15:37 Wed, Nov 6 BG. Chapter 205
Hatred and anger flared in Teri's eyes. She stopped abruptly, a strange smile playing on her lips. "Tell her I have an urgent matter to attend to and ask her to wait. I'll come immediately after I'm finished. Oh, and keep an eye on her. If she gets tired of waiting, make sure she's comfortable."
Thea didn't know how long she waited, but she felt sleepy. She held her head, overcome by drowsiness. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she awoke. She glanced at the time: two hours had passed. Teri had invited numerous wealthy families, yet she hadn't appeared. Thea had no idea what was happening.
Realizing something was amiss, Thea quickly got up and left. No one stopped her; the assistant even smiled. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hendrix. I saw you were asleep and didn't want to disturb you. Ms. Langstaff said if you were tired, I could send you home."
Thea's face was cold. "Where is Joyce?"
The assistant readily led her to Joyce, who was asleep in her room, in a similar state. The room was heavily scented with incense, identical to the smell in Thea's room. Thea understood Teri's scheme. Teri had summoned many people using Thea's name; if Thea didn't appear, everyone would assume she was arrogant and disdainful. Thea knew this would tarnish her reputation.
Thea rushed into the room and woke Joyce. Joyce awoke, dazed, realizing she'd fallen asleep without noticing.
"Thea, we've been tricked!" Joyce's expression turned grim, realizing the gravity of the situation. She'd employed many tactics in the business world, but this was unprecedented. Teri's move was self-destructive. Yet, there was no apparent animosity between them; Joyce couldn't understand Teri's motive.
Joyce, direct and forceful, confronted Teri's assistant, grabbing her collar. "Where's Ms. Langstaff? We demand to see her."
The assistant offered a conciliatory smile. "I'm truly sorry. Ms. Langstaff is indisposed. When she had a moment, she asked me to invite you to the party, but you were asleep. I couldn't disturb you. You fell asleep at a crucial moment."
"You!" Joyce fumed.
Thea intervened, fixing the assistant with a somber gaze. "Stop pretending. I know Ms. Langstaff deliberately set me up. I simply want to know why, given our long history of collaboration. If she has grievances, I'm willing to hear them."
"After all, the Langstaff Group and Sparkle Rocks have collaborated for over ten years. While Sparkle Rocks has profited greatly, the Langstaff Group has also benefited immensely. Is she really willing to abandon a long-term partnership for personal reasons?"
"Mrs. Hendrix, your statement is amusing. You claim I want to abandon our collaboration? Clearly, you had no intention of cooperating. You deliberately avoided me and made things difficult," a clear female voice announced from behind.
Thea and Joyce turned simultaneously. Teri approached, accompanied by several impeccably dressed individuals—likely her specially invited guests. Thea recognized some of Sparkle Rocks' business partners among them. Their expressions toward Thea were a mixture of complexity and disgust.
Teri wiped away nonexistent tears; her eyes were red, feigning recent weeping. "Everyone, you've witnessed this. I know Sparkle Rocks has a new CEO. Being new to this, I showed my sincerity in collaborating with Mrs. Hendrix. I arranged a large party for her to meet you all. Yet, upon arrival, she demanded a thirty percent increase to our agreed-upon terms. Naturally, I refused. I spoke to my assistant, while also hoping she'd attend the party. We've worked together for years; I believed we had a strong friendship. Unexpectedly, she disregarded that, claiming I would be embarrassed. She even went to sleep in her room! I'm here to ask you, Mrs. Hendrix, why? Is it because you can't stand me?"
Her distortion of the truth rivaled Emmalie's. Thea's expression darkened.
Whispers erupted among the assembled guests.
"This is Thea Hendrix? Just as expected, she's incompetent and unsuitable to run a company."
"You haven't heard the rumors about her in Key Biskane, have you? She's made a mess of her family. It's unbelievable she runs Sparkle Rocks. She's already acting superior after gaining power."
"The thought of working with someone like her is terrifying. While Sparkle Rocks' stones are excellent, I don't want to risk working with someone like that."
"Exactly. We considered working with Sparkle Rocks because of their decade-long partnership with the Langstaff Group. Now, there's no need."
Some sided with Teri: "Ms. Langstaff, don't worry. If you drop Sparkle Rocks, we'll follow you. We can't work with such a partner."
"She's incompetent and rude."
Joyce desperately attempted to explain, but they wouldn't listen. Teri continued her hypocritical display of tears, claiming she could find a better supplier, refusing to endure such humiliation.
Thea stopped Joyce's frantic attempts at explanation.
"It's useless," she stated flatly, watching Teri's performance coldly. "Don't you see? She's determined not to work with me. Even without this incident, she would've found an excuse. I was foolish to trust so easily. The Langstaff Group isn't the only partnership Sparkle Rocks will lose today."
Thea felt a wave of exhaustion.
Joyce offered comfort. "Don't worry. Key Biskane is vast. The Langstaff Group isn't the only company here. We'll overcome this."
Thea took a deep breath and approached Teri. "Ms. Langstaff, there's no need for this charade. It's over. I just want a conversation. At the very least, tell me how I failed."