Black Diamond (Obsidian 2)

“Then maybe we shouldn’t work together.”

His smile dropped. “Vanilla, you need to loosen up.”

“Or maybe I need to keep you in line.” I tightened my legs together in response to the searing heat that burned at the apex of my thighs. When I couldn’t have him inside me, I squeezed my thighs so tightly together that it helped me cope with his absence.

His amused grin was back. “I like the sound of that, actually.”

We’d flirted back and forth long enough, and I was ready to get down to business. “Tell me about the job and what I’m responsible for.”

After a long look, he walked around his desk and fell into the chair. When he sat behind the majestic piece of wood, he looked kingly. As if not just the building belonged to him, but the entire city. With his slightly messy hair, crystal blue eyes, and his charming smile, he was the ruler of the world. “A businesswoman. I like it.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a folder. “Here’s everything you need to know. You start Monday. Does that work for you?”

“Sure.” I opened the folder and read the briefing. There was also an offer letter explaining my salary and benefits. When I looked at the number, I squinted because I wasn’t sure if I was reading it correctly. “The salary…”

“Yes?” Calloway rubbed his fingers along his jawline, calm and suave.

“Is this right?” I held up the paper so he could see it.

“Yes. I know how to read, Ms. Moretti.” He smiled in a condescending way, growing irritated when I doubted his reasoning. Obviously, he didn’t like being told what to do.

“It just seems excessive. It’s very important to me that I don’t get any special treatment.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Everyone gets paid the same here, whether you’re an executive or a secretary. Makes no difference. But as you’re promoted, you’re given bonuses for years of service.” He rested both of his hands on the desk, his fingers interlocked together.

“Really?” Now I was mesmerized by the offer he’d just made, moved beyond words. Calloway ran a company aimed at helping other people. But he also took care of the employees under his wing.

“Yes. With donations as well as investments made by the company, it allows Humanitarians United to offer a competitive salary. It makes a great working environment because people are passionate about their careers, and they also make enough to put food on the table.”

Speechless, I stared at the paper. Even if I didn’t still live with Christopher, I would make enough money to actually make payments toward my loans every month. Right now, I was only putting in a feeble amount and never taking anything off the principal. My bill wasn’t getting any smaller, but I had to keep paying it every single month. With this job, I could finally eliminate my loans, one paycheck at a time. “I don’t even know what to say…” I was used to living check to check—and sometimes not getting a check at all.

The longer Calloway watched me, the more his look softened. He tried not to pity me because I asked him not to, but the expression always slipped out. “You don’t need to say anything. Just show up on Monday.”

This was my dream job. It was something I wanted to do, and I’d never imagined making this kind of money. It was probably nothing to most people, but to me, it was like winning the lottery. “Thank you.” Those two words didn’t adequately express how much it meant to me. Now I could do what I loved without having to worry about Hank stopping by. If he came to my office inside Humanitarians United, Calloway would snap his neck.

“And if you’re ever interested in making extra cash, I have a few side things you can do.” He winked.

I smiled at his teasing nature, knowing he was only half joking. “This is more than enough, so I don’t need anything else. But I’ll gladly do those things for free.” I winked in response.

His eyes lit up with joy, like it was Christmas morning. “Good answer, sweetheart.”

I scrolled through the apartment listings on my laptop, trying to find a price that wasn’t outrageous. I could afford a nice place on my own, but this was Manhattan, and real estate was insane.

Christopher walked behind the couch and spotted the listings on my screen. “Rome, what the hell?”

“What?” I asked without turning around. I continued to scroll, making mental notes about the listings that seemed like a good fit. The two things I cared most about were location and cost.

“You aren’t moving out.” He hopped over the back of the couch and landed beside me. His hand slammed on the top of my laptop, and he shut the screen. “You’re stuck here, so don’t even bother looking.”