Chapter 98 Awkward Silences
CHAPTER NINTEY EIGHT
Valenticia’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 though he were shying away from anything personal.
My team member Mark leaned over. “Perhaps we should rush the shipping?” he asked quietly.
I shook my head. “Not yet. Let’s see their schedule first.” I continued to stare at the papers in front of me, but I could feel Stefan looking toward me. Our eyes locked for a split second, and I turned to Mark, as if looking at something. The awkwardness was unbearable. Every meeting with him was like this now. Filed with long glances, tense words, and me trying to mask how much it bothered me.
Then, as we were talking through delivery routes, Rachel had Natasha in mind. “She’s working on client outreach,” Rachel said. “Natasha’s on the phone with them tomorrow.”
Stefan squirmed in his seat, drumming his pen on the table. “Right,” he said. “She’ll update us.” He sounded so flat, and his eyes flicked back to my face again like he was seeing how I’d react. My face was burning and I hated it. Why did her name still sting? I pushed my chair back. “I have to make a call,” I said, standing. “Mark, take over.”
“All right,” I said. “Thanks,” Mark looked at me strangely. I snatched up my folder and walked out, my heart pounding. Out in the hallway, I slid down the wall, inhaling deeply. I couldn’t continue with this—feeling off whenever Stefan was in my vicinity. I should have been focused on work, and not him.
As I returned to my office, I buried myself in emails. Lena came by with a coffee. “Rough meeting?” she said, placing the cup on my desk.
“I’m just busy,” I said, dodging her gaze. “Hella stuff to get done before this arrives.”
She tilted her head. “You sure? You split out of there quick.”
I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just needed a break. Can you give me the shipping logs?”
“On it,” she said, and I was left alone. I took the coffee and sat, looking at my screen. There were the figures again, swimming in my vision as I thought about Stefan. The quick nod, the way he did what he had to do and nothing more. I wondered if he felt the awkwardness, too or if it was just that I was in my own head, playing back his engagement announcement on an endless loop.
In the afternoon, we were to meet again. Stefan presented new client demands. “They want a demo in March,” he said to the people in the room. “Valenticia, is your team able to develop a prototype?”
“We’ll have it ready,” I said, wishing my voice didn’t sound so grumpy. “I’ll send specs by tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” he said, looking at me for a moment longer than necessary. I turned my head away, looking down at my laptop. For the rest of the meeting, I kept my mouth shut while Mark fielded questions. I did, and after it was over, I hurried off, so as not to see Stefan chatting up Rachel. I couldn’t bear another uncomfortable look.
Driving home, I felt drained. Nana was up, and I could do with her calming presence anchoring me. I arrived at the apartment, where she was waiting in her armchair with a blanket across her lap and steam wafting up from her teacup. “Long day, Val?” she said, cool and precise but soft too, like she could see my mind.
“Yeah,” I said, throwing my bag onto the couch. “Work’s crazy. How’s your day?”
She coughed lightly, then smiled. “Good. Had my check-up. I’m getting better,’ the doctor says, but I need to sleep more.”
I scooched down next to her, feeling concerned. “You feeling all right? Taking your meds?”
“Like clockwork,” she said, patting my hand. “Don’t fuss. Tell me about your day. You look bothered.”
I paused, reluctant to vent. “Just work stuff. Meetings, deadlines.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And Stefan?”
I sighed, aware that I had been caught. “It’s awkward. He’s in a relationship, but every time we’re in the same room, there’s just... something off. I keep focusing on our history, and it gets into my head.”
She nodded, sipping her tea. “That’s hard. But you’re strong, Val. Concentrate on what you can manage — your job, me, this home.”
What she said made a difference, but the tension remained. “I’m trying,” I said. “I just wish it didn’t bother me so much.”
“You’ll get there,” she said. “Give it time.” I smiled, grateful for her. We changed the topic, talking about her going to the doctor. “He has got more walking in mind for me,” she said. “Perhaps we can walk in the park tomorrow?
“Deal,” I said, feeling lighter. “You pick the path.”
I helped Nana with her meds and made up her bed after dinner. She was making herself at home; her room was now cozy with books and photos. I loved having her here; it made the apartment feel like a real place to be. But as I washed dishes, my brain floated back to work. I had a meeting tomorrow with Stefan, and I was dreading more of those lingering glances, the silent as yet unfulfilled obligation between us. I was wondering if he’d noticed it, or whether he was simply too taken by Natasha to have done so.
I completed cleaning and glanced at my phone. An email from Stefan appeared, confirming the call tomorrow. “Need to get your opinion on the demo,” it said. “Noon work?” I wrote a short “Yes” and sent it, even though I kept that response terse. I didn’t want to think about him anymore, but his face was wriggling back into my thoughts — him smiling at Luigi’s and then looking serious when he said “fiancée.” It was painful, and I hated that it was.
So I thought, to clear my head, I’d take a moment of ease. I grabbed the blanket and sat on the couch, surfing channels. Nana wheeled up to me, and I sat with her. “Movie night?” she asked, grinning.
“Sure,” I said, and gave her the remote. “Your pick.”
She picked something light, a comedy about a dog run. “This’ll cheer us up,” she said, pulling her blanket closer.
The movie began, and we laughed at the dog stealing food, Nana giggling through her cough. I looked at her, glad that she was there. It was hard at work, it was tough with Stefan, but I knew Nana kept me grounded. Her health was what I focused on now — her checkups, her meds, our quiet evenings. The weirdness with Stefan would pass, I reassured myself. All I had to do was take one step at a time.
I sipped tea as the movie played on, using laughter to push away the day’s tension. Nana had fallen asleep halfway through, head leaning back. I turned down the volume, eyes on the screen but thinking about tomorrow. Let's go there, I'd look Stefan in the face, be very professional and forget about everything that happened before. Nana was right — I had to concentrate on what was here, not what was gone. The movie ended, and I felt as prepared as anyone could be to face another day, one foot in front of the other.