Chapter 6
The heavy oak door of Lin’s tea shop rattled violently, followed by three sharp, aggressive knocks that reverberated through the quiet room. Inside, the gathering of merchants froze instantly. The low hum of conversation died down, replaced by the sound of nervous breathing. Mrs. Gable clutched her handkerchief so tightly her knuckles turned white, while Marcus instinctively stood up, squaring his shoulders as if preparing to shield the others. Maya raised a hand calmly, signaling everyone to remain silent, and walked quietly toward the front entrance.
Peering through the glass panel beside the door, Maya saw two men standing outside under the afternoon sun. They were dressed in sharp, expensive charcoal suits that contrasted sharply with the working-class neighborhood. Their slicked-back hair and cold, calculating postures marked them immediately as high-level enforcers for the Vanguard Group. Leading them was a man named Vance, a senior regional director known for his chilling composure and ruthless efficiency.
Vance knocked again, this time harder, his diamond ring tapping rhythmically against the wood. "Open up, Lin. We know you are in there, and we know you have company. Hiding behind martial artists won't save your little tea shop."
Maya unlocked the heavy deadbolt with a quiet click and pulled the door open just enough to block the threshold. Her expression remained completely neutral, her eyes locked onto Vance with unwavering confidence. Vance sneered, looking her up and down with undisguised contempt.
"You must be the little vigilante who bruised Leo’s ribs," Vance said, his voice smooth and menacing. "You're punching way above your weight class, sweetheart. You think a few affidavits and a recovered notebook are going to bring down a multi-million-dollar real estate portfolio?"
"I think criminals always underestimate the people they steal from," Maya replied evenly, her voice carrying clearly into the shop behind her.
Vance’s smile vanished, replaced by a cold, predatory glare. He stepped closer, invading her personal space, though Maya did not yield an inch of ground. "Let me give you some free advice. Hand over the ledger, tell these foolish merchants to sign their property deeds over by tomorrow morning, and we might let you walk out of this neighborhood with all your bones intact. Refuse, and you'll find out just how fast accidents happen in a city like this."
Inside the shop, Marcus stepped forward, his face flushed with righteous anger, but Uncle Chen placed a calming hand on his arm, holding him back. Maya did not flinch or blink. She maintained direct eye contact, letting Vance see the absolute absence of fear in her gaze.
"You talk about accidents," Maya said softly, her voice dropping an octave, carrying a quiet menace that made Vance’s bodyguards subtly shift their weight. "Let's talk about accountability. The copies of that ledger are already out of your reach. Every threat you make from this moment forward is being recorded."
May you like
Vance’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. He realized intimidation was not going to work on this young woman. He stepped back, adjusting his suit jacket with deliberate slowness. "You've made a very expensive mistake today. Enjoy your tea while you still have a roof over your heads."
With that, Vance turned on his heel and walked away, his bodyguards flanking him like shadows. Maya closed the door, locked it securely, and turned back to face the frightened merchants. The battle lines were officially drawn.
