Page 6 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)

“I don’t want to be on your shady HR team.”

“You’re asking too many questions. Trust me, Scarlett. I’ll make it worth your while.”

One thing I didn’t do was trust people easily. They had to prove themselves multiple times for me to believe their words.

Despite that philosophy, I was crumbling like a flaky pastry. My first name on War’s lips made me want to do everything he asked me to. He taunted and tempted me with this cat-and-mouse game. Call me competitive or maybe even dumb for dick, but I wanted to find out what he was up to.

“Are you setting me up because I threatened to expose you and the company?”

Warrick chuckled.

“Threat? I thought you promised to take me down.”

“Same thing. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

“I know. You’re a thirty-nine-year-old Aries like me. We were born two days apart.”

“How do you know that?”

“I used my bubble gum degree to figure it out.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re about to meet my cousin Click.”

“Hold up. I’m serious.” That smooth voice had my belly flipflopping again.

“That was why I sent you that photo. You can turn it into folks at work if I do you wrong. You and I both know I’ve crossed a line and given you the final nail to seal my coffin.

That’s how much I want to do right by you. Trust me.”

There was that sultry softness again. He was nothing like the man I spoke with at work. Did he have multiple personalities? An undiagnosed mental disorder?

War was right about the risk he took, though. He knew I didn’t play when it came to reporting wrongdoing, yet he still contacted me and sent me an incriminating photo.

EFU may have had the integrity of a piece of cotton, but they were consistent about throwing Black people in the dumpster if they made the organization look bad. There were no second or third chances either.

War might act dumber than a pet rock, but I would bet my house and everything in it that he knew they would throw him out on his ass if he did wrong. Whatever he had up his sleeves had to be worth something to him.

Like my documents, I’d be cautious and put his picture somewhere so if anyone turned on me, War would go down too.

“Why the urgency?”

“It’s to address your report and other pressing issues at EFU. I want to answer your questions and need time to do it properly.”

If I wasn’t sure about attending before, I was now.

Even if I didn’t get a full resolution to my concerns, War gave me space to follow up in a private setting for an extended amount of time.

That was worth whatever shenanigans he might have planned for the next couple of days.

I needed to meet him to complete my mission.

“I’ll be there, but if this is a trick, you’ll regret it.”

“Another threat?”

“No, another promise.”

“That’s fair. I’d expect nothing less than some over-the-top exposure if I crossed you. Meet me alone and pack something sexy. I’ll do the same. Thank you, Scarlett.” His voice rumbled, making my tummy quiver again.

Was War a free-spirited lover like me? A sister didn’t need a second invitation to find out. That was why I was in the middle of mess all the time.

“Fine. See you tonight.”

He hung up before I could act like a normal person and tell him how inappropriate his request was.

The second I got home, I called Val to give her my updates from the day.

“Girl, I’m going out tonight and need you to track my location. If anything goes down, everything’s in my online storage and safe deposit box at the credit union.” I paused deliberately, although I knew my drama-filled words invited more questions.

“Um, . . . since when does a date with Lil’David have you giving me your end-of-life info? Did he do something stupid?” Val’s voice rose in alarm.

“No. I’m meeting Warrick Redmond at a cottage in Ramston. He told me to wear something sexy, so I’ll be back tomorrow night.”

Val paused. I gritted my teeth, waiting for her response.

“Scarlett, have you lost your damn mind? Is there another Warrick at work? I know you’re not talking about the guy you put down like a dirty dog, the sellout. You’re sleeping with the enemy?”

When she said it like that, it did sound stupid. I felt the need to defend my decision.

“I won’t be sleeping with him. It’s business. We’re going to discuss my case in more detail.” I spoke in a low voice, justifying my actions to Val when they didn’t even make sense to me.

Before I could talk myself out of meeting War, Val’s voice softened.

“Look, babe. The rules of work are simple. Since that happened at EFU, he needs to give you information about the case at work !” She shouted the final words through gritted teeth, then spoke in a calmer voice.

“I know you’re under a lot of stress, so let me step back and be sensitive. What’s your motivation for meeting him? Are you going to be psychologically safe? Could this be a trap?”

I appreciated Val’s logic. She asked the same questions I had, but with the distance to be practical. Her care proved that she was the friend I thought she was, worth her weight in gold.

“I have a decent spirit of discernment. Warrick sounded sincere and vulnerable. He put himself out there by sending me incriminating evidence. I could use his texts and photos against him. At least he’s trying to talk about my case.

” I pouted, slightly embarrassed that Val called me out like I was a child.

“Just don’t let your fiery spirit dickmatize you. That’s your weakness, sis.”

“I know, but I wasn’t born yesterday,” I whined, despite wanting to sound strong.

Everything Val said was true. It didn’t help that War was wonderfully built. The carnal side of me wanted to explore everything he offered, even if it included sex. I wasn’t going to say that part out loud.

“If you think he’s willing to help, follow your gut. No matter what happens, I’m here.”

Val’s validation warmed my heart.

“Thanks, sis. I have to see what’s up.”

“Hold up, though. Why do you have to wear something sexy?”

Of course, Val brought up the part of the request that implied that something more than a meeting might happen. War pushed boundaries in every sense, low-key turning me out with his naughty request.

“Let me send you the picture he sent.” I pulled up the downloaded photo from my phone and texted it to Val.

“Sweet baby Jesus. No wonder you’re obeying that man like a puppy. I told you his ass was fine under those khakis and work polo. Ma’am, . . . I get it now.”

I licked my lips as I took in War’s stunning body again.

“A man that conservative at work but sexy after hours has a story. He didn’t rise through the ranks at EFU without being strategic. I can be guarded and bounce if the situation goes south.”

“I get it now. Be safe, and try to keep your damn legs closed until you get what you need from him.”

“You know I’m going to get mine every time.”

“Yes, I do. Please add a box of condoms to your packing list. He looks like he could murder your kitty with all that steel.”

I stared at the picture again. No lies detected. Something told me that I’d finally met my match.

As I packed a bag, I mentally prepared myself for my weekend with War. Never a conformist, I pushed my doubts to the back of my mind.

I walked to my modest-sized closet and searched for a sexy dress. My eyes landed on a red number that made me feel desirable and drew the right amount of attention to my legs and cleavage. Since red was my favorite color, the dress would give me the confidence to speak up and show out as I needed.

After I squeezed my body into my too-tight shapewear and slipped into the dress, I side-eyed myself in my floor-length mirror and shook my head,

“You are much too fast for your age.” I patted my firm belly and butt and said, “but you won’t be tempted to open your legs as soon as he opens the door.”

I knew myself and my libido. Passion had always been in my blood, so fine men with big prints and even bigger egos were my kryptonite. War checked both of those boxes.

“Temptation will not win tonight. Nothing other than business is going down.” I nearly shouted at myself to calm my hot behind down.

Cool spritzes of my favorite Estée Lauder perfume landed on my neck, between my breasts, behind my knees, across my back, and between my legs. I fluffed my long locs until they were full and pretty. The brightest red matte lipstick in my collection completed the look.

Warrick liked playing with a sister, so tonight, he’d find out exactly who I was. He may have thought he was getting easy access to my treasure, but he’d have to give an offering into my justice ministry for him to dip into this honey pot.

What about the sexy dress, Ms. Big, Bad, Feminist? I asked the question to myself as I puffed out my chest and eyed my lightly oiled thighs and legs.

“It’s for trust-building,” I smiled and told myself that bull like it made sense.

Maybe if I said it enough, it would be true.

“There’s another problem in the Physics department.” Dr. Nora Welch’s Southern drawl filled my car speakers as I navigated the curvy streets toward Ramston.

I checked my GPS. I was running behind. Although Warrick wasn’t my favorite person, I hated showing up to meetings, even an informal one like this one, late. As had become my habit, I played out a number of scenarios that would warrant punishment for my tardiness.

Scarlett, that’s your trauma talking. Warrick isn’t going to hurt you.

I took several deep breaths, then returned my attention to my conversation. Nora had been droning on, but I wasn’t paying attention.

“Could you repeat that? I’m in a place with poor reception,” I lied when she finally stopped speaking.

“I said that Thurston is harassing students again, and no one’s doing anything about it. I thought you’d care because of Aaliyah. Don’t you want to stop him?”

I sighed, familiar with Nora’s habit of guilt-tripping me.

“I did my part, Nora. I filed a claim.” I kept my voice steady as my heart raced.

“But it’s not enough. Nothing changed.”

Everything was overwhelming—the report, EFU’s unresolved grievances, and work hurt that never stopped. I wanted to pull over on the side of the road, get out of my car, and scream, but that wouldn’t solve anything.

Nora expected me to be a savior. She wasn’t the only one.

My phone was the informal workplace hotline.

People dialed my number and poured their concerns out like I was their therapist. Without fail, I put myself out there to be a sounding board and rock to absorb hurt like I wasn’t human.

I was doing the work of a superhero without the protective armor. Was I crazy though?

No. This was my calling. I was built for this and wouldn’t be able to rest if I cowered and didn’t help people who needed me.

But a sister was tired of absorbing trauma and never having the tools to do something about it.