ALICE Ch 179

“Gossip,” Meri says darkly.

“My favorite,” Erica replies. “What kind?”

In reply, Meri takes out her phone. With an unfriendly expression, she taps and swipes, then uses two fingers on the screen before showing Erica the phone. She has zoomed in on a photograph of a pronounced bulge in a pink racing suit.

“Recognize that?” she asks.

Erica can’t help but smile. “That appears to be Alice Wilde’s penis.”

“I want to know where she’s putting it.”

It’s not what Erica expected. “There is a rumor about Faye D…”

“I don’t give a shit about rumors,” Meri snaps. “I want information. You know people in F1. You’re a big fucking deal. I want the truth. That’s the deal. That’s the offer. You want to know why they’re doing what they’re doing? I can tell you.” She slams the phone down on the table. “If there’s a fucking list, I want the whole goddamn thing.”

Impressed, intimidated, and more than a little aroused, Erica considers it.

“Well,” she replies, licking her lips. She meets Meri’s eyes and nods. “OK. OK. I will need time.”

“I need to get back to work. What I will need later is a drink. I’ll text you. Do you need a ride or are you OK?”

“I am OK,” Erica assures her. “And please, allow me.” She takes the check that the waitress brings.

Meri just snorts and gets to her feet. Erica bites her thumb, openly staring at Meri’s delectably graceful hindquarters as she stalks out of the restaurant. She has to resist the urge to fan her face. Erica has a profound appreciation for what that kind of frustration and spirit can be like behind closed doors, and she has a feeling that if she plays her cards right, she can make some gourmet memories on this trip to the States.

Of course, that will depend on her ability to deliver what she’s promised. She has connections in F1, certainly. But in FUTA Racing? It’s so new. She has a lot of calls to make and a lot of favors to cash in. Time zones won’t make it easy. No… it’ll be fine. Everyone’s in Canada. Finally, a stroke of luck.

“Miss,” she says, waving to the waitress. “May I have another sandwich please?”

She composes a text to the man who she was supposed to meet, and gets Meri’s full name, then looks her up. A rising star in the company, Meri already has a low-level Director’s position. She’s not in the financial department, but Erica doesn’t doubt that she has the relevant information. People talk, and Meri seems like someone who knows how to listen. An American magazine did a profile on her in a series about women of color doing big things in business. It says that she was famously part of a sexually liberated university sisterhood of some kind.

Better and better.