Origins (The Black Diamond Series Book 3) Read online

  “My own apartment, I can't believe it! I used to not have a place to sleep.”

  “We're proud of you Trent and we're always here for you,” Sean said looking at him.

  Trent smiled. “I know. I really know.” He looked at them both. “I don't know where I'd be without you both.”

  “I want you to know that I would never do anything to hurt you or disappoint you,” he said lowering his head.

  “We know that Trent,” Jordan told him.

  Trent lifted his head and looked into dark eyes like his. “It's true.”

  Jordan nodded. “Let's go to lunch. You can pay and use some of Ray's money.”

  “Yes, because he has more than enough to go around,” Sean commented.

  Jordan looked at Sean. “Right.”

  Trent looked between the two and shrugged in confusion.

  *********

  Isabelle sat at her desk going over the monthly reports. She'd walked around in her underwear this morning before preparing for work and felt a new-found freedom. She dreamed of sexy brown eyes watching her and this morning had awakened in a warm sweat. She smiled as she continued studying her paperwork.

  A minute or so later, there was a knock at her door. She called for them to enter and the security guard entered with a box. Isabelle looked up in surprise.

  “A package for you Dr. Martin, it just arrived by special delivery,” he informed her.

  “Thank you.”

  He sat the box on her table and left with a smile.

  Isabelle looked at the box which had no return address. Cautiously she opened it and put a hand to her mouth when she saw what was inside. Hesitantly she reached inside and pulled out the contents. In her hands were what appeared to be bras with matching panties. However, by the minuscule amount of fabric she really could not tell.

  The fabrics were reds, blacks, dark blues and greens. Some appeared to be see-through. The panties looked like little triangles attached to a piece of string; at least she thought they were panties.

  “Oh my...” she continued to sift through the pile.

  At the bottom of the box, she found a note that read:

  Lesson Two. I'll be there tonight for you to model these.

  Model them, what was he talking about? She didn't even know how to put half of these things on correctly. This was moving a little too fast. Isabelle rushed over to her seat picking up her phone in the process. Quickly she dialed Ray's number and he answered.

  “Hello Isabelle. I take it you got my package.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “And the note.”

  “Yes, that's why I'm calling.”

  “Okay.”

  She hesitated.

  “I don't know.”

  “Know what?”

  “If I can model them,” she whispered.

  “Why couldn't you?”

  She hesitated again.

  “They're very revealing,” she whispered again.

  Ray laughed. “Why are you whispering?”

  Isabelle realized that she was whispering. “I don't know.”

  "I'll be there at seven.”

  “Ray.”

  “What? You want me to come earlier?”

  Silence.

  “What if I can't do it?” she whispered again.

  “Then we'll try again another time.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes Goddess.”

  Relieved she said, “Okay. I'll see you at seven.”

  “Okay.”

  “Ray?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did you know what size I wear?”

  “By studying your beautiful, sexy body Isabelle”

  Isabelle felt warm. “Oh. I guess I'll see you later.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  Ray disconnected the call and Isabelle stared at the phone. Okay Isabelle, it's time to put up or shut up, she told herself. Ray was giving his time, which could be easily filled by another woman so she had to step up to the challenge. If Ray thought she needed to model sexy underwear to help her feel desirable, then she'd model sexy underwear if it killed her.

  *********

  Jordan finished lunch with Sean and Trent then drove to the Williams Facility. He was meeting with Carolyn this afternoon and had to admit he was still hesitant. Carolyn seemed to have a deep hatred for him and he didn't want any drama but as he'd told Sage, he would just listen and try not to pass any judgment.

  He was shown to Carolyn's room and she stood when he entered.

  “Please have a seat,” she told him and Jordan walked over to the table and sat on the chair. Carolyn took the seat across from him. She stared at him for a long time and Jordan sat silently.

  “It's amazing how you look so much like him,” she said softly.

  Jordan cleared his throat.

  “I'm sorry Jordan. I'm sorry for how I've treated you,” Carolyn told him.

  Jordan nodded.

  “You think I'm a monster don't you?”

  “It doesn't matter what I think,” Jordan responded. “It only matters what Sean and Trent think.”

  Carolyn smiled. “Sean is like a brother to you.”

  “He is my brother," he corrected.

  Carolyn nodded. “You've done very well for yourself Jordan.”

  “Sean has as well.”

  “I'm beginning to see that.”

  Carolyn continued to study him remembering this face at another time.

  “Sean tells me that my father hurt you. I apologize for that.”

  Carolyn smiled sadly. “It's not for you to apologize, Jordan. You didn't have anything to do with it. You were just a boy.”

  “I want you to know Carolyn that I went to my father and asked him to help you,” Jordan told her.

  Carolyn gazed into those dark eyes. “Thank you Jordan. That could not have been easy for you.”

  Jordan turned to glance out of the window. “No, it wasn't.”

  Carolyn knew the type of man Justin was and she could imagine what had happened when his son challenged him.

  “Do you think you can forgive me Jordan?”

  He turned back to her. “I have nothing to forgive you for Carolyn. I don't hold anything against you.”

  “Thank you for being such a good brother to both of my sons.”

  Jordan nodded.

  Carolyn smiled. “Your daughter is beautiful. What's her name?”

  Jordan smiled. “Diamond.”

  “Do you have any pictures of her?”

  Jordan laughed. “Hundreds.”

  “May I see some?”

  Jordan pulled out his phone and opened his gallery for Carolyn. She flicked through the photographs commenting on many of them.

  “Your wife is so beautiful,” Carolyn told him.

  “Thank you. She is beautiful, inside and out.”

  Carolyn glanced at the photo of Jordan, Sage and Diamond and smiled.

  “I'm glad you found someone to love you Jordan. You didn't deserve what Joanna did to you.”

  Jordan shrugged.

  “She's missing. Did you do something to her?” she asked concerned.

  “I assure you that Joanna is fine and I didn't do anything to her.”

  Carolyn nodded. “You and Sean need to be careful of Milton. He really dislikes both of you. I'm ashamed that I assisted him in that plot with Joanna.”

  Jordan smiled. “We'll handle Mr. Martin.”

  “I know you didn't want to come here Jordan.”

  “No. I didn't,” he told her. “But I'm glad I did.”

  “Me too. Thank you.”

  Jordan leaned forward. “Carolyn, Sean loves you and Trent needs you. Don't let them down.”

  Carolyn extended her hand and Jordan took it. “I won't, I promise. I will be there for my sons.” She reached and touched his face. “All of them. Okay?”

  Jordan smiled. “Okay Mrs. Jackson.”

  Jordan stayed a little while longer visiting with Carolyn until he needed to head
back to the office to meet with Ray and Sean. On his way to the building, he thought back on the day he'd asked his father to help Carolyn.

  It had not been a pretty sight...

  Seventeen-year-old Jordan knocked on the door to his father's office. His father granted him access and he went inside and stood in front of the desk.

  “How can I help you Jordan?” his father said not looking up from his paperwork.

  “I want us to help Sean's mother. He says she has to move.”

  “People move all the time Jordan. It's not a big deal.”

  “It's a big deal to me. That's Sean's home. He won't have his house to come home to.”

  Justin glanced up. “Sean will be fine Jordan.”

  Jordan shrugged. “Can't we just help them keep their house?”

  Justin leaned back in his chair. “We? When did you start paying bills around here Jordan? Hmm?”

  “Who pays for all those damn clothes and shoes you have? Huh?”

  “Take them all back then and help Sean!”

  “I'm not a bank Jordan.”

  Jordan's eyes narrowed. “But you could help them if you wanted to. You just don't want to.”

  “Tell you what Jordan, make your own damn money and then you help them!”

  “I will! I'm going to have so much money that if anybody needs anything I'll be able to help them!”

  Justin shook his head. “If you do that you won't have money for long, I assure you.”

  “I promise you I will!” Jordan vowed.

  Justin laughed. “I believe you son and I'm going to help you out. Next year when you go to college, I'm only paying for your school expenses. This way you can start building, on your own, this fortune that you're going to give away.”

  Jordan turned to leave and his father barked, “I didn't say I was done with you! Turn your ass around!”

  Jordan turned back to his father, dark eyes clashing.

  “You will not mention Sean or his mother to me again. Do you understand me?”

  Jordan nodded stiffly.

  “I can't hear you boy.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes what?”

  Jordan clenched his jaw. “Yes Daddy.

  “Now get out of my office because I have money to make.”

  Jordan turned and walked out. When he reached the stairs tears were streaming down his face that he didn't bother to wipe. In his room that day, he decided he would never be Justin Black and that Jordan Black was not ever bowing down to anybody.

  Today, Jordan was now ashamed of what his father had done; putting his own child up for adoption and watching the mother of his child move out of her home. A man doesn't do that. Jordan had once believed that his father was a giant among men. He now realized he was simply a man and not a very good one at times.

  He thought of Sage going through what Carolyn had to endure. He thought of Diamond being in foster care and the anger built up inside of him. He pushed the button on the dash.

  “Hi Jordan is everything okay?” Sage came across the speaker.

  “I just wanted to hear your voice,” he told her.

  “Are you alright?” she asked concerned.

  “I'm fine baby. I want you to know that I love you and Diamond so much,” he said softly.

  “I know that you love us Jordan and we love you. I know this was difficult for you.”

  “I'm mad as hell at my father,” he confessed. “Who does this?”

  “Are you coming home now?” Sage asked.

  “No, I've got to meet with Ray and Sean regarding some things.”

  “Well when you're done come home so I can give you some more extra attention.”

  Jordan smiled. “I will be there.”

  *********

  Trent arrived at the office after his lunch with Sean and Jordan. At first, he'd thought they'd discovered his secret, so when they'd said they were giving him an apartment he'd been stunned. As soon as Sean returned from his honeymoon, Trent planned to tell them about their sister. He couldn't hold it any longer than that.

  He walked into the office and passed Callie in the supply room trying to get something off the top shelf. He stopped and watched her on tippy toes in brown heels and a brown skirt that showed just how nice her ass and legs were. Trent tilted his head watching her continue to stretch trying to reach the shelf.

  “Yo, you need some help shawty?” Trent said in his ATL impression.

  Callie turned to him smiling. “I don't know what that means, but I do need some help.”

  Trent walked over to her. “It means you're short.”

  “Whatever. Can you get the cups from that shelf please? The water cooler is out of cups.”

  Trent stared down at her. “What do I get if I get the cups?” he asked.

  “Water in a cup instead of in your hands.”

  Trent laughed. “You are wrong.” He easily reached up and pulled down the sleeve of cups.

  “Thank you Trent. You and Ray have to remember that everybody isn't a giant around here.”

  She took the cups and headed to the water cooler with Trent following.

  “So when do you want to go on this tour?” he asked.

  Callie smiled. “Next week? After work?” she asked.

  “Cool.”

  “I'll treat you to dinner after if you're free?” Callie said finishing with the cups.

  Trent smiled. “I like a woman that buys me food.”

  Callie walked to her desk. “You like women period Trent.”

  Trent nodded. “True.”

  Trent watched as she sat in her chair and her skirt rose a bit showing cocoa thighs.

  “Where are you taking me for dinner?” he asked watching her.

  “McDonald's to get you a kiddie meal,” she teased.

  Trent smirked. “Ha ha ha. Not funny.”

  Callie laughed. “I'm just teasing you. What do you like?”

  “Food. Tamales are my favorite, but I think cocoa is quickly moving up on the list.”

  “What boy?” she asked confused.

  “Nothing, it doesn't matter. I'll eat just about anything.”

  “So you're just greedy?”

  Trent smiled. “Yeah, I guess you can say that too.”

  “Hey, everybody has their vice. Yours is food.”

  Trent leaned on her desk. “What's yours?”

  Callie pursed her lips. “Tall dark eyed guys who bring smoothies.”

  Trent gave her a wicked smile.

  Ray walked into the lobby and looked at the two.

  “What are you two working on?” Ray asked.

  Trent straightened. “I'm working on my cases and going to my office right now.”

  Ray watched him walk away and turned to Callie.

  “I have a meeting. I won't be coming back to the office but that doesn't mean get out of control in here. Understand?”

  “Yes Ray.”

  Ray shook his head walking out to his car. These damn kids.

  Trent sat at his desk thinking about Callie. She was fine as hell. She was easy to talk to and joke around with; Isis was his heart, but if she kept throwing shade...

  He pulled out his phone and dialed his best friend.

  “What's up my dude?” Kent answered.

  “Guess what dude?”

  “You got the girl?”

  Trent frowned. “Nah dude, better than that!”

  “What's better than getting a woman?”

  “True,” Trent conceded. “But the next best thing.”

  “What? What's up?”

  “Getting my own apartment!”

  “What? For real?”

  “Yeah...my brothers told me today. I can move in a few weeks before my birthday.”

  “Shut up! I can't wait to get there.”

  Trent laughed. “I know. It's going to be so turnt up! I'm inviting all the bad ass women to my party.”

  “Oh hell yeah,” Kent agreed. “But didn't you invite your girl?”

  “Y
eah...”

  “You trying to start a fight?”

  “Nah, it's my birthday and I'm turning up. She still playing anyway.”

  “Still?"

  “Yeah”

  “Have you talked to her since that night of her play?”

  “Nah, I probably won't see her until the party, if she comes.”

  “Dude what are you going to do, become a monk waiting for her?”

  “Hell nah!” Trent exclaimed. “Besides there's this one at work...”

  “Nah, not at your job.”

  “She fine, I mean fine as hell and so damn sexy; and she's straight cool.”

  “She giving you play?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  “She making you forget about old girl?”

  Trent contemplated. “Not forget but...”

  “Dude, you'll be there almost a year pretty soon. How are you doing it?”

  “The gym, work, school, my family.”

  “I ran into Dana,” Kent told him and Trent quieted.

  “How is she doing?” he asked finally.

  “Straight. She asked about you. I told her you were in LA.” Kent trailed off then said, “She had the baby with her.”

  “She's not really a baby anymore,” Trent said.

  “Yeah, she's growing. Dana wanted your number.”

  “Nah, I gotta leave that in the past.”

  “I figured you wouldn't want her to have it.”

  Silence.

  “Do you miss her?”

  Trent sighed. “I should have never gotten with her.”

  “You love your older women. I bet the chick at your job around thirty.”

  Trent laughed. “Shut up dude. She's twenty.”

  “Close enough.”

  “At least I have women,” Trent told him.

  “You sound crazy. You know these pretty eyes have them dropping.”

  “Yeah okay pretty eyes. What dude says he has pretty eyes?” Trent laughed.

  “That's what the women say,” Kent corrected.

  “Whatever dude. Just be ready to get it in when you get here.”

  “For real, I can't wait!”

  **********

  Ray entered the Black Diamond Building and headed to Jordan's office. Sean and Jordan were already seated and so he took one of the empty chairs. They all greeted one another and Ray got right into it.

  “Milton Martin came to my office yesterday. He's looking to hire someone to find Joanna and Carolyn,” he told them.

  “He hired you?” Jordan asked confused.

  “Hell nah bruh. He didn't know it was my firm when he got there. We quickly got that settled.”