From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

The shop was tucked away in a forlorn corner of the sleepy strip mall, and business had been as stale as last week’s bread.

So when Anthea showed up, Una was certain she’d come to stir the pot.

Una’s face drained of color, her skin prickling with a chill that made no sense in the heat of July.

Anthea strolled in, her voice cutting through the stifling air. “Is Una around?” She’d dealt with Una when leasing the space before and didn’t know anyone else at the leasing. office. Looking to buy the shop, she naturally sought out Una. Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Una’s heart skipped a beat. Trouble was brewing.

She couldn’t let Anthea corner her now. A scapegoat was needed and fast.

Swallowing hard, Una pointed to Dinah, the newbie on the team. “Dinah, handle that customer for me!”

“Huh?” Dinah blinked in confusion.

“Are you deaf?” Una snapped, playing the seniority card. “Get moving, or I’ll have the manager on your case!”

Anthea, who was just a partition away, had sharp senses. She could hear the commotion inside, clear as day.

Una was squirming, alright. Probably thought she was here for a showdown.

Anthea quirked her eyebrows, but she didn’t call Una out, not yet.

Under pressure, Dinah approached Anthea with hesitance. “Good afternoon, madam. How may I assist you today?” There was a tremor in her voice, sensing the tension that had sent Una scrambling.

A faint smile played on Anthea as she replied, “I’m a bit worn out. Could we talk in the lounge area?”

“Right this way, please.” Dinah led Anthea to a cozy corner with plush sofas.

Once seated, Anthea began, “I’m Anthea Yeager. I leased a shop here before. Can you look. it up?”

Dinah whipped out her tablet. “Let’s see. Ah, yes, the property on Dreamland Drive, right?”

“That’s the one.” Anthea nodded, then dropped a bombshell. “I’d like to buy that shop, and the two vacant ones beside it.”

Dinah’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Buy all three shops?”

The shops on that deserted food court had been a tough sell due to the low foot traffic, and the developer was offering a hefty bonus to the sales team for offloading them.

A bonus of $200,000!

Dinah earned $4,000 a month. That bonus was years of salary.

She thought she was in a dream. Anthea wasn’t here to cause trouble but was a walking jackpot.

After regaining her composure, Dinah stammered, “Are you serious?”

“Let’s get the contract signed,” Anthea stated.

“Of course.” Dinah stood up promptly to mask her excitement.

As Dinah laid out the contracts, Una burst in, shoving Dinah aside. “Ms. Yeager is my client. What’s it to you?“/

“That $200,000 is mine!” Una thought.

She couldn’t believe this rookie dared to snatch her client.

Anthea frowned slightly.

Una then turned to Anthea with a grin, a complete turnaround, “Ms. Yeager, remember me? Una. You leased your shop through me. You’re here to sign the contract, right? Come with me. Oh, are you thirsty? I’ll get you some water.”

“Una, you can’t do that!” Dinah was on the verge of tears, indignant. “You push Ms. Yeager onto me when you think she’s a troublemaker, and now you swoop in claiming she’s your client when there’s a deal to close. How can you be so shameless.”

“Everyone in the shop knows Ms. Yeager is my client,” Una retorted, rolling her eyes at Dinah. “I just stepped out to the restroom for a moment, and you swooped in. Have you no shame?”

Dinah was flabbergasted, staring at Una in disbelief. She hadn’t expected Una to twist the truth so brazenly.

Their commotion soon drew the attention of the manager.