A year has passed and you're back in college, though it's not as much fun as it was when you didn't need to worry about where your tuition was coming from or having something like a job.



Finding time to study while running the inn is difficult, but fortunately your mother picks up some of the slack when you really need time. You've also managed to re-establish some old contacts with people you were "friends" with before your "break". Most of them are ahead of you and some are getting ready to graduate. While none of them bothered to stay in contact with you (so much for education breaking down class distinctions) a few of them are still willing to help you out by selling you books for cheap or giving you some of their old notes. Every little bit helps.



As for the inn, it's doing well, but you constantly worry about its future profitability. You've got a much broader customer base and even classed the place up a bit, but this isn't without its drawbacks. Namely the Flying Griffon Inn has stepped up its efforts to get back its customers. This has so far involved an aggressive advertising campaign, hiring a bunch of sexy barmaids and special deals. So far it has helped them a lot and if they continue to succeed, your inn is going to start losing money and you can't have that. It doesn't help that your place isn't in as good of a location as the Flying Griffon



So first things first, you need to figure out how to deal with Flying Griffon and you call a staff meeting in the hopes of getting some other ideas on how to deal with them.



"Why don't you just hire someone to cut up their slutty barmaids? I mean that's what's mainly getting the main draw right? Seems like you could easily solve the problem by getting rid of them." Rita says. Naturally this doesn't go over well with the others.

"That's horrible!" Eliza says

" What? I didn't say kill them, they'd still be able to work and shit. They just wouldn't be pretty anymore."

"Have you gotten so jealous that you've gone completely barmy? By the gods, we're not doing that, we're not the Crimson Talons!" Wendy shouts.



As much as disfiguring Flying Griffon's staff would solve some problems, you hesitate to resort to such measures.



"Maybe we could offer deals to traveling merchants like Flying Griffon does, like they get a discount on their rooms?" your mom suggests.

"Not sure if that's going to help us a lot, unless we make an addition to the inn. It's not like our rooms aren't being used. If we start giving discount to merchants we might attract them, but we might not have enough rooms to accommodate them or we'll be accommodating them, but won't be accommodating adventurer types who are paying full price." Wendy says.



"Well if you're so knowledgeable Wendy, what's YOUR solution?" Rita sneers.

"We have a lot of Klyton Milita that come here to drink now don't we? Why don't we get some of them to help us? Seems like some very public investigation during heavy business hours would help out a lot and ruin the reputation of Flying Griffon. Hell, maybe they'll even find something and we'll really get lucky."



You take all these suggestions into consideration, but you can't help notice that Eliza looks like she wants to say something.



"Eliza, do you have a suggestion?"

"Huh? Oh. Um…yes…but I... Just forget it. It's silly anyway. The rest of your ideas sound better."

"Eliza, just spit it out!" Wendy demands.

"It's okay, just tell us." You say with a lot less intimidation.

"Well okay, but it's silly. I was going to suggest getting someone on the inside to spy on the place and finding something to use against them. It seems odd that they are managing to attract that much attention with just pretty barmaids when we have our own. I think maybe something else is going on there, like an illegal brothel or something."



Most of you are surprised that Eliza came up with something so complex.



"Well, that's a very elaborate plan Eliza, but I think we could accomplish the same thing just by sending in our militia buddies to harass them. Like I said, if they do find anything actually incriminating, then its even better."

"Yes, of course. That sounds like a more efficient idea." Eliza says.

You go with Eliza's idea

Eliza's idea might be a little complicated, but if you're going sic the Klyton militia on Frank for something, you'd better at least have some sort of evidence to back it up, real or imagined.



"Okay Eliza, we'll go with your plan."

"What?" Rita exclaims.

"Are you serious?" Wendy adds.

" Oh, um really?" Eliza says just as surprised as everyone.

"Sure and you're going to be the one to do it."

"Oh I couldn't…I'm far too shy!"

"Oh for…if you're going to insist on doing this plan, you'll need someone who can work a room. Of course I'll expect to be paid extra for this." Rita volunteers.

"Oh I can see this plan is a GREAT idea." Wendy says rolling her eyes.

"Everyone be quiet! I'm not using you Rita because quite frankly too many people already know who you are and you're too obvious. Eliza needs to do it. She's practically invisible. No offense."

"Oh none taken, but I just don't know if I can."

"Of course you can, you came up with the idea right? We just need to hammer out the details."



After a few moments of discussion, Eliza says that the easiest way would be to get hired there as a waitress. If Frank questions her, she'll say that she didn't like the environment at your place and her co-workers (especially Rita). It should be enough to convince him, but Eliza's just worried that she won't get hired due to her looks. She's a pretty a girl, but she suffers from low self esteem so you try to boost her up a bit with compliments. Hopefully they work and hopefully this plan works.



A few days later the plan is in motion. Eliza "quits" working at your Inn and works for Frank. In your first secret meeting, she tells you he did know who she was, but apparently he didn't even question her that much. He was too overjoyed that he was taking help away from you that he hired her right away. Though you wonder if that could be a ruse to lull her into some sort of trap, you tell her to be very cautious.



The next time you meet Eliza she's dressed a lot more provocatively than usual. You can't help but to comment.



"Wow, Eliza that uh dress…"

"I know. It doesn't leave much to the imagination does it? I feel like I'm almost walking around naked and everyone is looking."

"Oh don't worry about it, they were looking even before you dressed like that. You are very attractive after all."

"Oh you don't need to boost me up anymore, I'm getting over my shyness, though I suppose I don't have much choice. Now here's what I've found out so far…"



Eliza goes on to say that other than having a lot of beautiful girls working for him she hasn't found anything out of the ordinary yet. He doesn't seem to be involved in any illegal activity either.



"Are you sure there isn't any prostitution going on?"

"That was the first thing I thought of, but it doesn't look like it. None of the other waitresses are sneaking off with the patrons to some backroom and I haven't been asked to do anything unseemly either."

"Damn…uh I mean that's good you weren't put in that position though. So nothing at all huh?"

"Well, the only thing that I noticed that might be odd is two of the girls always seem to be there all the time and sometimes they go off with Frank in the basement for long periods of time. There are rumors that they're sleeping with him."

"Well sleeping with the boss might be sleazy, but it's not illegal." You say.

"I dunno if it's that sleazy, I think people can maintain a healthy relationship even if one is in a higher position than the other."



This odd little quip from Eliza puts you off guard for a moment.



"Uh, well sure, but I doubt if that's the case with those three." You sputter.

"Oh I agree, but the thing is, I get the impression it isn't necessarily sex. It feels like something else is going on with them. I think it's still worthwhile to stick around a little longer."

"Okay, but as I've said before, be very careful. I wouldn't want anyone there to find out about you, you're the only employee I have that doesn't cause any trouble."

"I will, but thanks for your concern."



You suddenly feel the need to "correct" yourself.



"I don't mean I only care about you as an employee, I mean I also care about you…I mean as a person! Y'know, I don't want anything to happen to you." You awkwardly word.

"I know what you mean. And thanks again I appreciate it." Eliza says with a smile.



You tell her the next time you want to meet, but if she finds out anything really important to come to you earlier. As she begins to leave you realize you are starting to develop some feelings for Eliza, though you aren't sure if she feels the same way, but you get the impression that she has also been dropping a few hints.

You say something

Things don't get accomplished by sitting around doing nothing. You have to seize the day! You stand up from your seat and call out to her.



"Eliza!"

"Yes?"

"I like you! Do you like me?"



Not exactly the most mature way of "seizing the day" but fortunately for you Eliza is easily amused and she isn't without her own feelings towards you.



After a few moments of talking the pair of you both realize you can't really do anything major with this relationship now, but after all this spying business is over with you'll be able to.



Except that doesn't really happen and the pair of you are meeting a lot more frequently.



A month passes and Wendy begins to grumble about being short staffed and wonder when the hell Eliza is coming back.



"Eliza's doing important work and I'm sick of hearing criticism about her, so just suck it up and work harder." You tell Wendy

"Are you fucking kidding me? I work like a fucking Dwarven Shieldmaiden around here!" Wendy exclaims. "It's not like Rita does any damn work except sit around and look pretty, and as for those two halfbreed sluts I have to practically light a fire under their asses in order to get them to do anything. Eliza was the only one who I could reliably count on and now I don't even have her because she's fucking you!"

"HEY! Watch who the hell you're talking to!"

"Or what? It's true isn't it? Don't think I haven't noticed the increase in your little meetings with her. Far be it from me to get in the way of young love and all that, but it's starting to interfere with MY life. Tell me has she even found anything to incriminate Frank yet?"

"Well no, but she says there's still a lot of suspicious stuff going on. She says she thinks she might be on to something soon."

Wendy just shakes her head. "I told you we should've just gone with my plan. I'm telling you right now though, I'm not going to put up with being overworked too much longer, so if you expect me to stick around, you better stop playing so much grab ass with her so she can concentrate on her real job."



While Wendy's words give you something to consider, they're a little too late. A few days later while you're going to one of your classes you run into Frank of all people on campus.



"So, this is what college is like eh? I believe I probably would've liked going to this institution. Having more knowledge is always a good thing."

"Frank…what are you doing here?"

"Ah, what I'm doing here, let's walk and talk, wouldn't want you to be late for class and all."



You slowly walk with Frank while having a sickening feeling about this whole surprise visit.



"Okay m'boy let's get right to it since you're obviously about to vomit. I know all about Eliza, quite honestly I don't know why I didn't pick up on her reasons for being there in the first place. Stupidness on my part, I suppose I was blinded by the idea that my inn was finally starting to gain more customers again…but this isn't about my stupidity, it's about yours."



You stop for a moment as you begin to feel sick to the point that you're dry heaving.



"Oh for…alright I better tell you the good news first before you make a damn scene. Eliza is fine…for now. Anyway let me get to the point. Your inn is mine now."

"What?"

"Well your mother's inn then, or whoever owns it. I'm not unreasonable so I will buy it for a fair price."

"Wait, you just want me to hand over the inn to you?"

"No, I said I was offering to buy it…that is unless you don't really care about your precious Eliza after all."



At this point you get angry and grab Frank by the collar with both hands, causing several passersby to avoid the pair of you. Frank isn't at all intimidated though.



"Attempting to beat the hell out of me isn't going to improve your situation m'boy. Look you need to just accept the fact that you've lost. It's obvious you have feelings for Eliza, so the logical thing to do is to sell your inn."

"I have friends in the Klyton militia, I could just have them storm your place!"

"You could I suppose, but not in time to save Eliza, not to mention that plan might not work out like you think. I have friends of my own too, much more powerful than the Klyton militia." Frank's expression is quite serious at this point.



Lacking any other ideas, you feebly attempt to bluff.



"…well maybe…Eliza will have to be sacrificed for the good of the inn…or…"

"Wow, I'm surprised you actually managed to say it, even if you don't mean it. Even if you were serious, I doubt that even you would want to sacrifice your own child within her."



The shock of this revelation leaves you speechless.



"Hmm, didn't tell you then? She's not far along and obviously not showing yet but trust me I know. It's one of the reasons why you're getting this special generous deal. I'm not exactly heartless even though you probably think I'm being a complete bastard right now. Well I suppose I'll leave you to it, I imagine you'll need lots of time to get your stuff in order."



You heart sinks, there's no way out of this. You'll have to tell your mother everything and this is definitely going to put an end to your college pursuits for a long time.



The transfer isn't complicated. Your mother isn't exactly happy about how you bungled all this, but she isn't willing to sacrifice her future grandchild. Not to mention she was only continuing to help with the inn due to your college fees. She's been tired of living in Klyton ever since your father died.



When you and your mother meet Frank at his inn, he has a couple of his waitresses to get Eliza. She looks none the worse for wear. Frank assures you that apart from keeping her locked up in one of his rooms nothing was done to her.



In the following months you eventually marry Eliza and get a job as a lowly clerk filing away insignificant papers and other dull material. You move into a modest apartment and manage to get settled in fairly well due to the money your mother got from selling the inn. She gave most of it to you since she moved to Teckleville to live with her sister Enora.



In the months that follow, Eliza finally gives birth to your daughter. You find yourself working a lot and while you aren't completely unhappy, you begin to feel a sense of dissatisfaction.



In the years that follow you're beginning to feel burned out, you wonder if moving to Teckleville wouldn't be a good idea, but Eliza says that you wouldn't be find work there, or at least not the kind that pays well enough to support all of you. You and her begin to argue a lot, mostly over money and how you never seem to have enough of it.



Another decade and you're practically miserable. You're working at a job that you hate, you live with a wife that you've fallen out of love with and you now have two children that are barely obedient.



It's probably just as well that you suddenly suffer from a heart attack due to all the stress. Any longer and you probably would've snapped and went on a killing spree.



In your last moments you wonder back to your days at the inn and if you could've avoided all this had you done things differently there.



You'll never know.