‘We should have got her information so we can look up her account,’ I say. ‘I wonder how many followers she has.’
That’s not the end, though, as more and more people flit into the restaurant, I realise that she isn’t the only influencer who has been alerted to our relaunch. A couple more let us know who they are, and Deen makes sure to provide each of them with at least one free item off the menu.
I can’t help but wonder, though, how they found out about the launch. I guess that it must have been Jade – she does have a habit of posting about anything and everything on her Instagram account, and considering the amount of buzz she generated about the football game, I wouldn’t be surprised if she went all out to generate buzz about the restaurant’s launch too. I would have to thank her.
Then, Jen shows up with half the team, big grins on theirfaces. It’s good to see them again. The past two weeks have been such a rush of preparation for the relaunch that we paused training. As I sit them down, I take Jade aside for a second.
‘Hey, you haven’t been posting about this relaunch on your account, have you?’ I ask.
Jade gives me a confused look. ‘Maybe once or twice, but, honestly, it wasn’t getting a lot of traction. I mean, my followers care aboutme, and now about football, I guess. I don’t think they really care about a random restaurant opening, unfortunately,’ Jade says matter-of-factly.
‘So … you aren’t the reason a bunch of food influencers have been showing up here tonight?’ I ask.
Jade just shrugs. ‘I don’t think any food influencers even follow me. I’m not into the whole food scene. I’m a lifestyle influencer, which isverydifferent from food influencing.’
‘Got it,’ I say, even though I really don’t get it.
Jade goes back to the team, while I continue to be confused about how all of these influencers heard about our relaunch. My confusion ends, though, when I notice Jen deep in conversation with one of the guests. She calls me over when she spots me watching them, and makes introductions.
‘Dina, this is Sallie Fischer. She used to play for a women’s football league in Liverpool. This is Dina, she’s assistant coach to the football team I’m helping to run for the council, and her family owns this place.’
I extend my hand to Sallie with a smile.
‘This is a great place you have here,’ she says. ‘When one of my colleagues reached out to tell me I had to check it out, I wasn’t sure what to think, but the food is top-notch, and I love the decor. Really different from any other Indian restaurants that I’ve been to.’
‘Well, it’s a Bangladeshi restaurant,’ I explain. ‘Everything here is inspired by Bangladeshi culture.’
Sallie nods. ‘Well, it’s amazing. And it’s your place? You run a restaurant and coach football?’
I chuckle, and shake my head. ‘No. It’s mostly my brother’s place, but it used to be my dad’s. I just helped him out a little with the relaunch.’
‘Well, ever since I retired from football, I’ve been dabbling in a few different things, and one of them is helping out up-and-coming restaurants. I know how difficult it can be – my family used to own one too, back in the day.’ Sallie takes out a business card from her bag and hands it to me. ‘Give this to your brother – maybe the two of us can get in touch and discuss a few things. Though, he’s already got a pretty good thing going. Maybe he doesn’t even need my help.’
I stare at the business card in awe, already knowing that Deen will be over the moon when I show it to him. ‘Thank you. You said … you heard about the launch from a colleague?’
‘Oh, yes. Kind of. I guess we’re not really colleagues anymore. She played for the Vikings, and I mentored her for a little bit a couple of years ago. We still keep in touch.’
The Vikings–that was Maya’s team. Slowly, everything clicks into place. Of course, Maya would be the one to get all of these people here – people with connections. She has been in the public eye, she knows how these things work. She has somehow got people to come here, to try Deen’s food. I’m not sure what that means, but it fills me with a sense of elation that I can’t even begin to describe.
Chapter 35
Dina
The restaurant is so busy that it feels like it might never empty out, but as it gets dark, customers begin to trickle away, until there are only a handful left near closing time. Deen and I have been so busy serving everyone, and talking to people, that we have barely had any downtime.
Now, I go up to Deen, who is waiting by the register. I expected that he would be smiling from ear to ear, but he looks a little downtrodden.
‘Hey, what’s wrong?’ I ask.
Deen looks up at me and a smile appears on his lips, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. ‘Nothing. This has been great. I could never have expected this kind of turnout.’
‘Yeah, it’s been so amazing. And so many reviewers and influencers – hopefully they’ll just drive more people to come here.’
‘Yeah.’ Deen nods. ‘How did so many of them even know to come here? Did you tip them off?’
I shake my head. I’ve been too busy to really think about Maya and what she’s done. Now that I am thinking about it, I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.
‘I think it was Maya,’ I admit.
