“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.”
I smiled a bit to myself. Ari would be proud that I used a baseball metaphor. Even if I don’t think I used it correctly.
Greer huffed. “Winning? I’m not the one pouting because they lost their girl. See, that’s your problem, Harrison. Instead of reveling in the fact that you designed this monstrosity of a stadium, you’re crying over some bitch. A bitch who apparently lets her partners hit. Glad I got her up out of here. Just a worthless excuse for an architect.”
“What the fuck did you just say?” I stepped to Greer even closer, the smell of his overbearing cologne simultaneously making me sick and enraged. Greer tried to back up, but I met him pace for pace. “Say that shit again. I dare you to.”
“You heard me. She had to go. I told the partners about her Chicago days, and they agreed. She was a liability. Both of you…worthless.” Greer turned his back, attempting to walk away.
I grabbed his arm, turning him around to face me. “And you’re one step below Clarence Thomas, thinking your Harvard degree makes you better than everyone. You’re from Compton, my dude! Cut the bullshit.”
As soon as I stepped an inch closer, I saw Riddle out of the corner of my eye coming to swiftly maneuver between us. A photographer was in tow, standing at attention, ready to snap a few shots.