Origins (The Black Diamond Series Book 3) Read online

  “You work two jobs?”

  “Yeah, I was really happy to get the job with Ray. My other job is at an upscale men's store in The Grove on the weekends.”

  “A men's store?”

  “Yeah, know how to dress a man.”

  Trent smirked at her. “And you're telling me to wear sneakers and T-shirts.”

  “I'm telling you to wear T-Shirts and sneakers when you're relaxing because you're turning eighteen not forty.”

  Trent watched her. “You'd hang out with me in sneakers and a T-shirt?”

  “Yeah, for sure.”

  Trent nodded. “So how exactly do you dress men?” he asked pointedly.

  “Don't make it sound like something nasty,” she chastised. “I help them pick out clothing. The job is mostly commission but it's a good one if I can make the sales.”

  “Why do you work two jobs?” Trent asked.

  “'Cause I don't have any rich brothers and I got bills to pay.”

  Trent smiled. “I'm not even going to front. My brothers do take care of me.”

  “There's nothing wrong with that Trent. I see how you come to work every day. You're not a complete freeloader,” she teased him.

  “Cold Callie. Cold.”

  She laughed as their food arrived. She watched as the many dishes were placed on the table.

  “Damn Trent! What did you order?” she asked.

  “I'm hungry.”

  “I honestly did not hear you order all this food. You just said bring your usual.”

  Trent shrugged. “This is my usual when I come over here.”

  “Remind me to never offer to take you out to dinner,” she said grumpily picking up her fork.

  Trent smiled. “I'm not letting you pay for my food Callie. My brothers would kill me, especially Jordan.”

  “I offered Trent.”

  “Doesn't matter.”

  “Well since you ordered all this damn food, you should pay for it,” she told him and Trent laughed loudly.

  “I've got it Callie.”

  They started eating their dinner and Callie looked over at him.

  “So tell me about the Trent I don't know.”

  “I'm from the ATL. I was in foster care there for the majority of my life then I found my real family and came here to meet them.”

  “And hit the damn lotto!”

  “Yeah, I guess you can say that,” he said uncomfortably.

  Callie studied him. “Why do you say that as if you're ashamed?”

  He shrugged. “I want to be my own man, I'm not trying to live off my brothers.”

  Callie frowned. “Boy you sound crazy as hell!

  Do you know how many people wish something like that could happen to them? You can be your own man but you can let your brothers help you too.”

  “I'm not that type of person who's too proud to accept anything. If I need it and you got it, then I'll take it if you offer it. I work hard as hell and any help I get, I appreciate it,” she finished.

  Trent laughed. “Callie you be foolin'.”

  “No, I keep it one hundred.”

  Trent sobered and looked at her. “I like that.”

  Callie went back to her food and Trent followed suit.

  “I'm studying Social Work so I understand the kids who live in foster care. Were your foster parents kind to you?” she asked.

  “No,” he answered curtly.

  Callie heard the hurt in his voice. “I'm sorry Trent. No child deserves to be mistreated, whether in foster care or their own home,” she said quietly with feeling.

  Trent picked up her subtle message and stared across the table at her. It was like Callie could truly empathize with what he felt. His heart was fluttering like crazy.

  “You know it's your fault why I kissed you earlier,” he told her.

  She looked up in surprise. “Really, how is it my fault?”

  Trent smiled. “’Cause you're so damn fine”

  Callie shook her head. “Nope, that can't be true.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because if being so damn fine made people kiss you, I'd be kissing you all day, every day.”

  “You're so wrong. How are you going to say something like that?”

  Callie shrugged. “You're the one with a woman.”

  “She's not my woman,” Trent protested

  “You want her to be. That's enough.”

  Callie went back to her food. “If you flirt with me, I'm going to flirt back. I told you not to play games.”

  Trent went back to his own food smiling. Damn, Callie was the real deal all day. They finished dinner and Trent drove Callie to her car and said goodnight. He waited until she pulled out of the parking lot then slowly entered his own vehicle.

  Trent had to admit that dinner with Callie had been the best time he'd had outside of his family. She was straight, no chaser. She was fine, sexy and smart. Most of all she was real and that was the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. Up until this point, the sexiest thing he'd seen was Isis and she still was still on the top of his list but...

  With Isis he was always trying to be what he thought she wanted, but Callie just encouraged him be who he was.

  She didn't treat him like a kid yet she didn't expect him to be a completely grown man either. Callie had made him feel something he had rarely felt in life...safe.

  Chapter 13

  The next day Trent completed the paperwork for his entrance into the Secure Programmer project. His family had made plans to all get together on the weekend to celebrate. He entered the office and saw Callie sitting at her desk. Walking in, he stopped and sat her favorite smoothie on her desk.

  “Hey Callie,” he greeted smiling at her.

  She smiled back. “Good afternoon Trent.”

  “I brought your smoothie.”

  “You didn't have to do that Trent, but thank you.”

  “You're welcome.” He turned and walked to his office while Callie watched him sipping her drink.

  Trent entered his office and stopped. Inside his office were over twenty balloons in various colors with congratulations stamped on them. They were all tied together with a blue ribbon. There was a blue envelope on his desk and he walked over and picked it up opening it.

  The card also had balloons on the front with the word congratulations. He looked confused opening the card. Inside there was some writing but below were the handwritten words:

  Congratulations Trent. You deserve it.

  It was simply signed, Callie.

  Trent looked at the balloons again and back at the card. Callie had done all this for him? He walked back out to her desk where she was typing into the computer.

  “Uh, Callie?”

  She looked up. “Yeah Trent?"

  Trent rubbed the back of his head then pointed at his office. “You did that?”

  “Yeah.”

  He frowned. “For me?”

  Callie rolled her eyes. “No Trent. It's for the other guy who got accepted into a highly competitive and selective project at a major university.”

  Trent shrugged. “I’m just surprised.”

  She turned to him. “I'm really happy for you Trent. I know you're going to do great things. You'll be the next Mike Adenuga, owing your own telecom company or something.”

  Trent was stunned, few people knew Mike Adenuga, the second richest black billionaire in the world.

  “Can I hug you Callie?” he asked.

  She smiled and stood. “Yeah, you can hug me Trent.” She put her arms out to him.

  Trent walked across the room to her and very carefully took her into his arms.

  “Thank you Callie. I'm really touched.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “You're welcome.”

  He released her and stood staring down at her. “I'll be in my office.” He turned and walked away.

  Callie took her seat and fanned herself. Even though he was off limits...that boy was still fine.

  Trent sat at his desk and put his hea
d down. He was feeling something crazy, something strange and unusual. Ray walked into his office and took in the colorful array of balloons.

  “What the hell?”

  Trent lifted his head and looked up at him.

  “They're from Callie.”

  Ray lifted an eyebrow. “Callie?”

  “Yeah...”

  Ray closed the door. “You smashing Callie?”

  “Nah...”

  Ray frowned. “You want to.”

  Trent groaned and put his head back down on the desk. “Yeah...” he said into the wood.

  “What happened to the nose opener?” Ray asked.

  “I'm so confused,” Trent's words were muffled by the desk.

  Ray took a seat. “Holla at me Little Bruh”

  Trent lifted his head and blew out a breath. “I thought the nose opener was it! I thought that nothing or nobody could make me think anything different.”

  “But...” Ray interjected.

  “But here comes Callie and she's nothing like the nose opener, and my head is all messed up.”

  Ray nodded.

  “It's like I want to smash Callie, like really want to; but then I want to chill with her too, talk to her, hang out with her...”

  “If Callie wants to get down with you like that, then I have nothing to do with it; but if you're using her as a substitute I'll have to kick your ass. I told you there are women out there for that. Not Callie.” Ray warned him.

  “Yeah, she already set me straight on that.”

  Ray smiled. “I bet she did. She's tough but still sweet.”

  “I know. She is.”

  Ray stood. “Take your time Little Bruh. Callie's not going anywhere.” He headed to the door and stopped turning back to Trent.

  “I wondered when you would notice her. She's fine as hell. Too young for me though.” Ray laughed.

  “Why’d you do this to me Ray?”

  “What? I can't hire fine people because your little head gets messed up?”

  “What should I do?” Trent asked.

  Ray shook his head. “Nah, Little Bruh. This one's on you. Just remember Callie is not pudding that you sample.”

  Trent put his head back down. “Thanks Ray.”

  Ray laughed as he headed out the door.

  Trent kept his head on his desk staring at the balloons. Rarely in his life had he experienced receiving unexpected acts of generosity. His phone buzzed and he picked it up.

  “Hey Callie.”

  Callie began immediately. “Trent, that person is on the phone again about your case.”

  Trent sat up completely. “Okay put them through.”

  “Okay.”

  Trent was quickly connected with the caller.

  “Hello?” Trent said into the receiver.

  “Is this Trent?”

  “Yeah, this is Trent.”

  “Are you working on the case of the missing women?” the caller asked.

  “Yeah I am.”

  “I know where they are.”

  Trent looked surprised. “Where?”

  “You have to find them on your own.”

  Trent frowned. “How am I supposed to do that?

  “Aren’t you the genius?”

  Trent paused.

  “Who is this?" Trent questioned.

  The caller laughed. “Wait for the clues Trent and tell your brothers I’m coming after them. All of them.”

  “Why do you want my brothers?”

  “Mataron a mi hermano,” the caller paused. “You know who I am now, don’t you Trent?”

  The line went dead.

  Trent stared at the phone. “Oh shit!”

  He jumped up from his desk and hurried to Ray’s office. He found Ray reading some reports before he looked up.

  “What’s up Little Bruh?” he asked seeing the expression on Trent’s face.

  Trent took a seat. “I just got a call about the case of the missing women. The caller said he knows where they are, so I asked him where?”

  Ray listened intently.

  Trent continued. “He says I have to find them, so I asked how. Then he says ‘aren’t you the genius?’”

  “What?” Ray stormed. “How in the hell do they know you’re a genius?”

  “I know who it is Ray,” Trent said quietly.

  Ray looked perplexed. “Who is it?”

  Trent looked down and spoke. “When I was looking for my brothers and hacking all of your info, I hacked someone else too.”

  Ray looked confused. “Who?”

  Trent looked at him. “Salvador Esteban.”

  “Got damn…” Ray sighed. “Close the door Trent.”

  Trent got up and closed the door then returned to his seat.

  Ray got right into it. “You know who he is?”

  Trent nodded.

  “You know what we did to him?”

  Trent nodded again. “That’s how I know it’s him.”

  Ray raised an eyebrow. “How?”

  “He said he was coming after all of you and he said, ‘Mataron a mi hermano.’”

  Ray shook his head. “It’s about to be a damn war.”

  “He said he was sending me a clue,” Trent told him.

  Ray’s eyes narrowed again. “Do not open any packages addressed to you. Understand me?”

  Trent nodded.

  “I will inspect everything. If it comes here or to Sean’s place…don’t touch it!”

  “Okay, I won’t.”

  Ray went to his desk and grabbed his phone and keys. “I need to talk to your brothers.”

  Trent watched him leave and sighed. “What the hell is going on with my life right now?”

  *********

  Lily sat on Sage’s sofa playing with Diamond as the two women planned the engagement party for Sean and Lily.

  “Lily, I still think you should book the entire restaurant instead of a room,” Sage told her.

  Lily looked at her friend. “I see you’ve become accustomed to being married to a billionaire,” she teased.

  Sage laughed. “It’s not about the money Lily. It seems that when we mingle with other people, things tend to pop off unexpectedly.’

  Lily nodded. “I can agree with you on that. It’s mostly you and Jordan though.”

  Sage smirked. “No it’s not. Go ahead and book a room, just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Lily laughed. “I think if you and Jordan are on good behavior, everything will be just fine.”

  “Jordan and I don’t start anything. We just finish it,” Sage boasted.

  “Well can you two not “finish” anything at our party? Sean and I would like to enjoy it.”

  Sage smiled. “Speaking of Sean…how is he? Is he excited about the wedding?”

  Lily showed both her dimples. “Yes, he’s excited and he’s doing fine. He was a little upset with Jordan last week though over that Ray and Isabelle thing.”

  Sage frowned. “What Ray and Isabelle thing?”

  Lily shrugged. “Jordan was really mad at Ray for dating Isabelle.”

  Sage stopped. “The Sun God is dating Isabelle?”

  Lily heard the tone in Sage’s voice. “Uh, yeah.”

  “And Jordan was upset about it?”

  “Look Sage, I’m not trying to start anything. I thought I was telling you something you already knew.”

  “No, it’s cool Lily. It seems the men in my life are keeping secrets, but I know how to deal with that.”

  She turned to Lily and smiled. “Let’s get back to planning your party. What do you want to serve for dinner?”

  Aw hell….Lily thought. Jordan and Ray were in for it for sure. Lily knew Sage very well and when Sage said she’d deal with something, it was certainly dealt with…Sage style.

  Lily thought back to another time when Sage had “dealt” with a situation...

  One night Lily and Sage, both nineteen at the time, decided to venture out into the area nightlife off campus.

  The two girls h
ad dressed up with Sage in her signature natural twists and Lily with her kinky afro. They stopped into one of the local clubs.

  “This is nice huh Sage?” Lily asked looking around.

  Sage agreed. “Yeah it is.”

  The waitress brought them each a glass of water and took their drink orders. They ordered some non-alcoholic drinks and watched the crowd. A few guys passed their table giving them smiles as they walked bye and both girls smiled back at them. When the guys were seated at their table Lily turned to Sage.

  “They’re cute aren’t they?” Lily asked.

  Sage looked over at them again. “Yeah, they’re cute I guess.”

  Lily sighed. “Sage, I swear. I know we’re goddesses but are you truly waiting for a real god?”

  Sage shrugged. “Why not?”

  “You’ll be forty before you get any,” Lily told her.

  Sage smiled. “If he’s a god, then it was worth the wait.”

  Lily laughed. “He’s going to have to be a god to battle your brother,” she teased.

  Sage shook her head. “The Sun God is no joke.”

  They both laughed as their drinks arrived and the guys at the other table kept glancing over at them. The girls were enjoying themselves when they clearly heard the girls at another table talking.

  “I don’t know why they keep looking at those nappy headed girls,” one of the girls said.

  The other girls at the table agreed and they all giggled.

  Sage’s eyes narrowed.

  “Sage…” Lily began.

  “What?” Sage asked.

  “Let it go Sage. It’s cool.” Lily said looking over at the girls with their chemically straightened and purchased hair.

  Sage looked at Lily. “No Lily. I don’t care how anybody wears his or her hair. That’s their choice, but you’re not going to clown on me. I’ll deal with that!”

  “Sage.”

  They heard another girl at the table speak. “Don’t be hard on them. Maybe they just can’t afford to get their hair done.”

  “Girl, it’s free to comb your hair. That’s just lazy,” the first girl replied.

  Sage’s brown eyes filled with fury then Lily grabbed her purse because she knew it was going down now.

  Sage picked up the two glasses of water on their table and walked over to the table where the girls were sitting. She promptly poured both glasses at the same time over the first girl’s freshly relaxed head.