Company Crisis

Teslaimia walked into the Future Art of War Company office like it was her own home. The people at the front desk welcomed her without thought and allowed her to walk into the most sensitive areas without an escort. The men were all arguing and shouting out reasons why something was impossible while Winston and Norville were trying to answer each negative response. Teslaimia still hadn't been noticed as she looked at their chalkboards finally asking, "Excuse me? May I ask why you don't simply search for another means of holding the ships in the air if the lift gas is dangerous?"

Everyone in the room quieted down as Winston smiled at her and said, "The lightest gas we have found is barely adequate to keep our ships in the air so we feel that the airship design itself is flawed."

Norville nodded, "We were just discussing a way to create an aircraft that won't need lift gas at all. My design uses a spinning blade to pull the craft into the air."

Teslaimia nodded and then asked, "I understand that, but why can't you just replace the lift gas with something else? That way you don't need to reinvent your airships."

Winston chuckled and said, "We aren't smart enough is what I want to say. We just don't know a way to make that happen."

Teslaimia smiled and said, "If you ask me, and just about everyone I know they would say that everything you men have created here in this building is impossible. Is it possible that you are losing sight of the problem you want to solve by looking to rewrite the question?" She chuckled and then asked, "Mr. Murray I only stopped by to ask about my order, when can I expect the weapons to be delivered?"

Winston was lost in thought, his eyes darting around, "Uh, the factory should be able to tell you. Go check with Mr. Duke, he's handling production for us."

Teslaimia smiled and gave him a curtsey and walked out of the now quiet room as the men all looked lost in thought.

Norville looked at Winston and said, "We need two teams. Team one will work out the design of a flying machine using no lift gas. The second team will work out the solution to replacing our current lift gas problem."

One of them chuckled and said, "If we leave a vacuum in the bag it would lift better than adding a gas."

The men all descended into an argument once again.

*****

Teslaimia walked out of the Future War building looking slightly unhappy. Roland who was waiting with the cab asked, "You still have time before you are scheduled to meet with Captain Alexander, would you like to make another stop Your Highness?"

She shook her head and said, "No, thank you, Roland, let's go home. Jon will be by at his appointed time like clockwork. Until then, I will have a bath and make sure I like the outfit myself." She looked at the newspaper she had been carrying around, "I should read today's Observer at some point as well."

Roland nodded and said, "There is a fascinating article about the dangers of the Airship port, Your Highness."

Soon Roland and Teslaimia were sitting in the pedicab heading to Emily's residence as Teslaimia read through the paper. She suddenly called out, "Take me to Mia's Secret, please."

The driver nodded and said, "Mia's secret on First Ave, no problem Your Highness."

Roland looked puzzled as Teslaimia said softly while tapping on the paper, "I found something important in the paper that wasn't in my morning briefing."

As they pulled up in front of the store one of the girls at the front counter raced to the back and found one of the two attractive women who had handed the folder to Teslaimia that morning, "Grace, Her Highness is back. She must have found something in the paper again."

Grace turned and called over to the other attractive woman from this morning's briefing and asked, "Chas, did you read the paper before you handed it over?"

The other women went white in the face, "I didn't have time..."

Grace sighed and then walked out to greet Teslaimia as she walked into the shop with a smile on her face, "Good afternoon ladies, everyone looks so good, keep up the good work!"

Teslaimia smiled at Grace and asked as she handed over the newspaper, "Why wasn't I notified about this new competitor?"

Grace looked at the newspaper article and said, "I apologize, Your Highness, we didn't have time to read the paper today."

Teslaimia raised her eyebrow, "Hire someone if we don't have enough help. I don't want to be ambushed by such things late in the afternoon." She looked around for any of the girls not looking busy. She found a younger woman sitting idle in the stock room, "Jessica? Could you come here and help me for a moment?"

The younger woman walked over and curtsied to Teslaimia, "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Go with Roland and find a sexy outfit at this Patrick's of Beachwood. Roland, you can spend whatever they are charging to get the complete outfit." Teslaimia ordered.

The two swiftly left by Teslaimia's cab.

Teslaimia said to Grace, "If they are stealing our designs we'll put them out of business. If they are making inferior goods, we'll add a lower-priced outfit of a higher quality. Either way, I want to make sure that our sales are not impacted by this, also, find the writer of this article and invite them here for a chat. I have a feeling someone is targeting us through the paper."

Another woman walked over and said, "Your Highness, I think I met the owner of that shop. He came in with an attractive woman two weeks ago and was asking strange questions before making a large purchase."

Teslaimia looked at Grace, "Did she mention that to you?"

Grace looked scared as she replied, "I didn't think it was very unusual at the time. I didn't think it was worthy of your attention."

Teslaimia sighed, "Grace, I don't want you to be afraid to bring anything to my attention. No matter how trivial you feel it is, sometimes the small details are the most important." Teslaimia looked around and then asked, "Any other unusual customers come to mind lately?"

"The group from Injia came into the shop, Your Highness. They said they were looking for a gift that an Empress might like, I recommended one of your favorite outfits." Another of the women mentioned offhandedly.

Teslaimia chuckled, "Oh? Now that's interesting news."

*****

Roland sat in a chair by the changing room until Jessica came out, "Did you find an appropriate outfit?" He asked uninterestedly.

Jessica nodded and replied sheepishly, "Yes, I don't think Her Highness will be happy. The quality is very good and the design is wonderful. Let's go find out how the prices match up."

They walked up to the front counter and the counter girl smiled, "Oh you picked a great set! Is he your man? This set is very naughty, he is a lucky man." She added up the total and asked, "Would you like to join our rewards club? Since this is your first purchase if you sign up, you'll get half off today."

Jessica tilted her head, "I just have to sign up? Ok."

The counter girl handed her a card that needed some personal information filled out. "When we have big sales we will send you a notice in the mail. Also, whenever we have a cute new design, we will inform you by mail, isn't that great? Our rewards club members are entitled to a permanent ten percent discount as well." Jessica handed her the complete card and the counter girl read it, "Thank you, Tiffany, here are your purchases, that comes to seventy-five Sprite after discount."

Roland paid out the money and said, "It was a pleasure doing business with you. Shall we go, Tiffany?"

Jessica stood there in a daze for a moment, "Oh yes, of course, thank you!" As they walked back to the cab Jessica said softly, "They are much better prices than we have at this quality. That rewards program, that's... Why didn't we have something like that already?"

Roland sighed, "Miss Jessica, Her Highness had no need for such things when she was a unique retailer. These ideas are meant to break Her Highness's monopoly."

Jessica nodded and said, "Even if some people choose to give false information as I did, there will still be enough that give real information."

Roland nodded, "This Patrick's of Beachwood is not simple."

*****

Teslaimia was reclining in her office chair when Roland and Jessica returned. Teslaimia said to Jessica, "Go put the outfit on and let me see. Roland, will you tell me your thoughts on the shop?"

Roland nodded and said, "The products are top shelf, the prices are competitive and they are no doubt collection information on their clientele in a straight forward and obvious manner. They called it a rewards program. In order to earn a discount on purchases, one must fill out an identification card with their name and home address."

Teslaimia nodded and then laughed, "Remarkable!" Jessica returned to the office wearing the lingerie and did a little spin for Teslaimia causing even the normally stoic Roland to blush and look away. "Oh, that's a very high-quality outfit. It's similar to my 'Desires' line, but it has its own unique accents. How much was it after the discount?"

Roland replied immediately, "The outfit was seventy-five in total."

Teslaimia nodded and said, "Was that a fifty percent discount?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Future reward discounts will only be ten percent per their staff." Roland explained.

"Thank you, Roland, Jessica. The outfit is yours to keep Jessica. Roland, have Grace reimburse you." Teslaimia then said, "Steal the rewards program. I want it sent out to all of our branches by tomorrow. This is just too good to pass up, we'll keep a central library of all of our customers across the many Kingdoms here in Connaissance. Make sure that each branch knows to collect the information in book form that we will need here yearly or when a book is filled. As for this Patrick's... I want them out of business by the end of the month. Burn it down if needed."

Roland pointed at the clock, "Your Highness if you wish to make your afternoon appointment we should leave now."

Teslaimia nodded, "See Grace first relay my wishes, and then meet me at my cab."

Teslaimia walked into a different room and said, "Quickly, I need makeup and hair." A team of attractive young women started to work on Teslaimia as she laid back in a specialized chair. "Cynthia, I want you to have Grace think of a price range to offer this as a special service to VIP clientele."

*****

Jon knocked on the door to Emily's residence promptly at four feeling slightly annoyed. Roland opened the door and stoically announced, "Captain Alexander here to see you, Your Highness."

From the other room, Teslaimia called out, "You can send him in Roland, that will be all for now."

Jon walked into the living room only to find Teslaimia wearing a pair of long stiletto heels, black lace stockings, and gloves with a black lace teddy that left her most private parts completely exposed. Her eyes were glued to his face as his jaw dropped. "What do you think? I am trying out one of my best selling outfits. As a man, I need your opinion."

Jon's face dropped into one of anger and then he suddenly rushed up to Teslaimia and pressed her up against the wall, his face right in hers, "You think this is all fun and games? You bring me here just to tease me over and over with your beauty, why?" He pressed his lips against hers and started to kiss her roughly. He broke from the kiss and said, "You tease me like this again, even one more time and I am going to take you into her bedroom and well... You understand right?" He pressed himself between her legs making her gasp excitedly.

He let her down and then turned to walk away with the angry look on his face, "If you'll excuse me I need to go take a cold shower and then pick up Her Majesty from her meeting with the Nobility, Princess." He walked out slamming the door behind himself.

Teslaimia felt her heart pounding and licked her lips as she watched him go, "This outfit is better than I imagined. I wonder if Emmy will like it that much? Why couldn't it be seven yet?"