“No. I was embarrassed—ashamed. It was a mistake. One I regretted. But never did I think it would come to this.” I buried my head in my hands, hoping any minute that someone would wake me from this nightmare.
They finished taking my statement. When I returned to the waiting room, Lilah’s mother fell into my arms. My knees buckled, believing in that moment that we’d lost her.
“She…oh my God, Jay, they just took her into surgery.”
THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, THE PROJECT team rallies to get ready for my four o’clock meeting with Brett Friar and his execs. I’m a demanding leader, I expect the best, and I get it by being in the trenches and pulling my weight. I don’t ask for more than I’m willing to give.
Nori orders sandwiches, and we power through lunch to put the final touches on the presentation deck that I know is going to blow Friar away.
“Talon?” I approach him after the team disburses to their respective workstations. His head snaps up, and his upper lip curls into a snarl.
“What?”
I almost change my mind, but I think about what’s best for the project. “Would you like to come with me today?”
His eyes narrow as if he thinks it’s a trick.
“I mean it. You worked hard on the deck, and your contribution to the retail space has been invaluable. I thought you might want to present that portion and be at the table with Friar.”
“You’re serious?”
“I am. So would you?”
“Hell yes.” Losing his sulky, she-stole-my-toy expression, he smiles for the first time in two weeks. “Thanks, Jordyn.”
“No problem. Let’s plan to head out at three-twenty.”
I don’t usually get nervous before a presentation, but this is a big project, a career accelerator. I want it to go perfectly. A stickler for details, I give the deck a final review and then another final, final review to ensure the 3D images and animation all work.
At three-ten, Talon appears at my desk. The strands of his curly brown hair are gelled back from his high forehead, and his wingtips are so polished he must have spent the last hour spit-shining them.
“Ready?” he asks eagerly.
“Almost. A quick bio run, and then I’ll email the presentation to Mandaline, the project director on the Friar side. She’s going to get it all set up for us with their equipment.” But as backup, I stick the USB in the outer pocket of my laptop bag. “I’ve gone over it for the umpteenth time, and the deck looks awesome. Showing Friar how it builds from concept to completion is absolute fire.”
“It’s a showstopper,” he agrees. “Is this the latest version?” He points to the presentation on my screen.
“Yep.”
“Why don’t you hit the restroom, and I’ll send it to Mandaline?”
“Um…” I hesitate.
“Don’t trust me?” His mood falters.
“Of course I do.” If I want Talon to come around, which is ultimately better for the team’s morale and the project, I have to show that I trust him. “Just write her an intro and hit send.”
“Got it,” he says, taking my seat when I stand. “I really appreciate you including me, Jordyn. Sorry I’ve been a dick.”
I nod and smile, feeling optimistic that we may have turned a corner.
In the restroom, I touch up my lip gloss and run my fingers through my layered bangs, giving them a quick sweep. I feel good about my suit choice—coral pants and a single-button, form-fitted jacket. I love the play of orange mixed with pink; it’s bold and bright. For me, color is a confidence and mood booster.
“Sent the presentation to Mandaline,” Talon says when I return. “She confirmed receipt.”
“Thanks.” I double check the leather pocket for the USB. “Good to go.”
Athena and the team send us off with hoots of encouragement. “Kill it, you two,” she says, having praised me earlier for inviting Talon.
