The Trouble with Troubadours

"Will?" Anne said, slowly lifting her face, and gliding her chestnut hair behind her ear.

"How's your family enjoying the café, your rooms in the inn?" Will asked, trying to look past Anne's bright red face.

"C'mon back, I know mom and father will be happy to see you!" Anne said, untying her apron and leading Will towards the kitchen.

As Will, Vanessa, and Anne walked into the kitchen they saw Anne's mother yelling directions, reprimanding servers, ordering dishwasher to clean faster. There were ten people in the kitchen, including Anne's mother and father,. When Anne's mother saw Will, she immediately greeted him with a bow.

"Boss Will it is good to see you again," Yvette said.

"I'm happy to see things running smoothly. It looks like we have a full house for lunch," Will smiled, happy that the café was still preforming strong.

"Not just today, but everyday sir," Vanessa commented. Vanessa saw Will's investigation as a professional evaluation, and it was important to her, Will saw her as a responsible senior clerk.

"That news is well received, but I was hoping to have lunch here while I review the accounts," Will said.

"As long as you don't mind eating at the staff table, we can serve you over there," Anne's mother, Yvette pointed to a countertop and four-legged stool.

"How can Boss Will—" before Vanessa could explain how rude her suggestion was to a man as noble as Will, Will cut her off.

"That's fine, I planned a working lunch anyway, this way I won't be bothered by customers and can eat and work in peace," Will pulled out the stool and sat down.

Anne's father who was out serving tables, brought over the accounts to Will. Will ordered a hearty lunch of chicken and dumplings, as he opened the account books.

Vanessa and Anne each looked over Will's shoulders as he examined the accounts. Even before he could ask for a pencil, Vanessa handed him hers. Will didn't thank her, but he smiled, which was the affirmation Vanessa wanted. Will was impressed that Vanessa had already began learning his habits. On Earth some people used to make fun of secretaries, but a good executive assistant could make upwards of 80,000 dollars or more. Vanessa's value in Will's eyes was on the rise.

As Will viewed the accounts he would subtlety make facial expressions, and look up to examine the Yvette, waiters, and kitchen staff. Both Vanessa and Anne, however, watched him closely enough were they saw his faint facial expressions. As Will read, wrote, subtracted, Anne and Vanessa watched him work meticulously with great fascination. This was Anne's first time seeing Will like this. She enjoyed watching Will think, it was another side of Will she had never seen before. She wondered if Will was like this all the time, in the library, in his guild office, and his room.

Thinking about Will in his room, made her face turn into a ripe tomato. Thankfully, Will and Vanessa were too focused to notice Anne's brightening expression. However, he Yvette didn't miss her daughter's face and smiled. Seeing Anne, reminder her of when she first fell in love. She only felt sorry, because she knew Anne's dream would not never true.

After Will finished the last bit on his plate, he put his down pencil, and asked to talk to Yvette for brief moment.

"Yvette, first I want to commend you on the success of this café. Your management and food, have produced quite a profit. However, there a few things I'd like to change. First, I want you and the restaurant staff to wash your hands before work, and after restroom breaks." This was a common practice on Earth, that Will wanted to install at the café. "Second, when we were forced to import more expensive rice, the dishes with rice did not increase to reflect our expenses, that means we lost profit."

Vanessa cringed at those words, the Merchant Guild training beat into her the importance of profit, and the consequences of losing your employer coin. Vanessa felt a deep sense of shame. She knew if Mei were here, Mei would have immediately recognized the need to raise price on plates with rice.

Will continued, "third to avoid money waste, you need schedule waitstaff and cooks carefully. Based on the books, I'm paying for servers I do not need on off peak hours. You don't need five servers when the restaurant is empty, nor can you manage with two when the restaurant is bustling. Both instances will lose us money and we might receive negative reviews," Will finished speaking to Yvette.

"Vanessa and Yvette, I want you to work together find a good balance, train our staff on how to handle different situations. If we have an excellent server, cook, of game clerk offer them a monthly bonus. Challenge the staff and give them incentives. For example, whoever gets the most gratitude for their serve among the servers, give that person a monthly bonus. Set goals for game clerks, and if they reach those goals give them a bonus. I want our staff motivated. Vanessa this is something I want to set at all my stores, challenges, goal, and incentives," Will spoke passionately. He knew competition between workers typically equaled more profit.

"Any questions?" Will asked looking at the two.

Neither said a word. Yvette knew Will's reputation, and she had worked with merchants in the past. She deliberately didn't raise the dishes, because she was worried it would scare away the customers. She chided herself, she was operating like this was her old bakery. She put her worries ahead of her boss, and she knew that was costly mistake. Moreover, if Will fired her where would her family go? Would she ever find another noble, merchant to hire her who is as nice as Will? Do miracle happen twice? If Will asked them to wash their hands, she would see it done. If Will asked to find a balanced schedule for the staff, she would see it done. If Will asked her to set her hands on fire, she would see it done. In her heart, she swore loyalty to Will and would do whatever he wanted.

"Boss Will, I will do whatever you say! Please forgive my insolence!" Yvette said. She hoped Will would not fire her, or ask their family to move out, or even worse force himself on Anne, due to her mistake. Losing a noble merchant money, was tantamount to a crime in Guidon. Will could avail himself however he desired to find recompense.

Will chuckled at her seriousness, "as long as these changes are made moving forward, I am fine. Your food was superb. I think I prefer eating back here more than in the front of the store."

"Vanessa let's leave out the back and head to the theatre," Will motioned for Vanessa to follow him.

As the walked out the servants entrance, Will turned to Vanessa and said, "the reversi, chess, and go tournaments were very profitable for the store. If the second tournament champions are different than the first, have the two champions face off a week later. That should also be profitable," Will said as they made the short distance the empty quiet theatre.

"Yes Boss Will, I will see to that. Before we go into the theater, you should know that matter I was dealing with when I ran to general store, the troubadours are threatening to quit if they are not paid more. They are no longer happy with salary; they say the shows have been to profitable and they deserve more money.

Will nodded as he and Vannes went through the backstage door. The troubadours were standing on the stage arguing. When they saw Vanessa, one rudely asked, "where did you go, we've been here waiting on you. If you do not agree to our demands or we will not put on anymore performances."

Just then they saw Will walk on to the stage after Vanessa. Will looked at all the troubadours, and said, "you're all fired, scat, I do not want you in my theatre any longer. Vanessa run and get the city guards, tell them Sir. William vont Ballard needs their assistance. Here is some coin, give this to them for your service," Will said.

Vanessa ran off for the second time that day, luckily she did not have to run far. Since Will's courtyard of businesses became a major entertainment district, the city guard posted a watch.

"Boss Will, can we work something out? This theater is very popular since we started out performances, let us come to an agreement," said the rude troubadour, who Will assumed was the leader.

"Are you deaf? Didn't you hear me tell you to scat? Do you think you're the only actors in Fermion? Who Will hire you after I fire you? You disrespected my senior clerk; do you think I will respect you now? No, you are trash. Not only did you receive a salary, but also some profit from the ticket prices, and now you ask for more. What troubadours aren't begging to take your place?"

Vanessa returned with the city guards during Will's rant. When Vanessa heard Will defend her, her cheeks turned a rosy pink. What noble merchant would defend and support their senior clerk? Most merchant, especially noble merchants, treated their senior clerks like stock animals, and were kept on a short leash. Hearing Will defend her, a raging fire lit in her heart. Earlier she was trying to negotiate with them, but seeing her boss let them go, excited her. Her thoughts changed, she now thought 'the audacity of these criminals to rob Boss Will after the opportunity he gave them. They showed all rot in a jail cell and die like the rats they are!'

"Guards arrest these men, they offended me," Will said.

The troubadours' faces turned white. The blood drained from their bodies, and they began to shake like it was winter. More than one feinted. Everyone knew insulting a noble was a high crime, and more often than not lead to a death sentence. That was why the actors went white in their faces, they were imagining their deaths.

The guards were happy to receive a bribe, and even happier to get on the good side of a successful merchant like Will. William vont Ballard, was a celebrity in Guidon, everyone knew or heard of him. Only an idiot would insult someone of his stature. Moreover, the latest rumor was that he was inline to receive promotion to baronet. The guards laughed at the stupidity of these people as they escorted the actors to the city jail.

"Please Boss Will, no Sir. William vont Ballard, I apologize. I beg forgiveness, it was all his fault. He filled our head with lies. I beg you let me go, I will never ask for another salary increase as long as I live. No, I'll work for free. You won't have to pay me a thing. I'll be your slave, please save me," the actors yelled, each pointing a finger at the rude actor.

However, Will was not paying the slightest bit of attention to these actors. Instead, Vanessa was leading him away to the front office.

"Vanessa, post an advertisement for new a group of troubadours. Offer them the same salary, and ticket sales incentive," Will said authoritatively.

"Yes, sir!" snapped Vanessa.

After showing Will to the theatre accounts, Vanessa went to advertise for a new group of actors. Passersby's noticed troubadours being escorted by the city guard. The troubadours all had sick faces. Then they passerby's saw Vanessa posting a new advertisement for actors.

A silent 'boom' reverberated throughout Guidon as the gossip mill went into full production. People speculated on what happened. The city guards were only to happy to spread the news for a few small silver coins of course. The news of the troubadours insulting Will became the talk of the town. Nobles, merchants trying to curry favor with Will advocated for the actors death immediately. Nobles, merchants, upset by Will's growing wealth spoke about Will being a temperamental, spoiled brat. As the rumors, favors, and animosity spread; Will sat in the front office disgusted with what he found.

The theatre was barely making a profit. The actors were purchasing too many props, clothing, food, drinks, lumber, and paint. The expenses were outrageous, the accounts showed embezzlement and theft. The actors contracted themselves to design, construct, and paint the set, at quadruple the going rate, how shameful. Yet, they had the nerve to ask for salary raise. Will hoped they hung. Vanessa agreed to every expense not knowing if the expensive was necessary or excessive. Will decided he needed to lay down some parameters for Vanessa, and for the time being make all purchase approvals.