Page 22 of Treason's Temptation
“I didn’t think you’d care?”
“I don’t, I just didn’t take you for the fucking behind your best friend type.”
Loyalty was a lot higher on my list of needs than most assumed. I didn’t give a fuck about Danielle or how she’d feel about it. Yassah wanting to venture down that road was a bigger red flag. If she’d snake her best friend for the right opportunity, she would do the same to me.
Yassah wasn’t used to being called out, so she quickly diverted the conversation, barely raising her hand before the server rushed over. “Share a toast with me.”
“You’re trying to have me drunk on the job.”
“Why not?”
As beautiful as Yassah was, sleeping with my mentor’s sister was a line I couldn’t cross, especially when the risk didn’t outweigh the reward. It made for a good lunch date catching because we hadn’t sat down in a minute. Yassah tried to put our meal on her tab, but I wouldn’t let her. She smiled coyly as I covered the check and pulled out her chair so I could get back to the office and handle business.
When I reached the campaign office, I was pleased that Milaya had listened. Fallon waited in my office, playing music loud enough to help her concentrate without being a distraction.
“Yassah just happens to be strolling through the rotunda at the exact time of my lunch. I expect more creativity from you, so that only leaves Jaleb.”
Fallon didn’t shy away from my scrutiny, waving her hand dismissively.
“Did you enjoy lunch?”
“Don’t do that shit again.”
“Do my job?” Fallon countered with a sarcastic, high-pitched tone.
“Go behind my back and put Yassah in a position to be rejected,” I clarified.
“Had to do something considering how pressed you are behindNavie Racquel Dixon.”
“That’s a conversation I’m more interested in. What did you find?”
“Thank God it’ll be short because I didn’t find much. Born to Sloane Bishop on March 24th. No father is listed. She’s thirty-two and has never been married. No children or pregnancies recorded. She grew up in Madison Pointe, attending the city's best private schools.”
“Mother’s occupation?” I replied rapidly.
“A professional wife. Sloane’s been married three times. All wealthy and successful men, which is probably how she was able to afford a house in Montclair Cove as a single mother. Can we let this go now?”
“You never questioned the way I called plays before. Why the fuck are we starting now?”
“You’ve never jumped off the deep end behind a bitch before,” Fallon yelled.
“Somebody needs to save you from yourself.” Jaleb walked through the door, joining the conversation. “Navie Dixonisn’thappening.”
“Thank you!” Fallon gasped, throwing her arms up.
“You think because you’re cutting the check, I take orders from you?”
Jaleb’s jaw ticked at my tone, then replied, “That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Sounds like it because I told your ass Yassah was off limits too. Then I had to sit at lunch and let her down. How the fuck is dating my ex-girlfriend’s best friend a solution? That’s more mess I don’t need.”
“People will overlook anything for the right storyline, and fortunately, Yassah is a Langston. That carries a lot of weight in this town, and your proximity to the family will help sell it. You two tried to fight your feelings, but eventually realized it was much deeper. That’s a fairytale the city will get behind,” Jaleb poached.
“Yassah isn’t the answer. If I have to repeat it, I’ll shut the whole campaign down.”
“Navie Dixon can’t be the answer either,” Jaleb replied, lowering onto the couch next to Fallon.
“She’s a scammer,” Fallon said flatly. “The nonprofit? It’s paper-thin. Just enough for it to look legit at a glance.”
