Page 5 of The Aries Alliance
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 blueshirt 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 andsettled 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 inhumanresources.”
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.
