Chapter Sixteen
Sixteen
Max was unsurprised when Miles appeared in his office on Tuesday.
“You’re dumping me on one of your employees?”
Max threw a sidelong glance at his friend Skyler, who was sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, before turning his attention to his little brother.
“Hello, Miles, and how are you today?”
“Why are you no longer working on Sparky?” Miles asked in response.
As he’d promised Stella, first thing on Monday he’d told Rashid that he was taking himself off Sparky and Rashid would be taking lead. Rashid was surprised but excited to head such a major project and pulled up his favorite engineers to join him for the office hours at Yellow Sparks that afternoon.
Max had expected to hear from Miles that day because surely Miles would’ve noticed his brother not showing up or would’ve seen Max’s email informing those involved of the change, but there was nothing. Not until today.
Skyler raised one of their perfectly manicured brows to Max. “Sparky, like the dog?”
Miles finally took in Skyler, apparently noticing their presence for the first time. Max found this amusing, seeing as Skyler was sitting in the chair sideways, their legs hanging over the armrest and their feet dangling precariously in front of Miles’ groin.
“Oh, hello, Sky,” Miles said, barely giving them a glance.
“I prefer Skyler, actually.”
They swung their legs around so their feet were back on the floor and stood.
“Imma head out and let you two discuss whatever this is,” they said, waving a hand between the brothers. They pointed at Max. “Don’t forget we’re doing drinks tonight. No bailing on me again.”
Skyler and Max had been trying to make plans to catch up for weeks now, but between their two busy schedules, it almost never worked out. Finally, they were going to get drinks, and Max was looking forward to catching Skyler up on the chaos that had become his life recently.
“Got it,” Max said. “I’ll see you at seven.”
“Good, now I’m out.”
They patted Miles on the shoulder, leaving Miles looking confused, before they made their way out the door.
“Would you like to sit, or do you really enjoy towering over me that much?” Max asked dryly.
Miles glared at him but sat in the seat Skyler had just vacated.
“When were you planning to tell me you shoved me off to one of your employees?” Miles asked.
Max rolled his eyes. “I did tell you. I emailed you yesterday.”
Miles rolled his eyes right back. “I have a thousand emails. You could’ve called.”
“Didn’t you say the only people who still made phone calls were Gen Xers and boomers?”
“Personal calls, not business,” Miles said, as if that made complete sense. “Why are you quitting?”
“Passing off the project to Rashid, who is my lead engineer by the way, is not me quitting,” Max said. “I’m delegating. Right now I’ve got too many irons in the fire so Rashid is taking over. It’s that simple.”
It was also a lie, but Miles didn’t need to know the truth, which was that even if Stella wasn’t in the equation, Max never should’ve agreed to work with his brother.
Max loved Miles, he did, but he remembered the feeling of freedom he felt when he went to college and knew he didn’t have to worry about his little brother every day anymore.
Max had never been logical when it came to Miles, who was the only blood relative he had left. If Miles got in trouble, whether it was in school or at home with their parents, Max was there to make it better or pick up the pieces.
Max didn’t know how to say no to his brother or how to stop protecting him, often from himself.
And when Stella had asked him about Miles’ motives for Sparky, Max’s defense of Miles was almost instinctual.
He didn’t believe that Miles’ plans were truly as nefarious as Stella and her coworkers thought, but he also knew deep down he would’ve defended Miles anyway.
Because that’s what he was supposed to do as Miles’ big brother.
It was why, if he was being honest with himself, he didn’t call Miles. A part of Max feared that if he had to talk through the decision, Miles would’ve convinced him to stay on, and Max knew he couldn’t do that.
“But why?” Miles asked in a tone that bordered on a whine.
Max avoided the question, saying, “Rashid is one of the best. He’ll do a great job with this. What’s the issue?”
“Is it because I named it Sparky?”
Max was so flabbergasted by the question his mouth fell open and then he started laughing. He didn’t mean to, but once he started he couldn’t seem to stop. He was laughing so hard he grabbed his stomach, feeling a pinch at his side as he tried to breathe.
“It’s not funny, Max,” Miles said.
But when Max looked up to find his brother with his arms crossed, pouting, Max had to disagree.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Max said once he was able to catch his breath. He wiped his eyes. “But in answer to your question, no, it’s not about the name. I think the name is fine.”
“So then what’s the problem?”
Max shook his head. “Miles, I’m not saying it again. There is no problem. Now, if you’re worried that Rashid won’t be able to handle it—”
“Of course I’m worried,” Miles said. “I came to you for help, not for you to shuck me off onto someone else.”
This was exactly what Max was worried about.
“Miles, I’m not shucking you off onto someone else,” Max said, more gently this time. “You are not this project. I’m always going to be here for you. And I’ll still be around to help with Sparky if needed.
“And you’re right, email wasn’t the best way to handle this. I should’ve called a meeting and talked this through with you before springing it on you. I’m sorry. Truly.”
Miles eyed him for a moment, and Max held his breath.
The truth was that this shouldn’t have been a big issue.
Sparky was all set up and running for the Yellow Sparks staff to use, even if they weren’t using it.
Rashid was perfectly capable of handling any issues that might arise, but Max could also step in if necessary.
He just wouldn’t be a part of the day-to-day stuff.
But Max knew Miles wasn’t thinking about this rationally. He was feeling abandoned, and Max knew that was a deeper issue.
“Ugh, fuck, I’m sorry man,” Miles said finally, shaking his head. “I’m just stressed about this. I’ve invested so much into getting this tech, and barely anyone’s even using it. I’m worried it’ll be a waste.”
“Have you tried talking to your staff?” Max asked. “Try to figure out what’s holding them back?”
Max already knew the answer, of course, but he couldn’t tell Miles that. Maybe he could lead him to it, though.
“I have a meeting with all the editors this week, so I’m going to talk to them about it,” Miles said. “I’m thinking I may need some kind of incentive to get everyone to at least try Sparky, but I’m still noodling on what exactly that will be.”
“An incentive?”
Miles nodded. “I figure if they can just start using it they’ll realize how beneficial it is, so I need to give them a push.
Something they can’t ignore. Or I’ll have to figure out a way to make it so that they have to use Sparky to make content.
Is that something you can do? Reconfigure the CMS like that? ”
Max was struggling to keep up with this conversation, so it was a beat before he said, “I’m not sure. I don’t think forcing them to use the AI is the best way to go, though. They may become even more resistant if that’s the case.”
“Right, right,” Miles said. “See, this is why I need you!”
“I’m still here,” Max said. “But try talking to Rashid about all of this. He is good at his job, you know.”
“Yeah, alright,” Miles said. “If you say he’s good then I trust you. But if he fucks this up, Max—”
“He won’t,” Max said. “Trust me.”
Miles stood and reached across the desk to dap up Max.
“I do,” Miles said when he pulled back. “I’ll catch you later. No more surprises, alright!”
“Promise,” Max said, and as Miles left his office, Max wondered why he said that when he knew it was a promise he couldn’t keep.