Page 70 of The Aries Alliance
Scarlett opened her bag and pulled out a piece of paper.
“Here’s a business plan I drafted. It lays out what I think should be our next step on this unconventional journey of ours.”
I received the document, then read it.
“The Aries Alliance, LLC? What’s that?”
“Our company—the one that will house liberation efforts for those like your mother and me.”
“I . . .” Words escaped me as I processed what Scarlett said. “You want to go into business with me?”
“Yes. We have the foundation for something great. We can use all our knowledge to do something bigger than both of us. Remember Audre Lorde? This is our new house.” Scarlett pointed to the papers and smiled.
“How would we do this?”
“I had a lot of time to think these past few weeks. My cousin, Dr. Zora Langston, is leaving her job as a university president. Her fiancé, Cairo Kinney, wants to give us three million dollars to seed the alliance. Zora has agreed to serve on the board. She’d be a welcome addition, given her higher education experience and her commitment to uplifting marginalized people.”
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Cairo Kinney? The Atlanta Torch billionaire baller?”
“The one and only. You could be the alliance’s new CEO. If you’re willing.” Scarlett said those final words with lowered eyes, before reaching out to me and squeezing my hand.
“It sounds . . . perfect. You are a phenomenal woman, Dr. Kane.”
Scarlett grinned at me, showing all her teeth.
“It’s easy to be my best when I have someone lifting me up when I need it. Do we have a deal?” Scarlett extended her hand for a handshake.
“Yes, but . . .” I shook my head before biting my bottom lip.
“No, ma’am. That’s not how you and I seal deals.” I gestured to my bedroom.
Scarlett reached for my hand and guided me down the hallway.
“Since you’re my partner, I’m going to need a refresher about the duties associated with this position.”
“It’s like riding a bike.”
“Fortunately, I’m an expert at riding.” Scarlett raised herself on her toes and smiled before pecking my lips.
I patted her round butt.
“Yes, you are.”
Never hadI met a more gentle, sincere man than War. He touched parts of my heart and soul that had been dusty and closed off to men—no, make that people in general.
Our plan was for him to establish the Aries Alliance as I wrapped up business at EFU. Although Tiffany and my therapist agreed it wasn’t healthy for me to stay in a toxic place, I had an exit plan that involved twice-a-week therapy sessions that supported those impacted by the ongoing abuse there.
A week after War’s resignation, President Fields and his chief of staff resigned too. Other guilty parties listed in the report also left their positions. To my satisfaction, Mrs. Redmond’s abuser didn’t receive the coveted title of emeritus faculty he had been jockeying for with his inner circle university cronies.
As expected, EFU wasn’t repentant and dug in even more to cover up their lies. As Tiffany and my therapist reminded me, that wasn’t my problem anymore. If they wanted to move like that, one day they would have to answer to a power higher than War and me.
Fortunately, people left me alone long enough for me to close out several projects and make sure that my supervisees were placed in labs with mentors who supported their needs adequately.
Within three months, War and I set up shop in a renovated four-thousand-square-foot warehouse in Downtown Ember Falls. It was close enough for me to see the library from our southeast window.
We had made our relationship official, being exclusive and referring to each other as partners in justice and life. Although I reveled in having a boyfriend, I wasn’t ready to dive into marriage. Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever hang up my bachelorette title. War seemed to be fine with that. Like me, a monogamous relationship with mind-blowing sex was perfect for us.
