Chapter 92 Sealing the Deal
CHAPTER NINETY TWO
Valenticia’s POV~
Rosanna’s health kept on disturbing me in my mind constantly, and I spent my days juggling work at Clawford Enterprises with visits to the hospital, where she stayed for treatment. Her pneumonia wasn’t improving as fast as I had hoped that it would, and every cough I heard during our talks made my stomach twist. I wanted her home with me, safe in the spare room I was already setting up with her favorite blankets and a teapot for chamomile. But work didn’t stop, and the responsibility of running the company felt heavier than ever. Emails piled up, meetings stacked my calendar, and I barely had time to breathe. Still, I made it work, driven by the need to keep Clawford strong and get Nana settled.
That morning, as I drove to the office, my phone pinged with another email from Stefan. He’d been pushing for months about a partnership deal, an exclusive sensor supply for Helix’s new tech line. The idea was big, promising a twenty percent profit boost if we pulled it off. I hesitated, the memory of him dancing with Natasha at the ball flashing in my mind. It stung, that image of them so close, but business was business. Clawford needed this deal, and I couldn’t let personal feelings mess it up. I typed a quick reply: “Let’s meet. Neutral spot. Tomorrow, 10 a.m.”
He responded fast. “Cafe on 5th? I’ll reserve a table.”
“Fine,” I wrote back, then tossed my phone onto the passenger seat. Part of me dreaded seeing him, but another part wondered if we could keep things professional and leave the past alone.
The next day, I arrived at the cafe early, a small place with wooden tables and the smell of fresh coffee. I wore a simple blazer and skirt, my hair tied back, and picked a table by the window. Stefan walked in right on time, dressed in a gray suit, his briefcase in hand. He smiled when he saw me, not too big, just enough to feel familiar. “Valenticia, good to see you,” he said, sitting across from me. “Coffee?”
“Already ordered,” I said, pointing to my cup. “Let’s get to it. What’s the latest on the sensor deal?”
He opened his briefcase and pulled out papers. “Helix needs your graphene sensors for our new wearables. Exclusive supply for two years, with a guaranteed order of a million units annually. We handle distribution, you get priority payments.”
I scanned the papers, my mind racing. It was a solid offer, but exclusivity worried me. “Two years lock us in too tight,” I said. “We’ve got other buyers. What’s your counter?”
He leaned back, thinking. “One year, renewable. We upped the order to one point two million units. You set the price.”
I nodded, liking the flexibility. “Price stays firm at current rates, no discounts. And you cover shipping delays, full liability.”
“Deal,” he said, writing notes. “We’ll split marketing costs to push the launch. Sound fair?”
“Fair,” I agreed. We went back and forth, hammering out details, delivery schedules, quality checks, and going over the contract terms. He was professional, focused, but every so often, his eyes lingered on me, a hint of that old warmth from our days together. It stirred mixed feelings, as a part of me wanted to lean into it and remember the good times, but the hurt from the ball kept me guarded. This was work, nothing more.
After an hour, we had a draft. I extended my hand. “Looks good. Let’s shake on it.”
He took my hand, his grip was firm but gentle. “Done. This is big for both of us, Val.”
“Yeah,” I said, pulling back. “Clawford’s set for a strong year.”
He hesitated and then spoke again. “How about dinner tonight? To celebrate the deal. Just business, good food, quick catch-up.”
My heart skipped, and for a second, I saw us laughing in a safehouse years ago, sharing bad coffee. I wanted to say no, keep the line clear, but the deal felt like a win, and maybe one dinner could close old chapters for good. “Okay,” I said. “Business only. Pick a place.”
“Luigi’s, seven o’clock,” he said, smiling. “Quiet spot, great pasta.”
I nodded, grabbing my bag. “See you then.” As I walked out, doubts crept in. Was I opening a door I’d closed? But I pushed it aside, focusing on the signed draft in my bag and the hospital visit I had planned.
That afternoon, I stopped by the hospital to see Nana. She was in bed, looking smaller under the white sheets, with an oxygen mask nearby. “Val,” she said, her voice weak but happy. “You’re early today.”
“Brought you some cookies,” I said, setting a tin on her table. “How’s the treatment?”
She coughed, then smiled. “Slow, but I’m fighting. Doctor says I’m stubborn.”
I laughed, sitting close. “You are. Nana, the room’s ready at my place. Bed’s set, tea’s stocked. You’re coming home soon, right?”
She nodded slowly. “Soon, child. I’m ready to be with you.”
I felt relieved. “Good. I’ll handle everything.” We talked more about her favorite shows and my work. She asked about the deal, and I told her about the sensors. “It’s big,” I said. “Keeps Clawford growing.”
“Proud of you,” she said, squeezing my hand. “Like your mom.”
Her words warmed me, but her cough cut through most of our conversations. I stayed until she dozed off, then spoke to the nurse. “She’s stable,” the nurse said. “Home care’s set for next week.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling lighter. Nana would be with me soon, and that mattered more than anything.
That evening, I met Stefan at Luigi’s, a cozy restaurant with soft lights and checkered tablecloths. He was already there, in a sweater instead of his suit, looking relaxed. “Val, you made it,” he said, standing to pull out my chair.
“Wouldn’t miss a celebration,” I said, sitting down. “What’s good here?”
“Pasta’s the star,” he said. “I’m getting the carbonara. You?”
“Same,” I said, scanning the menu. We ordered, and the waiter brought breadsticks. As we ate, talk flowed easily about the deal, Helix’s new projects, and Clawford’s toy line. He laughed when I told him about a kid at the community center who coded a game that crashed spectacularly.
“Sounds like my first app,” he said, grinning. “Took me a week to fix it.”
I smiled, remembering our old talks in safehouses, planning moves against Gregor. “We’ve come far,” I said. “From hiding to running companies.”
“Yeah,” he said, his voice softer. “I miss those days sometimes. You were unstoppable.”
The warmth in his tone stirred that spark of hope again in me. Maybe we could rebuild something, a friendship, at least. We laughed over a story about a bad client meeting, and for a moment, it felt like old times, before Natasha, before the split. But I caught myself. This was business, a celebration of the deal. Nothing more. I wouldn’t let hope trick me.
Dinner ended with coffee, and he paid the bill. “Glad we did this,” he said as we stood. “Means a lot.”
“Me too,” I said, keeping my voice light. “Good for the deal.”
We parted outside, and I drove home. The contract had been signed and lay safe in my bag. Nana’s move was planned, and work was solid. But that spark lingered, making me wonder if I was closing old chapters or opening new ones. I pushed it down, focusing on the road ahead and the responsibilities waiting for me.