diff --git a/helpers.py b/helpers.py
index 706d2c6..ee73cd9 100644
--- a/helpers.py
+++ b/helpers.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def decrypt_message(encoded_message: str, encryption_key) -> str:
     return unpadded_data.decode()
 
 
-def encrypt_message(message: str, encryption_key, iv: Optional[bytes]) -> str:
+def encrypt_message(message: str, encryption_key, iv: Optional[bytes] = None) -> str:
     padder = padding.PKCS7(128).padder()
     padded_data = padder.update(message.encode()) + padder.finalize()
 
diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 945c1ae..cd93d38 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel
 
 from lnbits.utils.exchange_rates import fiat_amount_as_satoshis
 
-from .helpers import decrypt_message, get_shared_secret, sign_message_hash
+from .helpers import (
+    decrypt_message,
+    encrypt_message,
+    get_shared_secret,
+    sign_message_hash,
+)
 from .nostr.event import NostrEvent
 
 ######################################## NOSTR ########################################
@@ -45,6 +50,24 @@ class Merchant(PartialMerchant):
         encryption_key = get_shared_secret(self.private_key, public_key)
         return decrypt_message(encrypted_message, encryption_key)
 
+    def encrypt_message(self, clear_text_message: str, public_key: str) -> str:
+        encryption_key = get_shared_secret(self.private_key, public_key)
+        return encrypt_message(clear_text_message, encryption_key)
+
+    def build_dm_event(self, message: str, to_pubkey: str) -> NostrEvent:
+        content = self.encrypt_message(message, to_pubkey)
+        event = NostrEvent(
+            pubkey=self.public_key,
+            created_at=round(time.time()),
+            kind=4,
+            tags=[["p", to_pubkey]],
+            content=content,
+        )
+        event.id = event.event_id
+        event.sig = self.sign_hash(bytes.fromhex(event.id))
+
+        return event
+
     @classmethod
     def from_row(cls, row: Row) -> "Merchant":
         merchant = cls(**dict(row))
@@ -242,6 +265,9 @@ class PartialOrder(BaseModel):
     items: List[OrderItem]
     contact: Optional[OrderContact]
 
+    def validate_order(self):
+        assert len(self.items) != 0, f"Order has no items. Order: '{self.id}'"
+
     async def total_sats(self, products: List[Product]) -> float:
         product_prices = {}
         for p in products:
@@ -281,3 +307,15 @@ class PaymentRequest(BaseModel):
     id: str
     message: Optional[str]
     payment_options: List[PaymentOption]
+
+    def to_nostr_event(self, author_pubkey: str, to_pubkey: str) -> NostrEvent:
+        event = NostrEvent(
+            pubkey=author_pubkey,
+            created_at=round(time.time()),
+            kind=4,
+            tags=[["p", to_pubkey]],
+            content=json.dumps(self.dict(), separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False),
+        )
+        event.id = event.event_id
+
+        return event
diff --git a/tasks.py b/tasks.py
index b8bc11f..b5e9619 100644
--- a/tasks.py
+++ b/tasks.py
@@ -9,19 +9,18 @@ from websocket import WebSocketApp
 
 from lnbits.core import get_wallet
 from lnbits.core.models import Payment
-from lnbits.extensions.nostrmarket.models import PartialOrder
-from lnbits.helpers import url_for
+from lnbits.helpers import Optional, url_for
 from lnbits.tasks import register_invoice_listener
 
 from .crud import (
     get_merchant_by_pubkey,
-    get_product,
     get_public_keys_for_merchants,
     get_wallet_for_product,
 )
 from .helpers import order_from_json
+from .models import PartialOrder
 from .nostr.event import NostrEvent
-from .nostr.nostr_client import connect_to_nostrclient_ws
+from .nostr.nostr_client import connect_to_nostrclient_ws, publish_nostr_event
 
 
 async def wait_for_paid_invoices():
@@ -94,21 +93,28 @@ async def handle_message(msg: str):
                 assert merchant, f"Merchant not found for public key '{public_key}'"
 
                 clear_text_msg = merchant.decrypt_message(event.content, event.pubkey)
-                await handle_nip04_message(event.pubkey, event.id, clear_text_msg)
+                dm_resp = await handle_dirrect_message(
+                    event.pubkey, event.id, clear_text_msg
+                )
+                if dm_resp:
+                    dm_event = merchant.build_dm_event(dm_resp, event.pubkey)
+                    await publish_nostr_event(dm_event)
 
     except Exception as ex:
         logger.warning(ex)
 
 
-async def handle_nip04_message(from_pubkey: str, event_id: str, msg: str):
+async def handle_dirrect_message(
+    from_pubkey: str, event_id: str, msg: str
+) -> Optional[str]:
     order, text_msg = order_from_json(msg)
     try:
         if order:
-            print("### order", from_pubkey, event_id, msg)
             ### check that event_id not parsed already
             order["pubkey"] = from_pubkey
             order["event_id"] = event_id
             partial_order = PartialOrder(**order)
+            partial_order.validate_order()
             assert len(partial_order.items) != 0, "Order has no items. Order: " + msg
 
             first_product_id = partial_order.items[0].product_id
@@ -131,9 +137,14 @@ async def handle_nip04_message(from_pubkey: str, event_id: str, msg: str):
                 )
                 resp.raise_for_status()
                 data = resp.json()
-
-                print("### payment request", data)
+                return (
+                    json.dumps(data, separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False)
+                    if data
+                    else None
+                )
         else:
             print("### text_msg", text_msg)
+            return None
     except Exception as ex:
         logger.warning(ex)
+        return None
diff --git a/views_api.py b/views_api.py
index 56d45fe..bca744d 100644
--- a/views_api.py
+++ b/views_api.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import json
 from http import HTTPStatus
 from typing import List, Optional