Paradise in Progress

4. Chapter Four

Chapter four

Tristan

It’s been a week since Kennedy and I were alone on this same floor. She’s been constantly in my thoughts ever since. Watching her get on that elevator nearly destroyed me. I fought with every ounce of my willpower to keep my feet grounded and not race down the stairs to finally claim her lips with mine.

But I couldn’t do that.

She hates me, and I don’t blame her. Admittedly, for the most part, I mess with her because it gives me a chance to get a few minutes of her time. It’s not something I’ll say to her face, but her design will win. I have no doubt that whatever she presents to the team will be exactly what they are looking for because she knows her stuff. She’s a damn hard worker too. There hasn’t been a night this week that she hasn’t been the last one left on the floor. I’ve done my best to avoid her, but my conscience wouldn’t allow me to leave her here alone in this building. I know it’s safe, but my protectiveness flared.

A knock sounds on my door, pulling my attention to my sister standing there. “What can I do for you, little sis?”

Her nose scrunches and she groans. “What have I told you about calling me that?”

“You’re a Nelson,” I start, waving my hand to gesture to the floor of people. “They all know you’re my sister.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to be called that. I’m in my twenties, Trist. It’d be nice to be seen as Victoria and not as the little sister .” She enters my office and plops on the chair across from me.

A chuckle leaves my lips. “You want to be treated like an adult, then stop flopping around like a petulant child, Victoria.”

She rolls her eyes. “No wonder Kennedy can’t stand you,” she mutters under her breath.

“I heard that.”

“I wasn’t hiding it.” Giving me the attitude we’ve had to deal with since she was born, she squints pointedly. I swear she came into the world with a scowl and enough sass to solve the energy crisis.

“Is there a reason you’re here and not getting ready for our meeting we have in”—I glance down at my watch—“fifteen minutes?”

“As a matter of fact, I did come in here for a reason.” She aims her finger at me, seriousness morphing her expression. “Don’t fuck with Kennedy. Her idea is brilliant, and I know how you are with her. She’s worked endlessly on this idea, and it’s good, Tristan. Really freaking good.”

Leaning forward on my elbows, I keep my poker face in the way that us Nelsons were taught in this business. “I won’t fuck with her, but I’m not just going to give this project to her. If she wants it, she needs to earn it in her presentation.”

“You’re seriously such an ass. When did you become a corporate douche?” She stands from her seat and marches toward the door, just in time for our oldest brother to enter .

“Woah, hey there, little sis!” Xander stops Victoria from strolling out of the room.

Flailing her arms in the air, she stomps her foot, letting out another boisterous groan. “I should’ve gone to work at Clinghams.”

Clingham Property Group is one of our biggest rivals. Our two companies are constantly fighting for the same land to develop. There’s no way she would have gone to work there, and she knows it. This has been her go-to remark whenever she feels she isn’t getting treated properly in our company or when Dad decided she’d have to work from the bottom of the company and slowly make her way to the top, like the rest of us.

She glares at Xander before turning that look onto me and storming past him.

“Whatever, Tori. See you in the meeting.”

Xander places his hands in his pockets as he crosses the room, then says to me, “She’s still a lot.”

“Yeah, and now we have to work with her. There’s no escape.”

“At least we don’t live with her anymore,” he adds.

Gathering my notepad and pen, I stand and make my way around my large desk. “Until she decides to take my other guest room like a certain big brother of mine.”

“You like the company.” He pauses, fixing the sleeve of his dress shirt. It’s a nervous habit he’s picked up since he joined corporate America, telling me there’s more he wants to add. I stand and wait for whatever he’s about to say. “Listen, are you sure you’re ready for this? I don’t have a problem leading the project.”

I take a deep breath, jaw clenched. I’m so tired of everyone in my family—hell, in this company—thinking I can’t handle this job. Never have I given anyone a reason to doubt me. Have I always taken it as seriously as my brother? No. But that doesn’t mean I don’t show up when I’m supposed to and stay until I’m one of the last ones working. It’s like everyone is waiting for the day I make a mistake so they can shout “I told you so.”

Sliding my gaze out of the glass walls that make up my office, I scan the faces of my co-workers until I find my favorite shade of red.

She’s standing with my sister and Zoe, with her laptop tucked under her arm. Dressed to kill in a pair of black pleated pants, a tight matching shirt tucked in, and an olive-green blazer that accents her rich copper locks that fall gracefully over her shoulders, she turns her head to face me like she can feel me watching her. Her eyes level me as if she were warning me to watch my back. No doubt she’ll charm everyone in that room today.

“I can handle it.” I grit out the words meant for my brother, but I can’t take my eyes off Kennedy. “I’m more than capable of running the entire design department.”

He nods. “I was just letting you know that the offer stands.”

“Thanks,” I grunt, brushing past him. He follows as I make my way to the elevator where Kennedy, Victoria, and Zoe wait for the car.

“Ladies.” Xander greets them with a smile. Victoria turns her back to us, rolling her eyes in the process. Brat.

“Mr. Nelson.” Kennedy greets my brother with a handshake before snapping her attention back to me. She’s likely waiting for me to greet her first, but I surprise her by putting my hands in my pockets. I give her a nod at the same time the elevator doors open, then step inside with everyone filing behind me .

I hear Zoe whisper “good luck” to Kennedy and Victoria as we all step off and head to the largest conference room. This one is set up to resemble more of a university auditorium rather than a traditional conference space. Tables are set facing the front, with chairs behind them. A large whiteboard is situated on the main wall with a screen that drops down for presentations.

“Break a leg, Firecracker.” My shoulder brushes Kennedy’s as I move past her, my sister right behind me.

“You’re only supposed to say that to performers,” Victoria says.

A grin spreads across my face as I look at my sister. “Well, are we not about to see how well Kennedy performs under pressure?”

“Asshole,” she mutters, shaking her head.

A few associates have already arrived, taking their seats.

There’s a renewed energy in the room that comes with every project meeting. Between the nerves and excitement, the room is buzzing with anticipation of members ready to share their pitches.

Pulling open my notepad, I write down the date and what meeting this is about so it doesn’t get lost. I’ve learned the hard way, when it comes to management, it’s important to ensure the notes are detailed. During my first month on the job, I had so many meetings but never labeled what notes were from which one, if I took any at all. I was pulling out the wrong sheet for follow-ups and looking like I had no right to be in the same room as some of these people.

The first group begins their presentation and I’m instantly bored. Their design lacks creativity and, somehow, they manage to clash with the entire Nelson brand. Scribbling down notes, I try to keep my mind focused, but I can’t help but find a nervous Kennedy sitting stiff as a board in her chair as she chews her bottom lip .

I reach inside my pocket and pull out my phone discreetly. Clicking on the messaging app, I scroll until I find her name. It’s office policy that everyone shares their numbers with department employees in case of emergency or work-related issues. Selecting her name, I quickly thumb out a text.

Me: Relax.

Firecracker: New phone, who dis?

Me: Funny, girl.

Glancing over, I watch her as a— Wait, is that a smile?

Firecracker: You might want to pay attention. Maybe you’ll learn something.

Me: You’re up next. Show me what you got, Firecracker.

When she reads the text, her breath stutters. She’s nervous, but she has no reason to be. I’ve snuck a few glimpses at her project, and I know it’ll be the one we pick. All we need is for her to sell it to us, which might be where she struggles.

“Miss Reed, please present your project,” Xander calls from his seat beside me as everyone shuffles papers around in front of them.

Kennedy is quick to take the front of the room, and with the help of my sister, the two have the slides pulled up in no time. While a group worked on the design, Kennedy was the lead architect and Victoria was the lead interior designer, which means only those two needed to present .

Running her hands down her pants, Kennedy steels her shoulders. As her eyes find mine in a fleeting moment, I don’t miss the opportunity to wink at her. A slight blush covers her high cheekbones and my brother’s head turns toward me. With a shake, his attention turns back to the ladies commandeering our attention.

“Good morning,” she chokes out, clearing her throat. “I’m really excited to pitch our concept for the St. Lucia location. My team has worked diligently to bring you what we feel is the best option for a full facelift on the property while not only enhancing the luxurious feel but also benefiting your pockets and increasing revenue for the local economy. Our proposal focuses more on creating an exclusive feel for any guest, no matter if they are honeymooners who will never spend this much money on a trip again or the top one percent who experience lavish vacations regularly. Our goal is to make sure everyone feels affluent for their time on our property.”

Pausing, she nods to Victoria, who switches the slide to showcase their first rendering of the property. This slide displays a modernized version of the preexisting property to save time on construction.

She crosses the whiteboard, where the presentation is displayed, and extends her arm to the slide. “As you can see through this rendering, we’ve updated the outside of the resort in order to keep on a fast-paced remodel by replacing the existing exterior with a soft beige stucco and similar soft neutral travertine tiles mixed with rich brown teakwood accents to allow a modern, but warm, welcoming feel. Cream and light beige travertine and limestone pathways would invite guests to explore the property while taking in the lush landscaping.”

Victoria switches to the next slide, which is the first interior photo .

“As the resort is shaped now, you can see a giant wall takes away the immediate ocean views. By installing fifteen-foot-tall glass accordion doors, guests will immediately see the bright blue ocean of St. Lucia. This also allows the ocean breeze to greet our guests, along with our diligent staff.”

“Interesting,” one of the members of the development team says. I nod in agreement as I tap the ink pen against my chin, soaking in her every word.

Kennedy takes a brief second to look at my sister, the two of them engaging in a silent conversation before Victoria flips to the next slide, which is a rendering of the lobby.

“Now this might feel a bit bold, but I think it’s best to remove some of these large columns and install support beams across the ceiling. This might be a costly expense; however, opening up this space creates a more inviting feel to the lobby,” she explains, using her pen to show the space she’s discussing. “Instantly, guests can see every inch of the expansive space. In the center, it’s important to incorporate chairs and couches which you can see in these images. Victoria and her design team felt we should stick to warmer sunset shades such as corals and orange hues mixed with the reclaimed wood tables.”

“These are great design ideas, but we aren’t focused on those items at this time,” Harry Stewart, our Chief Development Officer, rudely interrupts. Kennedy’s cheeks redden with embarrassment.

Before he has a chance to berate her, I jump in. “While we are definitely interested in the design aspect. We know those items will come. What’s important right now in this meeting is that we finalize your views on more of the design concept and elevating the resort. ”

Her eyes meet mine, and I give her an encouraging nod and mouth, Keep going .

“Right, of course. I’m sorry to have wasted your time,” she starts again, flipping through her slides.

“No time has been wasted. These are important details as well, but let’s get to the bigger picture first,” Xander adds, calming the situation further.

When Victoria lands on the slide Kennedy’s been searching for, Kennedy picks up where she left off with a quick throat clear. The slide illustrates newly redesigned public spaces, including larger walkways, more cabanas, and shaded benches.

“With newly designed public spaces, this will quickly improve the flow of guests while enhancing the overall experience. This allows for each area of the resort to feel intimate and exclusive. Moving on to the technological integrations to bring the property to the same technology age as the mainland…” she trails off as she points out new items on the next slide.

“Inside each room, I’ve allowed integrations such as smart room controls and a virtual concierge, which allows our guests to order anything they need while not having to call the front desk for each request. As you know, our staff are busy either attending to or checking in or out guests. This elevates the guest experience because most people prefer having things at the touch of a button rather than speaking to someone over the phone.”

“But wouldn’t locals fear you’re taking away their jobs with robots ?” Harry interrupts, condescension dripping from his tone.

I cannot wait until Xander or I take over his position. It’s clear as day he doesn’t think a young woman, much less a woman as brilliant as Kennedy, can handle this job. He’s stuck in the nineteen-fifties where he believes women should be at home birthing half a dozen children.

Kennedy doesn’t fluster at his interruption. Instead, she smiles and nods politely. The slide flips to photos of locals. “I’m glad you brought that point up, Mr. Stewart. To reassure locals that their jobs are safe and not being fazed out, by— What did you call them? Robots? We’ll implement job retention strategies and provide workshops to enhance their skills. Eventually, we’ll establish long-term contracts with local suppliers and support business initiatives, ensuring our property boosts the local economy without compromising the resort’s profitability.”

There’s my Firecracker.

Choking on my breath, I garner the attention of everyone in the room. Shit, my Firecracker? Where the hell did that come from? She isn’t mine; she doesn’t even like me.

With a slap on the back, my brother stares at me with a raised eyebrow. Breathing slowly, I’m able to stop the coughing attack.

Good grief. Get it together, Tristan.

“This is a great proposal, Kennedy,” Xander says, leaning back in his chair as he tilts his head to side, deep in thought as he stares at the final slide.

The rendering includes the entire property with all the upgrades Kennedy and her team pitched, down to the luscious jungle views, guests lounging in and around the infinity pool, and couples strolling hand in hand along where the clear blue water meets the white sand, while people mill about the property. The landscape is exotic, the design neutral and clean with pops of turquoise and shades of the sunset .

It captures the essence of paradise. Which is fitting, considering their pitch included the name: Paradise at Piton Peaks.

“There’s just something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it,” he adds, bringing his hand to his chin. Confidence melts off Kennedy’s face, doubt and insecurity taking over.

“What if…” I stand and make my way over to the screen before looking at Victoria. “May I?”

Victoria slides the laptop toward me, and I quickly backtrack to the first rendering, where she added the accordion doors. I stare at the drawing and feel her gaze bore a hole in the side of my head. I can only imagine that she’s cursing me out in her mind.

“That’s it.”

“What’s it?” Kennedy stands, arms folded across her chest.

“Right here.” I grab a black marker and point to the entryway that leads to the lobby. “You’re right, the view is immediately blocked by a wall of smaller windows. That definitely needs to go. But what if we shifted the entryway of the resort? Instead of keeping it where it has always been, let’s move it,” I say, drawing on the whiteboard, “over a few feet and clear out this deck and landscaping.”

Chairs rustle from behind me, where I’m pointing out my ideas on the whiteboard, her presentation reflected.

“If you look closely, you’ll see that these palm trees”—I circle them—“and walls are blocking the view from the upper level, but if we shift the walkway, close off the existing entrance, and funnel guests to this wall, which will become the new entrance. They will be greeted the whole way with the ocean view. They won’t need to wait to walk inside the lobby before saltwater blowing off the bright blue water greets them. ”

Peering over, I watch Kennedy react to my idea. Steam is without a doubt building inside that pretty head of hers. What she has is a good idea, but by shifting the entire entrance, now that makes this entire project—

“Brilliant!” shouts Harry from behind me. “Mr. Nelson, that is exactly what this property needed. I knew having you included in this project would pay off.”

“It was an easy fix; anybody could have found this idea.” My words come out modestly, as I don’t want to rock the boat I’m finding myself in with Kennedy. This wasn’t my proposal, and I don’t want the accolades.

“Of course,” Harry says. “Miss Reed, please be sure to email Tristan your entire proposal with the new modifications he pointed out.”

“Yes, sir.” Her voice is meek, and I hate this for her. No matter what she believes, I’m not the enemy.

Xander stands at the front of the room and thanks everyone for joining us today. The meeting is dismissed, and before I have a chance to gather my things, Kennedy flies out of the door.

Dammit.