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“I need Mallory Guest to sign that contract so I can move on to some other plans that I have. Hell, I would like to just start the search for a creative director all over again,” Lloyd said irritably, “but John Elliott is hell-bent on having her.”
“Why?”
“Mallory is the creative director for Smith and Geren, which is PWE’s main rival. She’s won many Clio awards for her cutting-edge advertising campaigns, and she’s a real smart woman.”
“She may be smart in her field, but Mallory Guest underestimates black people,” Adrienne replied.
“Meaning?”
“If this trend, as she calls it, does start hurting the African-American ad agencies, they’ll find a way to turn the situation around before any permanent damage is done. You can be sure of that.”
“How?”
“I don’t know how, but our history is proof that they will. Black folks have always made a way out of no way.”
Lloyd smiled gently. “Yes, but her point was that I am a black man and that they shouldn’t get a dirty trick like this thrown at them by one of their own.”
Adrienne hadn’t thought of the situation in that light, but she realized that Mallory Guest was right. “She has a very good point.”
Lloyd sighed. “I was the only African American at Lewis and Wyse, and the only time you saw a brown face at PWE Chicago was when the mail guys came by.” He laughed, but it was a hollow sound. “I’m not accustomed to dealing with these type of issues since I’ve never worked with my own kind before.”
Adrienne didn’t like his choice of words. What did “these type of issues” really mean? Could a boy from the ghetto grow up to be an Oreo?
“What are you thinking right now?” Lloyd asked abruptly.
Although Lloyd Cooper looked worried and vulnerable at that moment, Adrienne knew that underneath that image was LaMar Jenkins, a male of iron will who could set a goal for himself and meet it come hell or high water. She had no doubt that Lloyd would get Mallory Guest to come and work for him.
“I was thinking that you shouldn’t give up, Lloyd,” Adrienne lied quickly. “Why don’t you ask her how she wants to handle the hiring and let her do it in her own way?”
Lloyd’s eyes brightened. “You are absolutely right! Finding the talent to get the job done properly is her problem, isn’t it? A simple answer to the problem!” His voice became husky. “You were always good for me, Adrienne. I’ll see that you learn a lot from Mallory Guest if I can get her on board. With your theater background, you should do quite well in the networking and business-entertaining arena.”
They grinned at each other.
“I think I’ll order a bottle of wine; would you like that?” he asked.
“Sure.”
Lloyd signaled the waiter and then looked at Adrienne. “White or red?” he asked.
“Red.”
Lloyd gave the waiter a name and year that meant nothing to Adrienne, and then smiled at her. “So, when am I going to see Dan?”
“Very soon. Charlene and I are planning a dinner at their place. You are the guest of honor.”
Lloyd seemed pleased. “I look forward to it.”
Adrienne smiled. “I’m surprised you have such fond memories of my brother. He was such a little pain in the ass when we were trying to study.”
“I liked the whole scene. The beautiful daughter. A pesky little brother. A mother and father who worked, kept the place clean, cared whether their kids went to school, and served hot, nutritious meals seven days a week. It felt good. Sometimes I even pretended that I was part of the household. The smart, geeky older brother.”
“Sounds like a TV show.”
“Better.”
“Well, you’re a bigger success than Dan or me. We’re both proud of you.”
“I’d trade everything I have for some decent childhood memories.”
