Without wasting any time, he grabbed a piece of parchment and quickly wrote a letter. Once done, he reached over and smacked his owl awake, instructing it to deliver it immediately, even if it meant flying through the night. The next day, his fireplace roared to life as green flames burst from the Floo Network, and an old acquaintance stepped out. "Alex, you're unbelievable! It's the middle of summer, can't a person take a proper break? Do you know I haven't played poker in almost a year? I was finally planning to enjoy my vacation, and now here you are, dragging me into work! I already have to deal with you at Hogwarts, can't you leave me alone during the holidays?"
Vivian emerged from the flames with a large drumstick in hand, her expression one of exaggerated suffering. "I'll pay," Alex said simply, tossing her a bulging pouch of Galleons.
Having known Vivian for years, he was well aware of her personality. If she was in a bad mood, she could rant at him for hours, regardless of whether or not he had actually done anything wrong. Arguing with her was a waste of time, he'd long since learned that the fastest way to get things done was to shut her up with gold."Now that you should have led with!" Vivian's demeanor shifted instantly. Her eyes practically turned into golden Galleons as she snatched the money bag with practiced ease. "Boss, if you've got work for me, just say the word! I've known since the moment I met you that Alex Wilson is a true friend, a man of loyalty and integrity! Someone who never forgets his brothers and sisters when he gets ahead!"
Her transformation was so swift that Alex couldn't even be surprised. One second, she was complaining, and the next, she was all smiles and flattery. He sighed. If it wasn't absolutely necessary, he really wouldn't have asked this chatterbox for help. His house already felt chaotic enough with Fang around, adding Vivian into the mix would turn it into a full-blown marketplace. "Alright, that's enough. Just stop talking for a second." Alex raised a hand to cut off the stream of words. "I called you here for business. Help me with this, and then you can do whatever you want."
"So, what exactly do you need from me? You weren't very clear in the letter. Given your skill set, I doubt it's a request for combat support," Vivian said, taking a casual bite of her drumstick as she scanned the room."Wait a second, this is your place in Diagon Alley?" she suddenly exclaimed, her eyes widening as she took in her surroundings. "You actually went and bought a shop here? And you never invited me over? Heartless!" She walked to the window and peered outside. "Hold on, Gringotts is right across the street? This location is amazing! You've got easy access to all the best shops, bet it's great for convenience shopping!" She barely took a breath before continuing, "Hey, can I stay over for a few days? I've never had the chance to see the night view of Diagon Alley properly."
Alex rubbed his temples. He was already starting to regret this. "Vivian, focus." He moved quickly to intercept her before she started touching everything in the room. "I need your help with something specific. If you're up for it, we can talk business."
"Fine, fine. Just tell me what you need, but let's be clear, I don't do physical labor. As a lady, I refuse to demean myself with such menial tasks," she said, placing a hand over her chest dramatically.
Alex gave her a deadpan stare. "A lady? You literally knocked someone off their broom with a Beater's bat last time you played Quidditch."
Vivian ignored his jab, looking entirely pleased with herself. "Don't worry," Alex continued. "It's something right up your alley. I just need you to help me come up with ideas, for business."
With that, he quickly summarized the issues he was facing. Given that Vivian came from an influential family and was a half-blood, she had insight into both the pure-blood elite and the wider wizarding community. Plus, her love of gossip and socializing meant she always had a finger on the pulse of what people liked. Vivian listened, nodding thoughtfully. "So let me get this straight, over the course of a single summer vacation, you not only opened a shop but a whole company? You were setting this all up behind our backs?"
Alex gave her a flat look. "I did mention it before. You were too busy running off early and zoning out during training to pay attention. Now, can we actually talk about the work I need help with?"
"Did you, though?" Vivian squinted at him in suspicion. She vaguely recalled Alex saying something about a shop, but she had completely forgotten the moment summer break started.
Shrugging, she sat down, stuffing the last bite of her drumstick into her mouth. " So, what exactly do you mean by having me consult on your products? You want me to see if there's room for improvement?" Vivian asked, tilting her head.
"It's just about the appearance," Alex clarified with a sigh of relief. Finally, they were getting to the point. "The functionality is already complete. You've seen all my products before. They're the same alchemy items I had you test."
"Alright," Vivian nodded, recalling their past discussions. "But first, show me the finished products. Also, just so we're clear, if you don't like my suggestions, I'm not giving you a refund."
Alex could only nod helplessly before leading her downstairs to the store. Since business had been slow the day before, he'd decided to keep it closed today for adjustments. As soon as Vivian stepped inside, she took her time looking around, not like a consultant but like a customer casually browsing a shop. "Wow, this Raven Magic Lamp is really cool. Honestly, your products are pretty interesting. Makes me want to buy something," she remarked, picking up a small trinket from the counter. Then, she turned to Alex with a confused expression. "Wait, aren't these great? Why isn't your business booming?"
"Uh... that's just something I made as a side project. It was never meant to be a real product," Alex admitted, feeling a little embarrassed.
The realization hit him like a brick. Even Vivian, who wasn't particularly interested in magical devices, immediately saw the appeal of the magic lamp. Yet, he hadn't considered selling it. Was he really that bad at business? "Honestly, instead of selling all those dangerous, violent weapons, why not just sell this? A lot more people would be interested," Vivian commented bluntly, jabbing another hole in his confidence.
"I get it, I get it," Alex cut in before she could continue. "Now stop getting distracted by the lamp and help me look at the other stuff."
"Fine," she muttered, clearly unimpressed by his attempt to change the subject. Still, she turned her attention back to the shop. "Actually, your store has a really unique design. Are you sure you don't have an eye for aesthetics? Look at the magic-infused textures on the walls and furniture, these are stunning." She rubbed her hand over a small table, her eyes shining with an idea. "Hey, why not just sell the furniture? This chair alone, if you priced it at three to five Galleons, people would definitely buy it!"