Astrid watched her, held her breath. She knew what Jordan would say. She knew Jordan would fix this. She’d make it right, ensure they could all go on with their day, their work, the show’s success. Astrid could almost see the words forming in Jordan’s mind, and she knew—sheknew—she needed those words. They all did. They all needed this show to keep them afloat.
But Astrid didn’t want those words.
Her mind grabbed for them—the lies that had become her bread and butter—but her heart shoved them away. She watched Jordan struggle. She’d watched Jordan struggle forweeks, trying to reconcile her role as the lead carpenter with her reality as the lead designer. She’d watched Jordan give and give and give, and Astrid had let her do it. And for what?
Forwhat?
For a mother who would never really see her?
For a career Astrid didn’t even like?
She didn’t want to be this woman, someone who let the person she loved fade into the background, when they deserved to shine. She didn’t want to be the kind of daughter who clamored so desperately after her mother’s approval, she lost herself.
Because Jordan was right.
Astrid was lost.
And she had to find herself. She had to find herself now before she disappeared completely.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Jordan said. Her voice sounded calm, but Astrid knew better. She heard that slight tremor. “Meredith is... she’s my ex. We didn’t part amicably, and I... I guess she’s just trying to stir up trouble.”
Natasha lifted a brow. “So this is a scorned lovers’ quarrel?”
Jordan nodded. She held out her hands, but they were shaking. Astrid saw Pru frown.
“I’m so sorry,” Jordan went on. “I’ll talk to her. She won’t bother you again. I assure you, the fidelity of this design is—”
“Stop,” Astrid said. Her voice was quiet, but it halted Jordan in her tracks. Astrid lifted her eyes to Jordan’s. “Just stop.”
Chapter Thirty-one
JORDAN STARED ATAstrid.
“Stop... stop what?” she asked.
Astrid closed her eyes. Still, Jordan didn’t move. No one moved. No one said a word. Finally, Astrid squared her shoulders, nodding to herself as she took a deep breath.
Shit.
Jordan knew that look.
“Astrid, wait—”
“Jordan is the lead designer on this project,” Astrid said. “Not me.”
There was a horrible span of silence before Natasha canted her head. “I’m sorry?”
“She deserves the credit,” Astrid went on, “and she deserves every opportunity featuring on this show will provide.”
“Astrid,” Jordan said, her voice a whisper. Shock pushed her emotions over the edge. She couldn’t breathe, but she could fix this. She would just deny it. That’s all she had to do to make this right. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t,” Astrid said to her now. She didn’t look at her. “I’m sosorry I let it go on for this long. I don’t know...” She shook her head, pressed a hand to her mouth.
And with that, Astrid turned and walked out of the room. No one stopped her. Not even Jordan, while she tried to process what had just happened and what it would mean. She caught Simon’s gaze, who was looking at her as though he’d never seen her before. Tears glistened in Pru’s eyes, both hands laced together and pressed to her mouth. Natasha just stared with her mouth slightly open, as though she was trying to figure out what the fuck to say or do.
Jordan went after Astrid.
“Hey,” she said, catching up with her in the foyer. “Hey, hey, hey, slow down.”
