M. Emm Emporium Workshop

It wasn't really an Emporium, but the name fit too well, didn't it? That's what Em told me all those years ago when she told me about her family business in high school. I don't remember much from high school, but I do remember Em and some other people I regularly interacted with. I guess I should call them friends. If it weren't for Em's father's business, I'd likely have never reached out to her again.

M. Emm: "Hello Mr. Goodman. Glad to meet you in person. You're here for the contract?"

James: "Yes, Mr. Emm. I've used your company's services extensively the past one and a half weeks and when I was notified that the buildings in this town needed a new repair crew, I couldn't think of a better local business to support."

M. Emm: "I'm glad you share these values with your father. Supporting small and medium businesses in your local area is vital in our day and age. We are the only good competition to multi national giants. Could we go over any work you expect us to deal with immediately? I'm sure some tenants needed our help by yesterday, so we'll try to play catch up."

James: "Sure, it doesn't seem like too much for now, here are the letters that have been sent to me. Plumbing, and heating seem the most dire in my honest opinion."

M. Emm: "Yes that's very true, we'll get to those with all the plumbers and heating professionals we have. This seems manageable and it's always nice to be able to afford a Christmas bonus pay for our employees. So thank you, Mr. Goodman, for the contract. As Em probably told you already, we'll give you 10% off because you'll bring us a steady workload. And also because we feel like local businesses should help each other out."

James: "That's very true, Mr. Emm. And this is probably my favorite way to do it."

M. Emm: "Ah well, my favorite is a bit different. Em, this is the guy you had a crush on in high school, right? You should think about marrying some guy like him, should be useful for getting involved in local politics as well. Available cash and company size in the area are the two main things to make mayors accommodate to you and not the other way round."

Emily: "D-Dad... It's not..."

James: "Ah well, Mr. Emm, don't get your hopes up. I'm just a caretaker for now and it's really unpredictable how long I'll stay in charge anyway."

M. Emm: "That's a bit unfortunate, son, but things can... always work themselves out somehow. And maybe you'll fight to keep the business in the future... For now, let's just focus on the contract."

I simply signed the contract after skimming through it, there was nothing all too complicated or special about it. I was about to leave, when I noticed that Em followed me. "James, can we talk real quick?" "Sure Em, what is it?" I had an idea, but still.

We went to a part of the company's backyard with plenty of equipment to cut wood, stones, and tiles. It was already afternoon, so we were alone.

"About what my father said earlier... Yeah I did have a crush on you in high school, but I no longer feel that way about you. For most of high school you were just a good friend and I think of you the same now." Emily +10SP (+21SP)

"Don't worry about it, Em. I contacted you because I knew your family does great work repairing and building things. I didn't start this to get in your pants."

"That's great, honestly. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to get the wrong idea, you know? You're not a bad guy but I'm not gonna marry some local business owner just to form a dynasty or whatever my dad plans."

"Yeah, don't feel pressured into anything, Em. Maybe you will actually find a guy that you like and that fits your father's expectations, maybe you won't. As long as you have the courage and strength to stand up to your father, follow your heart. Otherwise choose the least worst option."

"I'm not a coward, James. Besides, I'm his only daughter, he can't really do too much against me, even if became a half-time nun and swore my life to celibacy." She winked at me.

"Well then, follow your heart. Sadly, I gotta go. Not to follow my heart, but to follow my stomach and exhaustion. It's getting late and I want to relax and eat dinner. See ya some other time again, Em."

"Bye"

On my way back home, I wondered about the app. Em pretty much rejected me before I even asked her for anything. Yet the app still added her. But it didn't add the first three tenants. There could be many factors at play here. It could be the regularity of contact, but regarding Jane that would mean that the app would have to have expected the long investigation from the start. Maybe it actually affects all women, it just exempts those who fell victim to sexual crimes? That would assume the app actually cares about that, and Jane's trait and Donna's former trait both seem to shatter that idea. Lastly, maybe it was all about my own subconscious desires? The app might know whom I find hot or hope to be compatible with, and then add them.

Sexually, the idea of 'conquering' my workplace with the app seemed hot in all honesty. Jane was also not bad looking, and despite her initial issues, became rather friendly. But what about Em? I don't think I ever felt that way about her, even before her rejection. But she was there. And mom still was the only one I could remove from the app. I assume for **** reasons, but I had no sister to test it out on.

Hm, there was something I hadn't considered. The 100SP quests. For Amber, it was her mental health and promising her a good life. For mom, it was about restoring her self-confidence. She's much more comfortable about her own looks now, I can feel it. We haven't fucked since, but she's more confident in her body. Maybe all these women have... some problems? That I can fix... with the app. Em clearly has some issues with her father, Klara has some doubts about her future as well... Jane hasn't told me anything yet and so did none of the others, although maybe Christine's attitude has some deep-rooted causes?

Sadly, there was only one way to test my theory. And I'm not willing to test it on Jane or Em, they seem to high of a risk. If things were to go south or people get suspicious of how close our relationship would potentially become in such a short time, I could be in huge trouble. There was one person I could probably test my theory out on, to get a third data point: Donna.