The Silence Strategy

The Silence Strategy

The hum of printers and the rhythmic tapping of keyboards filled the air—Monday had returned in full swing at Gracia Fashion office.

Though the Italy trip was officially dubbed a “short business visit,” the reality had been a whirlwind seven-day marathon of presentations, negotiations, and unexpected drama. Now, back on home turf, Skylar walked into the office early, armed with coffee and a sharp focus. Her inbox was overflowing, and half her brain was still adjusting to the time zone.

She settled at her workstation, sleek ponytail swinging as she powered up her laptop. The place was still quiet, but that didn’t last long. One by one, the design floor began to fill with familiar faces, and more than a few heads turned when they noticed who was already at her desk.

“Whoa, back already?”

“Girl, you’re unstoppable!”

“You bagged the Italy deal?!”

Congratulations came from every corner—smiles, high-fives, nods of respect. Most were genuinely happy. A few offered praise with tight smiles and side-eyes, already whispering in corners. But Skylar had long mastered the art of tuning out the noise.

And then came a loud shriek of excitement.

“SKY!”

Before she could turn, Skylar found herself wrapped in the arms of her best friend, Nora—bold, loud, and absolutely impossible to ignore.

“Nora! You’ll knock over the monitor,” Skylar laughed, hugging her back.

Nora pulled away just enough to study her. “You look good… like, annoyingly glowy. Don’t tell me it’s the Italian air. Or wait—should I say the Italian husband?”

Skylar narrowed her eyes. “Shut up. It was a business trip.”

Nora grinned wickedly. “Sure. And I’m the Pope. Come on! Your first international trip alone with Mr. Brooding-and-Billionaire? Spill!”

“It was meetings, lunches, contracts, press—”

“—and candlelight dinners, rose petals, and one giant honeymoon disguised as work,” Nora interrupted, wiggling her brows.

Skylar swatted her arm. “Nora!”

“Okay, okay! But seriously, you did nail that deal. Everyone’s talking about it,” Nora said, leaning against the desk. “Though I heard someone tried to stir drama…?”

Skylar’s expression darkened slightly. “Evelyn Nelson showed up. Claimed she was onboarding Lumina for her new collection.”

Nora’s jaw dropped. “That brainless banshee. She really thought she could use your alter ego to one-up you?”

“She has no idea Lumina is me. Or that I knew she had access to my old sketches,” Skylar said coolly.

“Good! Let her drown in her own lies. Serves her right for trying to play dirty. She’s lucky I wasn’t there—I’d have thrown red wine on her stupid designer heels,” Nora declared, far too loudly.

“Shhh!” Skylar covered her mouth in horror. “That’s the HR guy walking by!”

Nora pulled away, laughing. “Oops.”

Before their giggles could continue, a voice boomed through the floor.

“Everyone, attention please!”

It was Mr. Brook, the department manager, and possibly the most dramatic man in the building after the office peacock from marketing.

“I just want to take a moment to celebrate one of our finest talents,” he said, pausing for effect like he was announcing an Oscar. “Skylar Green not only represented Gracia in Italy, but secured us a prestigious international project, outmaneuvered our competitors, and made the company proud!”

A round of applause erupted. Skylar stood, politely smiling as everyone clapped. Some genuinely thrilled. Others? Not so much.

Behind the cheers, a few whispers snaked through the room.

“She’s getting too much credit…”

“Let’s see how long she lasts…”

But Skylar kept her chin high, clapping back for herself in her head. Let them talk. They’ll choke on their doubts soon enough.

Once Mr. Brook finally wrapped up his speech and floated away, Nora leaned in again.

“You really are killing it. But tell me something,” she asked, voice low, “Did you meet your mom while you were there?”

Skylar’s smile faded slightly. “No. I met Arnold, but I couldn’t go see Mom.”

“Why not?”

“William was with me all the time,” she said quietly. “And I don’t want Mom knowing about... us. Not yet.”

Nora sighed. “That makes sense. But she’d be so happy to see you.”

“I know,” Skylar whispered, eyes falling to her desk. Then suddenly, her tone shifted. “By the way—Arnold told me something.”

Nora raised a brow. “Uh-oh. Should I sit?”

“He said there’s a secret vault in the CEO’s office. In William’s cabin.”

Nora blinked. “Wait, what? Like an actual vault?”

“Yes. And he thinks that’s where some of the missing evidence is. About Dad. About the fraud. Everything.”

Nora’s eyes widened. “And how are you planning to get into that vault, Mission Impossible?”

Skylar shrugged with a dry smile. “No clue.”

“Well,” Nora said, folding her arms, “you better figure it out fast. And lucky for you—your best friend is nosy, sneaky, and mildly insane. Let’s crack that vault, babe.”

The two exchanged a look. The game was back on.

While laughter echoed softly from the design department below, a very different atmosphere simmered upstairs behind the glass walls of the executive wing.

William Scott sat behind his desk—sharp suit, sleeves rolled up, laptop open but momentarily ignored. His focus had been off all morning, drifting back to Italy… and her.

The quiet hum of the central AC was the only sound in the sleek, glass-walled office—until the door clicked open and Jack walked in, uninvited, as always.

William didn’t look up. “You’re late.”

Jack dropped a file on the desk with practiced ease. “You’re early. That’s more disturbing.”

William arched a brow, finally glancing up. “Cut the crap. What do you want?”

Jack settled into the chair across from him, expression unreadable. “Italy. How did it go?”

William leaned back, folding his arms. “Productively.”

Jack narrowed his eyes. “Professionally or personally?”

A pause. Then a shrug. “Both. First day was smooth. Took her out for a city tour. She was… relaxed. Happy. Even mocked me for being boring.”

Jack cracked a dry smirk. “Well, you are.”

William’s stare was ice-cold. “Keep pushing.”

Jack held up a hand. “Noted. Continue.”

“She did half the damage to my card that day. Apparently, shopping is therapy.”

“She’s got taste. You’ve got money. It balances out.”

William’s lips twitched. Just barely.

“We had the meeting with La Futura’s VP. She handled it like a pro. Nailed the pitch.”

“Then? Anything happened” Jack asked.

“That’s when Asher showed up,” William said, voice dipping.

"Asher? who?"

"The childhood friend?"

“Ah.” Jack gave a nod, understanding instantly. “The ghost from the past.”

“Apparently still close enough to act like her shadow. Walked in like he owned the place. Hugs. Laughter. Old jokes only the two of them understood.”

“No,” William said bluntly. “I hated it.”

He stood, walking to the window. “He kept touching her arm. Talked about her college days. How she used to cry on his shoulder. Like I wasn’t even there.”

'That sounds like immature jealousy.' Jack thought, leaned against the desk, arms crossed. “So what did you do?”

“Don't even ask. I got completely wasted. Seems like challenged him to an arm-wrestling match. Lost. And what not. He carried me back to the hotel.”

Jack blinked. “You let another man carry you?”

“I wasn’t conscious enough to object.”

“Professional,” Jack muttered.

“She didn’t talk to me the next day.”

“I wouldn’t either.”

William ran a hand down his face, returning to his seat. The fatigue of emotional restraint showing for a split second. “Then came the gala. Evelyn tried to derail the deal—claimed she was signing Lumina.”

That caught Jack’s attention. “Lumina? The Lumina?”

William gave a brief nod. “Yeah. Skylar.”

Jack didn’t react outwardly, but something shifted in his posture—mild surprise. “That’s... significant.”

“She’s been Lumina all along,” William said, voice low with something close to reverence. “And I didn’t see it. I should’ve. But when I realized… I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life.”

Jack studied him. “You sound like a man catching up with the woman he underestimated.”

William met his gaze without flinching. “I am.”

“But,” William added, his tone dipping lower, “that trip also made me realize how deep I hurt her. Not just her, her whole family. I met her brother, Arnold. Let’s just say… he hates me with a passion.”

“Yikes.”

“She has every right to hate me too. And still… she’s letting me try. She said I could chase her.”

Jack tilted his head. “Then what’s the problem?”

“I want to do it right,” William said seriously. “I don’t want to push her. I want her to come to me willingly this time. How do I make her feel that?”

Jack tapped his fingers on the armrest, thinking. Then he smirked. “Let her miss you.”

William blinked. “What?”

“You heard me. Don’t show up for a few days. Skip Gracia. Work from Scott group office. Don’t be around 24/7. Right now, she’s used to you being in her orbit. Let her notice the silence. Let her feel your absence.”

William considered it, slowly nodding. “And at home?”

“Same rule. Come back late. Keep it professional. No hovering. No forced dinners. Just vanish a little.”

“And you think that’ll work?”

Jack grinned. “If she has feelings left—which she does—then yeah. It’ll hit her. Trust me, silence speaks louder than words when your heart's involved.”

William smirked, his mind already spinning with possibilities. “Well, then. Time to go missing.”