Todos los capítulos de DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH : Capítulo 261 - Capítulo 270

Chapter 260: The Sovereign RealmThe afternoon sun started to go down over the mountains covering the private living area on the seventy-second floor with a golden color. Away from the strict formal space of the main meeting room and the black granite desk the inside place of the tall building was a place of soft materials, warm wood and quiet comfort a place meant for rest hidden behind three levels of security checks.Elena sat back on the velvet sofa, her dark hair flowing freely over her shoulders. She had changed from her business clothes to a dress made of soft silk that shone in the golden light with each small movement. In her hand she had a glass with cold wine but she was looking only at the man sitting next to her.Julian sat back on the cushions, his tall body completely relaxed. His shirt had the top button open. His sleeves were rolled up to his arms showing the faint silver marks of old wounds memories of fights he had won for her. His strong arm was behind her on the b

Chapter 262: The Western SlopeThe black luxury SUV moved along the two-lane mountain road without a sound, its heavy suspension taking every twist of the mountain road. Above the glass tower stood out in the pale morning sky like a single spear, its top floors catching the light of the early sun.For the time in fifteen years Julian was behind the wheel wearing a simple black linen shirt, his heavy tactical gear left in the big vault. Beside him in the seat Elena had her head on the leather headrest, her dark eyes watching the thick pine trees pass by the window. Her phone was off and not working inside her bag. A rule they had set before the lift doors shut on the seventy-second floor."Marcus just said the lower gate is closed behind us " Julian said quietly, his voice cutting through the quiet of the electric car. He didn’t look away from the road, his hands holding the wheel with easy control. "The people around the area have rules: no messages coming in unless the physical senso

Chapter 264: Beneath the Cedar BeamsThe golden afternoon light turned into a bright crimson as the sun slowly went behind the sharp edge of the western mountains making long calm shadows through the big windows of the lake house. Inside the steady sound of cedar logs burning in the big river-rock fireplace filled the simple living room with a nice dry warmth and the nice smell of pine smoke.Julian was sitting relaxed on the cushions of the middle leather sofa without his boots and thick clothes. Elena was lying next to him, her head on his wide chest while her dark smooth hair spread across his lap like a river of night. His big rough hand moved slowly and regularly down her feeling the quiet calm rise and fall of her breath against his ribs.For hours neither of them talked about company lists, borders or banking groups. The silence between them was no longer a watchful pause meant to expect an attack but a full easy comfort that came from fifteen years of shared struggles, sacrifi

Chapter 266: The Ripple on the Lake​The morning sun climbed higher over the granite peaks. It burned away the bits of mist in the valley until the lake looked like a smooth sheet of silver. A quiet breeze moved through the branches of the blue spruces. It carried the smell of pine needles into the open kitchen of the lake house.​Julian stood at the wooden island. He wore a charcoal grey t-shirt and dark trousers. His broad back was turned to the lake. Julian was busy pouring two steaming mugs of fresh coffee. Without his holster or heavy vest Julian did not look any less strong.. The dangerous tension that had lived in his body for fifteen long years had finally turned into a relaxed easy grace.​Elena leaned against the cedar doorframe that led to the stone patio. She wrapped a cream wool cardigan tightly around her silk gown. Her bare feet rested on the stone floor. Elena watched the sunlight dance across the water.​"I cannot remember the time I heard birds in the morning, " Elen

Chapter 268: The Quiet DominionAs twilight came over the valley the tall granite mountains turned a dramatic purple and then changed to the cool dark blue of night. A thin line of cedar smoke floated slowly from the lake house chimney going into the clear sky full of stars.Inside the open living room was filled with the golden light from floor lamps and the fire that crackled in the fireplace. Julian was by the wooden kitchen counter putting two hand-cut crystal glasses next to a bottle of old red wine, a bottle that had been in the lower cellar since the year they first met.Elena came out of the hallway wearing a cashmere sweater in deep burgundy that wrapped around her body nicely. Her dark hair fell over one shoulder catching the light from the fireplace as she walked towards him."You found the '08 reserve " Elena said softly with a look of happiness in her dark eyes. "My grandfather always said that the bottle was meant to be opened when the estate was completely out of debt."