The morning buzzed with energy as a group of workers arrived at Ella's plot of land, their tools clanking together as they unloaded carts of lumber and supplies. Ella stood at the center of it all, a roll of blueprints tucked under one arm and a pencil behind her ear. Her hair was tied back, and her apron was already dusted with chalk and dirt from sketching last-minute adjustments. She radiated excitement, her hands moving animatedly as she directed the workers to their stations.
"Alright, everyone!" Ella clapped her hands together, her voice carrying over the chatter. "We've got a lot to do, and I need this place standing in three weeks. Let's get to it!"
The workers exchanged glances, some looking skeptical at the ambitious timeline, but her confidence was contagious.
Liam stood nearby, carrying a smaller roll of paper and grinning as he watched Ella take command. "You've really got this whole foreman thing down, Miss Ella."
Ella turned to him, her eyes sparkling. "If I wanted just a little shop with a roof, I could've done that months ago. This—" she gestured grandly at the plot of land, where the skeleton of her dream was beginning to form, "—this is going to be a legacy. A place people will talk about for years. Not just a shop, Liam. The shop."
Liam chuckled, shaking his head. "If anyone can do it, it's you. But three stories, Miss Ella? You're aiming high."
"I'm not just aiming high. I'm aiming smart. The first two floors are for the shop. The third is for me. No more renting that damp shack. It's all part of the plan." She gave him a conspiratorial grin before rolling out one of her blueprints on a makeshift table.
The workers gathered around as Ella began explaining her plans. She pointed to specific sections, tapping the paper with her pencil. "Now, here's where things get interesting. I'm adding something revolutionary—a plumbing system."
The group fell silent. One man, a tall, burly worker with a bushy mustache, scratched his head. "Plumbing? What's that?"
Ella smirked, sensing their confusion. "It's a way to get water running through pipes directly into the building. No more hauling buckets from the well. And over here—" she pointed to a smaller square in the corner of the blueprint, "—a flushing toilet."
The workers exchanged incredulous glances. One of them, a wiry man with dirt-streaked hands, squinted at the sketch. "So… the water comes in, and then it just disappears? Where's it going?"
Ella leaned forward, her excitement bubbling over. "Exactly! It's called drainage. The water flows out through pipes and away from the building. Trust me, by the time we're done, you'll be wondering how you lived without it."
Another worker raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure this'll work? Sounds like magic to me."
"It's not magic," Ella said with a grin. "It's science. And when it's done, you'll have the honor of saying you built the first plumbing system in this entire village. That's something to brag about."
The burly worker crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Alright, Miss Ella. We'll follow your lead. But if this 'plumbing' of yours floods the place, you're cleaning it up."
Ella laughed, tapping the blueprint confidently. "Deal. But trust me, by the end of this, you'll be wishing every building had it."
As the workers dispersed to start their tasks, Ella caught Liam's eye. "You see, Liam? Big dreams need big plans. This shop isn't just about making money—it's about changing how people live."
Liam smiled, his admiration evident. "I don't know how you do it, but somehow, you always convince people to see things your way."
Ella gave him a wink, already rolling up another set of blueprints. "It's all about the vision, Liam. Now, let's make it happen."
Ella stood in the middle of the construction site with a bucket of water, a hollowed-out wooden pipe, and a makeshift diagram she'd scratched into the dirt. The workers gathered around her, their faces a mixture of skepticism and curiosity. Liam stood off to the side, giving her an encouraging nod.
"Alright, listen up!" Ella said, holding up the pipe. "This is going to be part of the plumbing system. The idea is simple: water flows from a higher point—like a tank on the roof—down through these pipes and into the building. No more hauling buckets. No more muddy puddles by the well."
A wiry man with calloused hands raised an eyebrow. "And what's to stop the water from just sitting in the pipe?"
Ella grinned, loving the challenge. "Gravity, my friend. As long as the pipes are angled right, the water keeps moving." She tilted the pipe to demonstrate, pouring water from the bucket. It flowed smoothly out the other end and into a second bucket. "See? Easy."
The burly worker from earlier, Gregor, crossed his arms. "Looks easy when you're just pouring a bit. What happens when it's a whole tank full? Won't it just burst?"
"That's why we're reinforcing the pipes," Ella explained, gesturing to a pile of sturdy wood and metal rings. "The pressure will be balanced. And for the drainage—same concept. Pipes slanting downward, leading the waste far away from the building. Trust me, it'll work."
There was a pause as the workers exchanged glances. Finally, Gregor shrugged. "Alright, Miss Ella. We'll give it a go. But if this goes sideways, we'll be coming to you for answers."
Ella smirked. "Fair enough. Now, let's get to work!"
While the workers focused on laying the foundation and installing the pipes, Ella and Liam retreated to the back of her temporary stall, which had become a hive of activity. Shelves lined the walls, stacked high with jars of scented oils, bags of herbs, and freshly molded soaps. Steam rose from a bubbling cauldron as Ella stirred a batch of shampoo base.
"Pass me the lavender oil, Liam," she called, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows.
Liam handed it over, his hands slick from working on another batch of conditioner. "You know," he said, wiping his forehead with his sleeve, "when I took this job, I didn't think it'd involve so much… stirring."
Ella laughed, pouring the oil into the mixture. "Well, you're not just an assistant anymore. You're part of the operation. And once the shop is up, this—" she waved a hand at the organized chaos around them, "—will feel like a luxury compared to what we'll have going on."
"I can't wait," Liam muttered, though his tone was more amused than annoyed.
In one corner, the local carpenter, a meticulous man named Henry, was busy carving toothbrush handles. His station was a sharp contrast to the bubbling pots and clinking jars in Ella's area.
Henry held up a finished toothbrush and inspected it carefully. "You know," he said, his voice calm and measured, "I didn't think toothbrushes would be this popular. But the nobles can't seem to get enough of these fancy designs you've come up with."
Ella grinned as she poured shampoo into a row of glass bottles. "People like things that feel special. And clean teeth? That's as special as it gets."
Henry chuckled, returning to his work. "You're going to put the rest of us out of business if you keep this up."
"Not a chance," Ella replied with a wink. "There's room for all of us. Besides, who else am I going to hire to keep my toothbrushes stocked?"
The days passed in a blur of hammering, stirring, and carving. Ella split her time between overseeing the construction and managing production. By the end of each day, she was covered in sawdust, soap suds, and exhaustion—but she wouldn't have it any other way.
Liam, watching her tweak yet another batch of conditioner late one evening, shook his head with a smile. "You really don't stop, do you?"
Ella looked up, her face streaked with a bit of lavender oil. "Stop? Liam, we're just getting started."
As the workers hammered the final nails and the sun dipped low in the sky, Ella climbed the stairs to the third floor. The skeletal frame of her future apartment stood tall against the evening light, and she could already picture it—her own cozy space. Two bedrooms, a kitchen big enough for experiments, and a living room where she could finally relax without worrying about the ceiling caving in.
She stood at the edge of the floor, looking over the village below. "No more creaky floors, no more leaky ceilings," she muttered, a soft smile forming. "This is going to be home."
Behind her, Liam's voice echoed up the stairs. "Miss Ella, you're going to wear that frame out staring at it all day!"
She laughed and turned to see him climbing up with two mugs of tea in hand. "Just imagining the day I can move in. No offense to the shack, but I won't miss the way the wind whistles through the walls."
Liam handed her a mug and grinned. "I think the shack won't miss you either. You've been plotting your escape for months."
When the house was finally complete, Ella gathered the workers around to show off her pride and joy: the plumbing system. She led them to the bathroom, where a sleek, handmade toilet sat beside a polished basin.
"Alright, everyone," she began, gesturing like a showman revealing a great trick. "I present to you: running water and a flushing toilet!"
The workers exchanged skeptical glances. Gregor crossed his arms. "It's not going to flood the place, is it?"
Ella rolled her eyes. "Oh ye of little faith. Just watch." She turned the tap, and water flowed smoothly into the basin. A collective gasp rippled through the group.
"It works!" one of the workers exclaimed, his eyes wide as he leaned closer to inspect the faucet. "It actually works!"
Ella smirked and stepped toward the toilet. "And now, for the main event…" She pressed the lever, and the sound of water rushing through the pipes filled the room before disappearing down the drain.
The group erupted into cheers and laughter, clapping Ella on the back. Gregor, who had been the most skeptical, shook his head in disbelief. "I'll be honest, Miss Ella—I thought you were crazy. But this… this is something else."
Ella crossed her arms, a smug smile on her face. "Told you. Welcome to the future."
Word spread quickly through the village about Ella's "modern" shop. People gossiped about the strange and miraculous contraptions being installed, and curiosity buzzed louder with each passing day. Ella couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.
Liam, leaning against the counter in their makeshift workspace, glanced at her. "You realize everyone's going to want one of those plumbing systems now, right?"
Ella grinned as she labeled a fresh batch of soap. "Good. Let's show them what's possible."
Behind the shop, the small factory took shape quickly—a simple but efficient space designed for production. Inside, rows of shelves lined the walls, ready to be filled with soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. At the center stood worktables for mixing and packaging, with a few sturdy machines Ella had repurposed from local blacksmiths.
Ella leaned against one of the tables, inspecting a batch of soap cooling in its mold. Liam was busy stacking freshly labeled bottles of shampoo on the shelves. The two of them had been working tirelessly, but Ella's mind was already leaping ahead.
"For now, it's just us," she said, glancing at Liam, who paused to catch his breath. "But give it time. One day, we'll have a whole team in here, turning out more products than we can count."
Liam grinned as he wiped his forehead. "A team sounds great, Miss Ella. My arms wouldn't mind the break."
Ella chuckled, tossing him a damp cloth. "Until then, you're stuck with me. Come on, we're making magic happen here."
The workers constructing the shop and factory weren't just hired hands to Ella—they were becoming part of her community. She often brought snacks during their breaks, balancing trays of freshly baked bread or cups of herbal tea as she chatted with them.
"You're spoiling us, Miss Ella," one of the workers, a grizzled man named Thomas, said with a wide grin as he took a piece of bread.
"Nonsense," Ella replied, settling down on a bench beside them. "You're building my dream. The least I can do is keep you all fueled."
Another worker, a younger man named Emmett, leaned back and shook his head in admiration. "Miss Ella, I've never seen someone who works as hard as you do. You're out here every day, hauling just as much as the rest of us."
Ella wiped her hands on her apron and gave him a playful smirk. "If you want something done right, you've got to get your hands dirty. Literally." She held up her palms, showing smudges of soap and dirt, drawing laughter from the group.
It wasn't long before her hardworking and approachable nature earned her the respect and admiration of everyone on-site. They saw her not as a demanding employer but as someone who shared their sweat and effort.
As the workers returned to their tasks, Ella lingered at the edge of the factory, watching the bustle of activity. Liam joined her, munching on a piece of bread.
"You've got them wrapped around your finger, you know," he said, gesturing toward the workers.
Ella shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. "It's not about that. I just want them to see that this isn't just a shop—it's something bigger. A place where we're all part of something new."
Liam looked around, his gaze taking in the nearly finished building and the hum of life surrounding it. "I think they already get that."
Ella tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath. "Good. Because this is only the beginning."
The shop stood proudly at the heart of the village, its three stories towering over the neighboring stalls and cottages. The polished blue door gleamed in the sunlight, flanked by large windows that showcased neatly arranged products inside. The thatched roof gave it a charming, timeless appeal, but the modern touches—like the indoor plumbing and the discreet factory behind the building—set it apart from anything the village had ever seen.
Ella stepped back onto the cobblestone path, her eyes sweeping over the finished building. Her breath caught in her chest as pride and relief swirled together. Beside her, Liam folded his arms and tilted his head, a grin spreading across his face.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Ella said softly, her voice tinged with awe.
Liam chuckled. "Beautiful doesn't even cover it, Miss Ella. It's... well, it's you. Practical, elegant, and just a little extra."
She laughed and gave him a playful shove. "Careful, Liam, I might start thinking you're getting poetic on me."
Turning her gaze back to the shop, Ella took a deep breath, her mind already racing ahead to the next steps. "This is it," she said firmly. "The next chapter starts now."
Liam nodded, his eyes bright with excitement. "I can't wait to see the look on everyone's faces at the grand opening. They won't believe their eyes when they see what you've built."
Ella smiled, a mixture of determination and anticipation flashing across her face. "Oh, they'll believe it. But just to make sure, we're going to give them something they'll never forget."
Her mind buzzed with ideas for the grand opening. She pictured villagers crowding around the entrance, gasping at the elegant interior, marveling at the running water, and sampling her products. It had to be more than just a shop opening—it had to be a day the village would talk about for years.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the village, Ella pulled out her notebook and began jotting down plans. Decorations, special promotions, demonstrations of the plumbing system—everything had to be perfect.
Liam peered over her shoulder. "You're already planning, aren't you?"
Ella glanced up with a wry smile. "Of course. If we're going to make this place the center of the village, we need to start with a bang."
Liam grinned. "Then I'd better rest up. Something tells me I'm going to be running around a lot before the big day."
She laughed and closed her notebook with a decisive snap. "Get ready, Liam. This shop isn't just a building—it's a dream come to life. And it's only the beginning."