Awkward SilencesValenticia’s POV~“Valenticia, can you determine the sensor lot for next week?” Stefan said, his deep voice echoing through the buzz in the meeting room at Clawford Enterprises. He pointed to a slide displayed on the projector, charting Helix’s product timeline.I glanced up from my notes and locked eyes with him for a beat before looking back down. “We're on schedule,” I responded, with a clipped tone and sharpness in my voice. “First batch ships Monday. Quality checks are done.”He looked all business as he nodded. “Good. Let’s connect on logistics by Friday.”“Fine,” I said, jotting a note so that I wouldn’t have to look at him once more. The room was packed with my team and his team, all trying to hammer out the sensor deal we had agreed to. But whenever Stefan talked, my stomach twisted. I recalled our dinner at Luigi’s, laughing as we used to laugh, and my foolish thought that perhaps we could be friends again. Now his neat tone and fast nods felt mannered, as
Heart to HeartValenticia’s POV~I sat in a Clawford Enterprises meeting room, the long table was surrounded by my team and Stefan’s Helix crew. The sensor deal was moving fast, and we needed to align on production schedules. Stefan stood at the front, pointing to a chart on the projector screen. “We’re aiming for March delivery,” he said, his voice steady. “Clawford’s sensors need to hit our assembly line by February 15. Can you make that?”I nodded, flipping through my notes. “We can,” I said. “Our factory’s ramping up now. We’ll ship the first batch by February 10 to be safe.”He looked at me, his nod polite but quick. “Good. Let’s keep quality checks tight. No delays.”“Agreed,” I said, keeping my tone all business. Our eyes met for a second, and I looked down at my papers, feeling a twist in my stomach. Ever since he told me about his engagement to Natasha, being around him felt awkward. His nods were forced, and I avoided one-on-one talks, sticking to group meetings like this.
Unexpected EncountersValenticia’s POV~The day I picked up Nana from Willow Creek Elderly Home started with a buzz of excitement. I woke early, made coffee, and packed a bag with her favorite things—chamomile tea, a soft sweater, and a photo album of us with Mom. Knowing she’d finally live with me felt like a weight lifted. Her pneumonia had scared me, and having her close meant I could keep her safe. I drove to the home with my mind full of plans. Her room was ready, with a cozy bed and a small table for her tea. At the office, I’d cleared my afternoon to focus on her move, balancing work and family as best I could.I arrived at Willow Creek by ten, the building quiet with soft sunlight streaming through the windows. Nurse Clara met me at the front desk, her clipboard in hand. “Rosanna’s ready,” she said, smiling. “She’s excited to go home with you.”“Thanks for everything,” I said, signing the discharge papers. “Any last tips for her care?”“Keep her warm, make sure she takes her m
Planning ForwardStefan’s POV~Life with Natasha shifted into full engagement mode after I proposed, and we spent most evenings at her apartment, sorting through wedding details. Her place was cozy, with a small dining table covered in papers and her laptop open to websites about venues and rings. I sat across from her one night, sipping coffee while she scrolled through options for a ring engraver. The screen glowed, showing fancy fonts and designs. “This one’s nice,” she said, pointing to a cursive style. “We could put our initials inside. What do you think?”I leaned over, glancing at it. “Looks good,” I said. “Simple but personal.”She nodded, clicking to save it. “Okay, that’s settled. Now, the guest list. We need to invite the board cause I mean, it’s good for business. Helix will look stronger with them there.”“Yeah, makes sense,” I agreed, but my voice felt flat. I took another sip of coffee, staring at the table. Natasha was all in, her excitement filling the room as she ty
A Proposal’s WeightStefan’s POV~It happened a week before the big signing event with Clawford, at a quiet restaurant downtown called Bella Vita. The place had dim lights, small tables with candles, and soft music in the background. Natasha sat across from me, her dark hair loose, wearing a simple green dress. We’d been working late at Helix, closing a deal, and decided to grab dinner to unwind. As we ate, I kept thinking about how steady she’d always been there for meetings, quick with solutions, making my life easier after the mess with Valenticia ended.Over plates of lasagna, we started talking about the future. “Helix is growing fast,” Natasha said, cutting a bite. “The new wearable line’s going to put us ahead. You’re killing it, Stefan.”I smiled, sipping my water. “We’re killing it. You’ve been key on every contract this year.”She laughed, shaking her head. “Team effort. But seriously, where do you see us in a year? More deals? Bigger office?”Her question caught me off guar
Bitter RevelationsValenticia’s POV~The memory of the dinner that I had with Stefan stayed in my mind for days, like a bright spot I couldn’t shake. We had talked so easily at Luigi’s, laughing over old stories and business wins, and his smile felt real, like the Stefan I knew from years ago. It sparked a quiet hope in me that maybe our history wasn’t completely gone, that we could at least be friends again. I caught myself replaying his words, “Glad we did this, means a lot,” and wondering if there was room for more. But I pushed it down, reminding myself it was just a business dinner to celebrate the deal, nothing else. Still, the warmth lingered, and I held onto it as I went through my routine, balancing work at Clawford Enterprises with plans to bring Nana home from the hospital.The signing event for the sensor deal came a few days later, and I arrived at the downtown conference center feeling focused. The room was big, with long tables covered in white cloths and a podium up f