Mister Diamond

by Chance Carter

  Dexter came back to this world and glared at me. “What was that for?”

  “I’ve been trying to get your attention.”

  “There’s no need for violence,” he huffed.

  I indulged in a second eye roll. “You’re on the clock, remember?”

  “How could I forget you tangling me in your corporate web.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Should I find another artist to work on the project?” I started gathering the papers laid out over his paint-stained table and Dexter straightened in alarm.

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry I zoned out.”

  I shot him a flat look.

  “And I’m sorry I referred to the project you have so graciously included me in part of your corporate web.”

  “Better.” I fanned the pages out again. “Natasha and Vicki are putting a lot of trust in me for this. I need you on your A game.”

  “I don’t have any other kind of game,” he replied with a cocky grin.

  “Pay attention then.”

  “I can’t help it,” he whined. “All I see when I close my eyes is red. The color of her hair. The color of fire and blood and passion. It’s enough to drive a man mad.”

  “I assume you’re talking about Molly?”

  He nodded, though turned his eyes back to the page in front of him rather than meeting mine. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together recently and she’s firmly wedged herself into my brain.”

  I’d figured as much when I entered his loft this afternoon and came face to face no less than half a dozen red-soaked paintings. He’d gone through a bevy of muses before, but I’d never seen Dexter so smitten.

  “If you’re going to go crazy and cut off an ear or something, just make sure you don’t do it while I’m paying you,” I said. “The budget’s tight.”

  He snorted indignantly. “My darling, Dominik, in order to go crazy I’d have to be sane to begin with.”

  “Point taken.”

  We both laughed, and Dexter shoved a page under my nose. We were working on a marketing campaign for Rocks and I’d called in Dexter to do some of the art. I figured he’d have a fresh take that I could combine with Vicki’s already stunning visuals, and so far I didn’t regret my decision.

  “How about something like this?” he asked. “I know your girl is used to working with lighter colors, but I think it would be a good way to dramatize the work and draw the eye.”

  I contemplated the dark, swirling design in front of me and gave a short nod. “Not bad.”

  “Not bad?” he repeated with distaste.

  My third eye roll of the day. “Dexter, remember what I said about being flexible?”

  He sighed. “You’re right, of course.” With a grumble, he added, “You have an annoying talent for being so.”

  I laughed.

  Dexter started sketching something onto a blank piece of paper, bent over in concentration. “So, have you come to regret turning down daddy’s offer yet?”

  I lifted a brow. “Why? You think I will?”

  “No.” He glanced up at me. “But with the pressure of moving and everything...”

  I shook my head, though a flash of displeasure went through me at the thought of all my stacks of boxes at home. “It could be enough pressure to turn a lump of coal into a diamond and it still wouldn’t be enough,” I answered. “Speaking of which, I want to do something special for Gemma.”

  Dexter paused and I had his full attention. “What kind of special? Moonlit Caribbean cruise special or wash the sheets because they’re covered in chocolate special?”

  “Neither,” I said. “I’m going to need your help and it’ll take a little time.”

  “Now you have my interest.” He pushed the papers aside and rested his elbows on the table. “I’ll do anything except scenes of a sexual nature. Who am I kidding? I’ll do that too.”

  “Glad to have you on board,” I said with a laugh. “Luckily for everyone involved, there’s no nudity required.”

  I made it back home a couple of hours later after making a preliminary plan with Dexter, grabbing my mail from the lobby on the way. I wouldn’t be able to call it home for much longer. The sight of the boxes stung, and I tried to visualize them as the building blocks of my next adventure. I failed.

  Still, I had a lot to be happy about. I had Gemma, a promising career ahead of me, and a future full of possibilities. It felt small to get hung up on one measly apartment, but this place had always been so much more than that for me.

  When I found somewhere new, however, I was sure it would mean even more. Because Gemma would share it with me. I hadn’t asked her yet, but I would soon. And I couldn’t think of any reason she’d say no.

  I tossed the mail onto the kitchen island, ready to get back down to the boring work of packing. The letters fanned and I noticed a familiar crest in the corner of one of the letters—that of my father’s lawyer.

  Curiosity compelled me to pick it up, even though I knew the contents would likely ruin my day. When was the last time any correspondence from my father had been a good thing, minus his recent temporary loss of sanity?

  I opened the letter and began to read. “Dear Mr. Orlov, please review the enclosed documents regarding the recent changes to Fyodor Orlov’s Last Will and Testament...”

  I furrowed my brow and kept reading, lips soundlessly repeating the words.

  I couldn’t believe it.

  I flipped through the pages, at first not understanding what I was seeing. It couldn’t be possible.

  But, sure enough, there it was—in ink and paper, the confirmation of my re-inclusion into my father’s will. More than that, another page detailed my father’s recent purchase of my penthouse, and requested a few signatures to confirm its return into my possession.

  I dropped the pages onto the counter and stared at them, as though they might at any point burst into flame and disappear.

  Fyodor put me back in his will.

  Fyodor bought my penthouse.

  Fyodor was giving my penthouse back to me.

  It was as close to an apology as I’d ever receive from the old man, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I had no idea what had spurred him to make such a sweeping consolatory gesture, and normally I’d question the sincerity of his motives, but something about our last interaction made me sure that there weren’t any hidden intentions with the gift. It was my father making amends.

  I picked my phone up and dialed Gemma’s number without another beat, needing to hear her voice. Bursting to ask her the question I’d been rolling over in my mind for some time now.

  “Hey you,” she answered. “Don’t tell me you’re cancelling our date tonight.”

  “Not at all, Diamond.” I grinned against the receiver and nudged the box nearest to me with my foot. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Shoot. I’ve got about five minutes before Rosa hits me with her death glare.”

  “How would you like to move in with me?”

  Silence from the other end of the line, and I started to worry I was moving too quickly. Was it crazy to move in together this early in the relationship? I didn’t think so, didn’t feel it, but if Gemma—

  “YES!” she shrieked. “Oh my god, Nik, yes! When I come over tonight we can start looking at places. You’re serious, right? Please tell me you’re serious and I’m not being super weird right now.”

  I chuckled. “I’m serious, Diamond. And as for looking at places, that won’t be necessary.”

  “You’ve already found somewhere?”

  I smiled at the hint of disappointment in her voice.

  “No, there’s just no need,” I replied, and my chest filled with warmth. “We’re staying right here.”

  Chapter 34

  Gemma

  Six months later...

  I lugged my backpack further up on my shoulder and stepped out onto the sidewalk, clenching my teeth at the chill. It was still light out when I entered the building, and the sudden dark and cold bit
into my skin and I decided that the walk to the subway would be my fastest yet.

  That was the problem with evening classes, I supposed, though I didn’t mind. I’d take classes at four am every day if it meant I got to follow my dream. And it wouldn’t be that much longer until my dream would become a reality.

  I turned down the street and began to walk when someone called out, “Gemma!”

  I turned toward the voice and recognized Molly standing by the curb a few yards away, waving at me. My brow knitted in confusion.

  “Hey,” I said, approaching her. “What are you doing here?”

  She was standing next to a sleek black town car and patted the roof. “Get in.”

  Without waiting another beat for me to question her further, Molly ducked into the car and scooted across the back seat, leaving the door open for me. Rather than getting in, I bent low and stared in at her.

  “What’s this all about?”

  “Gemma, love of my life, get in the damn car.” She smiled sweetly.

  I sighed and tossed my backpack onto the floor, shuffling in beside her and shutting the door. The driver took off without another word, and I turned to my best friend.

  “This has something to do with Nik, doesn’t it?” I asked.

  Molly had found something very interesting out the other window and turned away, pretending as though she couldn’t hear me. I groaned in frustration.

  “Molly... Come on.”

  She started whistling.

  Resigning myself to a quiet journey, I sat back and watched out the window as we drove away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city toward a more industrial section of town, trading apartment blocks and sky scrapers for flat roofed warehouses and trucks.

  My stomach squirmed as I played through the possibilities of where we might end up. Would Nik be there? Would my father? No, Molly wouldn’t betray me like that. I wasn’t afraid per se, but adrenaline zapped through my veins and pushed me to high alert. Wherever we were headed, it would be somewhere important. I knew that for sure.

  The car slid down a deserted back alley and stopped. Gemma hopped out and I followed her leave, too excited to even remember my backpack. I jogged after her as she turned a corner.

  At first I saw only Nik, standing in front of a large white building with a smile etched into his handsome features. Then I saw Dex beside him, who grinned at Molly and pulled her into his arms.

  Then I noticed the building wasn’t white at all, but rather covered in a gigantic white sheet.

  The three of them smiled at me, and I tossed an uneasy smile back.

  “Why do I get the feeling I’m about to be initiated into a cult?”

  Molly snorted. “Because you’re paranoid and weird.”

  Nik laughed and walked forward, gathering my hands in his. “Hey.”

  “Hey,’’ I said back. “Come here often?”

  Nik ignored my remark, though his lip ticked up in amusement. “Have I ever told you why I call you Diamond?”

  I shook my head. “I figured it was pretty self-explanatory, like all pet names. Diamonds are pretty, they’re precious. That kind of thing.”

  Nik’s lip tugged up at the side and he brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. Just like that very first time he’d done it when we stood in Central Park, two people figuring each other out, it sent shivers down my spine.

  “You’ve got it all wrong,” he replied.

  I cocked a brow. “So I’m not pretty or precious?”

  Nik placed a finger to my lips, though his dark eyes filled with humor. He grabbed my hand and guided me over to where Dex and Molly stood, front and center by the white sheet and whatever it concealed.

  “People don’t pay thousands of dollars for diamonds because they sparkle,” Nik said, turning me to face the wall and sliding his arms around my waist. His chest to my back, soft words tickling my ear with every breath. “If it were that simple, crystals and cut glass would be just as precious. But they’re not. Diamonds are hard to find. They take time. They come from material as common as dirt and dust, and undergo a process of unbelievable pressure and heat that doesn’t weaken them, but makes them stronger than anything else on this Earth. They’re beautiful because they’re rare and resilient and can’t be manufactured.”

  “If you brought me here to pitch a new Rocks commercial, I swear to God...”

  Nik pinched my hip. “Sometimes they’re a pain in the ass.”

  “We’re still talking about diamonds, right?”

  Nik kissed my neck and stood straight, making some sort of gesture behind me. Before I could ask what he was doing, the sheet began to ripple toward the ground.

  My mouth fell open, and I leaned back against Nik for support.

  The brick wall was a masterpiece. Diamonds of every shape and size, every style and color, rained down the side of the building. And, in beautiful cursive script across the middle, read the words “The Gemma Diamond Foundation”.

  I spun to face Nik. “What...?”

  He ran his thumb down my cheek, stroking my lower lip. “Next month, Rocks is going to launch a new style of ring called the Gemma,” he explained. “With all proceeds going toward the new Gemma Diamond Foundation.”

  “The Gemma Diamond Foundation?”

  “It’s a charity. One that I was hoping you’d help me run.” Nik looked up at the mural, smiling. “Its purpose is to encourage youth to find their true potential. And you’re looking at its headquarters.”

  I looked at the building in a new light, barely registering that Molly and Dex were still there. I could feel Nik’s warmth behind me and threaded my fingers through his, unable to form words that would say how happy I was. How grateful. How madly, desperately in love.

  “Thank you,” I managed to whisper, but it wasn’t enough.

  Nik let go of my hand and stepped in front of me. “That’s not all.”

  “It’s not?” I gulped, heart pounding in my throat.

  He smiled mischievously. “I’ve got the archetype for the Gemma ring right here,” he said, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small, purple box. He flicked it open and slid down to one knee. “I was hoping you’d wear it. As my wife.”

  Heat exploded in my chest and I let out a weird, strangled but gleeful noise. Rather than having a normal reaction—an excited, “Yes! Of course”, perhaps shedding a tear or two—I tackled Nik to the wet pavement.

  “Yes!” I screamed. “Yes! Yes! Yes!”

  Nik laughed and kissed me, apparently oblivious to the dirt or the chill seeping into his suit. He sat up and moved me until I was straddling him, and then kissed me like it was the first time. And like it was the last.

  “Diamond,” he murmured against my lips. “My diamond.”

  And in those words, I heard his love for me, felt it like raindrops kissing my skin. I saw my future in those words, and I saw the past too. Not in the way I used to, the hulking, shadowy menace that lurked behind every corner and waited for me to slip and fall.

  My past was the pressure cooker that had sculpted me into the person I was today, the person I smiled at every day in the mirror. Gemma Lennox, maid extraordinaire, with the world at her feet.

  Gemma Lennox, Nik’s Diamond.

  Epilogue

  Dominik

  Three years later...

  I jammed my finger on the buzzer again, breathing through my annoyance. I tried to remind myself not to take out my stress on those around me, especially those doing me a favor. It didn’t help when Molly opened the door and my little girl rushed into my arms with a streak of blue paint on her cheek.

  I squatted to hug Evelyn, kissing her forehead while simultaneously glaring at the silver head that appeared in the doorway.

  “Dexter, just one time I would like to pick up my daughter without her being covered in paint.”

  Dexter wrapped an arm around Molly and shot me a lazy smile. “What can I do? She’s a natural artist. Isn’t that right, Evie?”

  Evie giggled ma
niacally and hid her face. I forced her to look at me and licked my thumb, trying to rub some of the paint off her cheek. She had her mother’s eyes, a deep sea green that now sparkled with mischief. The only thing the little monkey seemed to have inherited from me was a thick mop of wavy black hair and a knack for rebelling against her father.

  “She never looks like this after a trip to grandma’s,” I muttered.

  “You mustn’t stifle her creativity, Nik. Otherwise she’ll grow up to be just as boring as you.”

  I checked my watch and stood, grabbing Evie’s hand. “I would argue with you, but we’re going to be late.”

  “Good luck,” Dexter said, waving. “Remember that you’re a smashing success with the world at your feet.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Uh, thanks.”

  I snapped Evelyn into her car seat, giving her a little poke on the nose before slipping back into the front. Dexter was right, I supposed. Under my leadership, Rocks had become a smashing success, with the Gemma ring still being one of our best sellers. Sometimes I took for granted how easily things could have slid into chaos had the winds of change blown another way. It was worth reflecting on, especially today when I could use every bit of confidence. Try as I might, I couldn’t help being a little nervous.

  “We’ve just got to pick up Mommy and then we’ll be on our way,” I said, pulling onto the street. I tossed back a baby wipe. “I’ll give you a cookie if you can get that paint off your face before we get there.”

  Evelyn stuck out her tongue and made her best effort at the blue mark. My phone buzzed and I glanced at the console screen, then hit the speaker button.

  “Dearest Bernie, this better be important,” I answered.

  “You know I wouldn’t call you if it wasn’t,” she said. “I thought you’d want to know that I just got off the phone with Forbes. They want to do a feature on you in next month’s issue.”

  “You mean on Rocks,” I corrected.

  “One and the same these days.”

  “Tell them I’ll call them next week. See if they want to add a little column about superstar assistants.”

  “If you think buttering me up is going to get you out of giving me a raise this quarter, you’re off your rocker.”