Chapter 2

2

My phone rang―it was the restaurant. I rushed over immediately.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw a group of customers looking at me with hostile eyes.

I wasn't sure what had happened yet, but in the service industry, the customer is king. I immediately bowed and apologized.

"I am so sorry, everyone. I apologize for the delay and any bad experience you've had. Could you tell me what the problem is?"

The customer didn't say a word. He just pointed at the cabbage dish.

I grabbed a pair of clean utensils and took a bite. It was foul. The produce was rotten.

The pieces clicked together instantly. Susie wanted to show me who was boss, so she had her friends inside my kitchen swap out the fresh heads for garbage.

I quickly explained the situation and offered a resolution.

"I am deeply sorry for the trouble. This meal is on the house today. Additionally, I'll give you a fifty-percent discount on your next visit. Does that sound fair?"

The customer realized it was an internal mishap and didn't push further. He nodded and gave me a piece of advice before leaving.

"Sometimes, people's hearts are hard to read. You should distance yourself from poisonous people as soon as possible."

I nodded, then instructed the staff to contact everyone who had ordered cabbage that day to offer a refund. Then, I went to the kitchen to inspect the remaining stock.

Two-thirds of the cabbage was spoiled. I kept samples as evidence and headed straight to the local wholesale market.

The market owner was thrilled to see me. He knew I usually placed large orders and pulled out a chair for me.

"Miss Vance! Long time no see. What brings you to the market today?"

I sighed and told him the whole story. He slapped his knee and laughed.

"That's the youth for you. They think business is just buying low and selling high. They have no idea how hard it is to actually run a place."

"The margins aren't what they think. If it were that easy, we'd all be millionaires just by planting seeds!"

I smiled, agreeing with him, before getting to my real purpose.

"I have a private event booked for the day after tomorrow. There's a cabbage dish on the menu. I want to buy a batch from you at the same price I was paying Susie."

The owner looked a bit hesitant.

"That's a tight turnaround. I'm not sure if I have enough in stock."

"But since you're a loyal customer, don't worry. I'll pull some from my other warehouse for you. I guarantee you won't find a single rotten leaf. Just remember me when you have more business, okay?"

I thanked him repeatedly.

"Thank you so much. Once the event is over, dinner is on me."

I handed him a premium pack of cigars as a gesture of thanks.

Just then, my phone rang. it was my academic advisor, Professor Sterling.

"Chloe, Susie Miller is here. She's claiming you defrauded her. The police are involved now. You need to get back to campus and clear this up."

I hadn't expected her to strike first by playing the victim.

But this played right into my hands. I grabbed my evidence reports and rushed back.

On the way, I remembered how Susie had told me her neighbor's sister also had cabbage no one wanted. She said if they didn't sell, the girl would have to exchange herself for money by bearing children for some local creep.

I couldn't stand the thought of a girl being trapped like that, so I agreed to help her too.

Because of that, the girl's creepy uncle hated me.

When I went to pick up the shipment, he tried to corner me. He touched my thigh, made disgusting comments, and tried to drag me into a dark alley. I barely escaped.

When I told Susie about it, she just brushed it off.

"That's just how they show hospitality in our town. Don't be so sensitive."

"He's the only man in their family. If he gets a criminal record over this, what will they do?"

"Don't destroy a whole family just because of your own petty selfishness."