“Yeah. Time can’t heal every wound.”
“Right. Well.” Ari shook her head, blinking away her tears. “That’s why this soccer stadium is so exciting! I get to help design a state-of-the-art stadium. Something my dad would have loved. How dope is that?”
The server brought our food, rolling her eyes as she slid our plates in front of us. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Ari bite her lower lip, trying to suppress a laugh.
Over lunch, I learned so much about Ari. After Hampton, she graduated top of her class at Northwestern, earning a prestigious internship in Florence, and lived in London for a few years before returning to the States. She worked at one of the big three firms in Chicago before returning to Atlanta shortly after her father passed away. When her dad died, it was her sign to leave and be closer to her mother.
In between bites, I tried to get insight to her time in Chicago. “So, is that why you left such a big firm like Leland, Stokes, and Brandies? Because your dad died?”
Ari’s eyes avoided mine as she stirred her noodles. “Part of the reason,” she answered somberly.
A tension seemed to radiate in her body language, sadness now in her eyes at the mention of Chicago. There was a story there. I didn’t want to ruin lunch by pressing the issue further, so I didn’t.
The lunch wasn’t all somber topics and talking about work. I learned she was DC over Marvel, with Shuri being the exception. Ari was a native of Atlanta and loved all the home teams, which made me playfully groan because I was a devoted Saints fan. I didn’t disclose that yet because I still wanted her to like me. I made a mental note that our next lunch should be Mexican because that was her absolute favorite food. Tacos, according to Ari, were their own food group.
“Did you ever take Mr. Garnett’s class? Global theory?” I asked, looking over my water glass at her.
Ari laughed, covering her mouth between bites of her udon. “Oh, my god! Yes, that class was so tough! And he would always say...”
“You’re shaping the landscape of the world!” We both said in unison, laughing. It had been so long since I had laughed with a woman. Hell, with anyone. It felt good.
I looked at the time on my watch. An hour had gone by fast. Fuck! Two hours! “Shit! Robinson is going to kill us. And Greer is a snitch, so we better get back.”
“Who’s Greer?” Ari asked, genuinely puzzled. I guess she hadn’t realized that Greer had already peeped her in the hallway. Thank God he hadn’t said anything to her! I’d hate for Greer to be her first impression of the associates at the firm.
“That would take another two hours. I’ll give you the abbreviated low-down on the ride back to the office. We better go.”
Ms. Gayle raised an eyebrow. The consummate mother hen, she looked at her watch and tapped it.
“Two hours? Porter, you know better! Mr. Robinson is looking for the two of you,” said Ms. Gayle. “He looks like he can smell blood in the water.”
I looked at Ari in horror. Mr. Robinson, the other half of Riddle & Robinson, was nothing like Mr. Riddle. Robinson, to be frank, was a bit of a dick, which was why he and Greer got along so well. Coming back from lunch after two hours wouldn’t be a good first impression for Ari. But I’d take the heat. It was my fault.
“Listen, let’s meet back in my office,” I suggested. Ari nodded. We both swiftly walked down the hall, the whispers of other guys in the office clearly audible. I walked past the cubicles and then past Greer’s office. He stood in the doorway, shaking his head.
“What?” I asked. I had no time for his bullshit. Not with a potentially pissed-off Robinson headed our way.
“What took so long? You take her to a buffet?” he whispered, then laughed like Muttley from Hanna-Barbera. If anyone ever wanted to torture me, they could play a loop of Greer laughing.
I rolled my eyes. “They must teach Being an Asshole 101 at Harvard.”
“Don’t be mad at me because you’re late,” Greer chastised. “Hope Robinson doesn’t chew you guys out. I’d hate for ol’ girl to get fired on her first day.” Before I could respond, he slammed his door in my face. What a dick.
Ari was at my door, waiting with her tablet and pen in hand. She looked nervous. After ushering her into my office, I opened my computer and beckoned her to put her sketches on the larger table.
“Porter, this is my first day. This isn’t the best example of what I can do. I know it.”
“I think they’re great. Let Robinson judge for himself.”
Suddenly, we heard a knock at my door. Before I could answer, Earnest Robinson let himself in. He was in a fitted, pinstriped navy suit, his severely receding hairline framed by wire-rimmed eyeglasses. Ms. Gayle joked Robinson wouldn’t go bald because then his hot, new wife would realize how old he truly was.
“Hi, sir, I’m Ari James, your newest junior associate.” Ari extended her hand. Mr. Robinson looked at her, then her hand. Ari pulled back her hand and looked at me. I gave her a sympathetic look. Like I said, a dick.
“Where were the two of you?” Robinson barked.
“That was my fault, sir. We just got caught up talking about...the possibilities of this stadium project and what the client wants.” Before I could say any more, Robinson was looking at Ari’s sketches on the larger drafting table. We stood in silence as he looked on.
“You did these, Ms. James?” he asked, looking over his glasses and showing no emotion. Typical Robinson.
“Yes,” said Ari. “I’m really trying to...”
Robinson held up his hand. Ari looked at him with a “who does this dude think he is” face. I pursed my lips and blew out a worried breath. Ari took a deep breath too and kept her cool.
“These are decent. They show promise but some seem a little...dated. I thought you were more innovative than that, Ms. James. At least that’s what Riddle tells me.”
Robinson then walked around to my computer. Without asking, he turned the screen of my computer to face him. I rolled up my sleeves, bracing myself for Robinson’s criticism. You would think after fifteen years of working here I’d be used to his antics. But his brand of abrasiveness could be a lot for anyone to digest.
“You did these, Harrison?” he asked. He always called me by my last name. I hated it.
“Yes, Mr. Robinson. I’m just trying to experiment with some designs that could be LEED certified.” I looked over at Ari, who looked a bit defeated. “But I think Ari, I mean, Ms. James, and I could come up with something spectacular. Something the city wouldn’t even expect for the soccer team. Maybe something rivaling the Mercedes Benz stadium. As you can see, she really has a good eye.”