All Chapters of DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Chapter 1: The Ghost of Viral Past The invitation was heavy with lettering; it felt like it could hurt someone. In the world of Manhattan high-society parties a Vane invitation was not a piece of paper it was a ticket to the most exclusive group of people. Elena Rossi stared at the names on the invitation Mr. Silas Vane and Miss Penelope Wright until the letters started to blur. Her assistant, Marcus whispered to her "Elena you are doing it again you are getting that twitch in your eye you are going to scare the people who are serving the food." Elena. I tried to relax her face. She smoothed out her dress and held her clipboard tightly. "I am not scared Marcus, I am focused. This job is the thing that can save my company from going bankrupt. I do not care if the groom is a Vane. I am here for the money." Marcus said softly "It is not the groom you're worried about, it is the Best Man." Elena did not answer she could not. It had been five years. She could still hear the sound of h

Chapter 3: The High Altitude Trap The private jet soared over the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies.. The air inside the cabin felt really thin. ​Elena sat across from Julian in a leather armchair. A glass of champagne sat on the mahogany table between them. For two hours they had been playing a high-stakes game of "Truth or Dare" without the dares. Julian had a file on her—names of her childhood pets, her GPA from design school, her favorite poet. "You are really thorough, " Elena said. Her voice sounded tight. "Do you do background checks on all the women you date? Or am I special?" Julian didn't look up from his laptop. "I don't date Elena. I get interested in people.. When I'm interested I do my research." "I am not something you acquire, " Elena snapped. "In the eyes of the public you are the woman who tamed the Vane beast " Julian said. He finally closed his laptop. He leaned forward, his gaze boring into hers. "To my brother you are the woman making me human. To Penelope y

Chapter 5: The Weight of the RingThe air in the master suite felt heavy like it was made of lead. Elena stood in front of the mirror. She did not recognize the person staring back at her. She was wearing a midnight-blue silk gown that Julian had sent her. It was a gift. It felt like a trap."A year " she said to herself, her fingers touching the hollow of her throat. "One year as a Vane."The door to the dressing room. Julian walked in. He was wearing a tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He looked like a billionaire. He was holding a box and the diamond inside was catching the light."The investors are here, " Julian said, his voice cold. "The people from France are already at the bar. They want a perfect story. If they sense any problems they will pull out of the deal."Elena turned to face him, her silk skirts making a sound on the floor. "What about me? What happens to my life while I am pretending to be your fiancée? I have a business to run. I have a reputation to protect."Julian s

Chapter 7: The Midnight Flight The back stairs of the Westchester estate were really narrow. Dimly lit. They smelled of floor wax and old stone. Elena's high heels clicked on the wood stairs, a sound that seemed to echo the fast beating of her heart. Julian was ahead of her his fancy jacket was off and his white shirt sleeves were rolled up. He was moving through the servants quarters with a lot of focus. "Julian, wait " Elena said, trying to catch her breath. The cold air was making her lungs burn. "If we get married tonight there's no going back. People will not just see a wedding planner and a rich guy. They will see something." Julian stopped at the steel door that led to the service garage. He turned around. His face was partly hidden by the shadows.. His eyes were burning with a strong desire. "People already think we are up to something, Elena. This way we are in control. Sterling and your mom are at the door and they are not happy. We. Run or we fall." He pushed the door o

Chapter 9: The Unedited TruthThe cabin of the Gulfstream was quiet except for the hum of the engines as they flew over the Atlantic. Julian sat still staring at a video file he had not meant to open 'Rossi_Gala_Unedited'.Elena watched him from across the aisle, her heart beating fast. She saw his jaw drop and the blue light of the screen reflect in his eyes like a fading star."What is it?" she asked softly, her voice almost lost in the engine noise.Julian didn't reply at first. He clicked the file. The grainy video started playing. The night of the gala five years ago. It wasn't the edited clip that had gone viral and ruined her life. This was the ten-minute security feed from the service entrance.In the video a younger Elena was arguing with a delivery driver.. As the camera moved a shadow appeared in the background. It was Julian's father, Silas Vane Sr. handing an envelope to the catering staff head. Later the caterers loosened the centerpiece supports on purpose making it loo