Jason checked his watch: 4:30 PM. The afternoon was well underway, and he'd been away from the floor
for over two hours. Time to see how things were running.
He made his way through the back hallways and emerged onto the main sales floor. The difference from
this morning was remarkable. Where there had been chaos, blood, and violence just hours ago, now
there was calm, orderly business. The store hummed with the pleasant energy of a successful afternoon.
Jason paused near the entrance to the outdoor and garden section, the very place where he'd killed
those men. The floor had been cleaned so thoroughly that no trace remained of what had happened. No
blood, no scuff marks, nothing. The merchandise had been straightened, the displays restored to perfect
order. Customers browsed the aisles, examining garden tools and outdoor furniture, completely unaware
that this had been a crime scene mere hours ago.
Tina was visible in the section, helping an elderly orc woman select fertilizer for her rose garden. The
young woman's movements were confident and professional, showing no sign of the trauma she'd
witnessed. She caught Jason's eye and gave him a small smile and nod before returning her attention to
her customer.
Jason continued his survey of the store, moving through each department with a manager's eye for detail.
[STORE OPERATIONS]
At the front of the store, Rachel and Kiana manned the registers with smooth efficiency. A steady stream
of customers moved through their lines—nothing overwhelming, but a healthy flow of business. Rachel's
blonde hair caught the overhead lights as she scanned items and chatted pleasantly with a young humancouple buying groceries. Her movements were practiced and quick, and she had the customers laughing
at something she'd said.
Kiana, at the next register, was ringing up a dwarf man's purchase of hardware supplies. Her dark eyes
were focused and professional, her hands moving with the kind of speed that came from experience. She
bagged his items carefully, making sure the heavier tools were properly secured.
Both women looked up as Jason passed, and their faces brightened immediately. The effect of his
Owner's Aura was subtle but unmistakable—their postures straightened, their smiles became more
genuine, and a faint flush colored their cheeks. They didn't stop working, but he could feel their
awareness of him, their pleasure at his presence.
"Afternoon, ladies," he said warmly. "How's the flow been?"
"Steady and manageable," Rachel reported, never pausing in her scanning. "We had a small rush around
three, but nothing we couldn't handle."
"Perfect. Keep up the good work."
He moved deeper into the store, heading for the grocery section. The aisles were well-stocked and
organized, and several customers browsed the shelves. A young elf woman was comparing pasta sauce
labels, while a human family with two children debated cereal choices.
Hannah was in the canned goods aisle, helping a middle-aged human woman reach something on a high
shelf. The tall, athletic woman retrieved the item easily, then spent a moment chatting with the customer
about recipe ideas. Her natural warmth and helpfulness were exactly what Jason valued in his
employees.
She spotted him as he approached and her whole face lit up. "Jason! I mean, Mr. Reeves." She caught
herself, remembering they were on the floor with customers around.
"Hannah. Everything running smoothly here?"
"Absolutely. We've been busy but not slammed. I restocked the baking supplies section about an hour
ago—we were running low on flour and sugar. Oh, and I helped Mrs. Chen find that specialty rice she was
looking for. Had to check the back, but we had it."
"Excellent initiative." Jason's approval was evident in his tone, and Hannah practically glowed. "Keep it
up."
"Yes, sir." The way she said it carried extra meaning, a reminder of their relationship beyond the
professional. But she maintained perfect decorum, simply smiling and returning to her work.
Jason continued his rounds, checking the hardware section where a few customers browsed tools and
supplies. Everything was properly organized, price tags clearly visible, displays attractive and accessible.
The store was running like a well-oiled machine.
He made his way to the customer service desk, where Selene held court. The striking woman with her
dark hair and sharp features was currently processing a return for a goblin man who'd bought the wrong
size of work gloves. She handled it with professional efficiency, her fingers flying over the keyboard as
she processed the refund.
"There you go, sir," she said, handing him a receipt. "You can grab the correct size from aisle seven, and
if you have any other issues, just come back and see us."
The goblin thanked her and headed off. Selene turned to Jason, and her expression shifted subtly—still
professional, but with an undercurrent of something more intimate. "Boss. Good to see you back on the
floor.""Good to be back. Any issues I should know about?"
"Nothing major. Had one customer complaint about a damaged product, but I handled it with a
replacement and a discount. She left happy. Oh, and someone called asking about our hours for
tomorrow—I confirmed we're open normal hours."
"Perfect. You've got everything under control."
"Always do." There was confidence in her voice, and pride. She knew her worth, knew she was good at
her job.
[CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS]
Jason spent the next thirty minutes actively working the floor, helping customers and demonstrating his
presence as owner and manager. His Owner's Aura worked its subtle magic, making customers feel
welcome and valued, encouraging them to linger and browse.
His first interaction was with a young orc couple shopping for their new apartment. They were in the home
goods section, looking somewhat overwhelmed by the selection of kitchen supplies.
"Can I help you folks find something?" Jason approached with a friendly smile.
The female orc looked relieved. "Oh, yes, please. We just moved in together and we're trying to set up
our kitchen, but there's so much to choose from..."
Jason spent ten minutes with them, helping them select essential items—a good knife set, basic
cookware, utensils, and storage containers. He made recommendations based on quality and value, and
by the end, they had a cart full of supplies and were thanking him profusely.
"This store is amazing," the male orc said as they headed toward the registers. "Everyone's so helpful."
"We try our best," Jason replied. "Welcome to the neighborhood, and come back anytime you need
anything."
He watched them go, satisfied. That was exactly the kind of customer experience that built loyalty and
reputation.
His next customer was an elderly human woman struggling to lift a bag of potting soil in the garden
section. Jason immediately stepped in.
"Let me get that for you, ma'am."
"Oh, thank you, young man." She smiled up at him gratefully as he easily lifted the heavy bag into her
cart. "These old bones aren't what they used to be."
"Happy to help. Are you finding everything you need for your garden?"
They chatted for a few minutes about her flower beds, and Jason recommended a few products that
would help with the pest problems she mentioned. By the time they parted ways, she was beaming and
had added three more items to her cart.
The third interaction was with a dwarf man in the hardware section who was trying to decide between two
different types of wood screws for a project. Jason's knowledge of construction and materials—enhanced
by his system's skills—allowed him to ask the right questions and make an informed recommendation.
The dwarf left satisfied and confident in his purchase.
Throughout these interactions, Jason was aware of his employees watching him work. They saw him
engaging with customers, solving problems, being present and active in the store's operations. Itreinforced his role not just as owner but as leader—someone who didn't just sit in an office but worked
alongside his team.
The afternoon sun slanted through the store's windows, casting warm light across the aisles. The steady
flow of customers continued—not overwhelming, but healthy. The registers chimed periodically as
purchases were completed. Somewhere in the store, soft background music played, creating a pleasant
shopping atmosphere.
Jason made his way back through the outdoor section one more time, taking in the scene. Tina was now
helping a young human man select camping equipment, pointing out features and benefits of different
tents. Customers browsed peacefully, examining merchandise, discussing purchases with companions.
It was hard to believe that this morning, this very spot had been a battlefield. That he'd killed three men
here, that blood had pooled on this floor, that his employees had witnessed brutal violence. Now it was
just another Tuesday afternoon at Reeves General Store, and life went on.
[BRIEF CLOSING]
Jason found himself near the front windows, looking out at the street beyond. The neighborhood was
quiet in the late afternoon, a few pedestrians passing by, a car rolling slowly down the street. Normal.
Peaceful.
He thought about the day so far—the morning's violence, the necessary brutality of defending what was
his. The claiming of Sarah, adding another woman to his growing family. The smooth operations of his
store, his team working together efficiently and happily.
The contrast was striking, but it didn't feel jarring. This was his life now, in this world. Violence when
necessary, pleasure when desired, business always. He was building something here—not just a store,
but an empire. A family. A legacy.
Sarah was upstairs now, resting and recovering, her body already nurturing his child. Jessica was with
her, taking care of her, welcoming her into the fold. His other women were working the floor, each one
devoted to him and to the success of this enterprise. The store was thriving, customers were happy, and
his reputation in the neighborhood was growing.
The morning's violence seemed distant now, almost unreal. But Jason knew it was very real, and that
more would likely come. This world was dangerous, and he'd made enemies. But he'd also proven he
could handle threats decisively and without hesitation.
He checked his watch again: 5:15 PM. The store would be open for another few hours, through the
evening rush when people stopped by after work. Then closing procedures, counting the registers,
securing the building for the night.
And after that... well, he had a whole household of beautiful women upstairs, and the night was young.
Jason smiled to himself, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and control. Everything was proceeding
exactly as it should. The store was his kingdom, his women were his family, and his future was bright with
possibility.
He turned away from the window and headed back into the store, ready to continue the work of building his empire, one day at a time.