Chapter 151 The Unexpected Assistant
The kitchen still carried the warm, cozy scent of freshly brewed teas and warm milk.
Megan had just finished raving about the final sample cup, her eyes practically glowing with genuine excitement as she set down her empty glass.
Veyra glanced up at the clock hanging on the wall, realizing with a small start that the entire afternoon had completely slipped away.
"I should probably start heading back," Veyra said, reaching for her bag. "Though I promised Clara I would swing back by the shop to pick up a pizza before I left."
Megan’s face lit up instantly. "Oh, I’ll walk over with you! Mom will be super happy to see you drop by again."
Veyra smiled warmly at her. "That would be lovely."
Megan grabbed her light jacket and was already shuffling toward the kitchen exit.
"Wait a second," Mia called out from behind the prep counter, holding up a dry towel. "Before you run off, Megan, I wanted to ask you something."
Megan paused, turning around with a curious look.
Mia pointed a thumb toward the remaining ingredient bags sitting on the counter. "I still have a handful of milk tea recipes from Veyra’s list that we couldn’t test today. Do you want to come back tomorrow afternoon and help us run the second round of flavor trials?"
Megan blinked, pointing a finger at her own chest. "Wait, me?"
"You have a great palate," Mia said encouragingly. "You’re completely honest, you actually enjoy the process, and you aren’t afraid to say if a flavor feels off. That kind of feedback is super helpful."
Megan let out a happy laugh, nodding eagerly. "I would absolutely love to help out!"
"Awesome. Shall we say around two o’clock tomorrow?"
"I’ll be there on the dot!"
They stepped out of the cafe together, the cool evening air greeting them as soon as the door swung open. The street was peaceful, with the overhead streetlights flickering to life one by one along the sidewalk.
Megan fell into a comfortable step right beside Veyra, her chatter bright and lively. "Honestly, those tea blends were ridiculous. I have never tasted anything like that at a normal drink shop."
"Thank you," Veyra said softly. "Mia and I put a lot of thought into them."
"Seriously though, once you guys open up near the university, you are going to make a absolute fortune."
Veyra laughed softly at her enthusiasm. "I certainly hope so."
Megan went quiet for a brief moment as they walked, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "So, how are you two planning to hunt down a physical location for the store?"
Veyra glanced over at her. "I was originally going to let Mia handle the location scouting while she is out."
"Does she have much experience dealing with commercial real estate?"
"I don’t think she has done it directly, no."
Megan nodded her head slowly, a thoughtful look settling over her face. "I might actually be able to help out with that part. I spent months digging into local shop leases and commercial spaces for my mom when she was considering relocating her pizza place last year."
Veyra raised her brows in pleasant surprise. "You know how commercial leases work?"
"I know all about security deposits, square footage costs, basic renovation permits, and how to negotiate terms with stubborn landlords," Megan explained with a casual shrug. "I did a ton of heavy reading back then so my mom wouldn’t get taken advantage of."
Veyra studied the young woman’s face. There was zero arrogance in her voice, she was just plainly stating what she knew.
A lightbulb instantly went off in Veyra’s mind.
She had been quietly worrying about the sheer mountain of logistics lying ahead, finding the right spot, dealing with property owners, securing health permits, and overseeing the interior buildout. Mia was brilliant and knew how to manage daily shop operations, but throwing a massive real estate hunt onto her plate on top of her heavy chemistry classes was asking for burnout.
Megan was sharp, remarkably organized, highly motivated, and had a solid month of free time sitting ahead of her before the new school semester kicked off.
"Megan," Veyra began, stopping near the edge of the sidewalk. "Would you be interested in taking on a temporary job with us?"
Megan stopped in her tracks, blinking in surprise. "A job? Doing what?"
"I need someone reliable to act as Mia’s right hand," Veyra laid out clearly. "Someone who can help her scout prime locations, review lease terms, organize permit paperwork, and keep an eye on contractors during the shop renovations. Naturally, I would pay you a very proper wage."
Megan’s mouth fell open, her dark eyes wide. "Are you actually serious right now?"
"I am completely serious."
A massive, brilliant smile broke across Megan’s face, her voice rising with pure excitement. "Yes! I mean, yes, absolutely, I would love to do that!"
Veyra chuckled softly. "Are you sure? It is going to be pretty busy, hard work."
"I have a full month off before my university classes start back up, and I was honestly just planning to rot on the couch watching dramas and eating snacks," Megan laughed freely. "This is a million times better!"
Veyra smiled, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders. "Then it’s officially settled. You are Mia’s new assistant."
They reached the pizza shop a minute later. The front glass windows were warm and glowing, and the mouth-watering scent of toasted crust and rich garlic hung thick in the air. Inside, Clara was behind the high counter, using a clean towel to wipe down the metal surfaces.
When the front door chimed, Clara looked up, her face instantly breaking into a wide, welcoming grin.
"Veyra! You came back!"
"I promised I would drop by before heading home," Veyra said, walking up to the register. "Can I order a fresh beef pizza to take with me?"
"Coming right up!" Clara said warmly, stepping toward the back prep area.
Megan quickly slipped around the side counter and leaned over to whisper something in her mother’s ear. Clara’s hands froze on the pizza board. Her eyes widened in total shock, and she whipped her head round to look straight at Veyra.
"You gave my daughter a job?" Clara asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Veyra gave a soft, reassuring nod. "She is going to be helping my business partner set up our new milk tea store over the next month. She is sharp and knows a lot about local leases."
Clara’s eyes glistened with bright, emotional tears, her voice raspy with deep gratitude. "Veyra... I don’t even know what to say. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Veyra shook her head gently. "Please, don’t thank me. She is the one doing us a huge favor by jumping in to help."
Clara pulled a fresh, steaming beef pizza straight out of the deck oven, the cheese still bubbling hot over the golden-brown crust. She carefully slid the entire pie into a clean cardboard box, folded the top shut, and handed it across the counter.
"How much do I owe you for this?" Veyra asked, reaching into her bag for her wallet.
Clara immediately waved her hands, stepping back. "Not a single cent. It’s completely on the house."
"Clara, please, I want to pay—"
"Don’t you dare argue with me on this," Clara said with a firm, affectionate shake of her head. "You saved my daughter from trouble, you helped save my shop, and now you are giving Megan a wonderful opportunity. The absolute least I can do is feed you. The pizza is free."
Veyra opened her mouth to object, but seeing the stubborn warmth in Clara’s eyes, she let out a quiet breath and smiled.
"Thank you, Clara. Truly."
"Thank you, my dear."
Holding the warm cardboard box carefully in her arms, Veyra bade them both goodbye and stepped back out into the cool night air.
The ride back to the Thorne manor was quiet and peaceful.
Veyra sat comfortably in the spacious back seat of the car, the warm pizza box resting gently on her lap while a paper bag holding a couple of fresh milk tea samples sat beside her. Leon Wei drove steadily, keeping his eyes on the road in absolute silence.
Veyra turned her head to stare out the tinted window, watching the bright city lights blur past into long streaks of color.
She took a moment to reflect on everything that had happened throughout the day, the quiet morning, the visit to Clara’s bustling shop, the deep conversation with Mia, the birth of Verra Tea, and bringing Megan onto the team. She hadn’t just spent money or killed time today. She had actually laid down the first bricks of something real, something that belonged entirely to her.
A short while later, the large iron gates of the estate swung open, and the car glided smoothly up the long driveway, coming to a stop right in front of the main entrance.
Veyra gathered her things, stepped out into the night air, and headed inside. The massive entrance hall was dim and silent, the quiet grandeur of the house settling all around her.
As she walked toward the grand staircase, her eyes instinctively drifted upward. A soft yellow light was glowing from under the door of Dorian’s private room.
Without overthinking it, she carried the warm pizza box and the bag of fresh milk tea up the stairs, her light footsteps echoing softly on the steps. She marched straight down the carpeted hallway toward his room, completely unaware of how much she looked like a thoughtful wife coming home late with a warm midnight snack for her husband.
Reaching his door, she raised a hand and knocked gently.
Silence.
She waited a few seconds, then knocked again, a little firmer this time.
Still, no one answered.
Reaching for the handle, she pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. The main bedroom light was on, throwing a warm glow over the unmade bed, but the room itself was completely quiet and empty.
Veyra frowned slightly, stepping inside. "Dorian?" she called out softly.
There was no reply.
Just as she turned around, intending to leave the food on the table and slip back out, the inner dressing room door creaked open.
Dorian stepped out into the bedroom.