The sisters exchanged glances, and Kian saw some of their tension ease. They'd prepared for resistance, he realized. Instead, they were met with enthusiasm.
"We have a proposal," Soraya said, producing a thin folder. "We've run some numbers."
For the next twenty minutes, the sisters presented their plan with impressive thoroughness. They'd thought through product selection, pricing strategies, operating hours, and division of responsibilities. Rana would handle the business side, while Soraya, Parisa, and Yasmin would run the store, each specializing in their chosen departments.
"We identified three possible locations," Rana said. "All are currently vacant. We marked them on the village map in the folder."
He flipped to the appropriate page. "I appreciate the thought you've put into this, but having a commercial operation in a residential area could be problematic. The neighbors might object to the increased foot traffic."
When the sisters' faces fell, Kian continued, "That doesn't mean we can't make this work. We just need to find the right spot."
"What about the village square?" Parisa suggested tentatively. "Maybe next to the café?"
"We don't have any vacant space there," Kian said. "And I'm reluctant to sacrifice any of the green areas. The greenery and open spaces are important for the village's atmosphere, and we use them for celebrations. It would be a mistake to sacrifice any portion of it for a new building."
"What about the area behind this building?" Kyra said. "Max said that the slope that goes down can be partially reclaimed."
Kian pictured the area she meant. It was a steep hillside. "To build anything there would require significant grading and reinforcement."
"But it's possible?" Soraya pressed.
"Theoretically, yes." Kian found himself warming to the idea. "We could grade a shallow terrace that could accommodate a long and narrow building."
"It would block the first-floor windows of the offices facing the ravine," Jackson pointed out.
"Not if we build several feet below the current ground level," Kian said. "We can create a walkway down to it."
The sisters looked excited, hope brightening their faces.
"Let's go take a look." Kian rose from his chair.
The group filed out of his office and down the stairs. Kian led them through the building's rear exit to the area in question. The morning sun highlighted the slope's gradient—steep but not impossible.
"Here," Kian said, gesturing to a relatively flat area a few feet below where they were standing. "Perhaps the roof of the new structure could create a terrace for the office building."
He could picture his smoking setup there instead of the roof, but on second thought, it would be less private, so it had better remain where it was.
Jackson nodded. "I love it. We can put a few vending machines against the office building's wall, and some tables and chairs. A new recreation area with a spectacular view."
"I'll ask Gavin, our architect, to sketch out a few ideas," Kian told the sisters.
"How long would construction take?" Yasmin asked quietly.
Kian calculated mentally. "Between the design and construction? Two to three months, but the problem is the availability of the crews I use for projects in the village, which might delay the project for a few months, if not more. I'll need to check with the contractor."
The sisters exchanged glances, and Kian read the disappointment in their expressions.
"We hoped to open the store sooner," Rana said.
"Let's go back to my office and talk it through," Kian suggested.
Once they were reseated around the conference table, Kian addressed the issue that seemed to trouble them. "Why are you in a rush to open the store?"
Soraya straightened her shoulders. "We need to start earning money. We've been living off the clan's charity since we arrived, and we appreciate the generosity, but we don't feel comfortable living on charity."
"We need to contribute," Parisa said. "We want to feel useful."
Kian understood. Pride was universal, crossing cultural and temporal boundaries. The store wasn't just about earning a living—it was about reclaiming dignity.
