“Why spend that much on a car? Why not just get a used Ford Ka or a little Fiat that would take you from A to B just as well?”

“Because I love cars. Driving a car isn’t just about getting from A to B. A car is… I don’t know… A lifestyle. A personal expression.”

“And a status symbol,” Frau Lamm added.

“Yeah, maybe that too. People wouldn’t be very impressed if their business consultant showed up in a dented, cheap little car.”

Frau Lamm waved her hand in a there-you-have-it gesture.

“You want me to believe that fountain pens are like cars?” Susanne eyed her skeptically.

“Maybe not for you. But they are for the customers we target. Personally, I prefer a bicycle to a BMW, but if I made that kind of money,” she gestured at the price tag, “I wouldn’t hesitate to spend two thousand euros on this beauty.” She gave the pen a loving look and trailed her finger along the glass in a sensual caress.

Susanne’s mouth went dry. Probably just because she hadn’t been drinking enough while working. Maybe she should get herself another coffee. She cleared her throat. “So how many of these BMW-type pens have we sold this year?”

“It’s only the middle of January.”

“Meaning none.”

Frau Lamm wrapped her arms even more tightly around herself, but she refused to avert her gaze, even though she had to raise her head to make eye contact. “January isn’t a good time for pens. We sell more of them around the holidays, and sales will probably pick up again as we get closer to Valentine’s Day.”

If things continued like this, they’d be out of business by Valentine’s Day.

“Is there a specific reason why you’re asking all these questions, Susanne?”

The casual use of her first name took her by surprise. No one had ever attempted such a familiarity in her old job. If she didn’t deal with it right away, she could have a situation on her hands down the road. “Frau Wolff.”

“Pardon me?”

“This is a workplace, Frau Lamm. I don’t think calling each other by our first names is appropriate.”

Frau Lamm’s big eyes widened even more. With her elfin features, she looked so vulnerable that Susanne wondered if she’d been too harsh.

No. Don’t doubt yourself. You can’t save a business by coddling the employees. You know that.

“B-but your uncle and I have been on a first-name basis for years, and we manage to work together just fine.”

The way her uncle managed his business was what had gotten them into trouble in the first place. “My uncle makes his own decisions, but I, for one, would prefer if you called me by my last name.”