Trial Marriage Husband : I Am CEO’s Plaything

It had been almost a week since Lisa decided to open an online shop in the fashion sector. She had prepared everything quite well. A reliable supplier, an employee who helped her in the studio who was none other than her own underclassmen, Vira, and capital assistance as well as the social media team from Rangga. During that week, Lisa was really busy taking care of her new online shop.

At the end of the first week, Lisa's online shop had opened. She started to share the link to her online shop with her former colleagues at Petersson Communication and her friends from her college days. Sure, Lisa's online shop was new, but the photos of the products she sold look professional and promising. This was all thanks to Vira and her photo studio.

Not only that, Vira also helped Lisa in taking care of incoming products from suppliers and sending them to customers. Vira was a very nimble and responsible girl, she was truly reliable.

During the first week since Lisa's online shop first started, sales had not reached the target yet. There were only two to three customers. But Lisa and Vira didn't give up. Vira also helped Lisa promote her online shop through Vira's social media. They both were willing to spend the night in the studio to struggle to achieve sales targets.

At the end of the first month, sales from Lisa's online shop didn't make much. The shop didn't even pay off! She made less than half the capital in the first month. However, this was very reasonable, considering that Lisa's online shop was still very new and she had to compete with other, much bigger and well-known online shops.

She still has some savings to buy stock at the supplier for the second month's sales. This time, Lisa and Vira were both thinking about how to increase sales for the second month.

Vira advised Lisa to increase the price of clothes by 30% from the original price. Indeed, it was more expensive than the shops that had recently opened but Lisa's products were of much higher quality and more promising thanks to professional product's photos! Finally, Lisa agreed to Vira's suggestion.

At the end of the second month, there was no income at all! Buyer interest had dropped dramatically since the price increased! In the studio warehouse, there were still about 10 boxes of clothes that had not been sold whereas they were supposed to be sold out within two months. There was a little concern that Lisa's online shop would fail and go bankrupt.

Seeing Lisa getting discouraged, Vira tried to cheer up her senior. "Sis Lisa, just calm down. Maybe the sales will increase two months from now, at least half of the sales target is met! Besides, your shop is really new, so don't compare it with shops that have been running for four years. Let's fight together!"

"Thanks really, Vir, you already want to help me build this online shop. Thanks to your help, at least the goods we sell are looking promising!" Lisa replied, trying to calm down.

"I'm part of your fight to raise this shope, of course I'll help!" The girl hugged Lisa tightly. Her smile looked happy.

Even though Lisa had given up on her online shop business, she was grateful to be working with Vira. In the first two months since they reunited after being separated for so long, the two colleagues finally got on well.

"Thanks again Vir, next month when we reach half of your sales target, I'll buy you all you can eat!" Lisa said, smiling.

"No problem, Sis! I'm sure this shop will be a success!"

***

Time flies quickly, Lisa's online store had been running for almost four months and sales targets were getting better and better. In the third month, their sales increased by 20%. In the fourth month, sales had reached half of the target. An improvement for the shop that just opened.

In the third month, there was a slight decrease, but it didn't really matter. Luck also determined the sales result. Anyway, Lisa didn't want to give up just yet. She didn't want to give herself up to marry a man just for money. No, Lisa didn't want to be such a woman. She would never be like Clara!

Finishing with her work in Vira's studio, Lisa decided to return to Andien's apartment.

That night, Lisa did not tell Andien that she was going to go there. So when Andien almost fell asleep because she was tired from working at the office, she woke up and was shocked when someone came into her apartment.

Andien grabbed a broom and held it tightly. She was afraid that someone would try to enter and rob her apartment.

When the lights were turned on, it turned out that this figure was none other than Lisa.

"Damn it! I thought you were a thief!" Andien exclaimed in shock.

"Where's the thief in your apartment? You've got a wild imagination sometimes!"

"You didn't tell me! Next time text me or call me so I wouldn't be surprised!"

Lisa put her tote bag on the dining table along with a plastic containing groceries. Tonight, she wanted to cook something.

"Are you really going to cook, Lis?" Andien asked, peeking over Lisa's shoulder.

"We've been eating junk food for almost a week. Do you want to get fat?" Lisa replied curtly.

"You're really...!"

Lisa took a pot and filled it with water saying, "In a month, I want to move out from here Ndien!"

"Have you found a new house?"

"Not yet, but I think I'll just do it first. At least I'll live alone like that. I've been bothering you here, I don't feel good."

"Don't be like that, Lis, I said you can stay here anytime."

"Yes, but this is your apartment, Ndien. I also don't pay dues, I'm a freeloader, I really am shameless!"

Andien began to feel a little guilty for making the atmosphere awkward with the question. She tried to change the topic.

"How about your online shop, Lis?"

"Well, it's not bad for beginners who just got into the world of online shops. It's been quite productive, although not much. At least, I'm still trying. Anyway, next month or in two months I can save to find boarding houses."

"Don't get discouraged, Lis! I'm sure your business will run smoothly. You have to be persistent anyway!" Andien said, trying to encourage Lisa.

Lisa smiled. Even though her life was sometimes hard, she still had friends who sincerely wanted to help her. She was very grateful for what she had now.

"Oh yeah, if you want to move to a boarding house, where will it be, Lis?" Andien asked suddenly.

"I'll try to find the closest one to the studio, so I won't get tired on the road," Lisa replied briefly. The woman stirred the soup then turned off the stove.

"Let's eat, Ndien," Lisa said while moving the pot to the dining table.

The two friends started having dinner. Andien sighed with relief that she could eat healthily today after a week of eating junk foods because she was too lazy to cook. The atmosphere at the dining table became very warm.

The two of them joked together accompanied by a bowl of soup and Andien's two cats as usual.

When Lisa was sipping her soup, she glanced at Andien's coat hanger. She looked at the clothes carefully.

"Lis, why are you so stunned?" Andien asked, waving her hand at Lisa's face.

"I mean… I think I've seen those clothes before? Wait a minute! You bought it at my shop, huh!?"

"Hehe, as your friend, I'll support your business, Lis! That's why I bought it!"

Lisa smiled at the woman in front of her. "Thanks really, Ndien!"