Page 61 of The Tryst List
His face settles into a sweet, reflective smile. “I changed my priorities. I wanted honesty, not praise. I made your mother and you kids my first priority. Sure, I still worked hard, but I never let it overshadow what truly mattered. Decades later our family is strong and thriving.”
“I love you so much, Pops. Thank you for sharing. It makes me feel less of a loser to learn you and mom navigated similar issues. My situation with Peter is tough.” I contemplate how to explain without revealing Peter's confidences. “I can't seem to get past why he didn’t tell me about Project SoHo and what it meant for his future. It's such a huge part of his life. Even if he couldn't share details, why wouldn’t he give me—the woman he's supposedly in love with—the heads-up he'd likely be moving to London. I can’t help but wonder—if Peter thinks it's acceptable to withhold information about something so life changing, isn't it the hugest red flag? I'd be a fool to think his deception isn't a pattern. Right?”
“Jordan, sweetheart. Figuring stuff out is part of the journey,” he says tactfully. “You're well aware there were many business transactions I couldn’t tell your mother about. Granted, none would have had me uprooting the family. At the end of the day, you need to talk through your expectations and boundaries and so does he. If he’s truly the man for you, you’ll decide whether you’re willing to make compromises. But remember, Jordan, it’s a two-way street.”
“Zoey gave me similar advice but I needed to hear this from you.” A sense of clarity is finally beginning to gel into something actionable. “It helps to know even the strongest relationships have their trials. Mistakes shouldn’t define a person; God knows I’ve made enough of them.”
We stand to leave and he wraps an arm around my shoulders, giving me a reassuring squeeze. “Whatever the outcome, know you’re strong and capable. You’ll make the right decision for yourself. And no matter what, your mother and I support you.”
Faced with a decision to call Peter or rejoin the ladies, I reflect on the advice I've received today. Love requires effort, compromise, and sometimes tough decisions. Today's also a reminder that, unlike Peter, I have a support system to face whatever comes next.
I’m about to walk outside into the warmth of the spring day and rejoin the laughter and chatter on the patio, but an overwhelming certainty of the path forward stops me in my tracks.
The clarity is astounding.
I have to see Peter. I can’t live without him. I’ve been punishing him for hurting me by stonewalling his attempts at working things out.
It’s time for me to take the lead.
Please, please, please, don’t let it be too late.
Chapter twenty-five
Peter
The Next Evening
Work saved me.
It’s not the first time. Probably won’t be the last. When everything in my personal life is shit, I focus on what I’m good at.
Hard, relentless work. It helps.
My team and I are seated around a cluttered conference table in our temporary London office. The walls are lined with conceptual drawings. Intricate models of the museum and ancillary structures are set up on round tables lining the walls. Collectively, all are a testament to the countless hours we’ve poured into Project SoHo.
We have a string of sixteen-hour days filled with meetings under our belt. The selection committee. The City of London. Environmental groups. Regulatory bodies. Historical societies. You name it. We’ve been put though the ringer and exhaustion emanates out of every one of us. Nevertheless, there’s a deadline looming. There's no choice but to press on.
Over the past three weeks it’s clear we’ve nailed the museum design and technology, but our competitor has wholly outshined us on the ancillary structures and the common spaces.
“Alright, team.” My voice echoes slightly in the cavernous room. “We’re at a critical juncture. Our competition has proved to be more formidable than we thought but, thanks to the hard work of everyone in this room, I believe we still have the edge.”
Rose leans forward, her eyes scan over the revisions we've made to the garden design. “The updated plan to integrate the ancillary buildings with Smithfield Market includes living gardens with harvestable fruit. I’m concerned we haven’t gone far enough. It’s essential our design honors the heritage of the location while introducing modern elements.”
“I suggest incorporating glass structures.” Fabiola holds up her tablet to show us a prototype she’s sketched. “A timeless way to reflect the market’s character and add a contemporary feel, blending the old with the new seamlessly.”
Pip shakes his head. “C’mon. It doesn’t take us far enough. There’s a delicate dance—remember, the guy from the House of Lords demanded we respect the past while at the same time embracing the future. How will that incorporate our technology?”
“Look, our commitment to sustainability sets us apart,” I remind the team. “But the selection committee is old school. The thing is, we have to stay true to our corporate mission. The energy-efficient designs and green spaces we propose are not architectural features. They’re a testament to the past and our promise of the future. Somehow we missed the mark in conveying our vision.”
And therein lies the problem. Working this hard for so many days in a row without any breaks is killing our creativity. VA/VT is comprised of the four of us while our competitors have about thirty people on their team. I’m used to being the underdog, it’s why we've been successful. Part of me wonders if we should take the night off and reconvene after a good night’s sleep.
Rose sips her iced coffee. “Here’s the thing. Winning the hearts of the local community is crucial. We need to engage them, make them a part of this transformation. Let's get a focus group together this week.”
“We can’t, Rose.” I scrub my chin with my fingers. “There’s no way.”
Fabiola holds up a finger. “How about we commission art installations involving local artists and select creators from around the world. It could symbolize England’s link to its local roots as well as the rest of the world. We’d develop criteria for submissions to ensure the pieces reflect the area’s history. Wouldn’t that be transformative? It could create a dialogue between the space and those who inhabit it. Didn't you do something similar on that Vegas project, Peter?”
“Yeah, it's going well.” The idea of art installations make me think of Jordan.