You’re bigger than this stadium.
I stared at the card, twirling it through my fingers. Claudio Velez. CEO. Velez Design Group. Madrid. My grandmother used to say when God closes one door, God will open a window. This was more than a window. It was a goddamn retractable roof.
I looked around my office. My heart ached. I thought I had felt at home again—at a job I love, in a house I wanted to keep for generations, in love with someone who cared for me. But I had been wrong about one thing: Riddle and Robinson would never feel like home.
An offer like Paulo Serrano’s was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Especially for women like me. I put my heels up on my desk, threw my head back, letting out a tremendous sigh. Working with Claudio Velez would make everyone who ever doubted me eat their words. It would be the sweetest revenge and I’d relish in that fact. They could all kiss my ass.
Well, not all of them.
Would I tell Porter? Would it even matter? As a friend and colleague, he’d be happy for me. He’d want me to spread my wings. As the man who loved me more than my heart could take, this would crush him even more than my meltdown had weeks before.
I held the card up to the light, admiring the glint of the gold lettering. The opportunity to design with Claudio Velez for the Serranos seemed to be part of God’s perfect timing.
So why was I feeling like crap?
Chapter Thirty-Two
Porter
I fucking hate Valentine’s Day.
The press, local and national, crowded the front of the stage, out in full force for the groundbreaking of the stadium. The crowd of other spectators was also rather sizable. My mom, Desmond, and Todd showed up as my guests to the groundbreaking. My mom, in her bright yellow suit, gave me a big thumbs-up and blew a kiss. Todd was biting his nails, trying to hide his nervousness.
Today was a monumental day for the firm and possibly for me. Despite me nearly beating Greer down in the hallway, I was still in the running for partner. As weeks went by, I became more indifferent. The thought of being affiliated with the likes of Riddle and Robinson left a sour taste in my mouth. This relentless pursuit of becoming a partner had cost me the one thing I wanted most—Ari. I wanted Ari standing next to me. This was our baby. Without her, it was pointless to be here.
I stood on stage in the unusually early spring heat, in my tailored suit and hard hat. Riddle and Robinson were all smiles with the Serrano brothers, shaking hands furiously. Of course, Greer was there, smiling like a scheming comic supervillain as if he had done all the work. As soon as we’d arrived at the groundbreaking, Greer had said it was “on.” I rolled my eyes. He was far too confident for a guy who was always coming in second. Today was going to be no different.
Paulo and his wife were there, dressed immaculately as if they were the King and Queen of Spain. They smiled warmly at me, and I nodded politely. Marco Serrano was also there, with his new model of the week on his arm and in his signature dark aviators. I admired the man’s commitment to his playboy image.
Suddenly, I felt Sean’s firm hand on my shoulder. I looked at him, dressed in a suit, which was unusual for him. I looked down at his feet and laughed. Yep, still in black Timberland work boots. Sean’s firm had won the bid for construction of the stadium, which was a lucky break for everyone.
“Good to be working with you again, buddy,” said Sean, his wild red hair sticking out of his O’MALLEY BROS. emblazoned hard hat. We both turned and plastered on fake smiles as a photographer motioned for us to get closer for a photo.
“Thanks, dude. This is going to be fun,” I said through my smiling teeth.
“Yeah, I saw the designs. You and Ari did a bang-up job, man! That fan experience. Sustainable and functional gardens? Wow. What an innovative approach,” said Sean, as he strained to do the same.
The mention of her name was like twisting a knife in what remained of my broken heart. I took a deep breath. “Yeah, she did a great job.”
Sean looked around, confused. “Where is she, by the way? I wanted to say hello. I got tickets for opening day. Thought you two would enjoy going.”
I looked out at the crowd with a blank expression. “She’s not with the firm anymore.”
Sean chuckled. “What’d you do, man? Run the lady off.”
When we returned to the office in the new year, Ari’s office was dark, completely cleared out. I had to learn from Greer that Ari resigned to take a position with Claudio Velez, effective immediately. She’d put her notice in a few days before we returned back in the office without telling me a word. Not a call or even text which hurt like hell. Had things gotten that bad between us? Of course, I wouldn’t have told her not to take the job. It was a huge opportunity. Nevertheless, she’d left, closing the book on the possibility of us.
The news station aimed another camera in my direction as I continued to talk through my teeth, an artificial smile plastered across my face. “Maybe. She leaves for Madrid today.”
“Madrid? As in Spain? Dude, you fucked it up that badly that she had to go all the way to Europe to get away from you?”
I looked at him, expressionless. He abruptly stopped chuckling, sensing my annoyance. “I’m sorry, dude. Why Madrid?”
I looked down at the red clay under my feet. “She got an offer that she couldn’t refuse. Claudio Velez? Ever heard of him?”
Sean’s jaw dropped. “Claudio Velez? That did the huge Dubai hotel? That Claudio Velez?”
“Yep. She’s on to bigger and better.” I wasn’t sure I was talking about Claudio Velez’s firm anymore. Neither was Sean.
“Aww, buddy! Alright, let me go over here and get some shots with my foreman. And rub elbows with the Serranos. Maybe some rich people’s vibes will rub off on me!” Sean patted my shoulder, giving it a bit of a squeeze. “She’ll be back before you know it. You two can’t stay away from each other.” I appreciated his hopefulness.
As cameras flashed, Greer stood next to me. “Missing your girl?”
A flash of heat crawled up my collar. “Why the fuck do you care?”
Greer adjusted his cuff links. “She wasn’t a good fit at this firm, anyway. I don’t get what you saw in her.”
I turned to Greer. His hard hat was nearly at the top of my forehead. “Greer, keep Ari’s name out your mouth.”
Greer laughed. “Someone should have been telling you to keep your mouth off Ari. The way you stood up for her, I should have known it was something more. You lack focus. That’s not the makings of a partner. I thought you had better sense than that.”
I clenched my jaw. “After today, never speak to me again, you conniving, back-stabbing motherfucker. You’re strutting like a peacock like this was your project. This was my project. Mine and Ari’s. You came in, thinking you were going to be the closer. Dude, we won. Get over it.”