Chapter 4

The Monarch Plaza.

It was a gorgeous, ultra-modern commercial complex that had just opened for soft-launch a week ago.

While the old mall had a decent location, its facilities were ancient and management was atrocious.

The leasing manager at the Monarch was a sharp, thirty-something woman named Fiona Mercer.

She was incredibly efficient.

"Natalie, a luxury jewelry boutique, an artisanal bakery, a premium gym, and an esports lounge. Your family just handed me the ultimate package deal."

Fiona handed me a cup of fresh espresso.

"As we discussed, your first six months of rent are completely free. After that, you get a twenty percent discount. Property management fees are waived."

"Thank you, Fiona."

"Don't thank me. Your combined foot traffic is worth every penny."

Fiona pointed out the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

"At least half of the weekend crowd at that old mall only went there for your family's shops. Now that you're gone, that place is going to be a ghost town."

"By the way, I heard that Ashley Vance has some... questionable connections?"

I took a sip of my coffee.

"She’s just an influencer who got lucky with a rich sugar daddy. She thinks running a boba shop is as simple as taking selfies."

"Well, she’s already capitalizing on your departure."

Fiona handed me an iPad.

On the screen was a TikTok video. Ashley, wearing a revealing halter top, was holding a megaphone in front of my empty storefront, shouting to a small crowd.

"The cheap bakery on the third floor went bankrupt due to terrible management! But don't worry, StarTea’s brand-new flagship store is opening here at the end of the month! Buy one, get one free!"

Next to her was a giant poster that read: *Drink StarTea, Be Elite. Say No to Low-Class Bakeries.*

Even though my sign had been taken down, the outline of my bakery's logo was still visible on the wall.

She had even hired someone to spray-paint a giant red 'X' over it.

"She is incredibly tacky," Fiona said, frowning.

"Let her bark," I said, putting the iPad down.

"The higher they climb, the harder they fall."

I pulled out my phone and opened Snapchat.

Our exclusive VIP customer group chat had over five thousand active members, all loyal regulars we had built up over the past two years.

I drafted a message:

*To our beloved community: Due to management maliciously raising rent and cutting our power, we have officially moved out. Our gorgeous new shop is located across the street at the Monarch Plaza (3rd floor). To thank you for your loyalty, we are offering double reward points and a flat 50% off for our entire opening month.*

I attached a map of our new location and a few sneak-peek photos of the sleek, modern interior design.

The moment the message was sent, the chat exploded.

"What?! No wonder they were closed yesterday! That mall management is trash!"

"Cutting the power? That is literally criminal!"

"We’re with you, Natalie! The Monarch is ten times nicer anyway. I hated going to that creepy old mall!"

"I saw some influencer girl trashing Natalie's shop on TikTok today. It was so cringe. Definitely boycotting her boba tea!"

Looking at the flood of supportive messages, I smiled.

This was only step one.

I turned to Fiona.

"Fiona, can I rent the giant LED billboard on the Monarch's exterior facade for a day?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"A countdown."

Fiona grinned. "Consider it done. Free of charge."

The next day.

Directly across the street from the old mall.

The Monarch’s massive, multi-story LED screen lit up with a sleek, minimalist poster.

Black background, bold white letters:

*Only 3 days until Eleanor’s Fine Jewelry, Natalie’s Bakery, Summit Fitness, and Apex Esports make their grand debut at the Monarch Plaza.*

And at the very bottom, in tiny, elegant font:

*Special thanks to our old landlord. If you hadn't kicked us out, we would have never found a better home.*

Since this street was the busiest avenue in the downtown area, the billboard was impossible to miss.

According to a security guard from the old mall, when Craig saw the billboard, he spat his tea all over his computer screen.

Then, he ran out of the building like a madman.