THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 365: Accusing The Judges

Lauren gave a subtle nod to no one in particular as she wondered what the man had squeezed into her hand

She hurried over to the store to see what it was the man had given her.

At the store, she opened her palm and saw that it was a note.

"I hope you love the gift, Ren. Second drawer in your corner."

Only one person called her Ren, so she knew who the note was from even though there was no name attached.

She quickly went to the location and her eyes widened in shock, there it was! The much sought after Geisha beans.

There was not much time left to be too touched by George’s timely intervention and she hurried off to meet her teammates.

They sprang into action at the speed of light, and adjusted their brewing process immediately.

The Geisha beans had a different flavor profile, but Lauren was ecstatic as she knew something more groundbreaking than what had happened the second day of the competition was brewing.

As the clock wound down to 2pm, the coordinator signaled that it was time for the judges and on-sight viewers to taste and pass their judgment.

Lauren and her team looked up in excitement. They had managed to beat the time by just ten seconds to the countdown.

Each team’s signature drink was carefully poured and distributed to the judges and on-site viewers and instantly, the air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

Starting with Silk and steam, their leader, Marco, stepped forward first. His team had crafted a bold blend from Colombian beans, known for their rich, full-bodied flavor.

The first judge took a sip and nodded appreciatively. "This has a robust flavor profile, with deep chocolate notes and a hint of walnut. Very well executed."

The second judge chimed in, "The acidity is sharp but balanced, giving it a clean finish. A solid effort, Silk and Stream."

Two more judges also tasted and gave their remarks.

After evaluating Silk and a steam, Cafe Solstice was called and Peggy stepped forward with a bold smile.

Their team presented a complex blend using Ethiopian beans, aiming to impress with its intricate flavor layers.

The first judge took a sip and smiled. "There’s a delightful burst of berry notes, with a smooth, wine-like acidity. It’s vibrant and engaging."

Likewise the second judge praised their drink. "The body is rich, and the flavors are well-integrated. This is a strong contender, Café Solstice ."

Peggy beamed, confident in her team’s performance.

The third and fourth judge also gave their assessment. Each evaluation caused Peggy’s smile to widen than the previous.

She was sure that she was the winner. After all, she had tampered with Lauren’s beans and there is no way she would be able to come up with something worth tasting with what she had replaced their beans with.

She was so sure Empress Brew was doomed to fail this time around.

The last but not the least was Empress Brew and as the leader of the team, Lauren stepped forward to make the Presentation

The judges took their cups, inhaling the aromatic steam before taking their first sips.

The first judge did something dramatic as he directly closed his eyes, savoring the taste.

"Exquisite. The floral notes are so prominent, with a delicate hint of jasmine and a bright citrus acidity that dances on the tongue. There’s a smooth, lingering finish of bergamot and honey. Truly remarkable."

The second judge, a woman, who was a technical expert, was somehow meticulous in her evaluation. She swirled the coffee in her mouth, analyzing the balance and body. And soon enough, her expression shifted from curiosity to admiration.

"The acidity is perfectly balanced, neither too sharp nor too mellow," she commented, nodding appreciatively.

"The mouthfeel is creamy, almost silky, enhancing the complex flavor profile. Each sip reveals another layer of flavor, which clearly showcases the precise roasting and brewing methods. It is a masterful execution," the third judge said.

The fourth judge, Mr Khan, who had not bothered to taste from the other two teams, took a generous sip and immediately beamed. He set his cup down, eyes wide with excitement. "As expected of Empress Brew, this is Phenomenal!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

"The depth of flavor is astonishing. I can taste tropical fruit notes like mango and papaya, intertwined with a sweet, caramel-like undertone. It’s vibrant and refreshing, yet incredibly smooth. This coffee tells a story with every sip."

The judges exchanged glances, their expressions unanimous in their approval.

The onsite viewers who had the chance to taste the brew shared similar sentiments, when they tasted Empress Brew’s coffee. Murmurs of admiration filled the air as people discussed the unique flavor profile and the skill evident in Empress Brew’s creation.

Contrary to what had happened during Cafe Solstice’s presentation, with each assessment on Empress Brew’s brew, Peggy’s face darkened by several degrees.

She clenched her fists by her side and she glared at Lauren who had a triumphant smile on her face as she stared back at her.

From the unanimous approval from the judges and the on-sight viewers, the host stepped forward to address the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is clear that Empress Brew has delivered an exceptional cup of coffee. The judges and on-sight viewers are unanimous in their praise for the Geisha beans’ nuanced flavor profile and the skillful execution by Lauren and her team. This is a truly memorable moment in our competition." He paused briefly.

Peggy’s confident demeanor faltered inexplicably as she heard the overwhelming praise for Empress Brew and before the host could declare the winner for that challenge, she couldn’t hold back her frustration any longer and cried out.

"This is ridiculous! They’re clearly lying. There’s no way her coffee could be that good."

Everywhere went silent and one could even hear a pin drop from the silence that ensued.

Not long after, a murmur broke out. At the same time, strange looks ranging from shock to confusion, to disdain and even pity were thrown in Peggy’s direction as the murmurings continued.

"Did she just accuse the judges of being biased?"

"It’s is outright slander."

"What is wrong with Ms Carter? Is she okay?"

"She doesn’t appear so."

While everyone was still questioning Peggy’s mental state, Lauren turned to Peggy, her expression calm but inquisitive.

"Why are you so sure we don’t deserve the praise they’re giving us?" Her voice was loud and authoritative enough to be heard above the murmurings and everywhere went quiet again to listen.

Yes, they also wanted to know why it looked as if Peggy was over-reacting when it came to Empress Brew.

Peggy’s face turned red as she stammered, "I-I just know! It’s impossible for your coffee to be that good."

Lauren’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why is it impossible? Is it because you did something that made you so sure we used the wrong beans to brew?"

Peggy’s face drained of color. For a moment, she was speechless, her mind racing for an excuse. "I... I mean, it’s just unlikely," she finally said, her voice faltering.

Seemingly unconvinced, Lauren held Peggy’s gaze. "What exactly did you do, Peggy?"