Mostly, your reactions influence your Disposition stat. Helping your rival escape raises it, casting him out (I believe) causes a small hit, and killing him results in a significant loss. Likewise, with customers, letting them go gives you a nicer disposition, putting them in the dungeon makes you a bit less nice, and kidnapping the guy's family and forcing them to work for you makes you a good bit meaner (and, depending on your choices, ropes you between 1 and 4 new girls to work for you [simply sticking with taking the girl gives you one, but sending your goons to follow the guy home will allow you the option of kidnapping the original daughter, her mother and any sisters she might have... the most being one mother and three daughters.])