Page 9 of Paradise in Progress
“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 thelittle 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 handlethis 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.
