Chapter 3

I replied with an "OK" and transferred back the seven thousand two hundred I'd collected today.

People in the group were still complaining.

"We got refunds for this round, but what about all the previous ones? We've ordered at least eight times, if not ten."

"She tearfully made a thousand bucks off each of us every time, right? That's six thousand from the six of us!"

"Ten times is sixty thousand. Tsk tsk. I bet we've been supporting her entire shop."

I silently exited WhatsApp without responding.

There was no point. Even if I told them my cost price alone was over six thousand, so what?

They'd just accuse me of bullshitting.

I looked at each team member's latest body measurements on my computer and called the factory.

"Don't make those six sets of custom equipment."

The technician, Nelson, let out an excited shriek.

"You've finally come to your senses!"

"Every time you custom-make stuff for them, and you only charge that little—it's not even a fraction of the cost."

"Some people, even if you don't make a cent off them, will still think you're making a fortune."

"This is the right move!"

After hanging up, I laughed at myself.

When I first joined the team last year, my teammates' eyes lit up when they saw my equipment.

"Elena, your shoe soles are amazing. You can tell they have great grip just by looking!"

"Wow, your rope is clearly lighter than mine, but how does it feel sturdier?"

Johnson looked at his own equipment and sighed despondently.

"My set still cost almost three thousand. Elena's set must be over ten thousand, right?"

"Forget it, can't be jealous. My salary can barely sustain even this set."

After spending time with them, I was infected by their passion for rock climbing.

So I volunteered that I could get them the same quality equipment I had, for only twelve hundred.

I said I owned a shop and could get cost price.

Actually, I was the founder of UP Company, the largest rock climbing equipment manufacturer.

The first competition after they switched equipment, our team took first place.

Before that, we couldn't even make top three.

From then on, every time we competed, advertisers even approached us. Everyone got paid while pursuing their hobby.

To help everyone perform better, I asked for their body measurements and started making personalized custom gear for them.

Custom gear couldn't be mass-produced on assembly lines. It required technicians to supervise and adjust every detail.

My factory price for one set was twelve thousand.

The technician advised me not to subsidize like this. I said it was fine, we were all friends.

I never expected the slap in the face to come so quickly.

Johnson's message came again.

"Send our body measurements to Muniz right away. Don't delay!"

"OK."

I sent the team members' data files to Muniz.

Shortly after, she replied:

"Elena, you really are quite the actress."

"Equipment comes in fixed sizes for each model. What do you need body measurements for?"

"Making it all fancy to make scamming easier, is that it?"