Page 39 of The Don’s Virgin Obsession

Sade

“Everything with him felt simple… and I didn’t know if that was a good thing or not.”

Isat on the contract longer than I should have. Not because I was scared, but because I had to break the news to my team and my scheduling arrangement.

Now it was a week later, and I told Vaughn I was on the way to the structure.

I pulled up alone, boss energy turned up. But when I walked in, I powered down a bit and smiled.

“What is this? For us?” I asked as I approached the desk.

He had two dozen red-and-white roses from A Million Roses, two bottles of rosé Cliquot, and balloons.

“Nah, not for me… for you. You earned this,” he said, walking around the desk.

I smirked. “But I haven’t done anything yet.”

He took my hand, and I let him. “You’ve done enough.”

He pulled the chair out, and I sat down.

I put the folder that held the contract on the desk.

“I wanted to sign it in your face.”

I took the contract out, picked up his pen, and signed my name neatly. I slid it to him. He wasted no time signing under my name.

He smiled, showing off his pearly whites and small gap. “We locked in now for two years, maybe more.”

He picked up a champagne bottle and popped it.

He poured into two glasses. “Have a drink with me before you leave.” He handed me the glass.

We talked about first-day plans over drinks. Thirty minutes later, I looked at the time, remembering I had a date at my office.

“We can talk more as the days go by, but I have another meeting to attend.”

“Okay, but don’t leave without this.” He slid a black envelope to me.

I opened it.

“The first 500 grand. Congrats,” he said.

I damn near wanted to cry. “Thank you so much for this opportunity and for even considering my company. We won’t let you down,” I said it like a promise.

“I know you won’t. Go handle your business.”

I took my flowers and unopened champagne for Laila and me later.

I walked out of his office still holding the envelope, the weight of it sitting different in my hand. Not heavy… just real.

I got in my car and sat there for a second before pulling off, my phone lighting up on the seat next to me.

His name popped up.

Marcus. My date I didn’t match with.

I had told Malik after our first date that we didn’t match. It wasn’t forced, it just didn’t feel like something I needed to keep going. He didn’t argue it, didn’t press me about it either.