We eventually loop back toward the lobby, passing a cracked, old concession stand and a ticket booth with peeling paint.
“I see potential everywhere,” I tell him, unable to hold it in anymore. “The architecture. The bones. The flow of traffic. There’s so much you can do here.”
“It seems we’re on the same wavelength,” he says, cutting me off gently. “You’ve convinced me, Miss Holloway, and if it were only up to me, I’d hire you right here and not. However, you will have to convince the board as well.”
My step falters. “The board?”
He clasps his hands together. “Of course. This is a multimillion-dollar rebuild, Sutton, and an exclusive contract with my company for other upcoming projects. The final pitch must be a large-scale presentation. To me, the directors, and the investors. All the bidding firms will be required to give one on April 24th.”
My stomach sinks like a stone in water. My parents were right. I hate to admit it, but they totally called it.
“A full presentation,” I repeat slowly.
“Yes!” he beams. “Showmanship, vision, numbers, innovation. Give them all a taste of your vision so they can see it just as clearly as you.”
My throat goes dry.
I’m confident in a one-on-one situation like this. I’m passionate, and I love talking about my ideas. But holy shit…a presentation in front of a group. Mom said it would be likely, but I was secretly hoping I’d wow Jackson enough that he wouldn’t need me to do more than this meeting. A stupid thought, I know, and now I have to speak to more people. An entire board. A high-stakes pitch. A project that could make, or break, my career.
No fucking pressure.
Later, when the meeting is over, I get into the car and as Frank drives me back to Jayce’s building, I try not to lose my absolute shit. A full presentation. Public speaking in front of a group. Fuck, how am I going to do this?
I think back on the last presentation I tried to give at work. It was in a conference room at Holloway. It was one of my first real presentations after graduating and Dad had insisted I take the lead on it. He said it would be good experience and that the clients needed to start seeing me as part of the future of the company. I remember feeling proud when he told me that. Nervous, sure, but proud.
I’d spent days preparing, but the moment I stood at the head of the long glass table and saw all those eyes on me, the same awful feeling had come rushing back that I’d experienced in school. My chest tightened and my lungs refused to cooperate.
I remember clicking to the first slide, my hand already trembling. When I tried to speak, the words got stuck in my throat and the room started to blur. My hands started shaking so badly I had to grip the edge of the table to stay upright. Mybreathing turned shallow and frantic, my vision tunneling until the only thing I could focus on was the sound of my own gasping breaths.
That’s when my dad stood up.
“Let’s take a short break,” he’d said calmly, stepping beside me before anyone else could react.
He’d taken control of the presentation after that, guiding the clients’ attention back to the slides while steering me toward the door and away from the room as quickly as possible.
Afterward, he’d told me not to worry about it. Nerves happen, and I’d get better with time.
I’d seen the concern in his eyes, though. The disappointment.
I squeeze my eyes shut in the back seat. Fuck, it feels like that only happened yesterday. My stomach churns again.
Shit, I can’t fall apart like that. I need to figure out some way to get through it. If I can close this deal, I’ll be set. I won’t have to pretend to be with Jayce to keep my parents off my back. The engagement is buying me time, but it can’t last forever, and if this plan doesn’t work, I’ll be right back where I started.
No, actually, I’ll be even worse off. I might be stuck as Mrs. Leon Reynolds.
Shuddering at the mere thought, I pull my phone out and shoot a quick text to the girls, telling them I’ll see them at the bar tonight and will dish on all the details about the meeting and Jayce. Maybe talking it through will help me come up with some way to give this presentation without completely fucking it up.
God, I seriously cannot fuck this up.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
JAYCE
I followthe team into the locker room after practice, sweating and breathless and exhilarated. It’s been a good day, starting with my morning run and coming home to Sutton in a sexy pencil skirt, looking like a hot librarian. When I handed her the smoothie and her eyes lit up with gratitude, I felt a surge of satisfaction rush through me. Fuck, it feels good to take care of someone. To anticipate her needs and meet them.
As I’m opening my locker, Coach suddenly walks into the room, snapping me out of my wandering thoughts. He has a way of owning a space the moment he enters it, even when that space is filled with big, bulky hockey players. His bald head only adds to his tough as hell appearance, as well as his seemingly permanent scowl.
I think the only time I’ve seen him genuinely smile and turn into a giant teddy bear was when his granddaughter Hadley was around.
