The Vampire's Chosen Bride

Chapter 4

Book Lovers Shop, Dream City. 

It was 7.30 a.m. The morning went as usual. Valerie Everton walked past the Child Book section to the Teenager and Young Adult section bookshelves while pushing a book cart loaded with many books. They were the new arrivals, so she should place them on the rack. 

In front of a young adult section shelf, Valerie grabbed the printout of the three months of bookselling records. She ran through page by page until finally, her eyes caught the ‘Young Adult (YA) Section’ subtitle. Valerie removed the least selling books for three months from the bookshelves and placed them on the floor. After that, she put the books on the cart according to their names and popularities. She did the same to the YA section rack next to the former one. 

Then Valerie pushed the book cart again and stopped in front of the adult bookshelves. She searched the list of the least selling books and placed them on the floor. After that, she picked the new books and arranged them on the shelves. 

When Valerie finished with the adult bookshelves, her book cart was empty. So, she picked the adult books on the floor and filled the right side cart. Then Valerie went back to YA bookshelves, grabbed the books on the floor, and filled the left side cart. Next, she walked to discount bookshelves near the cashier and stacked some YA and adult books there. Later, Valerie went to the cashier table and arranged some books there too. 

Valerie grabbed the 10% to 30% printed discount tag on the table and placed it in front of the books. After that, she checked the printout and started searching for the label gun in the cashier drawer. After finding it, Valerie printed 10% for five books, 15% for ten books, 20% for five books, 25% for five books, and 30% for ten books. Afterward, she placed the printed labels on the back covers according to the data on her printout.

It was Valerie’s regular work every three months. To make sure the Book Lovers Shop could sell as many books as possible, David Taylor, the bookshop owner, created a discount strategy. So, they could sell their least selling book stocks too. It worked well since many book lovers loved discounted books. When Valerie finished arranging the discount books on the cashier’s table, David walked toward her. 

“Hey, Val, you’re so early. Have you had breakfast yet?” David brought a brown paper package of food and two cups of coffee. 

Valerie shook her head. “Not yet, but I’ll buy a cup of coffee and a sandwich if the customers are not crowded today.”

David smiled. “No need. Here I bought it for you too. Let’s eat together while waiting for our first customer.”

“You’re my guardian angel, Dave. Thanks!” 

David gave a cup of coffee and then opened the brown paper package. He grabbed a packaged sandwich inside and handed it to Valerie. “This is from a new shop across from our shop. If they’re good, maybe I can be their regular customer.”

The sandwich was thick since it had two slices of ham, cheese, and onion. In addition, there were mayonnaise, ketchup, and chili sauce sachets in the brown paper package.   

Valerie smiled while tearing the mayo, ketchup, and chili sauce sachets and pouring them one by one into her sandwich. “Yes, it’ll be nice if we have a good sandwich and coffee shop around.” Then she bit her sandwich and moaned. “It’s tasty! How much is it?”

“For the sandwich, 3 dollars, while for the coffee, 2.5 dollars.”

“Both are good prices too.” Valerie then poured more chili sauce inside her sandwich, lick her lips, and bit a generous portion. “Uh, for such a low price, I think from tomorrow, my breakfast will be a sandwich and coffee from the shop. It’s awesome!”

David was beaming to hear Valerie’s comment. He said nothing and bit his sandwich. David peeked at Valerie and then glanced elsewhere before Valerie noticed his stare. 

After finishing her sandwich, Valerie put the sachets inside the brown paper, then threw them into the garbage can. After that, she grabbed her wallet from her bag, took 5.5 Dream dollars, grabbed David’s hand, and placed the money on his palm. 

“Thanks, Dave! If you didn’t buy it, I wouldn’t know about the shop.”

“Hey, I treated you. No need to pay me.” David offered the money back to Valerie. 

Valerie smiled and shook her head. “I’ll let you treat me next time with more expensive food,” she teased David. 

“Deal! So, how about-”

Before David could say anything further, the door opened. Jackie Parker, Valerie’s roommate and also work partner, just came. Although they were roommates, Valerie often came earlier than Jackie. 

“As always, you two have always come!” Then Jackie glanced at the clock on the wall. “Ha! I’m not late this time. So, my five dollars is safe!”

Valerie and David smiled to see Jackie’s act. Since Jackie was frequently late, David created a new policy to push her to come on time. Every ten minutes of lateness, everyone should place five Dream dollars in the tips jar placed on the cashier table. It worked, though once or twice a month, Jackie should let go of her five-dollar bill. 

Jackie glanced at David and Valerie, and then she smiled. “So, before I came, what were you talking about?”

“Ah, David found a new sandwich and coffee shop. It’s across our shop,” Valerie said. 

Jackie raised her eyebrows. “Is it good?” 

Valerie smiled and then raised her thumb. “Awesome! With 5.5 dollars, you can get a sandwich and a cup of coffee.”

“Wow!” Then Jackie stared at David with her puppy eyes. “Dave, may I go to the shop now? I have had no breakfast yet. Please?”

David shook his head. “Ah, you! You know I can’t stand it if you look at me with that pleading look. Okay, you may go, but you should come here once you’ve got your order.”

“Woohoo! You’re the best, Dave!” Then with her shining eyes and broad smiles, Jackie asked, “So, have you asked her?”

David shook his head, then gestured with his finger as if he zipped his lips. “Go now! Then come back soon!”

“Ay-ay, captain!” After that, Jackie walked away from the bookstore. 

David cleared his throat and then peeked at Valerie again. “Uh, Val?”

“Yes?” Valerie stared at David. 

David coughed and loosened his neck. Valerie patted David’s back. 

“Hey, let me get you a glass of water.” Then Valerie walked to the tap and filled a glass until full. After that, she gave the water to David. 

“Thanks.” 

David drank the water until the glass was empty. He took a deep breath, then said, “Uh, Val, do you have-”

Before David could finish his sentence, the door opened. Their first customer came. 

“Welcome to the Book Lovers Shop,” Valerie greeted the customer. “How can we help you?”

“I want to buy a craft book. Do you have a craft section?” 

Valerie smiled. “Certainly, sir. This way, please.” Valerie guided the customer to the bookshelf he was looking for. “Here you go. What kind of book do you need?”

The customer scratched his head. “Uh, it’s for my wife. She loves knitting, but I don’t know what kind of book she would love. Can you suggest a few knitting books?”

“Sure. If your wife has been knitting for a long time, she might be interested in the new patterns of items she can try. But if she starts learning, I suggest the tutorial book,” Valerie said.

“Uh, my wife hasn’t been an expert yet, but she has learned for a while.”

First, Valerie grabbed a practical pattern of knitting. “Then how about this one? The patterns in this book are so detailed. Your wife won’t have any problem following them.” Next, Valerie took another book about knitting. “This one is good too. We imported it from Japan. If your wife loves it, you know where you can buy more.”

The customer nodded. “Great! I’m sure she hasn’t had the book from Japan. I’ll buy these two.”

Valerie and the customer walked to the cashier’s table. After that, Valerie typed the price of the two books. Then the customer grabbed the newspaper. 

“I take this one too.”

Valerie nodded, then summed up the newspaper’s price too. “Do you want to read this newspaper right away, or should I place it in the paper bag with these two books?”

“I’ll read it after this, so no need to place it in the bag.”

After Valerie gave the recipe to the customer, the customer paid. He also placed tip money in the jar. 

 “Here you go, sir. Thanks for your visit. Come again next time.”

The customer nodded and smiled, then he left. Valerie glanced at the newspaper shelves beside the cashier table. Since the customer grabbed the newspaper randomly, other newspapers were untidy now. So Valerie arranged them again. 

Valerie’s eyes read the headline of a mysterious billionaire of Vulcan Company at a glance. From what she heard, Josh Jefferson, the Vulcan Company’s CEO, never showed himself publicly. Instead, it was Mike Hamilton, the CEO’s assistant, who handled all public relations. 

Vulcan Company was an export and import company of various products, from food to gadgets. The company was old, but none knew when it was established. Vulcan Company was the top of three businesses in Dream Country. The government even renamed the street in front of Vulcan Company after their company.

Since Valerie was coming from Lucid City to the Dream City hoping to find a better job, she knew only a little about the situation in the Dream City. So, reading about the Vulcan Company, she just shrugged. It had nothing to do with her, nor was she interested in it either.