Theo stared at the screen, connecting the dots Sarah laid out. The timing was suspicious. The coordinated-looking positive reviews for the rival felt like the flip side of the negative attack on his shop.
"If I were a betting woman," Sarah said, tapping the screen, "I'd say 'Something Fishy' felt threatened by your sudden success and decided to play dirty. Looks suss, as the Aussies say." (Theo mentally corrected her – not looks, definitely is suss!) "But honestly, Theo?" She sighed, putting the tablet down. "Even if you're 99% sure it was them, proving it is basically impossible. And confronting them? Just creates more drama."
She took a sip of her latte. "My advice? Focus on recovery. What we did with that one negative review? Do that for all the fake ones you can. Reply politely, professionally state the claims are false, maybe mention your recent health inspection score if it was good. Then, bury them with genuine positive reviews. Encourage your happy customers, maybe offer a small discount on their next order if they leave an honest review? And keep up the social media Olivia is learning. Good content and genuine engagement will outweigh the fakes over time. This should just be a small blip if the food stays this good."
Theo felt a wave of relief mixed with simmering anger. Sarah's pragmatic approach settled his nerves about the reviews. Treat it as a manageable problem, not an existential threat. But knowing, with near certainty, who likely did it… that stoked the cold fire of his vindictiveness. Something Fishy. He filed the name away.
"That… makes sense, Sarah. Thanks. Seriously." He paused, then had another thought, prompted by the theft. "On a different note… this whole situation made me realize I need better security at the shop. Any chance you know about installing basic security cameras? Inside and out?"
Sarah's eyes lit up again, shifting easily from marketing to tech. "Oh yeah, totally! Easy peasy. Tons of great DIY or professionally installed options now, cloud storage, motion alerts, night vision… Definitely a smart move for any small business." She pulled out her phone. "Let me look up a couple of recommended systems, compare features… I can put together some options for you, maybe even help with the setup if you want? We can sort out the cost then."
"That would be incredible," Theo said gratefully. "Just… basic, reliable, covers the counter and the front/back doors."
"Got it. I'll send you some links next week."
They finished their coffees and snacks, the conversation drifting back to Sarah's work stress and Theo carefully deflecting questions about his own 'consulting' projects. As they left the cafe, Theo felt a renewed sense of purpose. The review bombing was an annoyance to be managed. The theft was a lesson learned. Security cameras were coming. And 'Something Fishy'? They were now firmly on his radar. Revenge, he mused, was a dish best served cold… perhaps with perfectly cooked chips. The coffee, he noted as they parted ways, had been surprisingly good, even without a +1. Wicked, even.
Back at the shop, the evening rush was building. Theo relayed Sarah's advice on handling the reviews to Olivia, who immediately started drafting polite, professional responses. They pushed through the service, selling 118 chicken sets and, remarkably, 84 orders of Henry's deep-fried desserts, which were clearly developing a cult following already.
Week 23 - Wednesday
Wednesday. Theo woke with a plan solidifying in his mind. Sarah's deduction about 'Something Fishy' felt right. He needed confirmation, needed to look the owner in the eye. He spent the morning reviewing his notes from Sarah, thinking about security camera placement, and also reflecting on Henry's performance. The kid was solid gold, hardworking, enthusiastic, full of ideas like the desserts, and showing real leadership potential. He worked seamlessly with Olivia, their positive energies complementing each other. Maybe, Theo thought, once the cameras are in, I can actually start training Henry to manage the day-to-day? Step back a bit? Free up my time, my +1 charges, for… other opportunities? The itch to find the next big play, something beyond the admittedly profitable but labour-intensive chicken shop, was growing stronger. This place was proving the Tool Enhancement model, building capital. But it wasn't the billion-dollar endgame.
They prepped for 150 sets. The day felt smoother, more routine. Olivia handled the counter like a seasoned pro. Henry kept the fryer and rotisserie humming. They sold 130 chicken sets and 81 desserts. Things were definitely recovering from the review bomb dip. The repeat customer rate seemed high. People clearly trusted the taste over anonymous online slander.
As they were closing up, Theo addressed Henry and Olivia. "Listen," he began, "I know last weekend ended rough with the Tammy situation and those fake reviews. But you guys have been incredible this week, really stepped up." He saw them both straighten slightly, looking pleased. "Morale felt a bit low, understandably. How about tomorrow night, after closing, we all grab some proper dinner? Pizza maybe? My treat. To thank you for the hard work, and officially welcome Jenny too."