After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

”What if she wasn’t clean?”

The words of those women rang in her ears, making Sahara’s strong facade crack bit by bit. She hid herself in the bathroom, covering her face.

”I want to go home…” she whispered but she immediately pushed it down.

There was too much anchored in her success and she could not fail just because of her own weaknesses.

Whenever she remembered that night, she felt shame. It was something she refused to acknowledge, yet couldn’t forget no matter how hard she tried.

Although the memory was a little blurry, she could still remember that man. She could remember his dark skin, his light hair, his handsome features. More importantly, she could still remember his warmth and gentleness—

She shook everything off and her poised stance returned. She headed out, hoping to find the people who could help her out.

…

At this time, another shop of the Golds was raking in money. This time, it was of beauty products.

Olga’s items were displayed in the new beauty shop she and her sister-in-law Hilda had been planning for a while.

This was scheduled to launch in a month when their prospect products and that pharmacist advisor was finally ready, but now they didn’t have to wait!

Of course, they still paid the pharmacist the agreed upon money, though he seemed absolutely offended that they started offering other products as well.

He even demanded they didn’t sell their items or lose their partnership with him.

However, they had seen his products. They were good, but nothing compared to what Alterra could offer. Further, he still wasn’t finished!

He was so arrogant. She recalled Miss Althea who was at the same level (and had better skills) yet did not even have a bit of arrogance.

Fortunately, they had signed a partnership oath before and he couldn’t back out of their deal, at least providing them exclusivity for certain products, which would be added offerings within the next few weeks or so. For now, the focus was to have an explosive opening!

As she had predicted, her items were a hit! She also sold with similar margins to Oslo’s, which was silver and gold raining down. Olga was so happy, that she didn’t even care to look at the judgemental looks from various noble ladies.

Although most women didn’t have power, they still had some money. In high society, a daughter or a wife’s spending habits also reflected the pride of her family. That was to say, if a woman could spend a lot, it meant her family was also very rich and therefore prosperous.

This was in exchange for a woman’s entire soul and being, but this was the norm in Xeno that few people actually questioned.

If there were any questions, it’d be from men asking questions like ”why would women have to get anything we worked for?” instead.

Further, what Olga and Hilda had been doing wasn’t actually welcome. After all, women generally didn’t do business; they usually didn’t have their own money—at least nothing more than what was considered ’pocket money’.

In aborigine minds, what the women showed expressed how well their family was doing, and making their own money seemed to undermine that in a twisted way.

Like ’property’ shouldn’t be doing anything more than what it should. It shouldn’t be doing anything that cannot be controlled by men.

If Terrans were there, they’d liken the local women as mannequins used to show off, but shouldn’t be having a life of their own.

As such, the derisive looks, especially from fellow women, abound—not that Olga cared, of course. Hilda did, very much so, but being with her sister-in-law softened the tension.

These judgemental looks were how jealous women would make themselves feel better.

They would mock her choices; they would mock her lack of husband and children, and laugh about it behind closed doors—and yet be secretly envious of her at the same time.

They certainly rushed to buy their products.

”Have you seen my skin?” a woman asked her friend, admiring the changes in the metallic mirror in front of her.

”It has been smoother! And I haven’t been using it for too long. Imagine if I did.”

They were trying out the Wittbeauty beauty soap. The perfumes were also very popular, and the women were practically fighting over the sampler sticks.

Hilda could not believe it. She could only gape as the customers admired and also paid so much for a bit of product.

”Nice deal, right?” Olga asked her sister-in-law who smiled weakly, still absorbing the good things. She was also looking very beautiful, especially with the make-up applied to her.

Hilda looked more youthful and her already pretty features highlighted even more.

The amount of compliments that came her way let her straighten her back with a bit more confidence. Even her stiff husband stared at her for a few seconds longer than usual!

Speaking of make-up. ”There’s a final line that will be sold within the next few days. It’s make-up!” she said. ”Sister and I are using it. Do you see the difference?” she asked and the two of them twirled for effect.

The customers looked admiringly, eyes filled with envy, and a lot of jealous looks also came about.

”Would anyone like to try?”

The customers naturally wanted to pander to the Golds, and—more prominently—they also really wanted to try it!

Olga ignored the women who were looking down on her (yet desperately wanted her products) and studied the more innocent ones.

Olga’s eyes ended on the sand-colored hair in the vicinity. She was very pretty. Although her skin was a little rough, it was normal, and she knew she could be even prettier.

”You!” she said, making the woman flinch.

”What’s your name?”

”Sahara…” she whispered and squealed a bit when Olga pulled her to sit down. She felt tense at the closeness of the other person, and could only stiffly sit down as she waited for whatever was being done to her to be over.

Anyway, Olga did her magic on the woman. And, after a few minutes of work, everyone gaped at the result.

So beautiful!

Safe to say, Olga’s makeup line would be a major best seller.