I clapped my hands sarcastically. “Well, we can thank God for sparing her from two weak pumps from you.” Michelle Obama wants us to go high, but in a verbal sparring match with Greer, the only option is going to hell.
“So, are you going to have time to onboard the new associate? Or do you need me to do it, Trust Fund? I know you’re both… Hamptonites, Hampers, or whatever it’s called.”
Greer knew what alum were called. Asshole. “I’ll have time to show her around. After my Madrid call.” I didn’t bother to let Greer know I’d already met Ari. And busted in on her like a pervert.
“I heard she’s good as hell. Great designs. Maybe even better than yours. Thank God she’s here to save your ass. You’ve been missing the mark lately, buddy.”
We were far from buddies. “We’ll see. One thing’s for sure: I’m sure anything she or I come up with will be ten times better than anything you’ve done, Darius.” I turned, walked into my office, and slammed the door. Every day, Greer gave me a reason to put rat poison in his coffee. He wasn’t worth the energy or an attempted murder charge.
Darius Greer was hungry and just as determined as I was to make partner. We’d both started as interns at Riddle and Robinson, each of us being mentored by one of the founding partners. Initially, I’d really admired his drive and determination. He was young and scrappy, always feeling the need to claw his way to the top. He had a passion for design that I only occasionally could muster. He was as talented as he was conniving—stealing clients, plagiarizing designs, and resorting to lying had often been his M.O. That’s when I realized he’d probably sell out his own mother to get ahead, closing the book on any potential friendship we could have had. Despite growing up in different parts of the country, we had shared similar experiences. Private schools, ski trips, and being in spaces where sometimes you were the only Black face… I knew that reality all too well. Finally, another brother I could commiserate with. But I don’t think Greer ever saw it that way. Greer’s resentment had everything to do with my family name. I was a Harrison, a member of a political dynasty of powerful men going all the way back to Reconstruction. Greer claimed to anyone within earshot that the only reason I was here was because Riddle was a friend of my grandfather, not because I had any talent. For that reason, he’d given me the nickname Trust Fund and I hated every time he said it. Fifteen years of the same shit, and it still annoyed me like a pebble in my shoe.
I looked at the clock. I was super late. I quickly connected to the video conference in Madrid.
“Porter. You’re late,” admonished Mr. Riddle. He was my mentor and like a second father to me. Third, counting my stepfather. “And I see you skipped the razor this morning.”
I rubbed my chin. Ugh, I probably should have shaved before meeting Ari. “So sorry, Mr. Riddle. I was in a rush this morning. What are the Serranos saying? Do they have any idea what direction they’d like to go in?” I had been anxiously awaiting to hear all week from Riddle about the initial conceptual meeting with the client.
“Honestly, they aren’t quite sure. I’m hoping you and Ari can work together on some stellar ideas. I think this stadium project needs some warmth.”
I smirked. “I can do warmth.”
“I doubt that. Warmth isn’t your strong suit. Hence, hiring a woman. Another subject that you aren’t well-versed in.”
I scoffed. “Tsk. I know women!”
Mr. Riddle pulled his glasses off and looked at me directly. “Son, if you knew women, you would have one.”
I frowned. True, I didn’t know women. If I did, I wouldn’t be such a colossal fuck-up in relationships. I’d ended my last relationship six months ago. We simply filled a void in each other’s lives, taking up space where loneliness had been. It wasn’t healthy. It was a colossal waste of two years with a woman who I didn’t see a future with.
“Porter? Porter? Did we get disconnected? I think you’re frozen.”
Riddle’s words snapped me back to reality. “Sorry, yeah. Just trying to figure out how quickly I can get Ms. James up to speed on the project. I already introduced myself this morning.” And probably saw a good bit of her tits, twice, but who’s counting.
“Excellent! Well, I’m glad you’ve introduced yourself to Ms. James. She’s bright and the opportunity to hire someone of her caliber that used to work at Leland, Stokes and Brandies was heaven-sent. Make a good impression and please, don’t be all awkward because she’s our latest female hire. We can’t have any more…situations.”