Page 8 of Best In Class (Savannah's Best #7)

“Does that mean we have your approval to proceed with schematic design, Tommy?” I ask coolly.

Tommy exhales, eyes flicking back to me. “Yes, you do.”

Victory—professional and deeply satisfying—blooms in my chest.

“Wonderful,” I say evenly. “We’ll meet weekly and present updated schedules, milestone timelines, and the schematic packages submitted for city review within the next six weeks.

We’ll coordinate with the construction leads, and as decided before, we’ll pull in Carter Construction for pre-construction alignment. ”

Tommy glances at Stella and gives her a nod that’s filled with suspicion. She’s married to Noah Carter, and I can see it all over his face—he thinks this is some kind of nepotism.

It’s not.

Noah stepped in and invested in Savannah Lace when Stella had to pull her own funding out. He believed in us and became a strategic partner—someone we collaborate with whenever possible.

Stella sits at the executive table in Savannah Lace as a full partner, just like I do, along with a few others. However, Tommy doesn’t know our company's structure. He doesn’t care to. All he sees is a group of women running a business he doesn’t believe they’re qualified to lead.

Honestly, I’m still shocked we landed this contract—that I did. Not because we weren’t the best choice. We were. Our proposal was airtight, innovative, backed by research and hard numbers. But I was sure we’d lose it anyway because of our gender.

We didn’t.

Still , he saddled me with Dom. Like he thinks we need a man to supervise the girls playing architect. But Dom isn’t supervising , he’s being supportive.

On cue, Dom shifts beside me, just enough that our shoulders nearly brush. A subtle show of solidarity. I don’t lean into it, but I don’t move away, either.

I like smelling his cologne. I like being surrounded by his presence. I like being close to Dom .

Damn it, why did you have to break us? Break me? Why did you do that to me? To us?

“That’s acceptable,” Tommy says haughtily.

“Uncle Tommy, when do we start the interior design work?” Camy chimes, and we all look at her, as if suddenly realizing she’s in this meeting, too.

It’s too early for her to be part of these discussions, but hell, if the client wants her there, it’s no skin off my nose.

But she seriously needs to stop touching Dom.

“Camy, we talked about this,” Dom speaks softly, like she’s fragile or stupid. “First, we need to have the building in place, and then we can start interior design.”

Camy smiles wide. “Yes! It slipped my mind.” She leans forward suggestively and tells the room, “Dom and I went for dinner last night, and he was so patient with me. Thank you, Dom.”

I move away from Dom. The son of a bitch dances with me two nights ago and then takes this witch out for dinner?

Some men just don’t change.

Once a cheater, always a cheater. I just don’t know who’s cheating on and whom with?—

“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 wants me to know there was no dinner, 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, not an 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 defending you .” 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 anyone else in the room.”

“No,” he agrees. “Because no one else in the room was being dismissed for their plans that make this project better.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he keeps going.

“I’ve seen it a hundred times. A brilliant woman says something, and the room ignores her. Guy repeats it—everyone claps. I don’t play that game. If it bothers you that I have your back, I’m sorry, but it’s not going to change how I do things.”

He says it like a challenge, but not an arrogant one.

It’s gentle like he’s promising me that he won’t disappear again, no matter how I treat him.

I sigh. “It’s not that I’m not grateful. I just…I’ve spent a long time building a reputation where I don’t need backup.”

He opens the door of the conference room for me, like a gentleman. “I know that. Doesn’t mean I won’t step in when I see bullshit. And I’m not here to rescue you, Moonbeam. I’m here to build something with you.”

Stella waves from where she’s standing by a tall window. She’s still on the phone, nodding vigorously.

“She’s my ride,” I tell Dom.

He tilts his head, smiles. His eyes lock with mine. “I’ll see you later, baby.”

I give him a careless one-shoulder shrug.

I’ll be looking forward to it.

Damn!