15th April 1563

Annibale knew how difficult it would be to make this question, and that would be to talk to his former guardian. A woman in her late thirties, with brown hair and deep brown eyes, dressed in a long-sleeved dress, her face with a few wrinkles. He had met her now and then, intending to learn to deal with the wealth that his mother had given him.

Although neither of them would stop him from doing something dumb, perhaps seeing it as a much needed necessity to learn his own lessons. That still did not ease him when he saw her. She took a seat before him, in the table of his new office.

“The office looks good, and you’re not overreaching by trying to hire people to handle investments you haven’t made.”

“It’s just Ezio and I doing this, in our other time that we didn’t dedicate to the company.” This wasn’t his primary form of income, but the one he wanted to try. Mostly upon recommendation and feeling that it was the right time.

“It’s a rule to only hire using the profits that you already have, not your wealth.” Reciting Renata’s words back to her.

“So, what you wish to check with me?” Annibale stood up to grab a folder, mostly regarding the cafe they introduced to him.

“It’s a particular investment that I think you would be interested in, it’s a cafe” Annibale answered, knowing that Renata wanted to go beyond just wineries or restaurants.

He passed her the folder. She took it up and opened it. However, her eyes remained on him, Annibale tried to relax a little. She was mostly sizing him up a little to know what was his goal. There was plenty of truth in it as a legitimate business; he was also using her to help vet them.

“What is it?” He didn’t smile, knowing that the more he did, the more she would think something is going.

“Nothing, it’s just that I have the feeling that there is more to this than just wanting me on board,” she said.

“I’m seeking your counsel, even if I can read records, I still do not understand a great deal about what makes a healthy business,” he replied, similar to a student asking questions about his assignments.

He tried to hide the fact that he did a poor job of grilling them for any information that they may have to hide. But an experienced investor would easily tell what it was they did not wish anyone to seek.

She flipped through the documents, knowing that there was more. But she will teach him some specifics and thought he attempted to learn, not waiting for her to tell him what he had to do.

“I hope that this isn’t the first thing you saw.” Renata closed the folder.

“It was, but then I had other experiences. If I didn’t think it held up to the others, I would not bring it to you here,” he said, with his back upright. Even if he didn’t do much, he still listened and found them credible.

“Then, you’re lucky that in terms of choice I am looking beyond just the regular restaurants, or wineries. Cafes had always been one which I wanted to do, so I’ll look through it.” She didn’t ask about anything else, showing her interest, but also her options. He was not the only one where she could find a cafe that she would like to invest in.

It went into silence, even as she continued to consume a cup of coffee on the table. And he would then ask Ezio for another. He was waiting for her to finish, rushing her would be foolish.

“This seems to be an innovative establishment, they’re not just dealing in coffee and simple treats. But they have fairly unique items on their menus,” she said. “And their finances are solid. They have a skilled bookkeeper with them. And I think I see why one of them graduated with a diploma, and a certificate which would allow him to be hired as a bookkeeper.”

“But there is more that I wish to know about them before I dedicate anything to them, I hope that you did not already book a meeting.”

Annibale placed the cup on the table. “I set a date for them next week on Friday at their cafe.”

Close to the end of the week.

“That would not make it nearly as bad an idea. Sometimes investments take time. You don’t want to be swindled out of your money. Especially if you’re injecting them into direct businesses and not buying either stocks or bonds.”

“Although you taught me they carry risk too.” Annibale inherited some shares, mostly in the public businesses and bonds from his mother. And the extensive wealth she gained in her own business dealings. Both of which dissolved into cash upon her death, for Annibale to build his own.

“It involves plenty of risk, without a doubt. But they have to meet certain requirements to even list their stock or bond.” She put down the folder too. “I think I’ll join, I’m sure I can do plenty of investigation before then. And nothing about them seem suspect enough that I would hold back, and if they’re willing to let a potential investor see their business, that speaks of confidence.”

Confidence, to his former guardian and distant cousin Renata, was the most important thing. He knew that she once was penniless, struggling to bring together. And without a doubt, knew the beginnings far better than him. Although his thriving business had a lot to do with his family name and connections, most of which had allowed him to find a network of clients who needed furniture for their new homes.

“Before I leave, your sister recently graduated, has she come back?”

“She has returned home, and she already has work.” There was a look, remembering that the wealth that his sisters had could only be used by them with her consent. The same rules that he was now liberated from.

“I need to discuss something with her, it’s good to see that she has returned.” Leaving Annibale mostly alone to think about the future. “I’ll be setting the calendar for next Friday since you asked me to.”

Ezio opened the door to show her out. He closed it, wondering what was the next. He kind of remembered that it had nothing to do with his furniture business. Annibale went to see his schedule and then seeing it. He had set it a couple months back, an agreement that he accepted to meet each month.

The last month consumed Annibale to the point of neglecting his schedule, so he needed to review his schedule to rearrange. However, the location was not here and he would need to rush.

“I rearranged it to our new office once we had the date set for the opening,” Ezio said. Just before Annibale would have hurried to find the next tram and then make up an apology for coming in late.

“Thank you, Ezio,” Annibale thanked him. “Could you see if he has come?”

He nodded and left, remembering that he agreed to find the venue. He had already made the arrangements, long before he went into setting up his office, and then dealing with the tenants so he wouldn’t go bankrupt from the cost alone. They had agreed on a lodge between the mountain passes.

Before finally digging the plan out the location. He had been looking forward to it, enjoying it immensely more.

“He’s already in the lobby,” Ezio said. Annibale went to get the coffee, even as it wasn’t necessary. But it would help a lot to show his preparation. He sat down in his waistcoat with his regular coat hung outside. The warm spring air was almost impossible for him. He crossed his legs while he waited for his former schoolmate.

The door opened, showing a familiar face. A man with blonde hair and brown eyes. Annibale never was close to him, they were in different classes. He was like Annibale, meant to inherit and deal with his family’s wealth. Although Annibale never needed to uphold the family in terms of their image or even their business.

Reunions where most of the students were from wealthy or influential families gave a chance for them to connect with others who could help them, or a chance to find lucrative business deals.

“Thank you for coming here, Guillaume.” He shook his hand. Guillaume looked around at the room.

“You have a pleasant office, so this was the building that made it impossible for you to come to the reunion before.”

“Just one of the two reasons, the other was still running my company and trying to increase revenue and hiring new carpenters so that this could take a backseat,” Annibale said. They weren’t close, although both of them came from wealthy families. It was just that they were on different ends. His parents set him to follow his family’s company in coal, and Annibale was charting his own path.

He drank the coffee. “Annibale, I hope that you have the plan of the festivities listed out.”

“I do have the list of potential festivities, and well, I found a potential supplier for wine. They mentioned it, and I said that I probably would know them best.”

“I’m not even surprised that you’re sponsoring the beer.” Guillaume chuckled, he loved to drink. And at this age had already become well-acquainted with a wide variety and brands, giving almost everything a shot.

“I have a fine appreciation, I can also drink spirits,” he said, lifting his cup of coffee. “And because I can get a lower price, and I already have a distributor, Solemaria.”

“That’s good quality beer, I tried to do that and their price was way too expensive.” He took the cup to have another sip. “Tell me about how you convinced them to give you that price.”

“What’s her name?” He gave a slight sweet smile before drinking. Annibale was going to savour the result.

“Renata de Moreni,” he said. Before he turned in the instant, realising that his former schoolmate was without a doubt somewhat related to her.

Annibale gave a cheshire grin to Guillaume.

“And that explains it, I guess if you can handle that aspect, it would be unwise to ask anything else of you. Since it’s such a crucial part of partying.” Guillaume gave a smile.

Annibale nodded since it was a great deal of money even after he slashed the price to half if he ordered enough to feed an entire cohort.

“Even she says that when you’re getting married, you can go cheap on everything except the wine,” Annibale quoted her, knowing that it was her method of selling wines to engaged couples. “I’m inclined to agree.”

“Want to make it a bet? I can involve almost everyone,” he said. Annibale could guess that payback was a huge part of it.

“I’ll decline, since I think it’ll be quite a while before I marry anyone.” He drank from his own cup. For it was the truth. He hasn’t even tried to seek a match. Not that he was being forced to, just that in recent times, because of how they sought to liberate and break away from tradition. Most were less inclined to marry, or even to marry according to their family’s wishes.

And that’s not even counting how his parents were an unusual pair, since they married for love and companionship when most did for money or connection.

They both died before the could be here to talk to Annibale about the prospect of marriage to him. Other than a far-off ideal and a part of life that he might one day pursue.

“Fine,” Guillaume asked. “I wouldn’t want to do it too, since it’ll also be an along while before I marry too.”

But there was still more to discuss the reunion. They deviated enough from their conversation.

“Well, we have paid the lodgings, settled the food. We no longer need to worry about entertainment apart from games. But Emiliano said that he would come up with something regarding that, and last time, he was a fantastic game master.” Most of them seemed to have gone back to the reunion, intending to mingle amongst familiar faces and continue to mingle with the right people.

“The committee is meeting in a week, mostly to finalize decisions. I’ll like you to join us, to discuss this in particular. There’s actually this coffeehouse ran by a duo who have the best coffee and dishes in town.”

Annibale was almost getting a bad feeling about this. “Who are they?”

“Cafe Endrizzi, they are also a lot more generous in terms of their prices. It’s much easier for us to be there,” he said. Annibale gave a nod, feeling almost awkward at the mention of them. But he didn’t think to say no, and that he would need to break the news to Renata regarding the change of plans.

And for something like this.

“Emiliano would like to see you. He seemed really surprised at the mention of your name.” Not to mention that although Guillaume wasn’t close to Annibale, Emiliano was friends with plenty of people and Annibale was one of his best friends.

“I mean, I understand that if you can’t since you’re busy.” Not wishing to put Annibale into a spot. Since he didn’t join them last year.

“I’ll be there,” he said, not really fearing. “I have a good reason I wasn’t there for the first round.”

Ezio opened the door for Guillaume to leave. After that, he closed the door. Ezio broke into a bright smile about his current situation.

“I’ll add two meetings to next week, one to meet with this committee and another to meet with Renata.”

Annibale crossed his own arms, trying to think about both happening in the same location. He would need to explain to Renata why he was already there, but he didn’t see the need to miss out on meeting with them after he gave his word.

“Is it because you’re going to the same location twice that you’re hesitating about whether you should cancel either of these meetings?” Ezio asked Annibale.

“Yes,” he said.

“I think you should go, you can even justify it to her. Since you were there as a patron, allowing you to feel it better than trying to pretend to be one.”

“That was what I though too, it’s easy to justify and it might even help me, since I would be there just to chat and eat,” he said. “Add it to my calendar, I’ll be attending both.”

“As you wish,” Ezio said.