Back in her room, Summer sat down on the plush sofa, thinking back on her conversation with Mitchell. She realized how grateful she was for his friendship, but oddly enough, her thoughts soon shifted back to Tristan. He had helped her so much during the flight and had been nothing but kind, despite her refusing his offers twice now. Feeling a pang of guilt, she decided that she couldn't keep turning him down. She owed him a small gesture of gratitude, at least.
After some contemplation, Summer made up her mind. She grabbed her jacket and headed out. It was nearing dinnertime, and maybe Tristan would like to share a meal.
She knocked softly on Tristan's door. A few seconds passed, and then he opened it, his brows furrowed in deep thought. His eyes were filled with tension, clearly consumed by something. Seeing his expression, Summer's guilt deepened
"Trish, is everything okay?" she asked, concern lacing her tone.
Tristan blinked, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "It's nothing serious. Just some work stuff."
His answer felt like a brush-off, but Summer didn't push it. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was a good time to ask about dinner.
"I, uh... I was going to ask if you'd like to have dinner together," she said. "But it looks like you're busy, so—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Tristan interrupted, his voice a little too sharp, almost desperate.
"No, wait." He sighed, softening his tone. "I'm swamped with work, yeah, but I still need to eat. And if I don't eat with you, I'll probably just forget to eat at all while drowning in emails."
Summer tilted her head, considering his reasoning. "So…should we eat here in your suite?"
Tristan nodded. "It'll be more comfortable, and I can multitask. Work a bit, have dinner with you — best of both worlds."
Summer smiled at his logic. He wasn't trying to push her away or avoid her, he was just being practical. "Alright then," she said with a soft laugh. "Let's do that. I'll go get us something from the hotel restaurant."
Tristan's face softened as he watched her, a subtle smile playing at the corner of his lips. "That sounds perfect. I'll clear up some space here."
As Summer headed out to grab dinner, Tristan leaned back against the doorframe, watching her leave. His earlier frustration slowly melted away, replaced by an inexplicable warmth. He wasn't sure why he felt so much better now that they were spending time together, even if it was just dinner in his suite while he worked. It felt right somehow.
Summer returned with dinner for both of them, setting the food on the table in Tristan's suite. The ambiance was calm, with the sound of the city barely audible from the large windows. Tristan leaned back in his chair, looking relieved as Summer settled in across from him.
As they ate, Summer noticed Tristan's lingering tension despite the relaxed atmosphere. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she decided to ask.
"You've been tense since earlier. Want to talk about it? Work stuff?" she asked casually, taking a bite of her salad.
Tristan hesitated. He didn't want to reveal too much about his identity or his involvement in the White Corps project, which he was fiercely competing for. But something in Summer's calm, friendly demeanor made him feel like he could share, at least partially.
"Yeah, something like that. There's… a glitch in one of my projects." He paused, carefully choosing his words. "The board isn't happy about the direction things are taking. We need to secure a major deal, but our current strategy isn't working as planned. There's a competitor we need to outmaneuver, and... it's proving difficult."
She raised an eyebrow, curious but careful not to pry too much. "Hmm. What's the issue? Is it a product, or… something to do with operations?"
"It's more strategic," Tristan said, leaning forward slightly. "We were supposed to implement a unique solution that would give us an edge in negotiations, but our research team hit a roadblock, and we don't have much time. Now we need a fresh approach, and the clock is ticking."
Summer nodded, her mind already at work. She wasn't one to back down from solving business problems. Unbeknownst to her, she was thinking about a problem she was also tackling in her own project with White Corps, the very same project Tristan was competing for. She had inadvertently offered a solution that could benefit her own business rival.
"Have you thought about tweaking your offer to focus more on what the client might need in the long run, rather than just the immediate deal? Sometimes, businesses focus so much on securing the deal that they forget to emphasize the long-term benefits. You could reposition your strategy to show how your solution will offer long-term stability or profit growth."
Tristan was surprised by how sharp her suggestion was. It was simple yet brilliant. He hadn't thought about taking that angle, and now, with her insight, he could see how it could shift the entire negotiation in his favor. His rival – Summer, though he didn't know it – wouldn't see it coming.
He smiled, his eyes showing genuine relief. "That's... actually a great idea. Focusing on long-term profitability might just give us the edge we need."
She smiled back, taking another bite of her dinner. "Well, it's worth a shot, right? Glad I could help."
As they continued their meal, Tristan found himself growing more relaxed. He didn't want to pry too much into Summer's personal life, but curiosity got the better of him.
"So... are you in business too? You seem to know your way around these kinds of problems."
Summer laughed softly, shrugging off the compliment. "Well, I'm a business major, and I've worked for some small businesses back home. Nothing big, though. Just enough to keep me on my toes."
Tristan sensed she wasn't telling him everything, but he didn't push. After all, they had only known each other for a few days, and trust wasn't built overnight. Still, he found her answers intriguing.
"Small businesses, huh? You've definitely got a good head for it. If you ever decide to dive into the big leagues, you'd be a tough competitor," he said, half-joking but also meaning it.
She chuckled, her eyes gleaming playfully. "Oh, I don't know about that. I'll leave the cutthroat corporate world to people like you. I'm just happy helping where I can."
She truly meant what she said because now apart from facing Tristan Stark, she has never been in hot waters doing business except when she started as a fresh graduate in the past.
"Helping?" He leaned back, smiling softly. "Well, if that's what you're doing, you've already done a lot for me."
Tristan couldn't help but admire Summer's sharp business acumen and resourcefulness. "You never cease to amaze me, Sam. Your insights are truly invaluable. Thank you."
Summer flashed him a modest smile.
They shared a brief moment of quiet, the air between them comfortable. Tristan felt something shift, an unspoken understanding forming between them.
Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. Summer felt a connection sparking between them, but before she could dwell on it, she shifted her focus back to their meal.
"Just don't get too relaxed," she teased lightly. "You still have a glitch to fix!"
Tristan chuckled, a genuine warmth flooding through him. "You're right. I'll take your advice to heart. And if I need more insights, I'll know whom to ask."
Summer just shrugged "anytime."
After finishing their dinner, Tristan felt an undeniable urge to prolong the evening, unwilling to let the comfortable company of Summer slip away. The tension from earlier had completely dissipated, and he felt more relaxed than he had in days. The warm conversation and the calming presence of Summer had done wonders for his mood.
He cleared his throat, looking at Summer, who seemed just as content, if not slightly tired. "You know, there's a really nice garden downstairs," Tristan began, trying to keep his tone casual but his eagerness evident. "I thought maybe we could take a walk?