a really great guy and wanted to introduce more people to him. Everyone could learn and have fun, and Mr. Richardson would get a better salary. It was a win-win.

Ellie was still skeptical but ended up meeting Linda, who had also met her cousin through the dance classes. Linda was not only super friendly and funny, but she was also really generous.

When Allie found a dress she liked but thought was too pricey, Linda also liked it. After trying it on, she went ahead and bought it, then asked if they wanted to get matching ones so the three of them could be like sisters.

Having just met, Ellie didn't feel right accepting such a gift and quickly shook her head to decline. Plus, she wasn't really into wearing such a spaghetti strap dress.