I told myself it was professional.
This was, objectively, not entirely a lie. I did need a second opinion on the West Village layout. The back wall decision had been sitting unresolved for two weeks — whether to keep the open shelving Renee wanted or install the recessed lighting I wanted, both of which served real purposes and both of which could not fully coexist in the available space. A neutral perspective was a legitimate thing to seek.
Marcus had a good eye. He paid attention to spaces the way he paid attention to most things — fully, without rushing to a conclusion. I had noticed this at the Calloway brownstone, at the bakery, at the bookstore. He looked at a room and actually saw it.
These were all professional considerations.
That I had chosen to ask him on a Saturday afternoo
