Power+1 Chapter 16: Theft and Sabotage

(Start of Week 22. Theo's Balance: $30,746.00)

Week 22 - Monday

The relentless momentum from the previous week carried directly into Week 22. Monday morning, Theo and Henry arrived before dawn, the air still cool and tinged with the promise of another busy day. Tammy arrived shortly after, slightly late, but no biggie. The weekend’s success, particularly Sunday’s sell-out, had set a new benchmark.

"Okay," Theo said, unlocking the shop, the +1 enhanced mechanism clicking smoothly. "Two hundred was pushing it yesterday, ran out way too early. But Monday… it usually dips. Let's aim for one-fifty prep today. Should be enough to meet demand without too much waste if it's slower."

Henry nodded, already tying his apron. "Sounds good, boss. Hey, I was thinking…" He hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead, his usual enthusiasm tempered with a hint of creative energy. "That deep fryer is amazing, holds temp perfectly even during the rush. What if we used it for more than just chips?"

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like… desserts!" Henry's eyes lit up. "Seriously! Deep-fried candy bars? Deep-fried Oreos? Even deep-fried ice cream? It sounds weird, but people love that stuff at fairs and stuff. Could be a killer add-on, especially with how good these fryers work."

Theo considered it. Henry’s work ethic over the past week and a half had been exemplary. He was proactive, reliable, and genuinely seemed invested in the shop's success. Encouraging that initiative felt like a smart move. And the idea… wasn't terrible. High-margin novelty items using existing equipment? Worth exploring.

"Alright, Henry," Theo said, pulling his wallet out. "I like the initiative. Here's a hundred bucks." He handed over the cash. "Go to Walmart or wherever after your shift, buy whatever candy bars, cookies, or ice cream you think might work. Experiment tomorrow. Let's see what happens. If it works, we figure out how to add it."

Henry’s grin was wide. "Seriously? Awesome! Thanks, Theo! I got some killer ideas."

Their next point of business was staffing. "One-fifty prep today feels right," Theo continued, "but we both know we were drowning this weekend even with two people. If this keeps up, we need another body, especially for evenings." He pulled out his phone, finding Olivia’s contact details from the interview notes. "I'm calling Olivia. Her attitude was right, even if she lacks food experience. We can train skills." Tammy protested a little, something about having to train another newbie from scratch, however the complaints were pretty half hearted, as she knew the help was worth it.

He made the call. Olivia answered, her voice bubbling with cheerful energy. Theo offered her the job, explaining the hours would initially focus on evenings and weekends to help with the rush. She accepted immediately, sounding genuinely thrilled, and agreed to start on Wednesday. Theo hung up, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. Three employees. A real team. The operational complexity, and the potential for things to go wrong, increased with each new hire.

Monday night proved their staffing decision right. They prepped for 150, and the dinner rush was intense, almost matching Sunday's pace. Customers mentioned seeing positive reviews, friends’ recommendations. The enhanced equipment hummed along flawlessly, churning out perfect chicken and chips, but Theo, Henry and Tammy were working flat out to keep up with bagging, payments, and orders. They ended the night with 143 sales, turning away the last few customers just after closing time.

As they were cleaning up, Theo's phone buzzed. Sarah. He quickly updated her on the continued success, thanking her again for the marketing boost. He admitted, slightly sheepishly, that he hadn't done any follow-up posting himself.

"Theo! Consistency!" Sarah admonished playfully over the phone. "Social media forgets fast! You gotta stay top-of-mind." She quickly checked the shop's online reviews from her end. "Okay, looks like those five-stars are still prominent, keeping the buzz alive for now. But don't slack off! How about I try and swing by Thursday afternoon? I can give you guys a crash course, my way of saying sorry that I couldn’t make it last week. Maybe set up a simple posting schedule that maybe Henry or Tammy could potentially manage?"

"Thursday? Yeah, that would be fantastic, Sarah," Theo agreed readily. Her expertise was too valuable to pass up. They confirmed a time, and he hung up, feeling grateful but also that familiar flicker of considering her potential beyond just pro-bono marketing advice.

Henry, meanwhile, practically skipped out the door, clutching the hundred dollars, eager to embark on his dessert ingredient quest. Tammy was being Tammy, she was helpful, but was still a bit quirky and didn’t gel with Henry too well. Hopefully things will work itself out over time.

Week 22 - Tuesday

Tuesday morning, Henry arrived with two large shopping bags brimming with potential deep-fried delights: Mars bars, Snickers, Oreos, even a carton of small, pre-scooped vanilla ice cream balls designed for quick frying. Tammy arrived shortly after, looking slightly a little stressed but still carrying an air of meticulous intensity, ie/ quirky!

"Alright team," Henry announced proudly during the mid-morning lull. "Dessert Experimentation Phase One!"

He carefully prepped the fryer, explaining his batter ideas (a simple tempura-style mix), and proceeded to demonstrate. He dipped a Mars bar, lowered it carefully into the perfectly hot oil (+1 enhanced fryer maintaining temperature flawlessly), and turned it with focused precision, like a scientist handling volatile chemicals. He repeated the process with an Oreo, then, most daringly, a frozen ice cream ball, working quickly to ensure the outside cooked before the inside melted completely.

He plated the results, dusted with powdered sugar. Theo and Tammy gathered around. The deep-fried Mars bar was first. Theo took a bite. The exterior was impossibly light and crispy, giving way to a molten river of chocolate, nougat, and caramel inside. It was decadent, absurd, and undeniably delicious. The Oreo was similar, warm, soft cookie encased in crispness. The deep-fried ice cream was a minor miracle, a sphere of hot, crunchy batter yielding to still-frozen, creamy vanilla within.

"Okay," Theo admitted, genuinely impressed. "That… is ridiculously good."

Tammy, after carefully dissecting her portion, conceded, "The frying technique is surprisingly competent, Henry. Batter consistency is adequate. Textural contrast is… notable." High praise, coming from her.

Henry beamed. "Right? Told you! People would love this stuff!"

"Putting it on the menu permanently right away feels like a stretch," Theo cautioned, thinking of inventory, prep time, potential mess. "But... people definitely liked the idea of freebies last week. How about this? Let's offer these free today, just randomly, to customers who seem like they could use a pick-me-up? Gauge the reaction."

Henry readily agreed, excited to share his creations. Around lunchtime, their first test subject arrived. A young woman, probably a college student, ordered a chicken and chips, her expression downcast, eyes red-rimmed as if she'd been crying. Jenny, her name tag on her worn backpack read. As she waited listlessly for her order, Henry caught Theo's eye, tilting his head towards the deep fryer with a questioning look. Theo gave a subtle nod of approval.

Henry approached Jenny gently as he handed over her food. "Hey, rough day?"

Jenny startled slightly, then offered a watery smile. "Uh, yeah. Kinda. Just… job stuff. Got rejected from like, three places this morning. Need experience to get experience, you know?" She sighed heavily. "Cost of living stuff is hitting my family hard, really wanted to find something part-time to help out."

"Ah man, that sucks," Henry said sympathetically. "Market's tough right now. Don't give up though!" He leaned in conspiratorially. "Hey, listen. Weird question. Ever had a deep-fried Mars bar?"

Jenny looked bewildered. "A what? Uh, no?"

"Trust me," Henry grinned. "On the house. Might make the day slightly less crappy."

Jenny hesitated, then shrugged. "Okay? Sure. Why not."

Henry practically skipped back to the fryer, carefully selecting a Mars bar, dipping it in batter with intense focus, and frying it with the loving care usually reserved for Michelin-star ingredients. He flipped it expertly, ensuring every angle achieved perfect golden-brown crispiness. The +1 enhanced fryer, Theo noted, made achieving this perfection almost foolproof, maintaining heat perfectly even with the cold candy bar plunged in.

Henry plated the dessert with another dusting of powdered sugar and presented it to Jenny. "Voila!"

Jenny stared at the strange object, then tentatively took a bite. Her eyes widened. A slow smile spread across her face, chasing away some of the sadness. "Oh my god," she mumbled through a mouthful of gooey chocolate and crisp batter. "That's… incredible." She took another bite. "It's so warm and crispy and sweet and salty… Wow." The pure, unexpected pleasure seemed to genuinely lift her spirits. "Thank you," she said sincerely to Henry, finishing the last bite. "I… I think I might have a sweet tooth now."

As Jenny gathered her things, a thought sparked in Theo’s mind. Opportunity. He stepped over. "Excuse me, Jenny?"

She looked up, surprised. "Yeah?"

"Overheard you talking to Henry," Theo said, keeping his tone casual but direct. "About looking for part-time work? You mentioned needing experience." He gestured around the shop. "Look, it's a chicken and chips shop. Not glamorous like retail, definitely not corporate. But we're actually hiring right now, getting busier. If you're serious about wanting work, willing to learn… I could offer you a trial run. Evenings, weekends mostly."

Jenny stared at him, then at Henry, then back at Theo, stunned. "Seriously? You'd… hire me? Even with no experience?"

"Everyone starts somewhere," Theo said simply. "Attitude matters more. And your willingness to help out the family, definitely earned you some points. Interested?"

Tears welled up in Jenny’s eyes, but this time they weren't sad ones. "Yes! Oh my god, yes! Thank you! So much!"

"Okay," Theo smiled faintly. "Think about what hours might work with your studies, give me a call tomorrow or the next day to confirm."

Jenny practically floated out of the shop, clutching her chicken and chips. Henry gave Theo a thumbs-up. Tammy, however, who had observed the exchange silently while meticulously wiping down the counter, wore a tight-lipped expression. Theo caught her slight eye-roll as she turned away. Great, he thought wryly. Another trainee for Tammy to be subtly critical of. And probably doesn't approve of the free dessert either. He was getting used to her quirks, but her negativity was a constant low-level hum.

They ended Tuesday with 140 sales, the momentum holding steady. The free deep-fried desserts were a smash hit, every customer offered one reacted with delighted surprise, raving about the unexpected treat. Theo and Henry agreed, desserts needed to go on the menu, officially, starting next week.

Week 22 - Wednesday

Wednesday. Olivia started her first shift. True to her interview impression, she arrived bubbly, impeccably dressed (though quickly donning an apron), and full of positive energy. She had zero food prep knowledge, asking basic questions that made Tammy sigh audibly, but her retail background shone through at the counter. She greeted every customer with a genuine smile, remembered names, made effortless small talk, handled orders efficiently, and seemed completely unfazed by the dinner rush. She absorbed instructions quickly, eagerly helping Henry with packing and cleaning during lulls, asking smart questions about the chicken cooking process (which Theo answered vaguely with "good equipment, careful timing"). By the end of the shift, she felt like a natural fit, her cheerful attitude a welcome counterpoint to Tammy's quiet intensity. Theo was impressed. Skills can be taught, he reaffirmed internally. Attitude like hers? Priceless.

Tammy, however, seemed even more off-kilter than usual today. A little fidgety, dropping utensils, mishearing an order detail. Minor mistakes, things she normally wouldn't get wrong, particularly given her intense OCD like attention to detail. Theo watched her discreetly, wondering if Olivia's presence was bothering her, or if it was something else. He made a mental note to check in with her later, but the evening rush swept the thought away. They sold out completely again, 150 sales, closing slightly early.

Week 22 - Thursday

Thursday morning, Jenny called, confirming she could start next week, working Thursday and Friday evenings after her classes, plus weekend shifts. Her voice was full of gratitude and determination. Theo felt a sliver of satisfaction. Giving her a chance felt… good, in a way that purely optimizing profit didn't. Maybe there was room for both. Theo never really got a chance to do anything for his parents, so Jenny’s willingness to help out with the family was something that really shone through for him. Definitely gave him good vibes.

Around 3 PM, Sarah arrived, navigating the small shop with a surprised look. "Wow, place looks busier! And new faces?" she said, nodding towards Olivia who was expertly managing the counter.

"Yeah, hired some help," Theo confirmed. "Olivia started yesterday, Henry and Tammy has been here since last week."

Sarah grinned. "Moving fast! Okay, let's talk marketing while it's quiet."

They huddled near the counter. Sarah pulled up the shop's social media pages (or lack thereof) and online review profiles on her tablet. "Right, reviews are still mostly positive, couple more five-stars since we last spoke, good momentum." She pointed to one recent review. "This one though – one star – 'Came by Sunday 8:45 PM, sign said open till 9, but doors locked, lights off. Just wanted my chicken fix! Poor service!'"

Theo shrugged. "We sold out early Sunday, had to close." A single negative review wasn’t going to kill them, particularly given all the other positive reviews. Meh, whatever.

"Totally valid," Sarah nodded, already typing a reply as the business owner. "'So sorry we missed you! We had an unexpectedly busy weekend and sold out earlier than anticipated. Please come back another time – your next Half Chicken & Chips is on us!' Boom! Turn a negative into a positive, shows you care."

Shortly after she posted it, a notification popped up. The reviewer had edited their post: “EDIT: Wow! Owner replied and offered free chicken! THAT is top-notch service! Totally understand selling out now. Will definitely be back! Changing rating! Big stores should learn from this! HUGE fan now!”

Theo stared at the screen. Impressive. Free chicken and chips is what, worth $16, less if you look at cost price, but turning a negative review into a positive, and showing people that the business cares, now that is priceless.

Sarah then turned her attention to social media. "Okay, the posts I did last week got good traction, but they're falling down the feeds now. Need fresh content." Just then, Henry emerged from the back, having prepared a fresh batch of deep-fried Mars bars based on yesterday's success.

"Perfect!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Dessert! Unexpected, visual, shareable!" She grabbed one, took an appreciative bite. "Oh my god, Henry, these are dangerous!" She immediately started arranging the desserts, snapping photos with her phone, adjusting the lighting, finding the best angles. "People love novelty soul food," she explained, tapping away. "We'll push these hard. Hashtag deep fried goodness, hashtag cheat meal, hashtag local eats…" She tagged a couple of local food bloggers she followed. "Planting seeds," she winked.

Olivia watched, fascinated, asking questions, absorbing Sarah's techniques like a sponge. Henry looked proud (of his dessert creation!) and while interested in the digital marketing stuff, turned out to a be completely computer illiterate. Theo didn’t think any young kids wouldn’t know computers, but guess there is a first for everything. Tammy, however, hovered in the background, pretending to wipe down an already spotless counter, her expression unreadable, seemingly uninterested.

Once Sarah finished her impromptu marketing masterclass, Theo insisted she take a proper meal break. They sat at one of the small tables, eating chicken and chips.

"So," Theo asked, "How's Meta? How’s the new team going?"

Sarah sighed, poking at a chip. "The new structure is hell. More work, less clarity, boss is a complete micromanager, despite not having much of a clue about most things. Absolutely a seagull, swoops in from above, shits over everything then flies away…" She took a frustrated bite of chicken. "Honestly, makes me want to work on my side gig even more. But I'm so drained after work, haven't had much energy for it this week."

"Told you it was smart to stay put for now," Theo said, though he felt a pang of sympathy. He saw the opportunity. "Listen, Sarah," he began carefully, "You're obviously incredible at this marketing stuff. Way better than I could ever be. This shop… it's just the start for me. I have other… optimization projects… in mind down the line. Stuff that might need a serious digital presence, maybe even custom tech." He paused. "Ever considered doing this kind of marketing consulting as a side hustle? Officially? Not just pro-bono for chicken." He saw the flicker of interest in her eyes. "Wouldn't make you rich overnight, probably just a few hours a week to start, but I'd pay your consulting rate. And if things scale up like I hope… there could be much bigger opportunities, maybe even related to that cycling tech idea if we figure out the right angle."

Sarah laughed, shaking her head. "Wow, Theo. Trying to poach me already?" She considered it for a moment. "Look, I appreciate the offer, seriously. And it is tempting. But Meta, despite everything, pays the bills and looks good on the resume. Let me survive this restructure first." She smiled genuinely. "Keep doing the pro-bono help for now, okay? Call it market research. But… ask me again in a few months? If you're still serious then, and I haven't lost my mind at Meta… maybe."

Interested, but cautious, Theo assessed. Door remains open. "Fair enough," he nodded. "Offer stands."

Sarah left soon after, promising to check in on the social media engagement. The rest of Thursday evening was relentlessly busy. With Olivia handling the counter smoothly, Henry rocking the fryer and packing, and Tammy managing prep and the rotisserie (though still seeming oddly quiet and withdrawn), they sold out their entire 150 prep just before closing. Theo noticed Tammy fumbling with the cash register near the end of the night, dropping some coins, seeming flustered when he asked if everything was okay. Just stressed from the rush? Or something else? He resolved again to talk to her properly tomorrow, before the weekend hit.

Week 22 - Friday

Friday. Anticipating the weekend surge and fuelled by the dessert buzz Sarah had generated online, they prepped for 200 sales. The shop was busy from late afternoon onwards. Customers specifically asked about the deep-fried desserts, looking disappointed when told they weren't officially on the menu yet.

"Okay, decision made," Theo announced to Henry during a brief lull. "Desserts are officially on the menu starting Monday. Can you handle sourcing the supplies? Talk to our main distributor, see if they carry bulk candy bars, figure out the ice cream situation." He was deliberately delegating, testing Henry's initiative.

"On it, boss!" Henry grinned, already pulling out his phone to look up suppliers. Theo felt a sense of satisfaction. Henry was stepping up. Maybe, just maybe, Theo could eventually transition to overseeing, rather than working the line every single day.

Olivia was a star at the front, charming customers, handling orders flawlessly. She seemed to genuinely enjoy the fast-paced environment. Tammy, however… was worse than yesterday. Distracted. Making small errors, forgetting salt on chips, miscalculating change once (which Theo quickly corrected), dropping a pair of tongs. Her usual meticulousness was gone, replaced by a nervous, almost furtive energy. Theo watched her, his internal alarms finally starting to blare. He had to talk to her after closing tonight. No more delays.

They sold out the entire 200 prep again, closing the doors at 8:45 PM to a chorus of groans from hopeful latecomers. The demand for the (still unofficial) desserts was intense. "Definitely need those on the menu ASAP," Henry confirmed, wiping down the counter.

As Henry and Olivia started the closing clean-up routine, Theo headed to the freezer to do a quick check on stock, and see whether he needed to order in more stuff from the suppliers. He planned to grab Tammy for a quick chat as soon as he was done. As he was doing a quick once over of the chicken and potatos, he heard the front door of the shop slam shut, hard.

Strange. He'd locked it himself just minutes ago. He frowned and walked quickly back out into the main shop area.

Henry and Olivia looked up from their cleaning, startled expressions on their faces.

"What was that?" Theo asked.

"Tammy," Henry said, looking confused. "She just… grabbed her bag and bolted out the front door. Said she forgot something urgent. Didn't even say goodbye."

A cold dread washed over Theo. He strode quickly to the front counter. The cash drawer, which he knew he had closed after the last transaction, was slightly ajar. He yanked it open. Empty. Except for a handful of loose coins. The thick wads of twenties, tens, and fives from the entire day's sales… gone.

"No," Theo whispered, his blood running cold. He looked towards the front door, then back at the empty till. "No, she didn't."

He spun around, grabbing his phone, dialling Tammy’s number with shaking fingers. “The number you have dialled has been disconnected or is no longer in service.”

Disconnected? Already? This wasn't impulsive. This was planned.

He looked at Henry and Olivia, their shocked faces reflecting his own dawning horror. "She… she cleaned out the till," Theo stated flatly, the words tasting like ash. "Tammy just robbed us." He quickly did a mental calculation based on the POS sales data. With cash usage still pretty high in this part of town, easily three, maybe four thousand dollars in cash sales from today and yesterday, on top of some cash he set aside to pay the team with towards end of week. "$3,500," he estimated numbly. "She took about thirty-five hundred dollars." Not enough to bankrupt him, not anymore, but a sickening blow, a violation.

Henry swore loudly. Olivia gasped, covering her mouth. "But… why? She seemed… okay?"

"Apparently not," Theo said grimly. Her distraction, her mistakes, her mention of money troubles… it all clicked into place with sickening clarity. He felt a surge of cold fury, quickly followed by a weary resignation. He’d misread her. Ignored the warning signs because he needed the help. He’d wanted to trust, just a little, and this was the result.

He spent the next hour on the phone with the police, filing a report, giving Tammy’s details, knowing deep down the chances of recovering the cash, or even catching her immediately, were slim. She was likely long gone. He reassured Henry and Olivia, telling them it wasn't their fault, trying to project a calm he didn't feel. The betrayal felt sharp, personal, dredging up memories of his corporate ousting and how he had been backstabbed by people he thought he knew. Just when things were finally looking undeniably good… kicked down again.

Week 22 - Saturday

Saturday morning. Theo felt like he’d been run over by a truck. The anger from last night had curdled into a sour mix of cynicism and exhaustion. He’d barely slept, his mind replaying Tammy’s distracted behaviour, kicking himself for not acting sooner. He forced himself to do some online searches using the details from Tammy's (likely fabricated) resume, address, previous employers. Dead ends. As expected. He tried her disconnected number again. Nothing. She had vanished.

He seriously considered just keeping the shop closed for the day. Calling in sick to his own life. The violation felt that profound. He’d offered Tammy a job, fair pay, bonuses, treated her decently… and she’d repaid him by robbing the till blind the first chance she got. It reinforced every cynical instinct he possessed about trusting people.

But then he thought of Henry and Olivia, who were relying on their hours, and also genuinely seemed to be good people. He thought of the customers who were now eagerly anticipating the amazing chicken. He thought of the $38,000 investment. He couldn't let one betrayal derail everything. Gritting his teeth, forcing down the shitty feeling, he went to the shop.

Henry and Olivia were already there, their expressions subdued but determined. The mood was somber as they prepped for 200 sales, the usual easy banter replaced by a heavier silence. Theo appreciated their quiet support, their unspoken understanding that they were still a team, minus one rotten apple. They opened, and the customers came, oblivious to the previous night's drama. The work was a welcome distraction, forcing Theo to focus on the process, the orders, the rhythm of the kitchen. They ended the day with 190 sales, a testament to the shop's momentum even with the dark cloud hanging over them.

Week 22 - Sunday

Sunday. Theo still felt the lingering bitterness, the sour taste of betrayal. But the focus was shifting towards a new problem. They prepped for 200 again, expecting the usual Sunday rush. But the day felt… slower. Noticeably quieter than the previous Sunday, or even Saturday. There were still customers, yes, but the frantic energy, the constant queue out the door, wasn't quite there. They ended the day having sold only 149 sets. Still respectable, but a significant drop from the previous weekend's peak.

"Weird," Henry commented as they cleaned up. "Felt way slower today. Wonder why?"

Just then, Olivia, who had taken to monitoring the shop’s online reviews on her phone during downtime (inspired by Sarah’s visit), let out a sharp gasp. "Uh, Theo? You need to see this."

Theo walked over, peering at her phone screen. His eyes narrowed, anger instantly eclipsing the lingering hurt from the theft. A flood of one-star reviews. All posted within the last 12 hours. All anonymous or using clearly fake names. All utterly vicious.

"AVOID! Found RAT DROPPINGS in my chips! Disgusting!" "Used to be good when Maria ran it. New owner uses CHEAP ingredients and OLD OIL. Tasted rancid. Threw it out." "Dry chicken, soggy fries, place looked dirty. Health department needs to shut them down." "Saw cockroaches near the fryer! Seriously unsafe!" "Overpriced garbage. Don't believe the hype. This place is TRASH."

Dozens of them. A coordinated, blatant attack. "Review bombing," Theo spat, the words tasting like venom. The timing wasn't accidental. Hitting them on Saturday and Sunday, designed to cripple the start of the next week, to poison the well of positive sentiment Sarah had helped build.

"But… rats? Old oil? That's completely untrue!" Henry exclaimed, looking horrified. "We clean everything constantly!"

"Of course it's untrue," Theo said, his voice dangerously quiet, fury coiling in his gut like a cold serpent. "Someone is deliberately trying to sabotage us." But who? Jono? Unlikely, he just wanted to sell and be done with it. A rival business? Possibly, but this felt targeted, vicious. Pete the lowballer from the bike days? No, he wouldn't know about the chicken shop. Tammy? Revenge for… what? Getting caught stealing? It didn't make sense. However the timing of this felt off, happening just shortly after Tammy’s thieving stunt, was it related? Was she involved? Regardless, he didn’t think he had no obvious enemies in this venture. Yet.

Sunday night. Theo sat alone in his apartment, the exhaustion of the weekend compounded by the fresh wave of anger and paranoia. First the theft, now sabotage. He stared at his ledger, needing the grounding reality of numbers after a week that felt like a chaotic blend of triumph and disaster. He tallied the week's figures, the impressive revenue tempered by the increased costs and the bitter, unrecorded loss from the stolen cash.

Running a small business, even one supercharged by secret advantages, was proving to be a brutal education. Just when things seemed to be stabilizing, solidifying, new problems erupted, betrayal from within, attacks from outside. He felt a weary frustration. He told himself to calm down. Tammy was an expensive lesson in vetting employees, a reminder that trust was a commodity easily broken. The review bombing… that was different. That was an attack. He'd deal with it. He'd likely need Sarah's expertise again, maybe even pay her properly this time to manage online reputation repair.

But the anger lingered. Someone had targeted him. Sabotaged his success just as it was taking flight. He didn’t know who, or why. But as he finally crawled into bed, sleep feeling miles away despite his bone-deep weariness, one thought burned cold and clear: Whoever did this… they just made a very dangerous enemy.

Theodore Sterling - Financial Ledger (End of Week 22)

• Starting Balance (Beginning Week 22): $30,746.00 (Carried over from End of Week 21)

• Income (Week 22):

  • Mon Sales (Est. 143 orders @ $16 avg): +$2288.00

  • Tues Sales (Est. 140 orders @ $16 avg): +$2240.00

  • Wed Sales (Est. 150 orders @ $16 avg): +$2400.00

  • Thurs Sales (Est. 150 orders @ $16 avg): +$2400.00

  • Fri Sales (Est. 200 orders @ $16 avg): +$3200.00

  • Sat Sales (Est. 190 orders @ $16 avg): +$3040.00

  • Sun Sales (Est. 149 orders @ $16 avg): +$2384.00

  • Total Income (Week 22): +$17,952.00

• Expenses (Week 22):

  • Personal Rent Paid (Week 22): -$450.00

  • Personal Living Expenses (Week 22): -$500.00

  • Business Lease Payment (Week 22): -$700.00

  • Food Stock/Supplies (Est. based on ~1122 orders): -$3366.00 (Assumes ~30% Food Cost)

  • Shop Utilities (Est. @ $150/wk): -$150.00

  • Wages - Henry (Full week + Bonus): -$840.00 (Base $700 + 20% Bonus $140)

  • Wages - Tammy (Left Fri – stole money, so unpaid): -$0

  • Wages - Olivia (Wed-Sun: 5 days @ ~$100/day + Bonus Est.): -$600.00 (Base $500 + 20% Bonus $100)

  • Henry Dessert Experiment Supplies: -$100.00

  • Misc Shop Expenses (Fees, Spoilage, etc. Est.): -$200.00 (Lower estimate this week)

  • Provision for Estimated Taxes (Est. @ ~30% of Profit): ~$3000.00 (Rough estimate based on higher profit before theft)

  • Theft loss from Tammy: -$3500.00 (Note: Theft loss of ~$3500 treated as expense for simplicity)

  • Total Recorded Expenses: -$13,406.00

• Net Change (Week 22 - Recorded): +$17,952.00 (Income) - $13,406.00 (Expenses) = +$4546.00

• Ending Balance (End of Sunday, Week 22): $35,292.00

• Assets:

  • Maria's Charcoal Chicken (Business Purchase Price): $38,000.00

Status: High Growth Met by Internal & External Crises. Week saw continued massive sales growth, necessitating third hire (Olivia). Successfully integrated new staff and processes, hitting max prep capacity (200/day). Launched dessert trial successfully. However, week ended disastrously with employee theft (~$3.5k cash stolen by Tammy) and a coordinated online review bombing campaign. Profitability remains strong on paper, but real cash flow impacted by theft. Identified need for better employee vetting and online reputation management (likely requiring Sarah's help). Despite setbacks, core business model remains highly effective. Focus shifts to mitigating sabotage damage, stabilizing operations, and addressing trust/security issues. Capital ~$40k cash (less theft) + business asset. And find the bastard responsible for the sabotage and make them pay!