Trust

Severa's POV

After what happened last night, I decided to spend the day working in the hotel's café. The site was moving along well, and with most of the groundwork completed, there wasn't an urgent need for me to be in the field all day. Instead, I chose to monitor everything remotely, ensuring that all updates were properly recorded and reported back to Celine.

Dressed in a lightweight white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of cargo pants, my hair secured in a ponytail, I sipped on my cold lemon water, scrolling through the latest progress reports on my tablet. The cool air inside the café was a relief from the sweltering heat outside.

I wasn't avoiding Eugene.

Not exactly.

We hadn't spoken since last night. After that ridiculous argument, I realized it was better to keep my distance. He was too involved, too aware of my movements, and it was suffocating.

I lifted my gaze, noticing movement from the lobby.

Eugene was walking out of the hotel.

He was dressed casually yet practical for work—a dark blue dri-fit polo shirt, cargo pants, and scuffed work boots. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and he carried his helmet under one arm.

Our eyes met.

For a brief second, neither of us reacted. I thought he might approach me, but instead, he gave a slight nod before stepping outside.

A breath I hadn't realized I was holding slowly escaped my lips.

That was it? No comment, no sarcastic remark, no attempt to talk to me?

Fine. That's exactly what I wanted.

I pushed my thoughts aside and focused on work, forcing myself to drown in tasks rather than the nagging irritation crawling at the back of my mind.

One Month Later

We barely spoke.

It was easier than I thought. Eugene was always busy on-site, handling supplier coordination, checking the quality of materials, and working directly with the engineers. I kept my work confined to the logistics, documentation, and project tracking. If I had to visit the site, I made sure to avoid him.

It worked.

For four weeks, it was peaceful. No unnecessary tension, no awkward conversations.

Until now.

I was sitting in my temporary office when one of my engineers, Rodrigo, entered, a troubled expression on his face.

"Ma'am Severa, we have a problem."

I immediately looked up from my laptop. "What is it?"

He set a folder on my desk, pointing to the inventory sheet. "We're experiencing delays on the steel shipments. Some of the suppliers didn't meet the expected delivery date. If this continues, it could push back our timeline."

My stomach twisted. A supply delay wasn't uncommon, but for a project of this scale, any setback would ripple across our timeline.

"Who's handling the supplier coordination?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

Rodrigo hesitated. "Sir Eugene."

Of course.

I exhaled through my nose, keeping my expression neutral. "Did he give a reason for the delay?"

"He's been in talks with the supplier. Some of the raw materials had production issues, and now the shipment is two weeks behind schedule. Sir Eugene is trying to find an alternative, but I think it's best if you speak with him directly."

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. This was bound to happen at some point.

"Where is he?"

"Still at the site."

I grabbed my safety vest and hard hat, standing up. "I'll talk to him."

Rodrigo gave me a short nod and stepped aside as I left my office.

The heat of the sun hit me the moment I stepped outside. The construction site was alive with movement—workers welding, trucks carrying loads of cement, and engineers checking the framework. The noise of drills and machinery filled the air.

I spotted Eugene near the storage area, standing with one of the suppliers.

I squared my shoulders and approached him.

"Eugene."

He turned at the sound of my voice. There was a brief flash of surprise, but he quickly masked it with a professional demeanor.

"Severa." He nodded in greeting. "What's up?"

I crossed my arms. "Rodrigo told me about the delays."

Eugene exhaled, rubbing his nape. "Yeah. I've been on top of it, but the supplier had manufacturing issues. I'm working on securing alternative sources."

"How long until you finalize it?"

"I should have confirmation within the next few days," he said. "I already contacted two other suppliers, but they need to check their stock and delivery schedules before committing."

I studied him. He looked exhausted—his shirt slightly damp from the heat, his jawline sharper than usual.

This was his job, and I knew he was taking it seriously. But still, a two-week delay was significant.

"We can't afford setbacks," I said, keeping my tone firm.

"I know." His gaze held mine, unwavering. "That's why I'm handling it. I wouldn't let the project fall behind, Severa."

Something in his voice made my chest tighten.

Despite everything, despite our history, I knew one thing was certain—Eugene was not the type to slack off. He wasn't irresponsible.

I sighed, adjusting my hard hat. "Just keep me updated. If you need anything from me, let me know."

He nodded. "I will."

I turned to leave but stopped when he called my name.

"Severa."

I glanced over my shoulder.

His lips parted like he was about to say something more, but instead, he shook his head.

"Nothing. Just… thanks for trusting me with this."

I didn't reply.

Instead, I walked away, noticing for the first time how much I had missed our conversations.

And how much I had forced myself to pretend otherwise.