What? Tori narrowed her eyes. Weve been open for over a month. Why are we just being reported for this now?
I dont know, however, this is an official letter from the Imperial Comrce Commission. They said that the business registration for Duel was never submitted and that were missing operating permits, Mr. Sorset told her.
Tori frowned more so. Thats impossible. Henrik and I went to submit it ourselves. What do they an it was never submitted?
She took the letter with the embossed seal of the Imperial Comrce Commission from Mr. Sorset and leaned back against the chair of the small office hidden behind the display shelves behind the lobby. It was a standard form letter telling her that Lions Gate Duel was missing both its business permit to run a business in Horizon and the permit to sell food.
She had until the end of the week to either submit a copy or reapply. If she reapplied, it would take at least two weeks for the permits to be issued. During that ti, they could not continue to operate. Henrik had applied months ago in advance, then the two of them went for the final procedures to ensure that everything was ready before the soft opens.
Will we have to close? Mr. Sorset asked with a concerned look.
Tori shook her head. No, not at all. We have copies of the permits. We can take it to the commission tomorrow.
Perhaps the permits were mis-filed.
Its always a possibility when youre working with so many at once, Tori said. She let out a heavy breath and folded the notice carefully before putting it into the breast pocket of her jacket. I will call Henrik about it.
Mr. Sorset smiled, relieved. Thats good. I will leave it to my lady and Mr. Skuldsen.
They opened the door to the office and stepped out. The popularity of Duel had not waned since opening and even now, after school had started across the city, there were still plenty of people coming to play.
The dayti crowd is mainly off-duty knights, Mr. Sorset told her. Its a bit calr than now.
There are a lot of students in the afternoons, Tori said as she looked around. At least seven or eight different uniforms, including Lyce du Soleils were spotted in the crowd. How are the weekend party rentals going?
We have bookings for equipnt, supplies, and ga hosts for the next four months, my lady. The Emperor has also paid to reserve a date late next sumr for the Empress birthday banquet, Mr. Sorset reported. He wishes to have a deluxe, custom curated ga event for Her Majesty. The managers face contorted a bit with confusion. He also ntioned sothing about ax throwing?
Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She ntally cursed the imperial couple and their requests. I will take care of it. Although, I better not get a request for Gideons birthday. I have things to do, dammit.
My lady, have you considered making an entertainnt parlor? Mr. Sorset asked.
I have, but at the mont, funding is tight, Tori replied. Renovations at the Lunar Pavilion are starting and due to the age of the structure, it is a very slow, laborious, and expensive process.
Mr. Sorset sighed. A sha. Im sure there are many who are interested in the various card and tile gas here.
Tori nodded, distracted. I am keeping an eye on the property around the area though. If I must take out a loan, I will if we can secure the location.
My lady, there is a young man here on the 403 list. He requests to see Mr. Villalobos, one of the employees who was stationed at the lobbys counter turned around as they reached him. Tori furrowed her brows.
She had a list made up of people forbidden from setting foot past Duels lobby and cafe, as well as prohibited from purchasing goods or services from Duel and the rest of Lions Gate. The list was short, but mainly consisted of Alessa, so love interests that were still clinging on to her, anyone Adrien Rosiek had a connection with that Tori knew about, and the forr Duke Alvere and his mistress.
She turned her head towards the tall young man standing on the other side of the counter, looking surprised to see her. Tori resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
What was Tom expecting? This was her store; why wouldnt she appear in it from ti to ti. Tori took a deep breath and put on a placid smile that didnt reach her eyes.
Mr. Fields, this is a surprise. To what do we owe the honor? Tori said in a droll voice as she walked over and stood across from him on the other side of the counter.
Tom drew his head back and frowned. If he wanted to say sothing, he had to watch his words considering he was well within her territory and with a superior social status to him and his most noble friend.
Countess Guevera, I heard that Mr. Villalobos has moved here to work. He has helped a lot when I was in Presidio and I wanted to greet him, Tom told her.
It was a legitimate answer, and Tori felt there was nothing alarming about it. Mr. Villalobos had told her that Tom worked with him and had good things to say about the love interest. There was a pleasant relationship, and it wasnt abnormal for a forr employee who left on good terms to co and greet a work ntor.
Still, Tori didnt answer imdiately. She held her ground and eyed him until he avoided her eyes and showed so discomfort. Satisfied that he didnt seem to want to try anything questionable, she looked over her shoulder.
Call Mr. Villalobos, Tori said. The employee who had stood to the side nodded and rushed to the back room. Tori looked back at Tom. Hell be out in a mont, Mr. Fields. Please wait here.
Tom nodded his head, his face red as if embarrassed to be there. Tori glanced back over her shoulder and gave Mr. Sorset a knowing nod. He gave her a stoic one in return, and she slipped out of the counter and headed to the cafe. She sat at a corner table that had a good view of both the cafe and the lobby.
She didnt bother to hide the fact that she was watching Tom. Mama Js son saw her sitting and ca with her usual iced coffee and a small plate of puff pastry with at. Tori glanced down and paused.
Is this new? she asked.
Yes, my lady. Its a puff pastry with beef tenderloin, dry-cured ham, and duxelles.
Beef Wellington, Tori muttered to herself. Tobias gave her a curious look and she smiled and picked up one of the small bite-sized pieces. She bit into the warm at pastry and slowly nodded. I like it. Good job, Mr. Jager. Did you want to add this to the nu?
To the pre-ordered catering nu. Theyre not difficult to make, but it is necessary to procure the mushrooms, he replied.
Tori nodded. Ill make a note and have it added to the spring nu.
Tobias gave her a bright smile. Thank you, my lady. Shall I pack so for you and Lady Agafonova?
Please do. Tori ate another one and looked towards the lobby. Mr. Villalobos ca out, still in his apron, and laughed as he saw Tom. He extended his hand and reached out to embrace Tom as if seeing an old friend. Tom looked happy to see him and his joyous expression didnt falter as Mr. Villalobos led him to the cafe.
Tori lowered her eyes and continued to eat her bite-sized beef Wellingtons. They were not surprisingly addicting. Mr. Villalobos and Tom sat close to the windows, so Tori couldnt hear them, but she did look up occasionally to try to get any physical clues on what their conversation was about.
The first few minutes were likely catching up and following up on where the other was now. Then Tori noticed Mr. Villalobos smile falter. He was nodding his head, but the earlier excitent on his face had faded.
Its getting good. Tori sipped on her drink; her eyes fixed on Toms back. After about half an hour, Tom seed to lower his head. Mr. Villalobos gave him a kind smile and leaned forward to pat his shoulder. He said sothing comforting to him and then stood up. Tom followed and Mr. Villalobos brought him to the door.
Tori heard so parts of the conversation including so encouraging words to Tom before the young man left.
Mr. Villalobos lingered by the glass door and watched the young mans back disappear into the night. He let out a heavy breath and turned around. He saw Tori seated there and gave her a tired smile.
Did he say sothing to upset you? Tori asked. The old man shook his head and ca forward.
Perhaps I shouldnt be upset with what he said. In most cases, it would be quite flattering, Mr. Villalobos replied.
Tori squinted her eyes for a mont before enlightennt filled her face. He tried to recruit you.
Mr. Villalobos nodded. It doesnt seem that he knew that I was a forr knight and that my position here is related to being a Guevera knight.
Tori pursed her lips. The practice of retraining knights for other occupations after their service isnt common in the Central Corridor. Did he at least offer a lot of money?
Mr. Villalobos cracked a wide smile and laughed. I wouldnt say that its a lot, but certainly well above the average pay rate of a master printer. His smile faded a bit. However, I have no desire to work for the Golden Cow.
Tori nodded in understanding. He ca here to poach my workers, she said, looking out towards the window in the direction Tom had left. Its good that hes on the 403 list.
I wish it wasnt necessary, but considering the amount of intellectual property in Duel and their popularity, it does make it an appealing target for knockoffs.
We cant keep it a monopoly forever. Eventually, other companies will develop their own gas to compete with us. We can only continue to evolve and stay relevant to our custors, Tori replied.
Mr. Villalobos nodded. He paused for a mont and cocked his head to the side. My lady, Tom ntioned sothing when he was trying to convince to join the Golden Cow. Tori furrowed her brows and gave him a look telling him to continue. He said that he ca because he heard Duel was closing.
What? Tori frowned at once. We opened just a few weeks ago and sales have been steady. Where did he hear that?
There are likely those jealous of Duels success. Its fairly common to speak ill of competition, Mr. Villalobos told her as he rubbed his chin. I asked Tom where he heard such news and he said that soone at the print shop where he works said that the city will close our doors as were not authorized to operate. That was why he ca to recruit .
I can accept that hes kind enough to want to ensure you have a job. After all, you taught him when he was in Presidio. However, a regular employee usually wouldnt have such insight into the business operations of another shop.... Tori lifted her hand to her breast pocket and frowned.
My lady. Mr. Sorset rushed into the cafe with a concerned look on his face. Mr. Skuldsen is calling and says you arent answering your comcry.
Tori frowned more so. Tell him Ill call him right now. Mr. Sorset nodded and turned around. Tori gave Mr. Villalobos a dismissing nod and reached for her comcry. She swept her finger across the crystal. Call Henrik Skuldsen.
Henrik answered almost imdiately with a ragged voice. Tori, we need to increase security at the shops.
Wait ,what? Whats going on? Tori frowned and sat up straight.
My house was broken into, and my room in particular was torn apart, Henrik said, breathless. I think Im being targeted.
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