Chapter 176: Misread Signals
Micah waited. And waited.
By the time an hour passed, he had already checked the clock on the wall at least ten times and nearly nodded off on the plastic bench twice.
Finally, the door creaked open. A young woman stepped inside, wearing a pale grey factory uniform and a headset tucked behind her ear. Her ponytail bounced as she gave them a quick once over, eyes sharp but tired.
"Sorry for the wait," she said, adjusting the tablet in her hands. "There were some issues this morning. Let’s get going. We’ve got an inspection today, so the sooner we wrap up your tour, the better."
Her tone wasn’t rude, but it wasn’t warm either. Just brisk and professional. Micah straightened up and glanced around at the others. Russell gave him a small shrug. Amy and Melissa were already standing, ready to follow. They didn’t argue. Honestly, they knew they weren’t exactly the factory’s top priority today.
Micah walked near the back of the group, hands in his hoodie pocket, eyes scanning the surroundings as they followed her. The smell of cotton and machine oil filled the air.
The guide began explaining the history of the Sorkh factory, rattling off dates and production numbers.
"This factory was established thirty years ago, starting with just two machines and under twenty employees," she said. "Now we produce over eight thousand meters of fabric each week, with exports to seven different countries. We focus on luxury and sustainable materials, often working with designers under La Riviere’s brand."
Next came the part about materials, fibre type, and how they were dyed, woven, and preserved. Texture. Durability. Temperature effects. She even held out some small fabric swatches, letting them touch as they walked through one of the cleaner display halls.
Micah’s expression turned serious. He didn’t talk much, but he didn’t miss a word either. His brows creased in thought, and he occasionally nodded to himself as if mentally noting which type might work for which designs.
Unseen from above, someone else was watching.