Page 25 of Best In Class
“It was just a coffee, Camy, at the cafeteria downstairs, so it was no effort at all,” Dom smoothly explains himself, and I’m pretty sure he wantsmeto know there wasnodinner, just a hot beverage.
Go drown in your fuckin’ coffee, Dominic Calder.
“We’ve mapped out a preliminary timeline for schematic development, internal coordination, and permitting review,”I continue as if Camy didn’t just fuck me up. “Nova and Jason will handle the project calendar.”
Jason raises a hand. “I’m a liaison,notan assistant.”
I flash him a smile that’s dripping with sarcasm. “Neither is Nova. If you don’t want to manage the project calendar, that’s fine, we’ll just book meetings when it suits us, and we hope that the Minton team will be able to make all of them.”
“You’re the fuckin’ project manager, Jason,” Tommy snaps. “That’s the job.”
“Yes, boss,” Jason murmurs.
Jesus!Men are so exhausting in meetings, especially when they all want to whip out their cocks and measure them.
Except Dom, I note. He prefers to speak only when necessary, not because he wants to show off or likes to hear his own voice.
He’s with Camy, Luna, you need to stay far, far away from him.
“We’ll also begin 3D modeling for visual review and spatial flow analysis—nothing gets built until it’s experienced in context,” I add.
Tommy grunts. “Good. But keep the budget tight. The donors want innovation, not indulgence.”
I don’t tell him that those aren’t mutually exclusive. I’ll take the win I got today.
I smile, close my laptop, and simply say, “Understood.”
The meeting ends with the scrape of chairs and the buzz of whispered side conversations as Tommy and his team, including Camy, pack up.
Stella steps out to take a call.
I stay seated for a beat, letting the room clear.
Dom lingers as well.
When the door finally shuts behind the last Minton executive, I let out the breath I’ve been holding.
“That,” Dom says, turning to me, “was a masterclass.”
I raise an eyebrow. “In not losing my shit?”
“In leading the room without raising your voice.” He pauses. “In letting your work speak louder than the men in the room.”
His words make me feel seen. His compliment heats me up in all the best ways.
“This doesn’t get easier,” I admit, gathering my things. “No matter how good I get, how many awards or features or…wins. It still always feels like I’m one misstep away from being dismissed.”
Dom’s voice is quiet. “Then I’ll walk next to you. And if someone tries to push you out, they’ll have to go through me first.”
I meet his gaze—steady, unflinching. There’s no flirtation there. No charm. Just the truth.
Alarm bells start ringing inside my head, so I protect myself, throw up a wall. “I don’t need a knight in architectural armor.”
“I wasn’t defendingyou.” He runs a finger over my cheek, making me shiver. “I was defending your ideas. There’s a difference.”
I step away. “You didn’t do that for anyoneelse in the room.”
“No,” he agrees. “Because no one else in the room was being dismissed for their plans that make this project better.”
