Chapter 522 Ms. Waverly
Idris's shop wasn't large—about the size of a master bedroom—but for James, it was a lifeline in desperate times.
Size didn't matter anymore. What he needed now was simply a place to sell his tea.
James accepted Idris's offer without hesitation and called Jett and the others to help. In less than an hour, he completed all the legal paperwork for the transfer.
Next, he installed new equipment and decorated the small space. If the Garcia family and Hestia didn't want Great Grandma's Black Tea to open, James was even more determined to make it a hit on the thirtieth anniversary.
Hestia proved equally decisive. By eight o'clock the next morning, she arrived at the original Great Grandma's Black Tea location with Allan and his friends.
While the shop's renovations, staff, and equipment belonged to Hestia, the herbs and ingredients had been shipped from Rosewood City by Stephen Green.
Thousands of pounds of medicinal herbs nearly filled a small warehouse, and Christopher was directing workers who were busy moving everything.
Most of the herbs would be stored in a rented warehouse nearby, with only some kept at the new tea shop.
James had told Virgil and Michelle to rest at home, but they worried the workers might damage the precious herbs, so they came early to help.
"Hahaha, is this James's new tea shop?" Allan laughed as they arrived.
"Such a tiny place, and he dares call it a tea shop? It can't even fit five people inside."
"Old and rundown. It's not just inferior to the Garcia Group—it's ten thousand miles behind Hestia's shop."
"James, are you sure you're competing and not just making the Garcia family look better by comparison?"
"This isn't making them look better—it's just embarrassing..."
After getting out of their cars, Hestia's group was surprised to find another Great Grandma's Black Tea next door, then doubled over with laughter.
Despite James's efforts to decorate Idris's tea shop, it paled in comparison to Hestia's beautifully renovated space.
James ignored them, continuing to discuss tea varieties with Idris.
"Move faster. I want this place empty and clean before ten," Hestia ordered coldly after she finished laughing. She entered the shop and snapped at Christopher and his workers:
"Don't damage the walls or windows. Everything is high-end imported material."
She mocked James's audacity in leasing a tiny shop to continue his resistance, while also feeling annoyed that he wouldn't just give in to her demands.
Christopher opened his mouth to speak but ended up shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Hestia, you're here!" Michelle greeted her with a smile. "Have a seat. I'll pour you some water."
"That's Ms. Sharp to you, Mrs. Garcia," Hestia said, channeling her anger at James. "And this is my shop—I'm the owner. I don't need you to pour me water."
She had hoped that after a night to cool off, James would realize how childish his anger was and contact her to make peace. But he hadn't reached out at all.
That's why she'd come so early—to teach James a lesson.
"Of course, Ms. Sharp," Michelle said, momentarily stunned by Hestia's complete change in attitude.
But she didn't argue, just nodded calmly. "We'll be finished moving soon."
"Remember, only take what actually belongs to you. Don't try sneaking anything else out," Hestia crossed her arms, her voice icy. "Allan, watch them."
"You got it." Allan gestured grandly. "Don't worry, Hestia. I'll make sure they don't take anything that isn't theirs."
Asher and the others spread out, each monitoring someone, either warning Christopher's people not to damage the walls or rummaging through the herbs looking for hidden items.
Virgil couldn't hold back. "This is too much. You're treating us like thieves."
"What can we do? Your wife stole a recipe before," Allan sneered. "If we don't watch you, who knows what you might steal from Hestia?"
Christopher snorted in disgust. "Don't you all know whether Mrs. Garcia actually stole that recipe or not?"
Allan's face hardened. "If she didn't steal it, was she framed?"
"Allan, stop wasting time with them. Get some people to tear down the sign and advertising board," Hestia said, glancing at James watching from outside. "And notify every advertising company in Sovereign City. I don't want to see the Great Grandma's Black Tea brand anywhere."
The ruthless woman was determined to make James beg for mercy.
As James stood in the open space outside, watching everything unfold, a black SUV screeched to a halt beside him.
The door opened, and Lavinia stepped out, wearing sunglasses and silk stockings.
Several elegantly dressed women James had seen at the Azure Palace Hotel emerged after her, dripping with jewelry.
Their expensive perfume reached James before they did.
"How does it feel, James?" Lavinia clearly knew everything that had happened yesterday, her face showing the smugness of a victor.
"Do you regret not taking my advice?"
She moved closer. "If you had listened to me from the beginning and just been friends with Hestia, you wouldn't be moving out now. You would still have her friendship and my help."
"But you were too greedy. You tried to climb above your station with Hestia, and you failed." Her elegant face leaned close to James's ear. "It's too late for regrets now."
Her beautiful companions looked at the tiny tea shop and giggled behind their hands.
"Regrets?" James smiled at Lavinia. "Ms. Sharp, you'll soon discover exactly what you've lost."
Lavinia laughed, her eyes filled with contempt.
"James, your words sound brave, but they're meaningless."
"I don't know what I'll lose, but I know for certain what you've lost—Hestia."
"You've lost her friendship, and my approval."
"To ordinary people, your determination to open this tea shop might seem spirited and courageous."
"But to us, it's just delusional."
"Opening a tea shop less than 200 square feet, trying to compete with a billion-dollar industry leader? If that's not insanity, what is?"
She pointed her slender finger at James's shop. "Even without the Garcia family actively working against you, nobody would support your business anyway."
"Ms. Sharp, don't speak so absolutely. You might end up embarrassed like you were at the restaurant last time," James smiled at the sophisticated woman. "Who knows? On opening day, I might just steal the Garcia Group's thunder."
"Hah, do you really think that's possible? You have a good sense of smell and some knowledge of herbs, but that doesn't make you a businessman."
Lavinia crossed her arms, tapping her high heels on the ground. "I suggest you order some flower arrangements in advance. Otherwise, your entrance will look bare and embarrassing on opening day."
James smiled. "No need. I'm actually worried about where to put them all."
Seeing James so confident, the elegantly dressed women giggled again.
No space for flowers? Who was he kidding? Where did this confidence come from?
In all of Sovereign City, probably only James could be so delusional.
Just as Lavinia was about to mock James further, her phone vibrated. She checked it and saw it was from the Thousand Shadows Group executive secretary's office—a contact she had spent considerable money to establish.
Lavinia quickly put in her earpiece to answer, and a woman's voice came through:
"Ms. Sharp, I just received news that Ms. Waverly will be flying to Sovereign City the day after tomorrow..."
Delphine is coming to Sovereign City?
Lavinia was momentarily shocked that the group's chairwoman was visiting, then her face lit up with excitement. This was a perfect opportunity to curry favor.
She lowered her voice. "What business brings Ms. Waverly to Sovereign City?"
The woman on the other end hesitated. "She seems to be attending some tea company's event in a private capacity. The company name remains unknown."
"A tea company?" Lavinia's face froze as she looked across at the Garcia Group.
"The Garcia family must have serious connections..."
*CRASH!*
Just then, a sharp sound rang out as Hestia personally smashed the Great Grandma's Black Tea signboard.
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