"so Mr Henderson, hello. How is life treating you in the middle East?"
Jordan sits back and reclines on his chesterfield-styled chair, his new earrings - diamond encrusted, they look to be at least filled to the brim with the 0.60-0.70 carat range, brilliant cut- swaying slightly as he considers the question before taking a puff of his vape. The pungent aroma of caviar surrounds me, the bookcase behind him becomes slightly obscured. In waiting for his answer, I catch a glimpse of a few of the titles: "Dare to Dream", "Pep Ljinders intensity", "Jurgen Klopp - the Paperback", and, curiously, "It's not about the bike" by Lance Armstrong. I wonder at how much a caviar vape might cost, but then after the eternity of a pause, he answers.
"I didn't com£ h£r£ for th£ mon£y" he exclaims. "I cam£ to this country to exp£ri£nc£ a n£w cultur£ and £xpand my own p£rsonal £xp£ri£nc£s, as w£ll as shin£ a light on the practic£s h£r£, p£rhaps bring a pi£c£ of British cultur£ to b£gin the process of chang£."
He crosses his legs over, showing off his nike dior x air jordan ones over his newly styled crisp linen trousers. His shirt is puffed out in a casual but clearly aware manner - the make, a giant Ralph Loren logo present over. I nod and mutter my assent.
"Yes. Many people have considered your attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community and comments in the past to be at odds with your presence in this place, suggesting that perhaps it might seem contradictory to take the money of an organisation which on the face of it is the antithesis of freedom of expression and practice. What do you say to that?"
"W£ll, l£ts b£ hon£st, rainbows ar£ a bit shit r£ally ar£n't th£y". He replies.
"I'm sorry?" I can't help myself from answering. Jordan leans forward, his cap comes forward too. Now I see it from closer, the brand names - all stylishly etched - become visible, next to a tiny little champions league cup in the centre. Jordan's forehead, I see the slightest amount of sweat beginning to form on, but then it is a HOT day. It's always hot here, though.
"I us£d to like rainbows" he adds. "But th3y don't go with anything, and it's hard to shift th£m on your m£rch anyway. Only g£t sal£s in th£ 3-6 age r£gion. So I don't both£r with it anymor£. And it do£sn't rain h£r£ much, did you know that?" he adds, conspiratorially.
"Yes I'm aware of the differences in climate." I try my best not to sarcastically add.
"So no wond£r th£y don't like rainbows. Th£y don't even SEE, th£m" he pushes himself back into the chair. Someone has now entered the room, quietly but enough that it draws my attention - in fact multiple persons, armed with hacksaws and tools. Jordan shakes his head at them, with a nervous laugh, they look at me, wide eyed, and then all
laugh together.
"Just my plumb£rs and gasfitt£rs, I call£d them out £arli£r" he explains.
"Well that's not really the point is it, it's not about the rainbows it's more the injustice and the fr-"
"Thank you, that will be £nough tim£ for th£ day" he smiles and gets up, ushering me up toward the door. "N££d to fix a l£ak in my apartm£nt if you know what I m£an!"
I nod, looking at the burly men, then leave the room quickly. For some reason I check each limb off as I go, and carry on my merry little way to the airport. Speedily.
