“Your suite is beautiful,” I complimented, looking around at the contemporary-styled suite with white marble floors, a California king bed, dining room, kitchenette with stainless steel appliances, and a fantastic view of the city skyline from the private terrace.
“Thanks.”
“Is now still a good time for the interview?” I asked, taking my seat on one of the three couches in the sitting area.
“It’s the only time I have, so it will have to do. How long will it take?”
“Um, for full-spread feature articles, I like to get to know the person I’m interviewing. I like to start with introducing myself to make you feel comfortable, and then we get into the actual interview, so I’ll say from start to finish about an hour to an hour and a half.”
“I don’t have time for all that. Can we cut the extra chit-chat and get started? I’ve got shit to do,” he explained before flopping down on the couch across from me.
“Um, sure. I just like to spark conversation with my interviewee to loosen them up before the tape starts recording. I find it helps take the edge off.”
He tore his eyes down to his phone. “Mmm.”
“But, uh…sure, let’s just go ahead and get started. If there’s something you’re uncomfortable with or want to have stricken from the record, please let me know, and I’ll make a note of it when I’m going through and transcribing our conversation today.”
“Yeah, aight,” he grumbled, still not bothering to give me enough respect to make eye contact with me.
“Are you okay? You seem off.”
“You know me?” he quizzed sarcastically.
I huffed. “No, I was just making a simple observation.”
“I’m straight.”
My eyes rolled. “Alright, then. Do you have any questions before we begin?”
“Nah.”
I pulled out my notebook, pen, and digital recorder and placed them on the coffee table. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
∞∞∞
Twenty minutes into the interview, I could already tell I wasn’t getting anywhere with him. He was standoffish, crass, and overall nauseating to be around, which perfectly aligned with everything I’d read online.
“We’ve gotten through mostly all the questions on the paper, but I have a few more if you don’t mind,” I started.
“Stick to the agreed-upon questions sent to me over a month ago.”
I cleared my throat before taking a sip from my water bottle. “I’m aware of when the questions were sent, but as I said, I have a few of my own.”
“You can waste your breath asking whatever you want, but I’m not talkin’ about nothin’ else outside of what I originally agreed upon. Stick to the narrative.”
“And exactly what narrative is that?”
“You’re the one asking the questions. Ain’t it your job to tell me?” he questioned with a scoff.
Aggravated, I closed my notebook and cut the recording. “I think we’re done here.”
He cut his eyes at me. “What?”
“You heard me. I’m leaving.”
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, please don’t act surprised. I’ve been nothing but nice to you since I stepped foot in here, and you’ve been the complete opposite! I’m a professional journalist trying to do someone else’s job; it’s like you’ve had it out for me since you laid eyes on me. Never in my career have I had someone be so graceless when talking about something good they’re doing for the community! Everything I read online about you was true! Your attitude is repulsive. This entire interview has been like pulling teeth, and I’m done! I’m so done! You have such an amazing backstory, yet no one wants to hear about it because you’re impossible to be around! Have a good night, Elijah,” I affirmed before storming out.