Page 133 of The Session

What was his job at Summit? Mark wondered. It was a fair question. At the moment, he was trying to sell something he didn’t quite understand. He didn’t have a title, he didn’t have a role, he didn’t even have a business card.

“I’m still figuring that out,” Mark replied.

“Right. You’re Lightman’s kid. The nepo baby, got it,” Siravan said.

“Well, I’m a real paramedic. I only started here a few weeks ago. I run a youth athletic program,” Mark told him.

“I get it. A guy I went to high school with, his dad was super fucking rich. He became a lifeguard. I thought that was pretty cool.”

Mark wanted to correct him but didn’t dare explain the complex family dynamics.

Siravan shook his head and nodded toward the rest of the party. “Can you believe these assholes?” he muttered.

“I don’t know. Maybe. Why did you come here?” Mark asked.

“One of those old guys over there invested in my business, asked me to come. I came as a courtesy.”

“Why did he want you to come?”

“He’s bought into all this bullshit. Says it’s done wonders for his companies.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I didn’t find the companies I bought all that hard to fix. I’ll put it that way.”

“What would be the one thing you’d like to fix that you haven’t?” Mark asked.

“Seriously? I mean, you’re seriously trying to pitch me right now?”

Mark smiled. “Just making conversation.”

“Oh, is that a fact? Well, let me tell you how Summit Strategies can help you out,” Siravan said in a mocking tone. He rolled his eyes, turned away from Mark, and swirled the ice in his drink. “Unbelievable.”

Mark could think of a dozen different comebacks, some involving his fists, but he forced himself to let it go.

Siravan turned back to him. “If you’re going to work for your daddy’s company, you’ve got to get better at sales, because not everybody’s going to hand you everything in life.”

“Did I say something I shouldn’t have?” Mark asked.

“Sometimes people just want to talk and not be fucking pitched,” Siravan snapped.

“I take your point, man. Have a good night.”

Mark started to walk away.

“Just like that, you give up. And I’m supposed to hire you guys to train my phone reps?” Siravan called after him.

Mark gestured toward the party. “There are over two hundred people who are ready to have a conversation. So I’ll give you some free advice: If your reps are trying to pitch to people who don’t want to buy, then you’re doing something wrong.”

He walked toward Tru at the bar with two other men he recognized from Summit Strategies’ sales team.

“How’d that go?” Tru asked.

“Amazing. Everybody can go home now. Our work is done.”

“He’s a bit of an asshole, isn’t he,” Sam Colver said.

Mark could see Tru watching him closely. He knew she was gauging whether he could compartmentalize.