Page 3 of Solomon’s Temple

I stared at him as if he’d grown another head because he was testing me right now. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“N-no, sir.”

“Then don’t play on my intelligence, my nigga. I didn’t get this far in life by being bamboozled. Even if you think I’m not watching, I’m watching,” I said sternly.

“Yes, sir.”

“Tighten up, because if I have to warn y’all again, it’s going to be a problem, and I’m really trying to turn over a new leaf.” I looked at my seventeen employees, making it clear to all of them that I wasn’t standing for anybody messing up my money. My company had catapulted to the million-dollar mark in the three years since I’d opened the doors. I retired from the force in 2022 because serving and protecting citizens wasn’t helping me at all, on top of the fact that I risked my life every day and never got promoted to chief. I was the top cop that everyone came to for advice and wanted on their team because of my ability to come up with strategies and execute plans with precision. Not to mention the pay was pure crap. So I resigned and opened Exclusive Security with my first client being our good ol’ shiesty mayor of Detroit—Tory St. James.

“Now, on to business.” I passed out the schedules then spoke. “We have two jobs lined up. Kamil Moring and his family have an event at their home out in West Bloomfield, and Kema P. along with her husband, Knowledge, will be performing at the Ford Field Stadium tonight. Team A will be with the Moring family. Their event starts at five p.m. sharp tomorrow, so you all will need to be there no later than four thirty.

“Team B will be with Kema P. and Knowledge. That includes the four lazy niggas. The event is Friday night. I will be attending that event with you all. We have to be at their home no later than five p.m. to escort them to the event. I don’t think I need to remind you all about the importance of keeping our clients safe and protected. These people pay us too much money for us to slack off. If you’re hungry, eat now. You gotta take a piss or number two, do it now. If you need to go home, take a quick nap, check on your family, do it now. If no one has any questions, this meeting is adjourned.”

Everyone filed out except for Brooke. I knew why she lingered around. I’d been avoiding her for the past year after I let her top me off. I couldn’t lie; the head was perfect, but I couldn’t go down that road with her. I promised myself I wouldn’t fall down that rabbit hole of a throat she had, so I kept my distance. It was easy to do since I was the boss, and my job didn’t require my presence unless the clients wanted to meet me. Otherwise, I’d spend my time reading self-help books, my bible, and visiting my cousin Karon when I could. I didn’t want to talk to her, but I knew I had to set things straight with shorty, because I was now embarking on a different path that didn’t include my old freaks.

Once the last person left, Brooke approached me while I gathered my belongings to head out.

“I can’t help but feel like you’ve been avoiding me,” she said, smiling at me.

I grabbed my wrist at my waist and gave her eye contact. “You would be right.”

“Is that how you do women you have sexual encounters with?”

“It’s not. I’m trying to move in a different direction in my life, and what happened between us was a mistake. To obey my Father, I had to create some distance between us. I hope you understand.”

She bit the inside of her jaw as her brows lifted in shock. “Wow. I didn’t know me sucking your dick would lead you to the cross. I’m assuming the job was well done then, no?”

I chuckled. “I will neither confirm nor deny that.” Without thinking, my hand came up and slid around the back of her neck while my thumb lightly pressed against her esophagus. Memories flooded my mind, but I wouldn’t allow them to weaken me. “But a time was had in here, that’s for sure. If you weren’t an employee of mine, I’d pursue you⁠—”

“I could quit,” she said before I could finish.

I smirked. “Are you willing to turn your life around? What about not having sex before marriage, or living the life The Most High promised us?” She was silent for too long, so I knew she wouldn’t and couldn’t be my helpmate. “Let’s get to work, Ms. Haughton.” I walked over to the door and opened it for her. She gave me a my loss look, but I didn’t feel like it was a loss at all. She wasn’t willing to bend for me, so that told me everything I needed to know about her. If anything, she was the one who lost. Once I was married, I was going to slut my wife out for the rest of our lives.

“Huuuh! I wish motherfuckas would let me rest!” I yelled, hearing my phone go off for the fifth time. I'd shut my eyes an hour ago, and now it was seven o’clock in the morning, and people were blowing up my line. Like, who the hell got up this damn early?

People with a job, Temp. That’s who.

Hearing my subconscious speak made me pop my head up and snatch my phone from the nightstand. I looked at the caller ID and saw my boss Deacon’s name on the screen.

I hurried and answered. “Mr. Deacon. I’m so sorry. I overslept.”

“It’s the third time this week, Temple. I can’t keep covering your ass when you forget you have a shift to work.”

“I know, and I promise this is the last time.”

“You said that last time. Just get here.” He hung up as I shook my head and tried to wake myself. I looked over and noticed Nathan, my midnight slide, lying next to me, sleeping peacefully.

I rolled my eyes and mushed his ass hard as hell. He lifted quickly, looking around, seemingly coming out of the sleep-induced haze.

“Wh-what’s wrong, Temp?”

“Nigga, you’re not supposed to still be here,” I scolded.

“Shit, I mean, you put a nigga out with that good-ass pussy. I forgot where the fuck I was.”

I made a stank face at him as I got up from the bed. “This is why I don’t let motherfuckas stay over. You can’t even be my ears for the alarm clock. What the fuck are you good for?”

He smirked. “This dick and this tongue.”