All Chapters of DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH : Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Chapter 120: The Ridge SentinelThe storm over the Hudson Valley was really bad at midnight. It tore through the pine trees that lined the steep road to the ridge. The armored Escalade drove through the storm, its windows getting hit with rain as it made its way up the final mountain turns. After the corporate wars in Brussels and the problems in the French Riviera, going back to their private place felt more like a military deployment than coming home.Julian sat in the dark back seat, his big body straight and giving off a lot of energy. His dark shirt was open at the neck. His jaw was set in a hard line. His gray eyes kept looking at the estate's security dashboard. His big hand was on Elena's back holding her close to him. This showed that he was in charge of her safety as they entered their borders, which had been compromised.Elena had her high-security command unit on her lap. Its blue light shone on her face. She had a quartz pendant around her neck and a silver band on her ha

Chapter 122: The Manhattan Re-alignmentThe wood fire in the library was crackling, the only sound competing with the heavy rain hitting the big windows of the villa. The room was a space with dark wood shelves, old leather books and comfy velvet armchairs but it felt tense, like a war room.​Julian stood by the fireplace with a glass of scotch in his hand. He wasn't drinking it. He wore a black sweater and his big frame looked strong and alert. His gray eyes reflected the flickering flames staring out into the dark valley. His business empire was secure. He was still on high alert.​Elena sat at the oak desk typing away on the computer. She had a charcoal shawl wrapped around her and a raw quartz pendant hung still against her neck. On her hand a simple silver band caught the warm light of the fire as she worked on some encrypted files from Thomas Vance's device.​"Thomas wasn't just talking to Geneva, " Elena said, her voice clear and calm. She worked her magic on the files uncoveri

Chapter 124: The Citadel GatesThe tires of the Escalade screeched on the wet concrete of the Teterboro tarmac. The Gulfstream’s stairs had not even fully lowered yet. The rain in New York was a drizzle. It turned the skyline into glowing monoliths against the pre-dawn sky.Julian led the way down the steps. His movements were smooth and full of energy. His black cashmere overcoat was blown by the wind.. His big frame stayed upright. He was like a shield against the elements. The moment Elena reached the step his big arm wrapped around her waist. He lifted her over the pooling water. He held her close to his side. Marcus held the door of the vehicle open.Inside the SUV it was not quiet and luxurious like the jet. It was like a command center. Three tactical monitors were on the partition wall. They showed real-time security feeds from Vane Tower’s garage to the penthouse.Elena put her mobile command unit into the central dashboard cradle. She linked her VALE_09 engine to the vehicle

Chapter 126: The Sovereign SkyThe double doors of the meeting room closed behind Harold Vance and his team of lawyers, the sound echoing through the huge room like a final decision. The eighty-fifth floor was quiet now with no frantic movements from the old people in charge, just the calm power of the new group. The morning sun finally came out from behind the mist in Manhattan casting beams of light across the shiny black table reflecting off the glass walls like a new beginning.Julian stood by the windows, his long coat thrown over a chair. His big frame was outlined against the city waking up below his shoulders strong and proud. The big battles in the world and the secret computer attacks were over; the accounts were settled, but his gray eyes were still focused, his attention shifting from defense to total control.He did not look out at the city for long. His gaze went back to the room focusing entirely on Elena.Elena sat at the head of the meeting table with a charcoal scarf

Chapter 128: The Architecture of TrustThe smell of burning wax and old paper hung in the air for a moment before the clean heat of the pine logs took over. The last black ashes of their marriage agreement crumbled into nothing on the hearth. The old framework that had brought them together under pretenses was gone. All that was left was what they had built on top of it.Elena sat on the edge of the oak desk. Her hands rested lightly on Julian's shoulders. The midday sun shone through the windows highlighting the dust motes in the air and the intense focus in Julian's eyes. He hadn't broken eye contact since the paper caught fire. His big hands rested flat on the desk on either side of her thighs. He trapped her within his space."You are remarkably quiet for someone who just saw her safety burn " Julian said. His deep voice was low and gravelly. A hint of amusement played on his lips."The safety net was a temporary thing, Julian, " Elena replied. Her voice was steady and clear. She