A Hunch
Good morning, Demenik."
"Good morning, Syntha." Demenik smiled and strolled towards the back of the coffeehouse. "Two warmed chocolates, if you please."
"I'll bring them to you when they are ready."
Demenik approached Alexander, who sat at a table in the middle of the room. He rapped his knuckle against the hard tabletop. "Join me in the back, Alex." Without stopping, he moved to the booth in the back corner and sat so that he was able to see the entire room. Demenik drummed the fingers of one hand on the table and wondered which would appear first: Alexander or the chocolate drinks.
Five minutes later, the beautiful, black-haired woman placed two mugs on the table.
"Thank you, Syntha, they smell delicious."
"You're welcome, Demenik." Her bright blue eyes sparkled above her perfect smile. "Made these two for you myself."
"You're too kind."
Syntha laughed, which pleased Demenik. As his fortune had increased over the months, the coffeehouse had become the best place for him to meet others. It hadn't taken long for him to become enamored with this stunning young woman who, at just two years older than him, had managed to start this business and turn it into one of the busiest coffeehouses in the entire city.
Behind Syntha, Alexander stood and began to make his way toward Demenik.
"I have a little business to conduct with the ever-cheerful baker's boy, but when he leaves I would like to discuss something with you, if you can spare the time."
Her smile widened and she nodded. "Of course. I will stop by your booth when Alexander leaves." She turned and walked away, saying something to Alexander that made him grin and turn his head to watch her as she passed.
"A beautiful day." Demenik smiled and straightened in his seat.
"It is if you have my gold." Alexander's smile melted into a scowl as he sat.
Demenik nodded at the second cup of warmed chocolate. "That one's for you."
"I won't drink with you." Alexander sneered. "Give me what is owed so that I may be done with you."
Demenik grinned and reached into his shirt pocket. He removed a piece of paper and pushed it forward.
"What is that?"
"Read it."
Alexander made a disgusted sound and read the note. "A message signed by Doctor Johnston saying that this paper is worth sixty gold coins, payable to me." He dropped it onto the table and shook his head. "Why in all the hells would you give my gold to Doctor Johnston?"
"I'm developing a new system."
"A stupid system."
"It's actually very intelligent."
"I don't want to hear about it," Alexander snapped. "Just give me my gold."
Demenik laughed and pointed at the note. "Take that to Doc Johnston and he will give you the coins."
"If he is still there. He's probably taken the gold and left the city."
"Is that what you intend to do?"
"None of your business."
Demenik shrugged. "Fine. Take the note to him. He will be there, and so will your coin."
Alexander snatched the note from the table, tucked it into his pocket, and stood. "It had better be."
"You are a very rich man now." Demenik stood also. "I will be interested to see what you do with it."
Alexander laughed and then spat on the wooden floor at Demenik's feet. "For some reason, you get twice as much as I do and deserve none. I am leaving this city, but I look forward to the day when I hear you've lost everything and are back in the alleys, where you belong." He turned and stalked out of the coffeehouse.
Demenik chuckled and shook his head, sitting down to finish his first cup of chocolate, then pulling the second toward him.
A few minutes later, Syntha returned to his booth, smiling as she sat. "A cheerful lad, that one. I'm surprised that the two of you are friends."
"He's not my friend, and I suspect we will see a lot less of Alexander from now on."
"Oh?"
Demenik shrugged. "A hunch."
"That's a shame. He's grumpy, but the man did drink a lot of expensive chocolate." Syntha sighed and her smile returned. "So what is it you wanted to speak with me about?"
"I wondered if you might be interested in taking on a business partner?"
"Really?"
"I admire what you have done with this place and would like an opportunity to buy in."
"I've had offers to sell, but never to partner." She leaned forward. "Wouldn't you rather buy it outright?"
Demenik laughed. "Hells no. Part of the secret of your success, in my opinion, is you and your girls. I would be a fool to buy this and lose you as proprietor."
"Well, that's a refreshing perspective." She winked at him. "I don't think it's accurate, but thank you for the compliment."
"We both know that it's very accurate."
"Maybe. What kind of partnership did you have in mind?"
"I would like to buy into this location and help you open another."
"Where?"
"The Port district." Triax's old territory and Lord Caladan's new one.
"There are many wealthy traders who frequent that district." Syntha tapped one finger against her lip. "Which means that well-established coffeehouses already exist there. It would be a challenge to compete with them."
"How much would it cost us to open a house of this size over there?"
"It would be too expensive." Syntha shook her head. "Off the top of my head, I would guess at least ten gold to do it properly."
Demenik grinned. "I have forty gold at my disposal."
"You shouldn't have told me that, Demenik."
"You are trustworthy."
"I like to think so."
"I will put up ten gold for the new coffeehouse and would also like to invest twenty gold into this one. How much ownership would that buy of this location?"
"I know for a fact that I could get eighty gold for this place if I wanted to sell."
Demenik nodded.
"I don't need investors."
"I must make that a condition of partnership in the new coffeehouse."
Syntha shook her head. "Who said I want to start a new coffeehouse anyway? I am doing fine with what I have."
"Would you like to start a new house in the Port district?"
She laughed and nodded. "Now that you bring it up, it does sound like fun."
"Shall we work out a deal then?"
Syntha paused and reached for his cup of chocolate. She took a drink and looked at Demenik for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I think we should work out a deal."