Gray blinked in disbelief.
For a second, he was stunned. He couldn’t believe that Conrad actually said yes, or at least didn’t shut him down immediately.
He was just trying his luck.
He expected some rejection, maybe a "we’ll talk about it later" or some elegant way of brushing him off.
But this?
This was so unexpected.
Gray cleared his throat before he straightened up a little.
Now, they were talking about the real deal.
"I got a grocery about a month ago. It used to be a mess when I first took over with poor management, but things are better now."
Selina looked genuinely surprised by what she heard. Her brows lifted slightly as if she was hearing it for the first time. However, it was different for Conrad.
Conrad leaned in with interest, his wineglass hovering just below his mouth. The expression on his face barely changed. His eyes just narrowed slightly with a glint of interest as if he was saying he already knew everything.
"The numbers have been stable so far," Gray continued. "We’re breaking sales each day. The foot traffic’s been decent too. We’ve got a few hundred loyal customers who come regularly, some of them even know my staff by name."
"That’s a good sign," From a businessman’s perspective, Conrad nodded.
"But I know it’s not enough to just rely on regulars," Gray added. "We need more visibility. Better publicity. I want people to know we exist, not just from word of mouth."
He rubbed the back of his neck, almost sheepishly.
"I don’t have the budget yet for proper marketing. Right now, my focus is to keep things stable. No big moves. Just make sure our sales stay high and the employees stay motivated."
Conrad looked quite amused now. Not in a mocking way, but more like a man watching someone take their first smart steps in a world he’d walked in for decades.
"You’re courageous," the older man said. "I like that. Most young entrepreneurs rush expansion the moment they see a few weeks of green."
Gray nodded slowly and sighed.
"That’s kind of the thing. I know it’s too early to think about expanding, but I can’t lie—I’m already planning it. Just... later. A few more months, maybe. Once I’m sure everything is solid."
There was something steadier in his voice now. He wasn’t just explaining—he was owning it.
Conrad took a slow sip from his glass, then set it down gently.
"You’re doing the right thing by focusing on stability first," he said. "Growth without structure is what kills most small businesses. If the foundation isn’t ready, expansion becomes the reason that breaks it."
Gray sat quietly, absorbing every word. He knew that with his years of experience in this field, Conrad would offer him a lot of valuable lessons.
"But," Conrad continued, "the market also doesn’t wait for you. And sometimes, being too cautious means you let opportunity slip past you."
Gray tilted his head. He frowned as confusion started to set in.
"So... should I expand now?"
"Not necessarily," Conrad said, smiling.
"But you should be preparing as if you are. Build the systems now such as training, inventory management, supplier relationships, and customer feedback loops. That way, when the time comes, you’re ready and not scrambling."
Selina glanced between the two, then looked back at her grandfather.
"Is that how you did it at first, Grandpa?"
"Yes, my dear," Conrad nodded. "I have always told you that I didn’t build our empire overnight. I spent years and years just preparing for our backbone. So, by the time I got an opportunity, I was already ten steps ahead."
Gray leaned forward slightly, more invested now with what they were talking.
There was a light in his eyes now.
"So even if I’m not expanding, I should act like I am?"
"Correct. Better prepare things now," Conrad said, tapping the table once. "Then, when the opportunity does come, you just grab it."
Gray nodded slowly.
’That made sense,’ he thought.
And the more he listened, the more he realized—he was already doing some of that. Maybe he wasn’t as behind as he thought.
"Also, you mentioned publicity," Conrad said, thoughtfully tapping his fingers together.
"Have you considered partnering with a local charity drive or school event? It would be something visible, but not too commercialized. You know, people hate paid sponsorship these past few days."
"I haven’t, Sir," Gray admitted.
"That’s one way to make your store part of the community. People remember where they got free school supplies or met someone who helped their family. And when they shop, they’ll think of you, not just the price."
"That’s a good point... I didn’t think that far out, yet."
"That’s why you’re talking to me," Conrad said, his smile widening even more.
Then, the old man shifted in his seat.
"You said you needed help... and while I don’t make investments lightly, I believe in ideas that are grounded in responsibility."
He reached into his coat’s pocket and took out a sleek black card. It was a matte finish with engraved lettering on the front that had his name.
"Because you didn’t want money..." Conrad slid the card across the table toward Gray. "This is access."
Gray looked at the card, confused.
Before he could ask, the man who was seated beside Conrad leaned forward. He barely spoke that night.
"That card means you’re now associated with the Everett family," he said respectfully, his voice calm and professional. "If you present it during transactions, meetings, or inquiries, you’ll receive the same courtesy and access typically reserved for close business partners or affiliates that the family has."
"..."
Gray stared at the card for another second, unsure of what to say or how to feel about it.
"That’s a bit much..." he muttered under his breath.
"It’s not a gift," Conrad said. His voice was warm, but you could still hear the seriousness behind it.
"It’s a test."
Gray raised an eyebrow.
"I’m not giving you any answer yet," the old man continued. "But I will send someone. One of my best business analysts will work with you for a month. He’d be there to help, observe, advise, and report to me."
"..." Gray’s hand shifted slightly as he blinked, trying to digest the generous offer given to him.
"If, after a month, your numbers improve," Conrad went on, "and I see the groundwork you’ve been talking about, then we’ll talk investment. Real investment."
[Ding!]
[New Mission Unlocked!]
The system chimed before Gray could even react to Conrad.
[Mission: Grow Your Business.]
Objective:
- Improve your monthly sales by 20%.
[Time Limit: 30 Days]
[Reward: +3 Power | +5 Influence | +$10,000 Wealth]
[Bonus Reward: If the sales improvement reaches 30%, a land title for the business expansion will be granted to the host.]
[Side Missions will be triggered during the duration.]
=====
A/N:
I’d like to say a big thank you to all the readers who’ve dropped Golden Tickets and gifts into the novel over the past few days:
Joseph_Howell_0916, PFC_Otaku, Sanja_Buric, BlueBee, Maddwan, Octuva, Maddwan, Dao88, Tame_Tiopira, Rangabehemoth, adam_james, 148215_Gold, Octuva, LordofNaps, imperial_demon, Daniel_Bernal, Ikras, Sadirano, Fury_2323.
If your name isn’t listed here, don’t worry. It’s probably because there have been so many people sending Golden Tickets that the notification box couldn’t keep up!
Just know that I appreciate every one of you.