ALICE Ch 176

Erica’s not a war journalist or anything, but constant travel has put her in a lot of stressful situations. She can take care of herself. Climbing into a car with a total stranger? Well, for one, it’s a nice car: sporty, American, and comfortable.

And this woman, Meri, is quite lovely. That’s likely the deciding factor. Erica knows herself well, and she smiles as she fastens her seatbelt.

Meri looks around as she starts the car and pulls out, checking her mirrors as though they’re in a spy film. That itself is beginning to confirm Erica’s suspicions about all this.

“So? Why Dan?”

Meri is referring to the man who Erica intended to meet. Erica needed a source who was sufficiently high up in the FUTA organization to have knowledge of the financials. She’d chosen a guy whose social media presence made it clear that he was both horny and recently divorced. Erica hadn’t planned to sleep with him, although she wasn’t above that if it came to it. She’d just wanted every advantage in getting him to talk.

Meri knows; Erica doesn’t know why she’s bothering to ask.

“He seemed nice,” Erica says.

Meri snorts as she drives.

“What is your position in the company?” Erica asks.

“Doesn’t matter. What matters is what you’re going to do with the information when you have it.”

“What do you know about Irina Orlova?”

Meri’s scowl tells Erica that she knows at least a little.

Erica smirks. “You don’t like her?”

“I don’t like anyone involved with FUTA Racing right now.” Meri almost sounds dangerous. “Who do you like?”

“I like Alice Wilde.”

“You and everyone else.” This woman is actually grinding her teeth. The way she grips the wheel is a little scary, and Erica has to steady herself as Meri jerkily parks the car. “Come on,” Meri mutters, climbing out.

This isn’t glossy downtown Miami anymore. Meri emerges from the car and straightens, pulling off her tailored jacket. She wads it up and throws it in the car, then rolls up the sleeves of her blouse and opens a couple of buttons. Erica’s powers of observation can’t miss a hint of a very nice blue bra and some modest cleavage. Erica’s never thought about it, but she’s never been with a person of color. She feels a pang of guilt at the objectification, but she can’t lie to herself. If she’s not careful, her mouth is going to start watering. This American girl is just…

Erica watches Meri pull her hair back with a tie. She’s deliberately dressing herself down, perhaps to be less recognizable, or to stand out a little less in this different neighborhood. Whatever she’s doing, it’s working. She’s just too cool.

Meri slams the door shut and pushes her way into a cramped shop that smells like salt and garlic. Erica can’t resist an adventure. Or a beautiful girl. She gamely follows her in.

[ Heads up, I was lucky with this last one but I am 100% getting slayed by this other hurricane, which I have named 'Adella'. New chapters may be sporadic or otherwise delayed. In case I don't make it, you can all relax. VFU stories all have happy canonical endings, even if they haven't been posted. Even Alien vs Futa. ]