Ch. 183: Mr. Edwards’ Unraveled Life chapter 183

Chapter 183As Norah and Tessa arrived in the bustling city, they got right to work. Their first stop was the store where they typically purchased drinks for the office pantry. That part of their shopping went smoothly. However, Norah had one more errand that would take a bit more effort—picking up Kevin’s preferred coffee beans, which required a special appointment.

Thankfully, the coffee was in stock.

“Ms. White, are those coffee beans really so exclusive that you need an appointment to buy them?” Tessa asked, genuinely curious.

Norah smiled lightly. “Mr. Edwards has a very specific taste. This is the only coffee he’ll drink.”

Tessa could only shake her head in awe. “Must be nice to have that kind of luxury—top-notch coffee beans for every cup.”

When they reached the shop, Norah greeted the manager. “Hi, I’m here to pick up my order. It’s the same as usual.”

The manager hesitated, looking visibly uncomfortable. “Ms. White, about that… I only have one bag left, but…” He trailed off, looking toward a seated customer.

Norah followed his gaze and spotted Jamie Jenkins sipping coffee leisurely. Jamie glanced up, her expression instantly turning smug.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Secretary White,” Jamie said mockingly. “These aren’t for you, are they? Buying them for Kevin, I assume?”

Norah maintained her composure. “Store manager, I believe I had these reserved?”

“Yes,” the manager confirmed, “but Miss Jenkins has also been a loyal customer, and she’s insisting—”

Jamie interrupted with a triumphant smirk. “You see, I enjoy rare things, especially when they’re hard to come by. And I don’t mind paying extra.”

Norah’s voice remained steady, though a sharp edge crept into her tone. “First come, first served. If it’s about money, surely you don’t think the Edwards family can’t afford a bag of coffee beans?”

The manager’s discomfort deepened. “I… I really don’t want to upset either of you. Maybe we could split the bag?”

Jamie scoffed. “I don’t share, especially not with her.” She grabbed the bag, challenging Norah.

Before Norah could respond, Tessa stepped forward. “That’s ours! You’re just being petty because you have a grudge.”

Jamie’s face darkened. “Don’t think that just because there are two of you, I’ll back down.”

Before things could escalate further, a new voice rang out. “What’s going on here?”

Norah turned to see Elodie storming toward them, fresh out of the restroom. Without hesitation, Elodie shoved Norah and Tessa back. “What’s this? Bullying Jamie because she’s on her own? Typical!”

Norah blinked in surprise. Why is Elodie here? It quickly became clear that Elodie and Jamie were close.

Jamie latched onto Elodie’s arm dramatically. “Don’t worry about it, Elodie. I’ll be fine. They just don’t like me because I’m an outsider.”

Elodie’s protective instincts flared. “You dare touch a hair on Jamie? If you do, you’ll answer to me.”

Tessa huffed in frustration. “We’re not bullying her! She’s the one being unreasonable!”

Elodie’s eyes narrowed. “As if I’d believe you. I’ve seen how you and your kind treat people you think you’re better than.”

Norah sighed, recognizing the futility of arguing with Elodie in this state. “Elodie, this is a misunderstanding. We don’t have any issue with Miss Jenkins. In fact, we’re business collaborators—”

“Don’t even try to talk your way out of this!” Elodie snapped, cutting her off. “You’re just pretending to be nice. But I see right through you, Norah. You’re nothing but a schemer—a bad woman!”

Norah’s jaw tightened. How did I suddenly become the villain here? She decided not to engage further and stepped back. “Fine. If it means that much to you, keep the coffee beans.”

Tessa, however, was furious. “What about Mr. Edwards? He’s not going to be happy if we show up empty-handed!”

Norah shook her head. “It’s not worth the trouble. Let’s go.”

As Norah and Tessa walked away, Elodie shot one last parting remark. “Don’t think for a second that I’ll forgive you for everything you’ve done. This doesn’t change anything.”

Jamie leaned close to Elodie with a grateful smile. “Thanks for standing up for me, Elodie. You’re such a good friend.”

Elodie puffed up with pride. “If she bothers you again, just let me know. I’ll handle it.”

Jamie smirked inwardly but kept her tone sweet. “You’re too kind. Let’s grab lunch later.”

Once outside, Norah led Tessa to another store to find a substitute. As they waited for their purchase, Tessa couldn’t let go of her frustration. “Are you sure this is okay? What if Mr. Edwards notices the coffee isn’t his usual brand?”

Norah offered a faint smile. “It’s better than nothing. He’ll survive for a day.”

On the drive back, Norah decided to take a shortcut through a narrow, quiet alley to avoid rush-hour traffic. The gloomy, deserted road made Tessa uneasy. “Ms. White, are you sure this is safe? This place feels creepy.”

“It’s fine,” Norah reassured her. “I’ve taken this route before. It’s faster.”

As they drove, an unexpected scream shattered the silence. “Ahhh!”