Chapter 97 Heart to Heart
CHAPTER NINTEY SEVEN
Valenticia’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. Natasha wasn’t here today, but her presence lingered in my mind, her ring, her hand in his. I focused on the numbers, trying to ignore the discomfort.
Mark from my team spoke up. “Valenticia, we’ve got the quality team running double shifts. Should we loop in Helix for final specs?”
“Yes,” I said. “Send them the checklist today. Stefan, you okay with a call tomorrow to review?”
“Works for me,” he said, jotting a note. “Noon?”
“Noon’s fine,” I replied, writing it down. The meeting moved to logistics, and I let Mark take over, my thoughts drifting. Stefan’s voice was all business, but I remembered our dinner at Luigi’s, the easy laughs, the spark of something old. Now, knowing he was engaged, every meeting felt heavy. I caught him glancing at me once, and I turned away, pretending to read my notes. Work was my focus—Clawford, Nana, and the future. Not him.
The meeting wrapped up, and I gathered my things quickly. Stefan started to walk over, but I nodded curtly and headed out with Lena. “You okay?” she asked in the hallway, her tablet tucked under her arm.
“Fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just a lot on my plate.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Stefan’s engagement’s got you rattled, huh?”
I sighed, not wanting to dive in. “It’s fine. Just awkward. Let’s focus on the schedule.”
She nodded, letting it go. “Got it. I’ll set up that call for tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” I said, heading to my office. I spent the afternoon buried in reports, checking production numbers and answering emails. But Stefan’s face kept popping up in my mind—his serious look when he told me about Natasha, the way it erased the warmth from our dinner. I hated that it still hurt, that I’d let myself hope for something more.
That evening, I got home to find Nana in the living room, sipping chamomile tea. Her health was better, but she still coughed sometimes, and I kept her meds on a strict schedule. She sat in her armchair, a blanket over her lap, watching a cooking show on low volume. The apartment smelled like the soup I’d made earlier, and I poured myself a cup of tea to join her.
“You’re quiet tonight, Val,” she said, setting her cup down. “What’s weighing on you?”
I hesitated, stirring my tea. Nana always knew when something was off. I took a sip, then set the cup on the table. “It’s Stefan,” I said. “He’s engaged to Natasha. Told me at the signing event. It… threw me off.”
Her eyes softened, and she leaned forward. “Tell me about it. All of it.”
I took a deep breath, the words spilling out. “We had dinner a while back, to celebrate the deal. It was nice, filled with laughing and talking like old times. I thought maybe we could be friends again, maybe more someday. But then he told me about her, and it hurt. I don’t know why I care so much. It’s been over for ages.”
Nana listened, her face calm but kind. “What was the dinner like? What made it feel special?”
I thought back, picking up my tea again. “We went to Luigi’s, this quiet place with great pasta. He was relaxed, not all business. We talked about work, but also old stories—safehouse days, silly mistakes we made. He said, ‘Glad we did this, means a lot.’ I felt like we connected, like there was still something there.”
“And then the engagement news,” she said, nodding. “How’d he tell you?”
I swallowed, remembering the conference room. “He pulled me aside, said it was personal. Natasha walked up, holding his hand, ring shining. He said, ‘This is Natasha, my fiancée. We got engaged last week. It makes sense for our lives.’ I just stood there, said congratulations, and walked away. It felt like a punch.”
Nana reached for my hand, her fingers warm. “That’s hard, Val. You thought you saw something real at dinner, and then this.”
“Yeah,” I said, squeezing her hand. “I keep wondering if I misread it. Was he just being nice for the deal? Or did he mean it? I hate that I’m stuck on it.”
She sat back, thinking. “Love’s tricky, Val. I learned that from your grandpa. We had our share of fights, times I thought we’d never make it. But we stuck it out because we chose each other every day. Stefan is choosing someone else now. Don’t chase what’s gone. Build what’s here, with people who stay.”
Her words hit deep, and I felt tears prick my eyes. “You think I’m chasing him?”
“Not chasing, maybe,” she said. “But holding on. You’ve got so much—Clawford, me, your mom’s legacy. Let him go. Focus on what’s in front of you.”
I nodded, wiping my eyes. “You’re right. I just… It’s hard to let go of what we had.”
“I know,” she said, smiling softly. “When I lost your grandpa, I held onto memories too. But life moves forward. You’re strong, Val, like your mom. You’ll find your way.”
We sat quietly for a moment, the TV humming in the background. I thought about her life. “Tell me about Grandpa,” I said. “What was he like when things got tough?”
She laughed, a small cough following. “Stubborn, like me. Once, we fought over moving to the city. I wanted to stay put; he wanted adventure. We talked it out, late nights with coffee, and found a middle ground. Love’s work, Val. But it’s worth it with the right person.”
Her story comforted me, like a warm blanket. “Thanks, Nana,” I said. “I needed that.”
“Anytime,” she said, sipping her tea. “Now, what’s for tomorrow? More work?”
I smiled, feeling lighter. “Yeah, but I’ll be home early. How about we watch a movie? Your pick.”
“Deal,” she said, grinning. “Something funny. No sad stuff.”
We laughed, and I helped her to bed, making sure her meds were set for the morning. As I cleaned up, her words stayed with me. Don’t chase what’s gone.
Stefan was building his life with Natasha, and I had mine—Nana, Clawford, and a future I could shape. The awkwardness at work would fade. I’d keep my head down, focus on reports, and let time sort it out.
Nana and I were closer now, and planning simple days like movies, tea, and talks that felt right. I went to bed ready to move forward, her advice grounding me in what really mattered.