The ink on the contract was barely dry when Elena let herself smile for the first time in weeks.

This was not just any deal, it was salvation. Maison Duvall, a prestigious French supplier, had agreed to partner with Rossi Textiles. High-quality silks at rates that would cut their expenses by nearly twenty percent. Sure, the numbers mattered, but perception mattered more. Having Duvall's name beside Rossi sent a clear message to the industry that we are still here.

It meant breathing room. ...