Dashiell, finally breaking the silence, managed to find his voice. With a bemused half-smile, he remarked, "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Did you enjoy your beauty sleep?"
Trisha's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as his playful nickname hit her ears like a gentle mock. She replied with a sharp tone, "Well, as you can see. It's not very gentlemanly to ask how I am when you left me stranded in the middle of nowhere last night."
"Do you still hold a grudge against me about it?" he replied. "I did try to explain that the staff houses need some repairs, but you insisted on staying there. I left you near the road so you could check it out yourself."
She retorted harshly, "Well, thanks for the warm welcome. I had a blast spending time with some random town folks until I figured out where I was."
He chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You're welcome, city girl. Just trying to give you a taste of the local flavor."
She retorted sharply, "I'm here to work, not for a vacation. When are you going to show me the project site?"
"Fair enough, let's get to work then. The project site isn't too far from here. I'll take you there now," he replied casually. "Maybe you'll get the hang of it for a while."
She hastily grabbed her jacket and sling bag, using her hands to smooth down her disheveled hair. "Thank you. I'm getting used to it."
He hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously, "I don't think it's the best idea to meet the staff like that."
Trisha stood frozen in her spot with her annoyed and confused expression.
Dashiell raised a hand and gestured toward her disheveled appearance, his expression conveying the need for her to fix herself up.
Instinctively, her hand shot up to her face, realizing that she must look like a tornado survivor after her deep sleep.
She cautiously made her way to the mirror near the door, her steps careful as if she were traversing a minefield. Dashiell's amused gaze followed her every move, his lips curving into an impish grin as he observed her with unrestrained amusement.
As she saw her reflection in the mirror, her eyes widened in horror. Oh mama! Her hair resembled a bird's nest after a long sleep, and her cheeks were imprinted with the telltale creases from the pillow.
To add to the hilarity, she couldn't help but spot a subtle hint of eye goo and a minuscule dab of lingering white saliva in the corner of her mouth. It was as though her morning look had decided to stage a whimsical comedy act just for her amusement.
It was a sight to behold, and Dashiell couldn't resist moving a step closer, his grin stretching even wider as he continued to observe her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
His suppressed chuckles only elevated the situation to peak embarrassment, prompting her to reach for a tissue to swiftly erase the telltale signs of her sleep-induced disarray.
As Dashiell was about to take another step forward, Trisha called out with a slightly indignant tone, "Hey, Mr. Gentlemanly Manner, stop right there! Who granted you access to cross my sacred territory? And wipe that smirk off your face!"
Dashiell chuckled, finding her reaction amusing. "Well, ma'am, last time I checked, this isn't even your house. But I'll gladly step back into enemy territory if it makes you feel better. No need to get all fired up."
Trisha turned away from Dashiell and made her way to the washbasin. She splashed some water on her face, washing away the last remnants of sleep and any lingering traces of her disheveled appearance.
Dashiell couldn't help himself as he continued to watch Trisha while she hurriedly washed her face with slightly panicked and nervous. His grin remained firmly in place as he leaned against the door frame, thoroughly entertained by the situation.
"What are you smirking about? You think you look better?" Trisha quipped, her voice slightly muffled as she splashed water onto her face.
Dashiell couldn't resist and stepped closer, standing beside her in front of the mirror. He wore a playful grin and teased, "Well, I can't say I woke up looking this good, but I'm not sure what's wrong with me either."
"Look at you!" she exclaimed while pointing out the mirror. "You're shaggy and unshaven. You're the leader of the project here and you dress up like some sort of tramp."
"That's just my image," he replied nonchalantly. "A project worker's gotta look the part, you know."
She turned to him and spoke, "Well, that's not a good image."
They stood face to face, locking eyes with a firm and unyielding gaze, a silent challenge passing between them.
"You don't like it?"
Leaning closer to him as she fixed her eyes on him, she quipped, "I can't stand unshaven men."
He chuckled softly and said, "Well, you might have to get used to it around here. It's a rugged place, and most of the guys on the project don't bother with shaving every day."
Trisha sighed and said, "Fine, whatever. Just get out so I can change." She waved him away, clearly eager to have some privacy.
A few minutes later, they were driving towards the project site. As they arrived, Trisha observed the desolate scene before her. The site appeared abandoned, with only a handful of workers scattered around, trying to revive what seemed like a long-forgotten project.
The workers huddled together as they chatted about the newcomers.
"I heard the other project lead is coming today," one worker whispered to another.
"Who are you talking about?" another worker replied.
"Dashiell. He's here again."
"Yeah, and the project manager from the company too," his friend replied, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.
"I hope everything's in order," a third worker chimed in. "We don't want any trouble when they get here."
Inside the car, Trisha looked out at the project site, taking in the sight of the workers bustling around. The abandoned buildings and the overgrown surroundings gave off an eerie vibe, making her wonder about the challenges they would face in bringing this project back to life.
Dashiell pulled the car over and got out while closing the door, gesturing toward the abandoned resort project as he explained, "Here's the resort project. As you can see, there are a few workers here mainly to do some repairs and get things back in shape. I just..."
Realizing that she hadn't exited the car and remained sitting still in the passenger seat, he quickly understood her intention. "Dammit!" he muttered.
He hesitated for a moment, starting to turn his back and walk away, but then he changed his mind with a heavy sigh.
Walking back to the car, he approached the passenger side and opened the door for her in a gentlemanly manner.
"Feel free to take a look around, Princess," he said, his annoyance barely concealed.
She turned to him and extended her right leg to step outside, and said, "First of all, call me Trisha Lockhart." As they walked alongside, she continued, "And secondly, if you have any warnings or advice, it's better to share it in advance."
With that, she walked away with her head held high, leaving Dashiell in disbelief.