Chapter 37

Chapter 37
Two in the morning, when most of Jakarta was fast asleep in a peaceful twilight, Adrian Mahesa and Elara Kencana sped through the empty streets. Adrian's car, a silent black sedan, raced like a shadow, cutting through the biting cold wind. Beside him, Elara no longer looked like the steadfast CEO of Kencana Mode, but a soldier ready for war, her brown eyes sharply piercing the darkness. They had less than an hour before the fake silk shipment reached its destination.
"Baskara has confirmed the truck's location. It's still about twenty minutes away from us, heading towards the receiving warehouse in Bogor," Adrian broke the silence, his voice calm but with a hint of urgency. His fingers gripped the steering wheel firmly. "We'll cut it off at the highway intersection before the warehouse entrance."
Elara nodded, glancing out the window. The light drizzle had just stopped, leaving a wet sheen on the asphalt. The scent of earth and wet asphalt wafted in through the vents. "What's the exact plan? We can't just stop the truck and accuse them. There will be questions, and that will open a loophole for Damar to deny everything."
Adrian glanced over, a faint smile playing on the corner of his lips. "Of course not. We'll use the classic approach: 'surprise inspection'."
"Surprise inspection?" Elara frowned, her eyebrows furrowed. "At three in the morning? That's suspicious."
"Think about it, Elara. Who would dare refuse the command of the Mahesa Group's CEO in the middle of the night, especially if it's related to a multi-billion-dollar project shipment?" Adrian explained, his gaze returning to the road. "Baskara has arranged for our internal security team guarding the toll post to receive a 'notification' about a potential technical issue with one of the shipments for this project. They will stop the truck in the name of routine procedure."
"So, they will stop a truck they have no idea is carrying fake goods?" Elara's mind was racing, trying to find a flaw in the plan. "How do we make sure they don't get suspicious and complicate things? They don't know anything about Damar."
"They don't need to know the details," Adrian countered. "What they need to know is that I, Adrian Mahesa, will personally conduct the inspection. My presence is enough of an irrefutable reason. No Mahesa employee will question their CEO's direct order, especially in a situation like this. Surprise them, and they will comply."
"And us?" Elara asked, pointing to herself. "We're both going to get out there, in the dead of night, in front of a driver who might have been bribed or threatened by Damar?"
"I will get out," Adrian corrected, his eyes fixed on her. "You stay in the car. This is too risky, Elara. I can't let you take unnecessary risks."
Elara scoffed, looking at Adrian with a look of disbelief. "After everything we've been through, after we've put this plan together, you think I'm going to sit pretty in the car and wait for you? Adrian, Damar isn't just targeting you. He's targeting our project, which means Kencana Mode too. This is also my role."
Adrian's hand tightened on the steering wheel. "I know. But we don't know how desperate Damar is. He could have his people in that truck, or around the delivery area. I don't want any incidents that could endanger you."
"And I don't want you to face it alone," Elara countered, her voice softer, but with an unshakeable resolve. "We agreed, this is 'together.' Remember? You need me there, Adrian. A keen eye, a quick mind. Two heads are better than one, especially if one of them is trying to be a lone hero."
Adrian glanced at Elara again, his gaze long and sharp. There was a clear internal struggle in his eyes. He was used to controlling everything, protecting himself, and now, somehow, he felt a strong urge to protect Elara. But Elara's argument made sense. This was no longer just his war alone. This was their battle.
"Alright," Adrian relented, letting out a sigh of resignation. "But you stay behind me. Don't move without my instruction."
"Deal," Elara gave a slight smirk, a flicker of renewed spirit in her eyes. There was a faint sense of relief. For the first time, Adrian was no longer trying to push her away, but rather acknowledging her presence as an ally.
They arrived at the highway intersection fifteen minutes later. The taillights of Adrian's sedan glowed a fiery red as he braked slowly, following the large white transport truck. Ahead, the blue lights of a Mahesa internal security car were flashing. They motioned for the truck to pull over to the shoulder. The truck driver, a middle-aged man with a tired face, looked surprised but complied.
Adrian parked his car a few meters behind the truck, turning off the engine. The cold air immediately assailed them as they opened the doors. The dim streetlights made the atmosphere even more tense. Elara could feel her heart pounding in her chest, like a war drum.
Two security officers approached the truck, while Adrian strode forward with a steady gait, his cold charisma emanating even in the darkness. He wore a dark, neat shirt that blended perfectly with the night's shadows. Elara followed a few steps behind him, her eyes constantly sweeping the surroundings, looking for signs of danger.
"What's going on, Sir?" the truck driver asked, his voice hoarse.
"Adrian Mahesa," Adrian introduced himself without preamble, his voice low and full of authority. "There's a report of a potential issue with this cargo. I need to inspect it personally."
The truck driver's face seemed to pale. He clearly had not expected to come face-to-face with the CEO in the middle of the night. "An issue? But, Sir, this is a routine delivery for the 'Karya Adiluhung' project. High-quality silk fabric from Mahesa's main supplier, Sir. Everything is according to procedure."
"We'll see about that," Adrian replied flatly. "Open the back of the truck."
As the truck driver hesitantly moved to open the container doors, Elara saw something wasn't right. A black car was parked quite a distance away on the toll entrance ramp, its lights off. It was too dark to see who was inside, but its hidden position felt suspicious. Had Damar anticipated this move?
"Adrian," Elara whispered, moving a little closer. "There's a car over there, its lights are off. It's too dark to be just a broken-down car."
Adrian glanced in the direction Elara pointed, his eyes narrowing. "Stay focused on the cargo. If it's Damar's people, they won't act if we don't give them a reason."
The container door opened, and the distinct smell of new fabric immediately filled the air. Inside, neatly wrapped stacks of silk fabric blocks were piled up. At first glance, it looked normal. However, Adrian stepped inside, turned on his phone's flashlight, and shone it on the pile of fabric. He touched one of the rolls, feeling it between his thumb and forefinger. His forehead creased.
"This is not the premium quality silk we ordered," Adrian stated, his voice as cold as ice. "The texture is rougher, the fibers are looser. This color is also a bit paler."
Elara stepped forward, ignoring Adrian's warning. She also touched the fabric. As a designer, her sense of materials was very sharp. The difference was immediately noticeable. The quality was indeed far below the standards of both Kencana Mode and Mahesa Group. This could ruin the entire collection.
"You're right," Elara whispered, her eyes fixed on the truck driver. "This is second-grade silk. Not what 'Karya Adiluhung' is supposed to have."
The truck driver looked flustered. "I-it can't be, Ma'am. I just deliver the goods. The delivery note is also in order."
"The delivery note can be faked," Adrian cut in, his gaze implying a threat. "I will have the IT team digitally trace this truck's route, and check all the shipping documents. And all this fabric will be confiscated for lab testing."
"But Sir...!" The truck driver tried to protest, but Adrian raised his hand, stopping him.
"No 'buts.' This is an order. You can rest assured, Mahesa Group will cover the shipping compensation. But this cargo will never reach the Kencana Mode production line."
Adrian then turned to the security officers. "Contact headquarters immediately. Ask for a Mahesa transport truck to come move this cargo to the investigative warehouse. And make sure this truck doesn't move until further notice."
The truck driver looked desperate, but didn't dare to defy a direct order from Adrian. The security officers immediately carried out the instructions.
Elara looked at Adrian, a sense of pride and relief washing over her. She knew how much Adrian hated dirty, direct confrontations like this, but he had done it perfectly. Their eyes met under the dim light. In that gaze, there was an acknowledgement of the effectiveness of their cooperation, and a sense of shared, small victory.
As they turned to head back to the car, Adrian felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He looked at the screen: a message from an unknown number.
"A good hit, Adrian. But this is just the beginning. I have more cards in my hand to destroy you both."
Adrian clenched his fist. The message was unsigned, but he knew who it was from. Damar. And this wasn't just a threat, but a promise.
"What is it?" Elara asked, seeing the change in Adrian's expression.
Adrian didn't answer. He just stared into the distance at the black car that was now slowly starting to move away, without turning on its lights. Adrian's hand gripped Elara's shoulder tightly, pulling her a little closer.
"He knows we're here," Adrian whispered, his voice heavy. "And he's not intimidated at all."
The cold night air seemed to signal a new danger. They had successfully stopped one attack, but the real war had just begun. In the deepening darkness, a bigger battle awaited. Elara felt Adrian's tense shoulder under his grip. She knew, Damar would not stop. And a question arose: what else had Damar planned, and how far would he go to see them destroyed? This was no longer about heritage or fashion, but about survival. And in the face of the looming danger, Elara realized one thing: she had never felt so safe as she did beside Adrian.