My five ghostly husbands-Chapter 208 Selling Desire

Seeing how exhausted Rowan and Eilas looked, Julian immediately stepped in, ever the responsible one.

"Please, have something to drink," he said, already pouring water into glasses from the bottle he had brought.

Rowan accepted the glass first, offering Julian a small but tired smile. "Thank you."

Eilas, just as drained, took his glass as well. "Thanks, really needed this."

They drank in silence, allowing the cool liquid to ease some of the fatigue from their bodies.

But even as they refreshed themselves, Rowan’s sharp mind was still focused on the bigger issue.

He set down his empty glass and looked at Ruby.

"Miss Ruby... what about tomorrow?"

Ruby, who had been lost in thought, slowly turned toward him.

"Tomorrow?" she echoed.

Rowan nodded, his tone serious. "It’s only the second day of the festival. And at this rate, we won’t have enough stock to last the remaining days. We won’t be able to make much for tomorrow either."

That statement hit her like a wave.

The excitement of yesterday’s success had made her overlook the biggest issue.

Her stock had sold out—which was great.

But...

What happens when there’s nothing left to sell?

She had assumed she would have enough pieces for the entire festival.

But with the demand this high, she would run out of stock again by the second day.

Her jaw tightened as she slowly nodded, already thinking deeply.

She had two options.

First Sell what little she had left and hope for the best.

Second Find a way to increase production—fast.

Neither option felt ideal.

Her stress slowly began creeping in.

If she had weeks to prepare, she could have hired more tailors, organized everything properly.

But she didn’t have weeks.

She had hours.

Her red eyes sharpened.

"It’s alright," she finally said, her voice calmer than she actually felt. "But... do you know any trusted people who can sew? If they’re good, I can hire them. I’ll pay them immediately."

She tapped her fingers against the wooden counter, her mind racing.

She needed more hands.

She needed fast production.

And she needed it now.

Eilas hesitated, glancing at Rowan.

"I know a few people," Rowan admitted slowly. "But... hiring more workers suddenly will cost extra. And they might not be as fast as us."

Ruby nodded, already expecting that.

She could spend more on wages. That wasn’t the issue.

The issue was time.

There was so little of it.

Her fingers pressed against her temple.

This was exactly why businesses didn’t run on excitement alone.

She took a slow breath.

"Find them," she finally said. "Anyone you trust. If they can sew, we’ll take them. We don’t need exactly perfect pieces, just more stock."

Rowan nodded. "I’ll do my best."

Eilas, still looking a little unsure, sighed. "I just hope they can keep up."

Ruby exhaled.

She hoped so too.

Because right now?

She had no other choice.

After finalizing the plan, Rowan and Eilas left quickly, heading back to find more workers.

Ruby knew they would do their best, but the uncertainty still weighed on her mind.

She had never expected her business to take off this quickly.

Now, she was being forced to adapt on the spot.

And if there was one thing she knew about business—it wasn’t just about selling products.

It was about understanding value.

The morning rolled in, and as soon as she opened the shop, customers started arriving.

The excitement from yesterday had clearly spread, because people came in immediately asking about the robes.

A young ghost stepped forward, running his fingers over a deep blue robe with silver threading.

"How much for this one?" he asked, his tone casual.

Ruby leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the counter.

"Fifteen coins."

The moment the words left her mouth, the ghost’s eyes widened in shock.

"Fifteen?! That’s more than yesterday!"

Immediately, a few other customers nearby turned their heads, overhearing the price change.

The tension in the air shifted.

Some whispered among themselves, clearly noticing the sudden increase.

For a moment, Ruby could feel the pressure of their stares.

But she didn’t flinch.

She didn’t hesitate.

She simply smiled.

"Yes," she said smoothly. "The price went up."

The ghost blinked, still caught off guard. "Why?"

Ruby tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but unreadable.

"Because the festival won’t last forever," she said. "And these robes? Once they’re gone, they’re gone."

She glanced around, letting her red eyes sweep across the store.

"Yesterday, my robes stock sold out. Completely. There’s only a limited number left, and once they’re bought, that’s it."

Her voice was steady, confident, unshaken.

"So if you want one, buy it. If not, someone else will."

She said it casually, as if it didn’t matter.

As if she already knew they would sell anyway.

And that?

That made the ghost pause.

He glanced around...suddenly realizing that the robes were, in fact, fewer than yesterday.

That the designs looked richer, more detailed.

That people around him were starting to murmur, considering their own purchases.

If he left now...

Would someone else take the robe he wanted?

His fingers curled slightly, debating.

And that hesitation?

That was all Ruby needed.

She had played the game well.

Because people didn’t just buy products.

They bought status. Exclusivity. The feeling of owning something others might not get.

And today, her shop wasn’t just selling robes.

It was selling desire.

•••

Across the lively fair, Jepsi’s sales assistant stood frozen, watching Ruby’s shop.

A small crowd had already formed, customers eagerly browsing the robes, asking about prices, and making purchases.

The assistant clenched her fists.

This wasn’t normal.

Jepsi’s shop had always been one of the most well-known places for robes.

And yet her store was practically empty, while Ruby’s was overflowing with buyers.

Without wasting time, she turned on her heels and rushed back to Jepsi’s grand store.

As soon as she stepped inside, Jepsi noticed her troubled expression.

Her brows furrowed as she crossed her arms. "What’s wrong now?"

The assistant hesitated before finally blurting out, "It’s that new shop... ORA. It’s stealing all the customers."

Jepsi’s eyes flashed with irritation.

"What?"

The assistant quickly nodded. "I went to check... and Ruby’s shop is packed. People are crowding around to buy her robes."

Jepsi’s expression darkened.

She had assumed that her lack of customers was just bad timing.

Maybe people just hadn’t arrived yet.

Maybe they were still walking around before making big purchases.

But now?

Now she knew the truth.

Her customers weren’t just late.

They had already gone somewhere else.

—To be continued...🪄

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