Page 1 of Paradise in Progress
Chapter one
Kennedy
Tristan Nelson is thebaneof my existence, and now he’s my new boss.
What have I done in life to deserve this torture?
For years, he’s always been right there with his perfect smile and his perfect clothes, even his hair, which is supposed to look messy, always looks perfect.
In college, he was my enemy. Although I don’t think he ever realized I dubbed him my nemesis, that would require him to pay attention to anyone else but himself.
I mean, how could I not hate him when he constantly beat me out of everything? He’d outscore tests by the smallest points, causing his paper to be used as the class example. When professors needed to call on students, they’d choose him every time, even thoughmyhand was always raised. And don’t even get me started on his blase frat boy attitude. He walked around like he was God’s gift to New York University’s campus.
Senior year is when things became really heated.
For our final project, the university organized a huge design fair where the architectural majors had to compete. The guidelines were to design a new community space that incorporated social events, artexhibits, and community gatherings, with a focus on fostering connections and love. The award for winning was a ten-thousand-dollar prize and an internship at one of the top real estate developers in the country.
Somehow, he beat me.
Of course he did.
Here I was, a nobody who worked her tail off to make it from a small, rural town in the Midwest to NYU, and the boy born with the silver spoon kept beating me out of opportunities.
Two years ago, after graduation, I thought my problems with Tristan Nelson were over. I landed a job at a decent architectural firm in Chelsea, designing smaller real estate developments, usually strip malls.
Was it my dream job? No, but it paid the bills, and I enjoyed the company I worked for.
Until a month ago, I thought Tristan was out of my life for good, leaving me to focus on myself and my career ambitions.
Now I’m sitting in a wrap-around glass conference room overlooking Midtown, staring down at a folder labeledNelson Signature Hotel & Resorts, and if I dare to look across the table, my eyes will land on my arch nemesis.
Who is now apparently my boss?
Oh life, she has a funny way of throwing a wrench in your plans when you least expect them. A month ago, I was on the fast track to becoming the head of my department, but the owners decided they were ready for retirement, and instead of finding a new CEO to take over the company, they sold it to the highest bidder.
Nelson Signature was the highest bidder, owned by none other than Dennis Nelson, Tristan’s father.
Most of my co-workers jumped ship when they realized who they would be working for. If I were smarter, I would’ve done the same thing, but along the way, I grew to love the company and what it stands for. My clients have all been amazing and I really enjoy my co-workers.
And a part of me wanted to beat Tristan. Why I thought I could beat him for a position in his father’s company was beyond me. After days of interviewing with human resources and the Vice President of Development, I pleaded my case that I deserved to fill the position of development manager, only to find out the next day that Tristan Nelson would be taking over that position and I would be a member of the architectural team.
If it were at any other company, I would have swallowed my pride and gotten over it, but the fact that I thought I could win the battle of office politics at his dad’s firm left me feeling naive and insecure.
Do Ireallywant to work at this firm?
Do Ireallywant to pick back up our competition?
The last two years have been a breeze. I’ve been able to focus on my dreams, accomplishments, and designs without needing to be the best. But staring at his devastatingly perfect hazel eyes and coiffed brown hair, a fire burns deep inside my soul.
One of these days, I’ll beat him.
One of these days, it’ll be my designs featured in Architectural Digest.
My eyes find his, only to discover that he’s already watching me. His dark eyebrow quirks, as if he’s reading my mind.
Damn him.
My attention is back to his brother, Alexander, who happens to be the Vice President of Development, making him my boss too. That is, until Tristan takes over that position when their father steps down. Supposedly, all the office positions will be shuffled around in the next three to five years.
