1. This must be broken, then. I could open my own store with the amount of purchases, and every time I click on the small talk button, his response is “I Don’t have anything to say now... Maybe come back later?” which doesn't sound like it's earning me any "like points."
2. Cecilia is never alone, so the subject doesn't come up. Having no idea how to progress her path, figured I might be able to phone her after renting the studio. No luck.
1.Ok, after checking, the code, I think you managed to give Melvin all the answers he didn't like in the small talk, meaning you didn't earn like points, which in turn allowed me to notice a recent change made the "+1" when you buy something each time you come to the store stop working. So, thank you for that.
It's easy to check : just ask him "What do you think of our relationship ?" and see how many like and dislike points you get. If you have less than 10 like points, that's why you can't buy special goods. I fixed the +1 after purchase for next release.
All hope is not lost though, if you visit Melissa at the store several times, she ends up being delivered a ladder; and after you talk about it with her a few times, she'll tell you about her plans to use it at closing time, and if you visit at closing time after she tells you that, you'll find her knocked out.
Melvin will then approach you if you return to the store after that event, and you'll get to discuss his CCTV footage, and he'll tell you he's obsessed with Melissa, and you'll get 20 likes points. Then you'll be able to buy special goods...
2. If the quest log doesn't tell you "You can organize a photoshoot with...", it means you can't organize a photoshoot.
That's why Dom tells you "Are you sure you have a model to call ? Cause if you rent it for no reason, that's on you..." when you want to rent it.
As for Cecilia's path, to get her to accept the photoshoot (which she doesn't want to do):
-you need to visit the cafeteria in the afternoon and then ask Claire about opening hours.
-you need to ask Cecilia about Sam's job (so you need to send Sam on an errand, which is maybe still $200 in your version, I changed it to $50 since then but it's not in the public release yet) a bunch of times (alternatively, if you haven't asked for several days, you can ask her several times in a row.)
-when she asks you for help, ask for something in return, ask for a photoshoot.
-tell her you found a job opportunity
-tell her you were serious about the photoshoot.
-wait a few more days if you want the photoshoot not to be "just lingerie".
-Mc will tell you "I bet she'd be willing to accept a nude photoshoot now..." if you waited long enough.
Hope it helps.