<b>159 </b><b>Old </b><b>School </b>Ties and New Project Buzz
159 Old School Ties and New Project Buzz
ra felt a rush of gratitude toward Julian. He’d always been her champion, even when she didn’t advocate for herself.
She fixed his tie with practiced ease, a habit formed from years of adjusting Damien’s ties before important meetings.
Henry looked ufortable again. “Of course. But a positive attitude goes a long way. Ms. Dubois certainly has that in abundance.”
Henry nodded enthusiastically. “She’s heading up a major initiative for Mr. Thorne. Very hush–hush, but I hear it’s revolutionary. The team practically lives here now.” ra nodded. “Sounds good. I could use a refresher on client presentations.”
“Henry already sent over their technical requirements,” he noted. “Seems your presence made quite an impression.”
Julian nodded, respecting her wish. They drove inpanionable silence until they reached YodaVision’s parking garage.
“Not to diminish Ms. Dubois‘ efforts,” Henry added hastily. “She brings a certain… enthusiasm to everything. And with Mr. Thorne’s backing, I’m sure she’ll seed.”
there
The image brought a genuine smile to ra’s face. Despite everything, there were still bright spots in her life. Her daughter. Her work at YodaVision. Friends like Julian who valued her for herself, not as an essory or an inconvenience.
They said their goodbyes, and soon ra and Julian were walking back to their car.
“ss of 2007,” ra nodded, feeling a wave of nostalgia as they approached the familiar brick buildings. “I was editor of the school paper”
“You’ll be fine,” Julian assured her. “It’s like riding a bike.”
ra nodded, touched by his concern. “I’ll remember that.”
“Thank you,” ra replied simply.
<b>“</b>I’ll take Cora to school next week,” ra said, wiping Coco’s milk–stained <b>chin </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>napkin.
<b>159 </b>Old School <b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz
ra’s fingers tightened imperceptibly around her purse strap. “Is that <b>so</b><b>?</b>”
They followed Henry to a modern café area where a barista operated a gleaming machine.
“Of course,” Henry nodded, looking slightly flustered. “Please, follow me to the
conference room.”
As she prepared to leave, her phone buzzed with a message from Eleanor, asking <b>if </b>she’d be home for dinner. ra replied affirmatively, then slipped her phone into her
purse.
Back at her desk, she gathered her things while Julian checked his messages.
ra set her cup down gently. “Positivity is important,” she agreed, her voice soft but clear. “So is experience.”
“Anytime.” Julian unlocked the car. “And for what it’s worth, I’ve seen Vivienne’s preliminary work on this secret project. It’s ambitious but wed. She’s missing fundamental considerations about scbility.”
“Just about,” he replied, struggling with his tie.
“You remembered,” ra smiled, taking a grateful sip.
The morning passed in a blur of code reviews and strategy meetings. Despite her assurances to Julian, ra felt her energy gging by noon. She took her medication discreetly, washing it down with water when no one was looking.
“Excellent,” Julian replied, closing hisptop. “We’ll prepare the contracts.”
“It does,” Julian insisted, starting the engine. “When it falls short, everyone will remember what realpetence looks like.”
“Well, I should get back upstairs. My team will be waiting for feedback on your proposal.”
“Still.” ra squeezed his arm gratefully. “Thank you.”
“Wee back,” he said, handing her a cup. “Oat milktte, extra shot.”
“The best coffee in the building,” Henry boasted. “Ms. Dubois insisted on it for her team. They’ve been working overtime on a new project.”
<b>159 </b><b>Old </b>School <b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz
“Thanks for the ride,” Ethan said, pulling her from her reverie. He grabbed <b>his </b><b>backpack </b>from the backseat. “See youter!”
As the elevator doors closed, she leaned against the wall, finally allowing herself <b>to </b>acknowledge the bone–deep fatigue she’d been fighting all day. Her phone buzzed again–another message from Eleanor, this time with a photo of Coco painting <b>at </b><b>the </b>kitchen table.
Henry looked ufortable. “Well, she’s very dedicated. Mr. Thorne has assigned some of his best people to support her.”
Julian studied her face with concern. “You look pale. Are you sure you’re ready to be
back?”
Eleanor, sitting across the breakfast table, looked up from her newspaper. “That’s lovely, dear. And who’s driving Ethan to school today?”
Fifteen minutester, they were in ra’s car, driving toward Westfield Academy. Ethan fidgeted with the radio until settling on a pop station.
Outside, ra waited for her car, watching the sun sink behind the cityscape. Henry’s words echoed in her mind: “With Mr. Thorne’s backing, I’m sure she’ll seed.”
“If you say so,” Julian replied, clearly unconvinced. “But promise you’ll tell me if you need a break. The AI modeling can wait another day.”
“Did you know my mom went to Westfield too?” ra asked, ncing at him briefly.
They rode the elevator to the top floor, where Julian’s office overlooked the city skyline. The space hummed with activity as developers and engineers worked at their
stations.
“Yay!” Coco bounced in her seat. “Can we get donuts on the way?”
ra stared out the window, watching the city blur past. “Let’s not talk about Vivienne anymore.”
They epted their coffees and sat at a small table near the window. ra sipped her drink in silence, letting Julian steer the conversation.
Henry escorted them to the lobby, then paused. “Would you like some <b>coffee </b>before you go? Our café just got a new espresso machine. Courtesy of Thorne Industries, actually.”
<b>159 </b><b>Old </b><b>School </b><b>Ties </b>and New Project Buzz
<b>“</b><b>I’ve </b>scheduled a meeting with InnovaTech this afternoon,” Julian <b>said </b><b>as </b><b>they </b>settled into his office. “I thought you might want to join. They’re interested <b>in </b><b>implementing </b>our facial recognition software.”
Ethan looked surprised. “Really? I didn’t know that.”
“We’ll see,” ra smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear.
“I’ll be fine,” ra assured him, though she wasn’t entirely convinced herself.
ra smoothed a hand over her perfectly styled hair. “I’m fine. Just a lingering <b>fever</b>, but the doctor cleared me.”
At two o’clock, Julian appeared at her workspace. “Ready to head to InnovaTech?” “Thanks, ra,” Ethan said with genuine gratitude. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“When is this mystery project supposed tounch?” Julian asked casually.
InnovaTech’s headquarters was a fifteen–minute drive across town. Julian filled the time with updates about thepany, careful to avoid mentioning anything rted to Damien or Vivienne. ra appreciated his discretion.
“No way,” Ethanughed. “That’s cool.”
She watched him merge into the stream of students, then pulled away, the familiar
ache in her chest intensifying. Young and full of hope she’d been back then,
dreaming of a future that looked nothing like her reality.
“This is exactly what we’ve been looking for,” he said, reviewing the proposal. “Let me “This is exactly what we’ve been looking for; have my team look over the details, but I think we’re ready to move forward.”
Julian raised an eyebrow. “Ambitious undertaking for someone rtively new to the industry.”
Julian nodded. “Take tomorrow morning off if you need it. We’re ahead of schedule on the InnovaTech proposal.”
ra felt her stomach tighten at the mention of her husband’spany, but kept her expression neutral. “Coffee sounds lovely.”
Henry looked at ra with newfound respect. “I didn’t realize you were behind <b>that </b>project, Ms. Vance. Very impressive.”
159 <b>Old </b>School Ties and New Project Buzz
Perhaps that was true. Perhaps Vivienne would seed, buoyed <b>by </b><b>Damien’s </b><b>support </b>
and resources. But for the
as she once had.
time in years, ra found she didn’t <b>care </b><b>quite </b><b>as </b><b>much </b>
ra wanted to argue but felt too drained. “Maybe you’re right.”
They were greeted at reception by Henry Walsh, InnovaTech’s Head of Innovation.
“You should go home,” Julian said as they rode the elevator back up. “You’ve done enough for your first day back.”
“You didn’t have to defend me back
“ra said once they were out of earshot.
The presentation went smoothly, with Julian handling the technical aspects while ra addressed implementation questions. By the end, Henry looked impressed.
Juliàn chuckled. “Confidence isn’t always linked to capability. When ra managed the neuralwork project at Thorne Industries, she delivered three weeks ahead of schedule and under budget. That’s still the gold standard there.”
“The ce hasn’t changed at all,” ra murmured, more to herself than Ethan.
ra stood, smoothing down her navy pencil skirt. “Ready to go, Ethan?”
The sprawling campus came into view, its manicuredwns and ivy–covered buildings looking exactly as ra remembered. Students in identical uniforms streamed through the wrought–iron gates.
ra gathered her tablet and notes. “Ready.”
“Morning, everyone,” he greeted, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl.
“Ms. Vance, professionally,” ra corrected politely. “I’ve rejoined YodaVision recently.”
ra shook her head. “I’ll call a car. You have that conference call with Singapore in twenty minutes.”
ra smiled weakly. “I doubt that.”
“Have a good day,” ra called after him.
She was building something of her own now–reiming pieces of herself long forgotten. And unlike Vivienne’s mysterious project, ra’s sess <b>would </b><b>be </b><b>hers </b>alone.
<b>159 </b><b>Old </b>School Ties and New Project Buzz
At the elevator, Julian ced a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Don’t push <b>yourself </b>too hard. Rome wasn’t built,
a day, and neither is a new life.”
“Julian, good to see you,” Henry said warmly, shaking his hand. He turned to <b>ra </b><b>with </b>
here.” a surprised smile. “And Mrs. Thorne! I didn’t expect to see you
An awkward silence fell over the table. Henry checked his watch, clearly eager to change the subject.
Coco beamed up at her. “Really? You promise?”
“I am,” ra replied, checking her watch.
As if on cue, Ethan Thorne, Damien’s fifteen–year–old cousin, strolled into the kitchen. His school uniform was impably pressed, but his tie hung loose around his neck. rà approached him, gently batting his hands away. “Here, let me.”
Twenty minutester, ra arrived at YodaVision headquarters, a sleek ss building in the heart of the city. Julian was waiting for her at the entrance, two paper cups in
hand.
“Sess requires more than enthusiasm and connections,” Julian remarked.
Henry nced around before answering, as if checking for eavesdroppers. “Year–end, I believe. Tight timeline, but Ms. Dubois seems confident.”
“Need a ride home?” Julian asked.
ra nodded. “I promise.”
As she pulled up to the drop–off area, memories flooded back. The library where she’d spent countless lunch periods. The oak tree where she’d first seen Damien, three years her senior and impossibly handsome in his ser uniform.
“I’m sure he has,” Julian replied dryly.
ra slid into the passenger seat, suddenly exhausted. “It doesn’t matter.”
Julian shrugged. “I wasn’t defending you. Just stating facts.”