“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.”
Ari smiled. Robinson looked at both of us, his eyes darting back and forth. We probably looked like fools grinning nervously at each other. I snapped out of it and looked at Robinson as he moved toward the door.
“I see. Well, the next time the two of you decide to take two hours for lunch, it better be because you’re celebrating finishing this project and the client is paying. Until then, curb the long lunches, Harrison. We have work to do.” Robinson nodded and let himself out of my office.
I looked at Ari gripping the back of the chair. It looked as if she had been holding her breath the entire time.
“You can breathe now, Ari. He’s just trying to flex his muscle as a partner. He’s harmless. All talk and no bite.”
Ari nervously chuckled and sat in the armchair nearest my desk. She put her hands on her forehead, with her elbows resting on her knees.
“He hates me. He hates my work,” she said, sounding utterly defeated. “I mean, Riddle told me Robinson could be tough, but I didn’t expect a total shredding of my work on the first day. I’ve had some tough critics but not like this. Dated? Really?”