Our meeting to present our designs before Riddle, Robinson, and the senior associates was Friday afternoon in the large boardroom. Ari was nervous. She paced in my office so much that I was dizzy watching her. After we finished going over concepts, she paced more in her office, which now she had decorated with photographs of her parents, prints by Kara Walker, and a shit-ton of plants. She also made it a point to have copies of her diplomas and professional memberships on the wall just in case “dicks like Greer wanted to step to her crazy.” I totally respected that. It was something I, as a man, took for granted.
“What if they hate this?” asked Ari, as she paced. I was worried she was going to put a hole in the carpet and that would piss off Ms. Gayle because we just replaced it. Gently, I put my hands on her shoulders and stood in front of her. I prayed I wasn’t being too forward but calming her down was important. As I looked into her eyes, I felt her shoulders relax and a smile slowly formed at the corner of her lips.
“Ari, breathe. Things are going to go well. This is just our first run. They’ll give feedback. No one will outright say they hate it...except maybe Greer. Because he hates everyone’s work except his own.”
Ari chuckled as she twirled her necklace around her neck. I hadn’t noticed how she did this too when she was nervous. Another quirk to add to the list. I liked quirky.
Ms. Gayle knocked on the door of Ari’s office.
“They’re ready for you two.” She gave us a thumbs-up.
I grabbed the jump drive, and we both walked down the hall to the larger boardroom.
Riddle and Robinson sat near the head of the table. Taking notes on her iPad was a representative for the Serrano brothers. Mr. Riddle gave us a slight smile while, naturally, Mr. Robinson gave us no expression at all. Greer sat to the left of Mr. Robinson like his little pet. As I looked around, I realized I’d never noticed how much of a guys’ club this was. I’m sure this wasn’t exactly the warmest environment for Ari, but I watched as she stood there, her back erect, handing out notes to the associates and partners, ready to get the entire presentation started. She was confident, way more than I had ever been for any presentation. I admired that a ton. I nodded to Ari, and we proceeded.
Our design was amazing. It called for a retractable roof with a walkable green space in the nosebleeds for fans which doubled as a fully functional garden to grow herbs and vegetables for the restaurant concepts. There was an amazing beer and wine bar that overlooked the home team locker rooms. All the club level seats would recline, making room for the massive fan clubs that soccer attracted. It was literally the best of European and American styles. Above all else, it would be LEED certified as well, something the Serranos would appreciate. After our presentation, we got a few applauses, with Greer not reacting at all.
Finally, we opened the floor for questions. Naturally, Greer was first.
“Well, I found the style a bit...hectic,” said Greer.
“Is there a question in that?” asked Ari. Damn, she came out the gate hitting dude in the balls. I smirked.
“No. Just felt like it needs to be said,” Greer retorted.
Robinson nodded. “I’m inclined to agree with Greer. I think there needs to be a ‘less is more’ approach here.”
I sighed. Of course, Robinson would agree with Greer. Greer was his pick for partner. He would do anything to make that happen. Including, undermining a perfectly logical design.
Riddle, trying to cut the tension, interjected. “Well, you two, this is a splendid start I think, but yes, it may be a bit much for our clients.”
“They’re Spanish. This shouldn’t look like a Dominican bodega,” said Greer.
The rest of the senior associates chuckled. Riddle gave Greer a pointed look, and he stopped laughing and cleared his throat. I looked over at Ari, her head held high. In the weeks since working here, her confidence soared. I had to admit that it was rubbing off on me.
“I hear what you’re saying but... I think if we just present it to them with some minor tweaks...they’ll appreciate it,” I said.
“And it will only need minor tweaks. I promise our next showing will be stronger,” said Ari.
Robinson looked at the notes and wrote some things down, finally saying, “I hope so. As you know, the Serrano Group will need to see progress toward an outstanding design during this concept phase. I’d hate to see them dissatisfied.”
“Over my dead body,” mumbled Ari. I stifled my laughter. I liked this woman. She was tough as nails.
“That would be a lot of body,” Greer, seated to my immediate left, said under his breath. A few of the associates laughed. Riddle and Robinson didn’t hear, as they were having their own discussion with the Serrano representative. I hoped Ari didn’t hear him.
“What was that, Greer?” asked Ari.
Oh. Shit.
The associates went silent. “Oh...nothing. It was nothing,” said Greer. I could see him getting hot under the collar. I was sure his painted goatee would melt off his face like a Dali clock.
“Let’s try to keep it professional,” I said, speaking directly to Greer and out of earshot of the partners. “The firm is a team, man. A win for one is a win for all.”
“Well, since you brought up teams, I’d like to make a proposal,” blurted out Greer, looking over to the partners to get their approval to continue. Both Riddle and Robinson nodded.
Ari looked at me wide-eyed. I shrugged, not sure what was going on. Our meetings weren’t like this usually. Greer was trying to throw a monkey wrench in it.
Greer continued. “If I may. This stadium is a big deal for this firm. I mean, really. We’re the first African American lead architectural firm in the nation to build something of this magnitude. For something with so many stakeholders, I think maybe we should get some...alternative concepts for the Serrano Group. Porter and Ari, what you’ve presented was...interesting. But I think the Serranos deserve to see what the best of this firm has to offer. That includes perspectives from, well, the best.”
Ari’s jaw went slack. Before she could say anything that started with a “mother” and ended with a “fucker,” I held up my hand. “You mean yourself?”
Greer shrugged, nonchalantly. “I mean, now that you’ve mentioned it, Jacobi and I have been mulling around some ideas. I mean, we would have brought them to you guys but you appeared as if you had a handle on things. But it seems, I was wrong. This is a daunting task. We’re more than willing to present what we have. If the partners and Serrano Group are interested.”
Ari scoffed. “So, you’re trying to make this some sort of competition?”
Greer let out a breath and adjusted his cuff links. “Oh, Ms. James, it’s not a competition. That’s so juvenile. We’re beyond that. It’s just about...options. Everyone likes options. Especially when the options are exceptional rather than just acceptable.”
My nostrils flared. This weasel. Of course, Greer and his stool pigeon Jacobi would conspire to come up with a design of their own. I looked over at Ari who was totally dumbfounded. We both watched as Riddle and Robinson whispered to each other, and then to the Serrano Group representative. I looked at Greer out the corner of my eye. He sat there, beaming as if he’d won a prize at a state fair. I wanted to knock that smug grin off his face.