Part 6/7
Other than Zo purposely being obtuse and argumentative and drinking most of the beer, the meeting is a success. Nico, Vanessa and even Giuliano brainstorm some ideas to help make the coffee shop better and bring in more business while wondering if they could take down Pope.
Once Leo tells them about the fancy restaurant Riario had taken him to, they bat around some ideas on how to discredit it and keep Pope out of future food ventures. Nico enthusiastically suggests posting fake bad reviews online, bribing vendors to give them subpar supplies, having a meal then planting roaches in the food, or releasing some rats near the restaurant's kitchen and staging videos of that. They all look at Nico with a new respect, in some cases, or concern, from Vanessa, but Leo politely shoots down those ideas.
"If we do something to make Pope look bad, it could backfire on us. They have infinitely more money and public relations experience than we do, so I think we need to focus on improving ourselves," Leo says. "What can we do to draw more customers into the coffee shop?"
"When I was in college, I loved going to a coffee shop to study in the afternoon or at night, when they had live music and shit," Giuliano says.
"That's too cliché and we're too far from campus," Leo argues. "We catch most of our business from professionals who still work downtown and swamp us before office hours and then again at lunch. The most business I see at night is from the occasional coffee date who manage to make two drinks last for three hours while they sit there and get to know each other."
"Maybe we need to bring the coffee to the masses," Nico suggests. "If we could do a little coffee catering, set up a portable station nearer the university," but Leo shakes his head.
"Too much upfront cost. We have to think of things that will bring people to us and make our shop a destination to come downtown at off hours."
Zo clears his throat and starts another beer. "I suggest wet T-shirt contests. Only we baristas can do it, and the customers can judge by their tips." Leo rolls his eyes, but Zo goes on. "What about making a calendar of the hot baristas? We could strip down, do tasteful nudes..." Only Vanessa looks vaguely intrigued, but then only at Giuliano.
"I think you're on to something," Leo starts then holds up a hand at Nico's outburst of outrage, "we are not doing that. But, what is the one thing that all of us have in common, that we know about besides coffee?"
"Sex?" Zo offers.
"Art," Leo says.
"So we're going to try and seduce artists to come buy our coffee? I hate to say it, but they're even more penniless than we are," Zo snorts.
"Yes, they are, but the people who patronize their art are not. The arts can bring in a lot of money from people who like to throw their fortunes and names around for good causes." Leo's idea has taken form, but he still needs to work out some details. "Let me make some calls, and we'll meet up again Thursday night."
Leo visits Andrea the next day at his art gallery. His former professor is thrilled to see him and is even more excited once he hears about Leo's plan. Things are slowly starting to take shape, and Leo thinks it might work. At least a little. It should definitely get attention.
Which is more than he can say about Lorenzo. Lorenzo walks by the coffee shop multiple times in the following days, peers in the windows at the customers and baristas, but he doesn't enter. It's more unnerving to Leo that way, and he doesn't know if Lorenzo is looking for Riario or if he is slowly letting go of his shop. Giuliano isn't sure either, but the others agree to cover his shifts if he will look after Lorenzo.
Leo is too busy with all the plans to save the coffee shop and Lorenzo when Riario calls for dinner, but he tells him it is safe to meet at the shop if he times it after one of Lorenzo's walk-bys.
Riario arrives at the shop in mid-afternoon, and, to his credit, and the extreme interest growing in Leo's pants, he strides in as confidently as ever, not bothering to look around to see if he'll get coldcocked again when he comes through the door.
Leo pauses his cleaning and waits behind the counter for him to walk up. There is the shadow of a bruise still on his nose and eye, but his lip is nearly healed. Leo wonders if he has enough time to lure him into the backroom for a quickie before another customer comes in.
"I am sorry my business took longer than anticipated," Riario tells him with a little smile. "But, I may have some news you will be eager to hear."
"I have some things to tell you too." Leo tells him about how the Architect's visit spurred the group of friends to decide to fight to keep the coffee house for Lorenzo. Riario listens, his smile never disappearing.
Finally he asks, "So you have come up with some plan to save the day?"
Leo shrugs. "It's the least we can do for him. And it will be fun to stick it to your company, no offense."
"None taken," Riario says dryly. "You are completely sure that you want to save this place for Lorenzo?"
"Yes."
"And you will do whatever it takes to make that happen?"
Leo's "Yes" is a little slower, but Riario just smiles again.
"I may have some news to make you happy then. I was meeting with an old friend, and she is rather a genius at coming up with strategies that rally people and bring them together for her cause."
Leo narrows his eyes and starts wiping the counter in short, irritated streaks but Riario doesn't notice.
"She is actually very interested right now in real estate and businesses that she can invest in to help grow. I may have mentioned one such business I knew in dire need of a public relations master, and she has offered to come here and check you out, see if she can contribute her wealth of expertise."
Leo isn't very happy to hear the words "genius," "master" and "expertise" in ways that don't refer to him. "Why exactly would such a paragon want to come here and help us?"
Riario's smile grows. "Let us say that she is one of the few people who has crossed my father and still remains successful in business. Much to her ex-husband's everlasting chagrin." His lips quirk and Leo is sure Riario isn't aware of the look of almost adoration on his face. "Although he tried to get my father to take him in after she staged a takeover of the business, my father was so angry, he wouldn't employ him either. Laura is unexpectedly tough and absolutely loves being able to win over my father in any way."
"Laura," Leo says flatly, but Riario doesn't catch his expression.
"I think you will like her. I hope you will. She could be an enormous benefit to you."
"I see."
"Will you join me for dinner tonight?"
"I'm busy," Leo replies, polishing the counter much harder than necessary until a piece of trim pops off the edge, making him swear in annoyance.
"Are you entirely sure you want to save this building?" Riario watches bemused as Leo reaches for the hammer and tacks they keep under the counter just for such emergencies.
"If— when we get the money, we'll be able to afford to remodel the place," Leo says as he lines up the tack and prepares to hammer.
"In the meantime, try not to get tetanus," Riario suggests. "Are you free tomorrow night?"
"Planning session," Leo says with some remorse. Playing hard to get doesn't come naturally to someone usually playing easy come, easy go.
"Then you call me when you are free." Riario steps up to the counter and hesitates, but Leo leans halfway across and Riario meets him there. The kiss is shy, a little welcome-back, hey I remember you, and then Leo decides that's enough playing and licks into his mouth, across his hard palate, and of course that's when Zo comes out of the back and screams "My eyes! My God, Nico, I've been struck blind!"
Riario growls, an accomplishment with Leo's tongue still a happy tenant in his mouth, but then he pulls away reluctantly.
"Are you sure you don't want a cup of coffee for the road?" Leo asks breathlessly as he puts down the hammer before he can drop it on his foot.
"I'm still not drinking that swill you make," Riario says and winks, so out of character Leo can only grin as he walks away, and Leo's aware that it's the grin that scrunches his nose a little that he only makes when he's truly happy. He doesn't even stop grinning when Zo spills the soy milk all over him, claiming his vision is still impaired from the sights he'd been forced to witness and would workers' comp pay for his brain to be bleached so he could forget them?