The Three Businessmen Part 1

The clerk was still catching his breath.

"There are three factory owners asking about the steam engine."

Silence.

Hollen slowly lowered his face into his hands.

"That was fast."

Actually, fast was an understatement.

The first customer had appeared less than ten minutes ago.

Now there were three more.

Helmarte Machine Works didn't even exist yet.

Half of its building was still dirt and timber.

And apparently, they already had customers lining up.

Ernest looked amused.

Hollen did not.

"Should I send them away?" the clerk asked.

"No," Ernest said immediately.

Hollen looked up.

"No?"

"No."

The young businessman smiled.

"We've been waiting for this."

The forge owner pointed toward the construction site outside.

"We're literally building the company right now."

"And apparently the market doesn't care."

Silence.

Then Ricardo laughed.