Free No Other Lover Will Do by Cheris Hodges

there was some sort of problem. I didn’t mean to question you,” she said. “Still, if there is a serious security issue, I should be made aware of it.”
    â€œHere’s the thing,” Solomon said. “We have to make sure everyone who works for us is on the up and up. We have to make sure everyone has the proper documentation and that we’re not hiring illegal workers. We discussed this three months ago, remember?”
    â€œRight. I’m sorry,” she said.
    â€œDo me a favor. Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency,” he said.
    â€œOf course. Sorry.”
    Solomon snapped his phone shut and headed to his room. He had a dinner to prepare for and nothing was going to stand in his way.

C HAPTER 8
    As the day came to a close, Carmen felt horrible. Solomon had spoken to her as if she was just another common employee. He’d never talked to her in such a dismissive way and she knew it had more to do with that woman than his need for a vacation. Kandace Davis. Carmen knew she had to get rid of that bitch, but she wasn’t sure how. She pulled up her Internet browser and started to type in Kandace’s name again.
    â€œYou’re still here?” Danny said from the doorway.
    Carmen smiled at him. “Tying up some loose ends. What are you still doing here?”
    â€œSettling in and tying up loose ends, like you. I didn’t realize how many applications you guys got in. What do you say we get out of here and grab a hot dog and a pop?” Danny said.
    Carmen pushed back in her chair and smiled. “I know we’re going to be friends, but you can’t expect me to eat street meat. Let’s go to Jimmy Walker’s and have a drink.”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Danny said.
    Danny and Carmen walked to the bar in near silence. Danny tried to make small talk about the weather, but Carmen’s mind was on getting to the bottom of why Solomon had brought the private investigator into the company. Arriving at the door of Jimmy Walker’s, Danny opened it and held it for Carmen to walk into the dimly lit bar. She spotted two seats at the end of the bar and pointed them out to Danny. He nodded and followed her.
    As soon as they sat down, the bartender crossed over to them and took their drink orders. When the bartender brought back Carmen’s white wine and Danny’s Corona, Carmen began peppering Danny with questions. “So, why did Solomon hire you?” she asked as she sipped on a glass of wine.
    â€œHe wanted to make sure all of the employees are documented workers. There are a bunch of new laws that are going into effect that fine businesses for hiring illegals. Solomon just wants to be on top of things. Why is this such an issue with you?”
    â€œI guess it’s just the newness of it,” she said with a dismissive laugh. “Solomon didn’t give me the details of your job description. I’m his right-hand woman, you know.”
    Danny eyed her suspiciously as he sipped his beer. Something was off about Carmen and it was more than her turning him down for a date. He had to find out what, if anything, she was hiding.
    Â 
    Solomon had never been very excitable. He didn’t rush downstairs on Christmas morning, didn’t get wide-eyed at surprise birthday parties, but tonight, he was a bundle of nerves. Seeing Kandace in the dress was an appetizer and now he was ready for the full course meal. The black Manolo Blahnik sandals would be the icing on the cake. “Calm down,” he told himself. “How do I know that this isn’t a colossal waste of time? Kandace could have a husband or a boyfriend in Charlotte. But if all it costs me is a six-hundred-dollar pair of shoes to find out, then so be it.”
    â€œMr. Crawford,” said the head chef, “dinner is ready if you’d like to taste it.”
    He nodded and followed the man to the stove. The chef had prepared pan-seared salmon,