The Last Successor

14. The Quiet Current

The afternoon sun hung low over the western mill district, casting long shadows across the old brick walls. Unlike the busy financial center with its tall towers, this area relied on real, hard work. Rows of heavy looms hummed inside the factories, turning raw cotton into finished cloth.

A modest building near the edge of the district bore a wooden sign reading Veyron & Sterling Garments.

Inside the small office, Elena stood before a wooden packing table with her sleeves rolled up. Her hair was tied back in a loose knot, and her face looked pale with fatigue. For three days, she had worked fourteen-hour shifts to run her independent clothing line after leaving her brother’s chaotic office.

Beside her, Chloe sat on a metal stool, staring miserably at a stack of unpaid bills. Dark circles showed under her eyes where heavy makeup used to be.

"Elena," Chloe muttered, her voice whining softly. "The fabric supplier just called again. If our trucks don't collect the silk by five o'clock today, they will sell it to another buyer!"

Elena kept taping a cardboard shipping box. "Did you call the local transport agencies?"

"I called six of them!" Chloe cried out, waving her hands in frustration. "Every single one said their small vans are fully booked because Raymond is offering double rates to haul cement for his plaza project!"

Elena stopped her packing tape dispenser mid-pull and let out a tired sigh. Raymond’s greed was destroying everything in his attempt to save his failing project. By hiring light vans for tasks they could not handle, he had paralyzed transport for small businesses across the district.

"What do we do now?" Chloe asked, looking genuinely frightened. "If we lose this contract, we cannot even pay office rent next week!"

Elena looked out the dusty glass window at the empty street. She felt a heavy, cold weight pressing down on her chest. For three years, she had turned her back on family problems and let Adrian handle everything while others mocked him. Now, standing alone without her family's wealth, she realized how fragile her pride truly was.

The deep roar of heavy diesel engines suddenly echoed down the quiet street, making the small windows rattle.

Chloe ran to the door to look outside. "Elena... look!"

Elena walked to the doorway as two massive transport trucks pulled down the narrow lane. Their dark blue cabs gleamed under the sun, bearing a crisp white logo: Northwind Logistics Co.

The lead truck stopped smoothly in front of the office as the air brakes let out a long hiss.

A middle-aged driver in a clean blue uniform stepped down from the cab. He held a clipboard in his calloused hand and checked the address written on top.

"Are you Miss Elena Sterling?" the driver asked, his voice rough but polite as he tipped his cap.

Elena took a step forward with her heart beating fast. "Yes, I am Elena. What is this?"

"Northwind Logistics reporting for cargo collection, ma'am," the driver announced, holding out a set of manifest papers. "We have two heavy trucks assigned to haul your silk from the northern mills to the harbor warehouse."

Chloe gasped, grabbing Elena’s arm. "Northwind?! Elena, that’s the company Raymond tried to bankrupt! How did you book them when their trucks are impossible to get?"

Elena stared at the driver, her mind racing. "There must be a mistake. I didn't book your trucks because I couldn't even afford your standard deposit."

The driver offered a broad smile, pointing to a stamped seal at the bottom of the page. "There’s no mistake, Miss Elena. Director Thomas issued a priority order this morning to support independent businesses, and your manifest was cleared and paid in full under a local grant."

Elena’s eyes widened. "A grant?"

"Yes, ma'am," the driver explained. "The director said we are to handle all your transport needs for the next month at zero deposit." He then turned toward the back of the truck and called out, "Alright boys, let's back her up and load this silk!"

As the drivers opened the rear trailer doors and began loading pallets, Chloe jumped up and down in excitement. "We're saved! Elena, we're actually saved!"

Elena did not celebrate. She stood frozen near the doorway, staring at the bold white letters painted on the truck: Northwind Logistics.

A vivid memory suddenly flashed in her mind.

Three days ago in their rain-swept living room, while her family screamed at Adrian to sign divorce papers, Adrian had remained completely calm. He had looked at her with quiet gray eyes and said softly, "Keep the extra money, Elena. From what I recall of your reports, your cash flow is going to need every penny very soon."

Elena’s hands began to tremble against her dress.

He knew, Elena thought, her breath catching as a cold shiver ran down her spine.

He knew Raymond's project would stall, and he knew the city transport would freeze. Now, the company Raymond tried to destroy is the only reason my business is alive.

Elena looked down the long, empty street, half-expecting to see a familiar figure standing in the shadows of the old buildings. However, there was only the cold wind blowing dry leaves across the pavement.