That’s oddly comforting. Someone will be waiting for me to come home.
“Yeah.” I bite my bottom lip to hide my smile and turn my eyes to the TV. “Yeah, you’re right. There will be plenty more games.”
Arriving back in New York feels a little weird at first after being in Denver for so long. Still, it’s nice to be home, and Aunt Delilah’s in town to help with the fundraiser, so she acts as a good buffer between me and Mom’s overbearing, though loving, presence.
Friday I go into the Holloway Architecture office for my meeting with Martin Crane. We meet in the main conference room which smells like a high-end coffeeshop. There’s a long polished table with cushioned chairs all around it, and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the city. I sit between my dad and Uncle Kevin, my laptop open.
Martin Crane sits across from us. He’s fifty-something with a head of thick gray hair, a lean build, and sharp green eyes. He looks relaxed, leaning back in his chair, tie loosened. His CFO, a younger man named Tony with a clean-shaven face and dark hair, is much more buttoned-up and seemingly focused.
I lean forward, folding my hands on the table.
“Crane Appliances is at an inflection point,” I say, my tone calm and confident. A setting like this, where I only have to talk to two people, is so much easier for me than a big group. That said, even recognizing this—getting that little internal reminder of my upcoming make-or-break meeting where I will have to talk to a group—has panic bubbling up in my stomach, so I quickly push it down and focus. “You’re expanding fast, but your infrastructure still reflects where you were ten years ago.”
Martin raises an eyebrow. “That so?”
I nod, already pulling up a rendering. “A new corporate office isn’t just a building. It’s a statement to investors, employees, and competitors. It says you’re here to lead, not follow.”
The CFO pipes up. “We’re concerned about scalability.”
“Which is exactly why Holloway is the right firm,” I assure him. “We don’t design for what you need now. We design for what you’ll need next.”
They’ve seen my design already, but I walk them through it again so they have a clear picture in their heads. I’ve incorporated sustainable materials that cut long-term costs, and a design that reflects innovation without being indulgent, with lower-cost expansion opportunities for the future. Dad jumps in with technical specifics, and Kevin fills in regulatory strategy. The presentation is seamless.
When we’re done, Martin taps his pen against the table, thoughtful. “Timeline?”
“Sixteen months from approval to completion,” I answer.
The CFO glances at Martin, then back at me. “And if there are delays?”
“We build contingencies into the process,” I say.
There’s a moment of thoughtful silence before Martin smiles. “I like the way you think, Sutton.”
My pulse spikes with excitement, but I keep my expression steady.
He looks at my dad, then Kevin. “Let’s do it. Crane Appliances wants Holloway Architecture to build our new corporate office.”
For a second, I forget how to breathe.
My dad’s hand lands on my shoulder, and when I look at him, he’s smiling at me, pride in his gaze. My chest tightens with emotion, but I maintain my composure. We finish up the meeting and I shake hands with Martin and his CFO before they leave.
Once they’re gone, Dad turns to me with his grin still in place. He claps his hands together, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
“You did a great job,” he declares. “The way you handled Crane was sharp.”
My eyes go wide. “Really?”
“Really,” he nods. “You led that room.”
Uncle Kevin grins. “I’m just glad I didn’t have to say much.”
I laugh. “Happy to step in. I should get going. Mom wants me to help with a few things before tomorrow night. I’ll let you two wrap up.”
Dad squeezes my arm. “Seriously, Sutton. I’m proud of you.”
I float all the way down the hallway to the elevator. When I reach the ground floor, the doors open into the lobby, and I’m still smiling.
“Sutton!”
