THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 349: The Quiz 2

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

Peggy gave a modest laugh, waving her hand dismissively. "Oh, it’s nothing really. Just a lot of hard work and a bit of luck."

Another contestant chimed in, "Your knowledge of coffee is unparalleled. I’ve never seen anyone answer so confidently and correctly. It’s no wonder you’re the reigning champion."

Peggy smiled graciously. "Thank you, but honestly, everyone here is so talented. I’m just happy to be part of such a passionate community."

The crowd around her nodded in agreement, their admiration growing. "You’re so humble, Peggy. That’s what makes you even more impressive," one person remarked.

Peggy beamed at the crowd. "Oh, you’re all too kind," she said with a soft laugh. "I’m flattered, really, but I’m just like all of you. I put in a lot of hard work, and I’m passionate about what I do. The truth is, I’ve had a lot of support from my team and mentors over the years, and I’ve learned so much from everyone here."

As she spoke her eyes flicked occasionally towards Lauren and Jamie as she tried to mask her irritation by her pleasant demeanor.

She had caught snippets of the conversation among other contestants who were not swooning over her and were dissatisfied.

"Lauren’s team is really impressive. For a newbie, she’s outstanding. Did you see how quickly they answered those tough questions?" She heard one contestant near Lauren’s corner say.

Another added, "Yeah, they’re definitely giving the seasoned teams a run for their money. I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it to the finals."

Peggy’s smile became strained as she listened.

How could anyone think Lauren, a mere newcomer, was in the same league as her? The only person deserving of any praise here today was her, not this rookie.

But to maintain her image, she couldn’t let her irritation show. However, when she could no longer bear it, she decided it was time to put Lauren back in her place and remind her who the real champion was.

With a confident stride, she sauntered over to Lauren and Jamie.

"Ms Holmes, right?" Peggy called out, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

Lauren turned to face her, her expression neutral. "Yes, Ms Carter."

Peggy’s smile was all teeth, predatory and sharp. "I couldn’t help but notice how well you and your team are doing. Quite impressive, really."

Lauren’s eyes remained steady, unreadable. While she sneered inwardly. ’Was it really necessary to go to this length just to pretend to be nice? You and I know there is bad energy between us.’

However, she still replied. "Thanks, Ms Carter. We’re just trying to do our best."

Peggy’s gaze flicked to Jamie, then back to Lauren. "It’s a shame, really. All this effort, and you still might not make it past the next stage. The Latte and Signature Drink Challenge is where the true talent shines. But then, you probably already knew that."

Jamie stiffened, but Lauren placed a calming hand on his arm. "We’ll see how it goes," she said evenly. "We’re prepared for whatever comes our way."

"I guess, Ms Holmes is self-aware that this battle is only for the strong, so she’s already prepared to be eliminated," one of Peggy’s lackeys said when she saw that the newbie didn’t have much regard for Peggy who has proven her worth over the years.

Shouldn’t she be grateful that Ms Carter of Café Solstice took the initiative to talk to her? Is it everyone that deserves Ms Carter’s attention?

Although they were all owners of one Coffee shop or the other and here to win, they still knew who the real master was. At best they would be content with second place as they already know the owner of the first place.

On the other hand, Peggy’s eyes flashed with irritation at Lauren’s calm demeanor.

Why was she pretending to be so confident when it was obvious they were not going to make it to the next stage?

"We’ll see indeed. Just remember, winning isn’t everything. Sometimes, it’s about knowing your place," she flung out and her meaning was obvious to all— Empress Brew must be eliminated in the next round.

Lauren’s expression hardened, but she didn’t rise to the bait. "Good luck then, Ms Carter. May the best team win."

Peggy’s smile faltered slightly, a hint of anger seeping through her composed exterior. She turned on her heel and walked back to Dylan, who had been watching the exchange with a smirk.

As Peggy rejoined her teammate, Jamie let out a low whistle. "She’s something else, isn’t she?"

Lauren sighed, her eyes following Peggy. "Yeah, she is. But we can’t let her get to us. We’ve worked hard for this, and we have as much right to be here as anyone else."

Jamie nodded, "You’re right. Let’s focus on what we need to do and prove to that peacock that her feathers might not last forever. We’ve come this far, Boss, and we’re not backing down now."

The break ended shortly after that and the teams began to gather for the final round of the quiz.

Lauren and Jamie took their places,

By late afternoon, as the quiz neared its conclusion, the contestants of twenty-five teams had been screened down to six, thus, only six teams returned for the final showdown.

With only six teams remaining, the tension escalated and the room’s atmosphere grew more electric with each passing question.

"Four teams have already secured their position into the next stage leaving us with just one team. So for those two teams that are yet to qualify, it is now or never so in this last lap, I’ll advise you give it your best shot," the host announced, causing the tension to increase.

For the final elimination for the day, the host presented two particularly tricky questions:

With the current score, Peggy’s team had gotten their benchmark of ten correct questions and there was really no pressure on them whereas Lauren needed that two more questions to qualify.

But before the host asked the final question, she had caught the malicious glint in Peggy’s eyes and knew her plans.

She quickly muted her mic and drew Jamie closer. "Hit the buzzer as fast as you can even if you don’t know the answer," she whispered while her eyes were fixated on the screen.

Jamie nodded in understanding. From when Peggy approached them during break he had suspected she would target them and try to sabotage their chances of qualifying. So for Lauren to mention it now, it means he had been right.

A few seconds later, the screen lit up again.

"What is the Coffea canephora variety commonly known as?"

As soon as the question appeared on the screen, Lauren’s buzzer went off just a fraction of a second before Peggy’s.

"Robusta," she said, her voice steady.

"Correct," the host announced, giving Lauren’s team a critical point.

Peggy’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of frustration crossing her face. The competition was fiercer than she had anticipated.

Again the screen displayed the final question: "Which brewing method uses a cloth or paper filter to separate the grounds from the brewed coffee?

Jamie’s buzzer went off, but was a little bit too late and Lauren’s heart sank.