The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Chapter 36 A Witch Indeed
“What?! So not only are you comfortable with stealing, but you also resort to violence? Oh my God! What depths will you sink to?” Athena exclaimed dramatically, her words dripping with disdain. “What a lawless witch you are!”

Minerva clenched her teeth, her fists tightly balled at her sides. Despite her overwhelming fury, she knew resorting to violence wouldn’t serve her well, especially in the midst of the controversy on the internet. Besides, Minerva’s brother had recently cautioned her against stirring up trouble, particularly concerning Hera. While she wasn’t privy to the details of their conversation from the previous night, she sensed her brother’s determination to prevent any further turmoil involving Hera at all costs.

This fueled Minerva’s fury even more towards Hera. ‘Not content with only targeting Alexi, now she’s going after my brother too. She must have seduced him; that’s why he’s choosing her side over mine! You sure have a big appetite Hera!’ she seethed inwardly.

“Babe, I’m positive this girl is brewing up another batch of dark gossip to throw your way,” Athena whispered to Hera discreetly, her gaze fixed on Minerva.

Today, she accompanied Alexi on a date to momentarily escape her unhappiness and secure the limited edition car she desired—a promise her brother had made in exchange for her refraining from causing trouble for a while. It was merely a temporary act of restraint on her part.

Frustrated and unwilling to engage further in another verbal fight with Hera and her friend, Minerva decided to retreat into the shop to avoid any impulsive actions that may warrant of angering her brother. As she passed Athena, she forcefully pushed her. Athena was caught off guard and stumbled, but thankfully, Hera was nearby to lend support and help her regain her balance.

“You truly are despicable!” Athena shouted after Minerva as she walked away. Turning to face Hera, she continued, “I can’t fathom how she became the second female lead in this story when she’s nothing but a witch. The book described her as merely pampered and straightforward, but witnessing her true colors is utterly disappointing,” Athena vented her frustrations.

Hera responded with a playful smirk. “Are you just realizing this now?”

Athena regarded Hera with a mix of concern and frustration. “Why are you smiling? You were the one being targeted by that witch,” she remarked, her tone laced with exasperation. “Thankfully, you struck a deal with her brother, or else she might have actually tried something against you,” Athena added, her voice tinged with relief.

Hera encourages Athena to expedite the pickup process so they can depart from the premises swiftly. Fortunately, Minerva refrains from engaging them in a confrontation for Jess’s assistance and instead heads directly to the store’s office. Whatever she’s up to in there remains a mystery to the two of them, but their agenda isn’t contingent upon Minerva’s actions.

After Athena provided the necessary information to Jess, he promptly headed to the indoor garage housing the pre-ordered cars and those available for test drives. After 10 minutes elapsed without his return, they speculated he might be encountering difficulties locating the car or arranging logistics. However, as an additional 20 minutes passed without any sign of Jess, concerns arose that something unforeseen might have occurred. Consequently, Hera and Athena decided to take matters into their own hands and check the situation firsthand.

Athena had previously visited the store with her father to inspect the cars in the showroom and place their order, so she was already familiar with the location of the inner garage. Confident in her knowledge, she led Hera there without hesitation.

Even before they reached the entrance to the inner garage, they could hear Jess’s voice, filled with distress and almost pleading. Sensing that something serious had occurred, they exchanged a meaningful glance before quickly dashing to get a closer look at what was happening inside.

As they entered, they found Jess with outstretched arms, guarding the Bugatti Chiron and preventing anyone from approaching it, while earnestly pleading with the three individuals in front of him.

“Manager, you understand this car was pre-ordered. We can’t allow others to touch it, much less do a test drive.” Jess reasoned with his manager, who was already holding the car keys.

As he reached the inner garage, Jess found the store manager already showcasing the car to Minerva and Alexi. Minerva was visibly thrilled, squealing in excitement as she circled the car she desired. Nodding enthusiastically to herself, she seemed fully satisfied with the color and design, deeming it perfect for her taste.

Had Jess arrived a moment later, the store manager might have already handed the car over to Minerva. How could he let such a breach occur? It was a direct order from the general manager to safeguard the cars in garage A and prohibit any test drives, as they were reserved for influential clients. Jess couldn’t ascertain whether the store manager had overlooked the notice or if he was simply trying to curry favor with yet another affluent customer, as was his habit. Regardless of the rationale behind his actions, it was bound to spell trouble for them.

He couldn’t help but wonder how the client had learned about the specific car, considering it had been sent directly to their shop via express courier from the manufacturer. Typically, such arrangements would be made through their partnering car shipping service.

He no longer wished to dwell on the situation. Since his arrival, he had been attempting to reason with his manager, but he couldn’t even gauge how much time had passed. His main concern was the owner growing impatient and potentially filing a complaint against him. He felt utterly trapped, caught between a rock and a hard place.

“Why are you so concerned? We’ll simply file for another order and inform the original purchaser that there was a delay in shipment, prolonging the delivery,” the store manager remarked smugly, displaying no hint of concern. He continued confidently, “Plus, the owner hasn’t arrived yet. Miss Briley here was prepared to purchase this car for double the amount. Wouldn’t it benefit the company to earn more?”

Hera and Athena listened in disbelief, while Jess was stunned to hear the words coming from his manager’s mouth. ‘Has he been doing this for a long time?’ Jess wondered. Suddenly, a realization struck him. They had been inundated with complaints at this branch about delayed pre-orders, far more than at other branches. Despite speaking with their shipping partner, who assured them they followed protocols and the contract meticulously, the root of the problem remained unknown.

Jess had only become aware of this situation because the store manager was frequently absent. When he was present, Jess was often either on his day off or out in the field inspecting the delivered cars to ensure they met quality standards. While it was typically the store manager’s responsibility to conduct these checks, he often delegated the most crucial tasks and sensitive matters to Jess. If Jess declined, there was no one else to assume responsibility. Moreover, whenever issues arose, the store manager was quick to shift the blame onto Jess. Feeling trapped in this dynamic, Jess found himself effectively enslaved to his superior’s whims.

Jess couldn’t believe that the store manager’s wrongdoing extended to attempting to profit by reselling cars at inflated prices. “I think I’m going to lose my mind!” he muttered to himself in frustration. Although he had considered reporting his manager’s lazy management, he hesitated due to the store manager’s connections with one of the company directors. Being just a regular assistant manager, Jess felt fortunate to have climbed as far as he had at his age. However, he also realized he lacked a powerful backer. Any misstep could easily lead to his dismissal.

“Store manager, Miss Briley could simply place an order for the same model if she truly admires it,” Jess suggested, attempting to offer a resolution.

“Why should I wait indefinitely? Who knows how long it will take? I’m prepared to pay double the amount, yet you still refuse? Isn’t this just business?” Minerva retorted angrily.

“Miss Briley, we adhere to a first-come, first-served protocol, not an auction where the highest bidder prevails. Please understand,” Jess calmly explained.

“Shut up, Jess! Just move out of my way!” the store manager snapped, forcefully pushing Jess aside.

“Wow! What an enlightening display!” Athena remarked with heavy sarcasm as they approached, her voice dripping with irony as she sarcastically clapped her hands in slow motion.