Chapter 38 The Black Diamond
THE BLACK DIAMOND
DAMON
Soft flakes of winter snow fall from the sky and freeze against the windows as I wake up. My eyelids flutter open, and I turn my head to the side. I’m tempted to pinch myself. She’s here. And here is where she’ll stay.
I soak in Emery’s relaxed features, her pouty lips, and the way her chest rises and falls with every peaceful breath. Her auburn hair spills over the pillow, tangled and tousled, and I resist the urge to run my fingers through the beautiful mess that we both created.
Careful not to disturb her, I slip out of bed and pull on a pair of joggers.
Quietly, I make my way to the kitchen, the lingering scent of sex still clinging to my skin.
I fill the kettle and place it on the stove, leaning against the counter as I rest the tips of my fingers over my tingling lips. I can feel her. She’s a part of me now.
There were endless days that I thought about her lips, how desperately I wanted to kiss them. But she wasn’t ready then. She wasn’t prepared for that sort of commitment. That all changed last night. Everything is different. Everything is…right.
In a world of chaos and confusion, she’s the only thing that makes sense to me. I knew from the moment I saw her that she would be the key. A curious, complex, and captivating key. She’s the key to life. To life without rules, without obligations.
I know what I need to do now. I can see my future so clearly. It’s not behind a desk or in front of cameras. It’s with her.
The kettle whistles and I quickly pour the steaming water into a mug. I take a sip of tea, relishing the fragrant taste of bergamot. It’s warm. So warm. Like her.
Lost in a daze of hope and faith, I don't notice Emery until I feel her arms wrapping around my waist, her body pressing against mine from behind. A shiver runs down my spine as her hot breath tickles my neck, sending a debilitating tingle through my entire body.
"Good morning," she whispers, her voice husky with sleep. “You didn’t wake me up.”
I turn around, cupping her face in my hands. God, she’s here. She’s real. I lower my lips to hers, kissing her with everything I have.
“Mmm,” she hums, taking a long breath as we pull apart. “Are we going to do that often now?”
I smile, wiping the corner of her lips with the pad of my thumb. “If you’ll let me, Emery,” I say, voice dipping into a tender tone. “I’d kiss those lips for the rest of my life.”
She swallows, and I can feel her pulse quicken. “How’s the tea?”
“Good, I hope,” I say, turning around and pouring her a cup. “Careful. It’s hot.”
“Thank you.” Emery sits down on the bar stool and places her mug on the kitchen island, wincing as she sits down. I cast her a coy grin, and she rolls her eyes. “Oh, shut up. Don’t look so proud.”
I chuckle. “I haven’t said a word.”
“Uh-huh,” she chirps, pursing her lips.
I cock my head. “Don’t act like you’re not on cloud nine, Miss Jones.” I hold both of my hands up in the air. “Shall we count the number of times I made you come?” I lower my index finger. “One…”
She clicks her tongue, waving me off. “Grow up, Damon. Jesus.” She sighs, blowing into her tea. “So…” Emery nervously taps her nails against the ceramic mug. “What, uh… What happens now? Last night, you umm… You mentioned wanting to…leave Cavanaugh Industries. Were you serious about that?”
“Yes,” I say, straightening my posture. “I… I don’t think I’m what my company needs right now. The board… They’ve suggested I step down.” Her eyes widen. “It’s fine, Emery. I think this would be the best option for all parties.”
“But what about…” She clears her throat. “Will I still have a job?”
I frown, cocking my head. “Do you want a job, Emery? Do you want to work?”
She blinks. “Everyone needs to work, Damon. It’s called being an adult.”
I give her a gentle smile. Sometimes she can be so naive. “Simply because I won’t be the CEO anymore, Emery, doesn’t mean I’ll be broke. Based on my calculations, we’d have enough funds to live freely for the next four hundred years.”
She feigns a tiny scowl. “I’m not an idiot, Damon. I’m well aware of your financial blessings. Unfortunately, not everyone was born with a silver spoon glued to their tongue.”
“Wait here.”
She doesn’t get it. I sigh, leaving the kitchen for a second to retrieve an item that would show, once and for all, that she’ll never have to worry about money ever again. About anything ever again. I keep my hands behind my back as I reenter the kitchen.
Emery’s frown deepens as she studies me.
“I don’t like the look on your face right now,” she says warily. “What’s going on?”
“I…” My confidence wavers for a second as the gravity of my impending proclamation hits me. With a dry mouth, I slowly reveal the velvet box, and shock spreads across Emery’s fresh face.
“Damon.”
A thick lump forms at the back of my throat as my shaky fingers open the box.
She draws in a sharp breath as she takes in the black diamond engagement ring—a perfect representation of my twisted love for her.
The obsidian stone is rare and mystifying.
Like Emery, it’s special, unique, and one of a kind.
A black diamond isn’t for everyone. But it suits us. It suits her.
“I…” My tone grows hoarse as I meet her stunned gaze.
“I know this is not the most conventional way to ask this question. But nothing about us is conventional.” I reach across the counter and take her hand in mine.
She remains silent. Frozen. “I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Emery, and I’ll spend the rest of my life regaining your trust. You…
” My voice wavers. “You have saved me, Emery. Before you, I was… I was lost. I was so fucking…sad.” She swallows.
“But after you… After you, everything changed. I… I wanted to live again. I wanted to breathe again.”
“Damon…”
Resolve washes over me, and I spill my guts out to her. “Marry me, Emery. Take a chance and marry me. If you do…” I glance down at the ring. “I promise you will never have to sit in the darkness alone ever again.”
“Damon…” Emery takes a sharp breath and stands up.
She places a hand over my beating chest, her voice low and gentle.
“I think…” She stares at the ring. “Don’t you think you’re being a little rash?
First your job, now this?” I hold my head up high, refusing to succumb to her hesitation.
“This… This a lot of changes in a short period of time. Perhaps…”
I place my hand over hers and shake my head. “I know what I want, Emery. I know what my heart wants.”
She nibbles on her bottom lip, deep in thought before she finally speaks. “What you’re offering is a lifetime, Damon. I…” She swallows. “I don’t have a lifetime to give you.”
She’s scared. It’s understandable. But she has no reason to be. All the logistics don’t matter. They’re an afterthought.
“Think about it, Emery,” I say, bringing her left hand up to my lips.
“I don’t need an answer today. Or even tomorrow.
Take as long as you need.” I glance down at the ring.
“This offer is valid for as long as it takes.” She swallows, chest rising and falling, and I bring her into my arms, whispering in her ear.
“I love you, Emery. Remember that when you give me your answer. I love you.” She doesn’t utter a word, merely stays cocooned in my embrace.
Space. She needs space to think. I pull back, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I’m going to shower and then we can head back to the city. I have some business to take care of.”
“Okay,” she whispers in a timid tone, and I head toward the bathroom.
Before I turn down the hall, I pause, looking over my shoulder.
Emery sits back down, her gaze glued to the velvet box.
She simply stares at it. No movements. No sounds.
Like she’s in a silent battle with herself.
And then, slowly, she takes a deep breath and picks up the box. She holds it. Still staring.
I leave her with her thoughts, praying they align with my own.
“Stepping down?!” Javier roars, pacing back and forth in front of my desk. “Have you lost your fucking mind, Damon?”
I bury my face into my hands. “I thought this is what you wanted, Javier. I don’t understand—”
“No! You don’t understand, do you?” he grunts, slamming his fist down.
“This is your company, Damon. Yours. You can’t just walk away.
Do you think I’ve been hard on you because I wanted you to fail?
To give up? No! It’s because I wanted you to step up!
To step up and be the man your father hoped you’d become! ”
My temples pulse as we go around in circles.
“What if I’m not that man, Javier? Hmm? You keep saying this is my company, but it’s not.
It never was. It was and will always be my father’s vision.
Not mine.” I glance up at Javier, his anger palpable.
“Draw up the contracts, Javier. I’ve made up my mind. ”
Javier's hands tremble with fury. “You are not leaving, Damon. I won’t have it.”
“It’s not your choice, Javier,” I grunt, irritated by his insubordination. “I’ve made my decision. Given my history, I doubt the board will waste a second finding a new chief executive officer. If you truly care about this company, then you know it’s the right thing to do.”
Javier clenches his teeth. “Your father built this company from the ground up, Damon. This…” He motions around the office. “This is his legacy. And he left it to you!”
“I didn’t ask for it!” I growl, abruptly standing up. “I didn’t ask for him to die and leave this responsibility! This organization was my father’s dream, his vision, and it succeeded because he built it with his goddamn heart, Javier. My heart was and will never be like his.”
Javier scoffs, releasing a string of broken maniacal laughs.
“Your heart? Your heart?! This isn’t about your fucking heart, Damon.
This is about duty!” He runs a frantic hand through his thinning hair.
“Your heart… Is that a joke? And what about your heart, Damon? Huh? What does this little heart of yours want to do instead?” His tone turns vile.
“Does your little heart want to paint pretty pictures? Is that what it wants?”
“That’s enough!” I demand as my office door creaks open and Miranda pokes her head in.
“Uhhh…” she stammers. “I’ll come back—”
“No. We’re done here.” I glare at Javier. “What is it?”
“Oh, umm…” She clears her throat. “Alfonso was wondering if, umm… If she said yes? The ring? Did she like it?”
Javier loses his mind. “Alfonso?!” he yells. “A ring? Please do not tell me you proposed to that fucking whore?!”
“Out!” I yell, pointing to the door. “Right now. Don’t make me call security on you. Get out!”
Miranda sheepishly glances at Javier, coming to my rescue like a maiden in shining armor.
“Mr. Cortes, perhaps you’d like to take a walk with me, hmm?
Cool down a little?” She takes a step toward him, attempting to defuse the situation, but Javier recoils from her grasp and marches out of the room, cursing under his breath.
Miranda lets out a shaky breath. “Sorry. I tried.” She hesitates before asking, “Are you… Are you okay?”
I glance at the ticking clock. Shit, it’s later than I thought. “No,” I say, grabbing my phone off the desk and pocketing it. “But I will be.” I look up at Miranda. “You should go home. Christmas is in a couple of days. Go spend it with your family.”
“But what about—”
“It can wait,” I state, grabbing my jacket off the hanger as I text Emery that I’m on my way home. “There are more important things in life than work. Enjoy the holidays, Miranda. I’ll see you in the new year, okay?”
“You too, sir,” Miranda coos, stopping herself. “I mean, you too, Mr. Cavanaugh.” She offers me a warm smile. “And, uh, congratulations?”
I leave without acknowledging the latter. I don’t want to jinx it. I don’t want to celebrate before I get a concrete answer. Anxiety infiltrates my chest as I drive back to the condo. I know she needs time. Emery’s not one to make hasty decisions. But the uncertainty kills me.
“Hello?” I call out, stepping into my condo. “Emery? Are you here?” I round the corner to find her sitting on the couch, gaze focused on her phone screen. “Emery?” She gasps, face pale as she pushes her phone away. Her features turn distraught. “Emery…? What’s wrong?”
She swallows, feigning a smile. “Nothing, I just, umm… I just woke up from a nap.” Her gaze flits to the coffee table, and my heart drops.
Set beside her phone is a gaudy earring.
“Oh, I… I found this between the bed frame and mattress.” She holds it up, tilting her head.
“Yours?” She examines it. “It’s a bit…loud for you, don’t you think? ”
Panic sets in as I sit down beside her. “Emery, I’m not—” I close my eyes.
The truth. She’ll understand. “It’s, umm…
” She perks up a curious brow, but I don’t sense judgment or hurt.
“Before I met you I…” My voice falls low and ashamed.
“I have a hard time falling asleep alone. You… You know that. Before I met you, I’d… hire professionals to—”
“Fuck?”
“No.” I swallow. “To stay with me…until I fell asleep.” I inwardly cringe. “I know it sounds strange, but I…”
My eyes open as Emery places her warm palm on my knee. Empathy radiates off of her, and I take a comfortable breath.
“It’s okay, Damon,” she whispers. “I’m not…
mad.” Her brows furrow as she glances back at the coffee table, gaze flicking between her phone and the velvet box.
“But tell me…” She faces me, her gaze so piercing it almost hurts.
“Is there anything else I should know?” She pauses, searching my sullied soul. “Any more secrets?”
“No,” I lie. “You know everything now.”
Everything that matters.
Because nothing else does.