Page 3 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

“Yep. That’s him. I might as well quit now. I know he’s going to be shady and tight-lipped with his big-toothed behind. He’ll take notes then do nothing, just like everybody else at EFU. He’s a menace to society.”

Angry tears filled my eyes again as I thought about my dead-end conversation with Warrick. He was a university puppet who always stared at me with a plastic smile.

“Contact your therapist before you see him. The last thing you need to do is pop off on that man and have security escort you off campus.”

“You’re right. It’s about being strategic, not stupid. What would I do without you, girl?”

Val gave me her signature smile.

“Be in somebody’s jail.”

“Or under one,” I grinned.

One thing I didn’t do was tolerate mess.

Three days later, I sat in the sterile office of our company’s human resources director, Warrick Redmond.

His office was perched in the corner of one of the tallest buildings on campus, with two massive windows offering a perfect view of the pale blue sky.

I had been in here a couple of times to discuss personnel issues for new staff I supervised, but I never entered with the fire I felt today.

My eyes roamed the room as I subtly sought something to focus on other than Warrick’s piercing gaze behind stylish walnut-colored frames and a fit body.

It didn’t help that his navy blue and white pocket square matched his starched navy blue shirt perfectly.

Cinnamon-colored belt and shoes contrasted with a two-button camel blazer, screaming good taste and fat pockets.

If he ever left this job, I was sure Brooks Brothers would pick his strait-laced tail up as a model.

To prevent myself from ogling Warrick, I homed in on a small photo with an older man and woman and a shorter woman who was probably his sister. Next to it were two potted plants with healthy green leaves.

He does care about living things.

After an emergency meeting with my therapist a couple of days ago, I role-played how today’s conversation might go.

I felt confident, smiling with my lips tight, back straight, arms folded in my lap, and legs angled in what I called my seated power pose.

I was ready for whatever Warrick threw my way.

I blinked several times as my eyes eventually watered from the sunlight that nearly blinded me from the window behind Warrick. Each time I tried to adjust my body, the sun hit my face again.

“Can you do something about that?” I lifted my hand toward the raised shade.

I held both hands over my face for several seconds, shifting my hips in the rigid chair like a prize boxer to shield my sensitive eyes from the rays. I hated that I was unable to direct my full attention to Warrick as planned.

Warrick watched me, then grinned and rose.

“Sure. I don’t want you to file a complaint against me for making you go blind.” He chuckled in a raspy voice that reeked of sarcasm.

Damn inappropriate bastard.

He drew the blinds and pulled his black leather chair closer to me, standing over me like a giant and holding my gaze until the light no longer beamed in my eyes.

I lowered my hands and settled into my position as he sat in the chair across from me, pen and legal pad in place. He crossed his long legs at the knee.

The sudden sound of an automatic air freshener on the table zipped through the air, drawing my eyes from Warrick.

Normally, the smell of pears soothed me, but today, the fruity smell mixed with Warrick’s woody scent distracted me, causing me to rub my nose to hold back a sneeze.

I held my breath before locking eyes with my enemy again.

“Dr. Kane, surely you must be exhausted by your conversations with human resources. I’ve never met a person who had so many complaints against an organization yet remained in a place for so long,” he drawled, rubbing his temples as if I were being disciplined in the principal’s office.

I exhaled and pursed my lips.

“If you did your job correctly, maybe I wouldn’t be in here so frequently.

” I had already gone off script, determined not to be shaken by Warrick’s dismissive attitude.

“I stay because I believe that one day I will be treated like a human being. Surely you understand what that means since you work in human resources.”

He tapped his fancy fountain pen on his pad several times, eyeing me with interest.

“I’ve been in the human resources field for almost two decades, so I understand our processes. That’s why we’re meeting.”

Warrick’s smart mouth irked me even more. I bit my tongue so I wouldn’t curse him out.

“The negative words spoken over me shouldn’t go undocumented or unaddressed. The report you were copied on is worth the risk I took to expose wrongs at EFU. Someone, anyone, has to be brave, don’t you think?” I gave Warrick a faint smile, hoping my words hit a soft spot.

“What report?”

My eyes widened as I processed his question.

“What do you mean ‘what report’? The one from the equity office emailed on Tuesday afternoon. You were copied on it.”

He lifted his pen and twirled it several times before laying it back on his pad and holding it steady.

“Oh. I missed it. Sorry about that.”

His chiseled jaw didn’t flinch.

I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t.

“Why would they copy you on it if you weren’t supposed to read it?” I waved my hand from side to side before placing my hands on my hips.

I cocked my head, wanting to call Warrick a bastard out loud, but refrained.

“I’m copied on a lot of emails I don’t read.” He stared at me with a blank look on his face.

This man was a clown.

“Are you being serious right now?”

“Maybe you should explore other career choices, given your grievances.”

Warrick was worse than I thought. How had he been able to cover up his stupidity for so long? I almost felt sorry for him, given his blatant incompetence.

“Check your email.” I spoke softly, hoping that my hint would give a brother a clue that might save his job in the future.

“Okay, but watch your tone.”

Watch my tone? Did he really say that out loud? I had had enough of Warrick’s foolishness.

“I’ve tried to be civil with you, but you’re not matching my energy. Instead of telling me where my next place of employment should be, you should learn how to do your job better.”

“I’m doing my job.” He spoke in that same calm, steady voice.

My eyes almost bugged out of my head as I stared Warrick down like he had four heads, and none of them were cute.

“Help me understand. Is your job to uphold oppression? Did you get that from a bubble gum machine?” I pointed to the back wall where a degree from American University hung.

Instead of following my finger, his eyes remained fixed on me. He tapped his pen on the legal pad again, then pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“It’s going to be one of those kinds of meetings, I see.”

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“What exactly does that mean?”

He leaned toward me and lowered his voice.

“One where the angry Black woman comes in and plays the victim. Everyone isn’t out to get you, Scarlett.” He sounded like my mother, scolding me.

I rolled up the sleeves of my cardigan and frowned.

“Bastard, it’s Dr. Kane to you. And I don’t know who the hell you think you’re talking to.

What you need to do is get your Uncle Tom, funny colored-eyes, fancy glasses-wearing, non-seeing behind somewhere and sit down with that stupid talk.

You’re Black, and your ass could be out of a job quicker than you can snap your fingers. ” I snapped for emphasis.

“First of all, Dr. Kane, you can call me Warrick. Second, I am sitting down. And third, you need to watch your language. Stop fixating on my eyes and what I am wearing.” He scribbled some notes on his pad.

“Do you act like this with everyone? If so, I might have to write you up, with your bare-legged, brown-eyed self.” He pointed his pen at both parts of my body as he spoke.

“Are you making fun of me? I’m going to report you to your supervisor. Not a tad bit of professionalism anywhere.”

“Hmm . . . says the woman objectifying me at work. Weren’t you the one claiming discrimination, by the way?” Warrick clicked his tongue and wrote down several things on his notepad as I glared at him.

Hold the hell up.

“I thought you didn’t read my report. And what are you writing down?”

“I’m taking notes about our conversation.”

“To do what with?”

“Share information with my supervisor when you report me.”

I rolled my eyes, pissed that I came in here to be rational but instead dug myself into a deeper hole. I rose, ready to throw all caution to the wind.

“I’m giving you forty-eight hours to get this right. My supervisees need justice. If you don’t do your damn job, I’m going to expose you and this farce of an organization.”

Warrick jumped up, his overbearing presence making me take several steps back.

“Are you threatening me, Dr. Kane?”

“No, Mr. Redmond, that’s a promise.”