THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 348: The Quiz

Alex agreed, his mind already ticking over plans. "We should refine our presentation and make sure our techniques are flawless. Let’s also think about the story we’re telling with our coffee. Barista Royale is all about excellence and passion. We need to embody that."

Mia’s eyes sparkled with determination. "I’m ready to do whatever it takes. Let’s win this!"

Laureen smiled, feeling the collective energy and resolve of her team. "Then let’s get to work. We have an amazing opportunity in front of us, and I believe we can take it. Let’s show everyone what we’re made of."

Barista Royale’s sponsorship and the incredible prize had raised the stakes, but it had also strengthened their resolve. They were ready to give it their all, to not just compete, but to win.

Just as the team broke apart from their huddle, Lauren frowned when she sensed a cold stare in their direction.

But when she turned she didn’t see anyone staring in their direction, rather, everyone seemed to be having a dress talk with members of their theme.

"So she’s also here for the competition,"

She said to herself when her eyes caught a particular figure but far away.

From where she was standing, she could see the name on the stand.

’Is she Peggy Carter, the CEO of the popular brand Café Solstice?’

Just as she was thinking about this, her assistant whispered in her ears. "That’s Peggy Carter of Café Solstice. I can see she’s also competing with us?"

"Do you know her?" Lauren asked with a frown still etched on her face.

"Yeah, I’ve met her once and she’s got quite the air. Not someone to call a friend from the haughtiness around her. Maybe it’s because of her winning two competitions back to back," he said scornfully.

Lauren was more cautious. "You don’t seem to have a good impression of her."

"Wait until you meet her," Horatio said meaningfully.

"Let’s say I have," Lauren said.

"You have? When? Before Lauren could respond, Horacio’s eyes widened. "Was she the one responsible for your mood earlier on?"

Horatio had a sinking feeling. If Peggy decides to target them which he was sure of, then the days ahead might not be too peaceful for their team. He only prayed he would be wrong in the end.

"Let’s focus on why we are here, okay." Whoever she is, Lauren decided not to let the encounter affect her.

At most, she will try as much as possible to avoid her and hope she does the same as well.

"Alright, team," she said, turning back to her group with a confident smile. "Let’s show them what Empress Brew is made of."

The boisterous auditorium was again hushed into silence when the microphone was tapped.

They looked up to see the coordinator for that session, Mr Parker, a distinguished coffee expert with a salt-and-pepper beard, on the stage.

"Welcome, everyone, to the first stage of the competition which is Coffee Knowledge Quiz. This quiz will test your understanding of coffee history, brewing techniques, and bean origins."

We have a total of twenty-five teams registered for the Coffee Knowledge Quiz but Only five teams will advance to the next stage.

For today’s competition, each team will have two representatives to battle it out— the leader of the team and one other team member.

So according to your numbers, let the representatives step forward and take their place behind the microphones while the rest remain in their seats.

For Empress Brew, Lauren and Jamie stepped forward to represent the team.

When everyone was set, Mr Parker’s voice sounded again.

"We have about two hundred and fifty questions which will be shared into three rounds. The first two rounds will have a hundred questions each while the third round will have fifty questions."

"The fastest to hit the buzzer will answer the question. Once the buzzer goes off, the name of the team who was the automatically appears on the screen so there is no confusion on which team was answering.

And any team that answers at least ten questions correctly will qualify and advance to the next stage of the competition slated for tomorrow."

"So let’s begin."

The bright stage lights cast a dramatic glow, on all the representatives which in a way highlighted the tension in the air.

Nobody knew the eliminations would start from the first day of the competition, and a whopping number of twenty teams would be eliminated just by the first day.

Thus everyone knew they had to put in their best as this quiz was a major determinant factor to either stay in the competition or leave even before the main competition started.

Lauren darted her eyes at Peggy’s team which was immediately beside hers and saw her standing proudly beside her teammate.

She saw her scan the room with an air of superiority as if she was declaring to everyone that this was her forte. After all, she had won the competition back to back in the last two years.

The first question appeared on the large screen:

"In which country did coffee cultivation first take place?"

Peggy’s buzzer went off. "Yemen," she answered confidently.

"Correct," the host confirmed.

Lauren and Jamie exchanged a glance, knowing they had to stay sharp.

The next question came swiftly. "What is the primary difference between Arabica and Robusta beans?"

Jamie was quick to answer. "Arabica beans have a higher acidity and a more complex flavor profile, while Robusta beans have a stronger, harsher taste and more caffeine."

"Correct," the host said with a nod.

The quiz progressed smoothly, but with questions growing progressively more challenging, more teams were eliminated one by one.

Before the final round, they were asked to go on a short break in a different part of the audition where only the contestants for the quiz were allowed to use. So no one had the opportunity to interact with the rest of their team members who were not participating in the quiz.

Lauren and Jamie found a quiet corner near the stage, their faces flushed with the intensity of the competition.

Jamie wiped off the sweat from his forehead as he leaned in. "Boss, that was brutal. I thought I was prepared but..." he shook his head, "the questions just keep getting harder."

Lauren nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "I know. Now you’ll appreciate the pressure I mounted on everyone. A hundred Million is not something they will let go of easily. But we’ve held our ground so far."

She popped a snack into her mouth. "For the next round, we need to focus on our strengths. You’re great with the brewing techniques, and I’ve got the bean origins down. We just need to stay calm and keep our heads clear, okay?"

Jamie nodded and also helped himself to some snacks. "Agreed. We’ve got this. As long as we stay on our game, we’ll make it to the next stage."

Across the room, Peggy stood with her teammate Dylan, basking in the admiration of other contestants. Her back-to-back wins had earned her a reputation, and she reveled in the attention other contestants were giving her.

"Peggy, you’re amazing! Two years in a row—how do you do it?" one contestant gushed.