Chapter 107 Secret Alliance
Chapter Hundred and Seven
Dimitri’s POV~
The double date at Bella’s left a bad taste in my mouth. Seeing Valenticia laugh with Stefan, about their shared stories about old times, made my stomach twist. It wasn’t just the awkwardness; it was how natural they seemed together, like I was an outsider. Back at my apartment, I kept replaying it, wondering if Valenticia still had feelings for him. We’d kissed after our last dinner, and I thought we were starting something new, but that night at Bella’s made me doubt. Was she over Stefan, or was I just a rebound?
I spent the morning at work, distracted. My logistics job was hectic—tracking shipments, calling clients, but my mind was on Valenticia. I texted her, keeping it light. “Hey, you free this weekend?” She replied, “Maybe, I’ll let you know,” and I smiled, but the doubt lingered. I wanted to see her again, to keep building what we’d started, but Stefan’s presence at that dinner nagged at me.
Around noon, I took a break and walked to a nearby cafe, Brew Haven, to grab lunch. The place was small, with wooden tables and the smell of fresh coffee. I ordered a sandwich and sat by the window, scrolling through my phone. That’s when I saw Natasha walk in, Stefan’s fiancée, carrying a notebook and a stack of papers. She wore a red sweater, her hair pulled back, and looked stressed. I recognized her from Bella’s, and our eyes met.
“Dimitri, right?” she said, stopping at my table. “From the other night?”
“Yeah,” I said, setting my phone down. “Natasha. Good to see you.”
She nodded, glancing at her papers. “Mind if I sit? I’m drowning in wedding plans.”
“Sure,” I said, gesturing to the chair. She sat, spreading out her notebook, which I caught a glimpse of the lists of flowers, venues, and dates. I felt a pang, remembering how uncomfortable she looked at Bella’s when Stefan and Valenticia talked.
“Planning’s intense,” I said, nodding at her papers. “Big day coming up?”
“Yeah,” she said, sighing. “It’s a lot. Stefan’s busy with work, so I’m handling most of it.”
I took a bite of my sandwich, curious. “He seems busy. You two okay after that dinner?”
Her smile faded. “It was awkward,” she said. “Stefan and Valenticia… they’ve got history. It showed.”
I nodded, my chest tightening. “Yeah, I noticed. Made things weird.”
She leaned forward, her voice low. “Dimitri, we need to talk about Valenticia and Stefan. Can I be honest?”
“Go ahead,” I said, setting my sandwich down. Her tone made me uneasy.
“They’re too close,” she said, her eyes were serious. “Their history could ruin my wedding. I need your help to make sure Valenticia doesn’t get in the way.”
I froze, her words hitting hard. “What do you mean?” I asked, leaning back.
“Keep her busy,” she said. “Date her, distract her, whatever it takes. Stefan’s my fiancé, but he’s… distracted when she’s around. I saw it at Bella’s. You want her, right? This helps us both.”
I stared at her, with my mind racing. Part of me agreed that keeping Valenticia away from Stefan would give me a chance to win her over. Our coffee date, our kiss, felt real, and I wanted more. But this felt wrong, like betraying her. “You’re asking me to manipulate her,” I said, my voice low.
“Not manipulate,” Natasha said, shaking her head. “Just keep her focused on you. You like her, don’t you? I’m not asking you to hurt her.”
I sipped my coffee, thinking. “I do like her,” I admitted. “We’re… reconnecting. But this feels sneaky.”
“It’s not,” she said, leaning closer. “Stefan and I are getting married. They need to let go of the past. You’re helping them move on—and helping yourself.”
I looked at her notebook, the wedding plans sprawling across the page. She seemed desperate, as her fingers were tapping the table nervously. I thought about Valenticia, how she smiled at me, but also how she laughed with Stefan. If I kept her close, maybe I could build something real with her, and Natasha would get her wedding. But it meant keeping a secret, and that didn’t sit right.
“Why me?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. “Why not talk to Stefan?”
She sighed. “I’ve tried. He says it’s nothing, but I see how he looks at her. You’re with Valenticia now. You can keep her away.”
I rubbed my neck, feeling torn. “I don’t know, Natasha. I want to be with Val, but not like this.”
“Please,” she said, her voice soft. “I just want my wedding to go smoothly. You’d be helping us all.”
I thought about our marriage, how Valenticia and I fell apart because of trust issues. I didn’t want to start something new with lies. But I also saw Stefan’s face at Bella’s, the way he lit up talking to her. If I didn’t act, would I lose her to him? “Okay,” I said finally, my voice heavy. “I’ll keep her busy. But no games. I’m doing this my way.”
“Thank you,” she said, her shoulders relaxing. “Just… make sure she’s focused on you.”
We finished our coffee, with the conversation shifting to small talk. “How’s your job?” she asked, closing her notebook.
“Busy,” I said, picking at my sandwich. “Logistics keeps me running. You?”
“Helix is crazy,” she said. “Stefan’s always in meetings. Keeps us both on edge.”
I nodded, my mind still on her request. We paid and left, with her thanking me again before heading out. I walked back to work, my thoughts were a mess. I liked Valenticia—her laugh, her strength, the way she made me feel like we could start over. But Natasha’s plea added pressure to what I had going on. Could I keep Valenticia close without lying to her? I didn’t want to hurt her, but I also didn’t want Stefan pulling her back.
At work, I checked my phone, hoping for a text from Valenticia. I got nothing yet, but I sent one anyway. “Hey, had fun last time. Dinner soon?” I hoped it sounded normal, not like I was following Natasha’s plan. Back at my desk, I handled client calls, but my mind wandered. I remembered our kiss, her hand in mine. I wanted that again, but now I felt a weight—Natasha’s words, Stefan’s shadow.
That evening, I went home to my apartment, where Mom was staying while Dad settled at Willow Creek. She was cooking dinner, the smell of pasta filling the air. “You’re quiet,” she said, stirring the sauce. “Work okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, setting the table. “Just a lot on my mind.”
“Valenticia?” she asked, glancing over. “You two looked cozy at the store.”
I smiled, but it faded. “We’re catching up. It’s… complicated.”
She nodded, not pushing. “Be honest with her, Dimitri. You weren’t always before.”
Her words stung, reminding me of our failed marriage. I wanted to be better this time, but Natasha’s request made it hard. After dinner, I sat on the couch, staring at my phone. Valenticia texted back, “Dinner sounds good. Friday?” I smiled, typing, “Perfect. Pick you up at 7.”