Paradise in Progress

34. Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter thirty-four

Tristan

It’s been a week without her.

Without her addicting smile.

Without her hypnotizing eyes.

Without her captivating touch.

I always swore I didn’t want to be like my dad, and here I chose the company over her. If it came down to me or her, I would’ve—should’ve—quit on the spot. Working for Nelson Signature was never my dream, but it’s always been hers. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my father, it’s how not to be a husband. For as long as I can remember, he’s prioritized his work over his wife and children. That’s not the type of man I want to be.

I might have been her “boss,” but every renovation idea came from her. I should have pushed harder to ensure Kennedy was included in the final stages of the opening. I know that, but hindsight is 20/20. Instead, I kept my mouth shut to appease my father, and look at where that got me.

Today everything changes. For the first time in seven days, I get the opportunity to be in the same room as her. To smell her sweet scent that drives me wild. Today, I will fight for her. I only pray I’m not too late .

Walking through the lobby of our building, I’m hit with a wave of emotions buzzing beneath my skin. People hustle around me as they move toward their offices. Seven weeks out of this environment has me wishing for the simplicity of the island again.

“Mr. Nelson,” one of our security guards greets. And with a welcoming nod, I realize I’ve never taken the time to learn the names of the people who work for us, not like I did in St. Lucia.

Maybe Kennedy had a point. Maybe I was a self-absorbed prick who walked around as if I was better than everyone.

Deciding to be better, I step around people and make my way toward the security officer.

He stands up straighter as he watches me approach. “Is everything okay, Mr. Nelson?”

I nod as embarrassment floods my system. “Everything is fine; however, I do want to apologize to you.”

“What on earth for, sir?”

“For never taking the time to ask you for your name.”

“It’s Todd, sir.”

Reaching my hand out, I wait for him to take it. Todd’s eyes lower to my hand before he grips it. “It’s nice to meet you, Todd. Please call me Tristan, and thank you for all that you do for our building.”

“Of course. Have a great day, Tristan.”

With a satisfied smile, I turn and weave my way to the elevators. Stepping inside the waiting car, I join a group of people going to various floors. I adjust the cuffs on my lavender dress shirt before doing the same with the collar of my wool coat. Being thrust back into New York’s bitter January air has taken quite a toll on me. I can feel my sinuses closing with the temperature shock .

The doors open with a ding, and I adjust my collar again. Nerves have me fidgeting with anxiety about seeing Kennedy again. As stupid as it is, I want to look good for her, impress her. Even though I know no expensive suit is going to fix anything.

Sounds of chatter, ringing phones, and keyboards clicking signify the familiar hum of the office. It feels foreign being back here. As my eyes scan the floor, I immediately latch onto her bright red hair. At the far end of the space, Kennedy stands with her back to me, talking with her friend, Zoe.

I take a moment to check her out blatantly. Her legs look sky-high from the tall black heels she’s wearing, and the black skintight long-sleeved dress hugs her delicious curves. Curves I’m desperate to trace under my gentle caress as she’s sprawled out beneath me. Her long hair is curled in big waves and hangs down her back. She looks powerful and confident, like she always does.

Zoe’s gaze catches mine. Her lips move as she nods in my direction. Kennedy looks over her shoulder, and those green eyes bore into mine instantly. My breath catches in my throat as I take in her sullen features and the dark circles beneath her eyes, bags she’s trying to hide with layers of concealer. Even still, she’s devastatingly gorgeous.

She lifts her chin, giving me a terse nod as the corner of her lips lifts slightly. Her eyes are cold and distant, not showing any warmth at all. It’s the same greeting she’d give to a passing colleague, not someone you’ve spent countless hours with, tangled in sheets, and sharing “I love yous.”

Shock has me moving on autopilot as I make my way toward my office. Placing my bag on my spare chair, I round my desk. The dull, empty desk lacks any signs of personality—no framed photos, special trinkets, or any signs of actual life. Although, there is a to-go cup with a sticky note next to it.

Fuel up and get your girl. –V

She’s as subtle as a freight train, but I appreciate my sister’s support.

Glancing at my watch, I notice I have an hour until the debriefing meeting.

Time to formulate my plan.

The conference room is a hive of energy as I step inside. Conversation flows as I take my place at the head of the table, glancing around the room with a new appreciation of the team I work with. Victoria is to my left with her design team, and Kennedy is at the far end of the table on my right with her team. She keeps her gaze locked on her iPad, completely ignoring my presence.

Tapping my fingers on the table, I resist the urge to shout across the room that I love her and miss her. Once the final person enters the room and the door is shut, I stand from my seat, ready to begin the meeting. From my place at the head of the conference room, I can feel the weight of everyone’s attention locked on me—everyone except for the one person I’m most desperate to have it from.

Clearing the emotion from my throat, I’m about to speak when the sound of the door creaking open has me pausing. I glance to the side and watch as my father enters the room. A surprise to everyone, including myself. Shuffling sounds as everyone sits up straighter, and the temperature in the room drops. I can practically feel the tension growing as everyone internally panics at the owner of the company joining our causal team meeting.

My father strides deeper into the room, and my heart sinks with each step he takes. With his suit jacket draped over his arm, his presence alone commands attention. A lone chair sits opposite Kennedy, and that’s the one he has his eyes set on. With his tall stature, broad shoulders, and stern expression, my father exudes authority. Even with his stoic expression not giving away his thoughts, I can tell what his motives are.

He’s here to take charge, as usual. With my father in his seat, I glance at Kennedy. Her posture is rigid, her hands white knuckling her iPad, as if it’s her safety vessel. While she’s fighting to not show her cards, I’ve spent too much time watching her, learning her quirks. I can tell she’s angry and full of resentment.

This is the man who overlooked her. Who dismissed her as if she wasn’t a huge part of this project. He didn’t give her the recognition she deserved. Now he’s sitting in her space and not in his office, away from the day-to-day.

And I was the fucker who went along with it. But that stops right now. I’m giving her the acknowledgement she deserves.

With a final glance at my father, I turn my attention back to my team. “Before we get started with today’s brief, I want to acknowledge someone who has gone above and beyond during this entire project.”

From the corner of my eye, I notice Kennedy look up at me. Her expression is a mixture of surprise and anger, but she’s quick to mask it.

“Kennedy’s designs, her creativity, her work ethic—she’s been a driving force behind every vision we had for this resort coming to life.” I don’t spare my father a glance as I continue to stand up for the woman I love. “Without her, Paradise at Piton Peaks wouldn’t be what it is today.”

I can feel my father’s glare boring into the side of my face. He wanted this project to be the one to make his son as well-known as he is. Dropping my name over and over again was a publicity stunt to make the dynasty of Nelson Signature stand out even more in a prominent field.

And while I did have a part in this project, Kennedy had everything to do with it.

“Thank you, Kennedy.” My words are soft and sincere as I let the people in the room drift away. It’s just her and me. “You deserve all the credit for everything that has been accomplished on this project.”

With a beat of silence, Kennedy gives a small, appreciative nod with a tight-lipped smile. Looking around the room, I watch as the team exchanges looks of surprise. But I don’t care. I don’t care if my father is pissed, or if the team is wondering why I’m making such a big deal about this.

I’m choosing her.

Victoria is the first person to make a move, breaking the silence as she claps slowly. The rest of the team catches on, giving Kennedy a deserving round of applause. Kennedy’s cheeks flush a deep pink as she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, not wanting to be the center of attention. Her eyes move around the room, lips pressed into an unsure smile, before her gaze lands on me. The moment is fleeting, but I tip my head in a subtle nod, hoping my expression carries with it everything I’m trying to say.

I see you .

You deserve the world.

I’m sorry.

Please forgive me.

With a deep breath, I turn back to the agenda in front of me and begin the meeting. “It looks like the only thing we are waiting on is the completion of the over-the-water villas and the finalization of the smart systems throughout the rooms. Any updates?”

“As I’ve mentioned previously,” Kennedy begins, squaring her shoulders, as if the last few minutes never happened. “The villas will be completed in roughly two weeks. The only items left unfinished are the interior details, which shouldn’t affect guests’ experiences.”

“Right,” I choke out before clearing my throat. “Thank you, Kennedy.”

She offers another tight-lipped smile, and I feel the temperature drop into the negatives. It’s icy in this room.

As the meeting wraps up and chairs slide away from the table, it’s Kennedy who rises first. Bolting toward the door, I’m quick on her heels, ignoring the murmurs and my father in the process.

If she won’t talk to me, I’m going to hope she’ll at least listen. The two of us leave the room together, only she doesn’t spare me a glance. It’s like she’s determined to keep me at arm's length, and I can’t say I blame her, but I also hate it.

She stays quiet, her eyes focused ahead, and I can feel everyone’s attention on us as we move together. I’m building the courage to talk to her. I feel like a junior high boy who has his first crush.

“You’re really not going to talk to me? ”

“We’re talking right now,” she quips, glancing at me while her expression remains neutral. Professional. I smile softly as I see the slightest hint of my firecracker.

I snort a self-deprecating chuckle. “It’s not like how we used…” I let the words trail off, and her nostrils flare, knowing what I was going to say. There’s no sense in rehashing the past, as it’s behind us now. All that matters is this moment and building a future with Kennedy by my side.

Her eyes roll as she quickens her pace. I can’t let her get away, not again.

“Wait.” I reach out for her, only she’s too far away. My hand falls to my side with a smack, and she pauses. Even with her back still to me, I take it as a win that she stopped.

“I can’t do this,” I say, louder than I intended, and her shoulders stiffen. My raised voice has people turning to watch our interaction. This isn’t how or where I wanted to do this. But fuck it. I can’t take this animosity. Not when I’m one second away from needing to feel her skin against mine.

“You can’t do what?” I barely hear the question in her hushed voice.

With a tentative step forward, I start to close the gap between us. “I can’t pretend that what we shared didn’t happen. That it didn’t matter. That I didn’t fall head over heels in love with you. That I don’t crave your touch, your attention, your presence. You might think I’m fine with how we ended, but I’m far from it. I’m fucked up without you.”

Kennedy turns to me, moisture seeping from her tired eyes as her cheeks turn a light shade of pink. Her gaze bounces around the room as she takes in the crowd that’s gathered. Those from the meeting are frozen behind me, while others who were at their desks are now standing, their heads peeking over their cubicles. Shock has her hoping I’ll stop my declaration, but I’ve fully committed now.

“I love you,” I say as my voice cracks. “I’m in love with you, Kennedy Reed. I screwed up by letting you walk away. I should’ve fought harder for you, and that’s a regret I have to live with. I was hoping that the decision would be reversed. And I was trying to prevent this.” I gesture between us.

“I was blindsided,” she says with a shaky exhale. There’s a mix of emotions there—hurt, betrayal, anger, and something softer. I hope it’s love. If there’s an ounce of love left in her soul for me, I can work with that. I can prove to her what she means to me. I’ll water that love and nurture it while it grows.

“I messed up.” I take another step forward. “I let the insecure boy seep into the conversation when he should have been buried a long time ago. You helped show me that it was okay to be myself, to let go of the desire to please and to find what I’m passionate about again. You helped heal me, Ken, and I don’t even think you realize that. Instead of fighting for myself, I made decisions to appease my dad, to keep the peace in our relationship. You peeled back my layers and showed me it’s okay to fight for what I want. And that’s you, Kennedy.”

Tears pour openly down her cheeks, and even though we are in a crowded office with people staring at us, it feels like it’s just her and I. I wait on bated breath as I wait for her to respond. Her mouth opens and closes, but nothing comes out. My chest tightens more and more as each second passes.

“You hurt me,” is all she whispers, and it’s filled with pain .

“I know, baby. I’m so sorry.” It’s as if there’s a cosmic pull that forces us to erase the space between us until her heels hit the toes of my dress shoes.

Tentatively, I reach up and cup her cheek, wiping her tears in the process. “You and me, we’re a paradise in progress. I’ll fight like hell until our foundation is strong and stable.”

She chokes on a sob as she melts into my touch. “Don’t push me aside again, Tristan. My heart can’t handle being ripped away from yours.”

Her delicate fingers trail up my jacket’s lapels until she’s gripping the material. She pulls me toward her while reaching up on her feet, and as our lips finally meet, fireworks shoot from behind my eyes with both elation and relief. Cheers fill the office floor, and I’m reminded that all our co-workers are watching us.

With much reluctance, our lips fall away, and I rest my forehead against hers. “I love you, Firecracker.”

“I love you, too.”