Unwanted SightValenticia’s POV~I grunted and threw my phone on the passenger seat as I threaded my way through city traffic. Last-minute requests from a client had been approved by Stefan on the sensor prototype, and it was due to come back with his signature in the morning. Shortly before I left the office, I received a call from his secretary, Rachel. “Stefan’s sick at home today,” she said. “He’s not checking his emails, but he has to sign off. Will you leave the papers at his home?”I paused, tightening my hold on the phone. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?” I asked.“No,” she said. “The client’s pushing hard. It’s urgent.”“Fine,” I said, hanging up. Just the thought of going to Stefan’s house made my stomach twist. It had been quite awkward since he gave me the news about his engagement to Natasha. Staff meetings involved long stares at one another and forced smiles, and I would make sure never to be alone with him. But he was sick, and this trade was a huge one for Clawford. Al
Intimate DoubtsStefan’s POV~I was sitting at the desk in my home office, wrapping up a work email, when my phone vibrated. It was my parents calling, and I just answered. “Hey, Mom, Dad,” I said, sitting back in my chair and letting the morning light filter in through the window.“Stefan, now long it’s been,” said Mom, sounding bright. “We’re dying to get properly introduced to Natasha. When are you going to bring your fiancée home?”I looked at the ring box on my desk, a relic of the engagement. “Soon, I promise,” I said. “We’re coming next month for a visit. You’re going to like her. She’s smart, great with clients and always keeps me reined in.”Dad chuckled. “Sounds like a keeper. Don’t wait too long. We’re excited for the wedding.”“I won’t,” I said, smiling. “We’re working on dates. I’ll call soon with plans.” We said our goodbyes, and I hung up feeling optimistic about the potential. Natasha was a good fit in my life, and my parents would understand that. But as I hung up the
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