As they walked down the corridor Gwaine noticed a photo of Merlin a woman and another man about Merlin's age, they all looked so happy. "Is that your mum?"
Merlin looked at the picture "Yes It's the last on I have of her, she got ill just after that and refused to have any more taken. That was three and a half years ago"
"So who's the other guy?"
"He was my best friend we grew up together" came a short answer.
Merlin walked out into the garden with Gwaine following, he realised that somehow he had opened up old wounds. "I'm sorry for prying Merlin, I was just trying to get to know the man behind the potter"
An awkward silence followed until Gwaine broke the silence.
""So about these Barbeques can anyone come and when's the next one" As easy as that Gwaine put the matter behind him. They all had things they would rather not talk about and he was happy to do as Merlin asked. They then spent the next half an hour talking before Gwaine headed back to town.
After Gwaine had left Merlin went back indoors and took the photo down and sat and stared at it. "I miss you both so much! I hope you're happy Will, no matter how much you hurt me, I wouldn't want you unhappy"
In the past Merlin had tried to work out how to remove Will from the photo but then decided they Will had been part of his life for so long removing him from a photo wouldn't make any difference and if he was to move on he needed to remember the good times and forget the bad ones.
The next day Gwaine continued to get to know the staff and then one of the till staff, made special effort to speak to Gwaine at lunch break. After making sure he knew she had worked at the Pottery for several years, since leaving school she went on to talk about the other staff. It was soon clear to Gwaine that Sophia was, one interested in Arthur and two didn't like Merlin. After trying to get information about Arthur from him she then decided to try to put Merlin in a bad light. "You know that for a couple of years Merlin has been getting away with murder he often has far longer than he should for lunch, you will have to watch that, he thinks because he is in charge in the Studio he can do as he likes."
Gwaine held his tongue, he had learnt in the past that if he let people have their say without interruption he could get a better idea of their true nature "I will be looking at a lot of things don't worry" he told her.
"Did you know he is a…" she looked around to make sure no one else was listening "He had a boyfriend! We don't have many of those around here. Anyway his boyfriend bumped him and left, and I can't say I blame him. Merlin hardly did any work for ages after that. The rest of them carried him. He thinks he is better than any of us, even if he is a queer"
Gwaine looked at the young woman and couldn't help but think for such a beauty she was a bitch. "I'll stop you there Sophia and say Mr Pendragon has very strict rules on prejudice of any kind and won't tolerate it in his staff, and nor will I"
Sophia looked surprised "I'm not prejudice! Calling someone a queer doesn't make me prejudice I was just stating facts, I mean you need to know don't you?"
Gwaine decided he agreed with Merlin's view of Sophia "No I don't, what anyone does in their private life, as long as it isn't either illegal or effects their work for the company is none of my, or anyone else's business. And I understand Mr Emrys mother died a couple of years ago, don't you think he needed everyone's support then? If I hear you using offensive terms again you will face disciplinary action. Now talking of time I believe you are now late back to work yourself"
Sophia stood up and flounced off when she got to the till she turned to her friend "I think the new manager is another one like Merlin, he had a go at me for telling him Merlin was you know" she looked around to make sure no one was about "What do you think?"
"I think you need to go careful Soph, I mean these London types are different and you have to watch what you say, anyway Gwaine is far to dishy, he likes women alright"
"You fancy him Vivian! Well you can have him I want Mr Pendragon, he's so good looking and loaded"
Vivian looked at her friend "You don't stand a chance, he wouldn't look at a till girl. Not unless it was for a quick romp." They didn't talk for a while as a coach party arrived and the tills were busy.
Arthur arrived back in the shop the next day Merlin was back at his wheel and Gwen and Freya were decorating. The Manager. Owner and the two other people disappeared into the office. As they sat down Arthur turned to Gwaine "Have you had chance to work out who you want to move to the new Internet sales area? And any other suggested moves"
Arthur respected Gwaine's assessment of people he had a way of seeing through the public face employees put up with new management. That's why he was so good at his job. Gwaine grinned "Yeh I have. There are two girls on the shop floor who would be good in the new area, they are interested and work well without supervision. I have asked them and they seem keen. There is also one of the men who would be good behind the till, I think we need to watch a couple of the till girls. One is not worth the time and effort of improving and ideally I would like her out, and her friend isn't much better. They have both bitched to me about other staff and seem to think that good looks is all they need to get through life. I have found them talking and not working when there have been people waiting to be served."
"Are you being chased Gwaine?" one of the other men asked with a smile.
"I like to do the chasing" Gwaine grinned flicking his head in a move the others were well used to. "Any way one is after Arthur! Seriously I think we need to keep an eye on both of them. The head of security is a bit lapse as well, if he stopped watching them two he might stop other problems"
"Is the shop loosing much?" Arthur said his eyebrow shooting up "Agravaine didn't mention that in his report before we went ahead with the purchase."
"The last two stock takes show a steady flow of stuff that can't be accounted for. A bit too much to be your average shop lifters, after all this stuff isn't small or foldable. It should be seen going out." Gwaine admitted "Most of the cameras are out of action or blurry and aren't set for the right areas. Not to mention that they aren't watched as a matter of course."
Arthur looked at one of the men "Sounds like a job for Percy"
"It does, shall I get him to come down? I'm seeing him tomorrow"
"Yes please Lance, have you looked at the present budget for advertising and promotion?"
"I have its abysmal. They have spent less than five hundred pounds in the past year. No effort has even been made to use areas that would be free, like Facebook and interviews with local media." Lance replied. "I will work on a few things and let you know. I started a Facebook page up this morning. The web site is being looked at, but I wanted to discuss the new sales venture you wanted to start. Also I wanted to fix up a couple of interviews with you on local media. We have already been approached by the local rag"
"Give me your ideas asap, oh and ask Percy to apply for a job, I'm sure Gwaine will employ him"
"You being sneaky Princess?" Gwaine asked with a grin.
"Looking at these figures there is inside help to get this stuff out. We play this cagey for now" Arthur told his manager. "Morgana will be down tomorrow to start the individual assessments. I want her to have a list of the people you want moved and why, also give her your views on those two till girls. Morgana should be able to handle them, which is her job after all." Arthur paused
"Leon you've looked at the figures, I know you agree with me we need to get a better value from the floor space, what do you think of the potters suggestion for smaller pieces?"
"A good one, I mean I don't understand the technicalities but he's right those Kilns eat energy. So anyway of maximising their output has to be good. As to sales of small pieces well that's your field"
"Merlin suggested that the previous owners had increased the costs to unreasonable levels. Was too much being taken out of the business?" Arthur asked his accountant.
"The levels were high, I should think they could be reduced, costs are very high in some areas. I suggest we do a complete stock take and reassess" Leon said. "As well as look at the costs of some areas"
"I certainly think the idea of selling small pieces to the coach tourists sounds good. Can you talk to Merlin about costs?" Arthur then turned to Gwaine. "Found any other skeletons?"
"A few personal issues that have nothing to do with work, you know what gossip is like. Nothing you have to worry about." Gwaine admitted "I do know that the Studio team are close knit and work well together. I think they are a real asset as they stand"
"Good since they are the business" Arthur grinned. "Now I have a Potter to talk to, he's making mother a birthday present"
Gwaine threw back his head and laughed "Isn't saving her favourite Pottery enough?" he knew his bosses mother well and knew of her obsession.
"She doesn't know as yet" Arthur admitted "I'm bringing her down on her birthday"
"Is Uther coming, because if he is I'm having the day off" came the retort
"I doubt it" Arthur admitted "I haven't mentioned it yet so I expect he will have a full diary"
"You mean you hope he has" Gwaine had never shown any pretence of liking Uther Pendragon in all the time Arthur had known him.