Beneath His Diamond Heart

Ghosts Never Stay Buried

I hit a wall of air in my throat.

"...That's impossible."

It was with a barely audible voice that Damien said something, but the look on his face was even greater than words!

It was the millionaire who had scared me stiff with his assurance that was no more.

In front of me was a man who appeared... disturbed.

So I took to the old picture on our living room wall, which was hanging askew. It had been faded due to age, with edges faded due to years of being moved from one apartment to another. My mother's smile was a bright one, with my father standing beside her, I was a small child.

What can be more impossible, what do you mean? I asked cautiously.

Damien didn't answer.

His gaze was focused on the image.

“Have you known my mother?”

Silence.

His jaw tightened.

Then he turned to look at me.

"Who was she?"

I frowned.

"My mother."

"I know that."

He was not as placating as he had been.

Who was she? I asked.

I folded my arms.

Grace Cole was her name.

Damien was out of control for the first time in his life since meeting him.

His pupils widened.

His breathing started to become irregular.

"No..."

His voice was filled with disbelief.

"That's not possible."

I stared at him.

“Why are you going into this?

He closed his eyes for a few seconds and calmed himself down.

When he opened them up again, the billionaire mask was there.

Cold.Controlled.Unreadable.

"I made a mistake."

"A mistake?"

I was thinking of another guy.

I knew he was lying, I knew he was lying,

All my instincts within me cried out he was lying.

How he gazed at that picture...

None of them took such a reaction towards a stranger.

Sophie looked at us, puzzled.

Well, you really knew our mom, didn't you?

Damien glanced at her, then at me.

Sorry I woke you up, I'm sorry for bothering you.

He looked at the car that was waiting.

"Wait!"

I came between him and the fire.

Invite them to your house, cause ghost stories and then leave without saying anything.

His gray eyes were looking into mine.

For a few seconds we both remained silent.

"I'll explain."

Relief washed over me.

“...At the opportune moment.”

My frustration exploded.

When" is the question.The question is when"

After all that, you don't think I'm going to trust you?

"No."

He answered calmly.

I hope you will be asking questions.

I wished I didn't feel understood so much by him.

He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a cream-colored envelope.

I, personally, wasn't going to give this to you tonight.

He held it out.

But, maybe this will help.

I had some reservations about taking it.

It was significantly heavier than usual.

"What is it?"

Open it up when my back is turned.

I didn't get to ask him another question before he started heading back toward the Rolls-Royce.

The driver opened the rear door.

Damien stopped for just a second.

Without a glance round, he said quietly,

I'm still willing to come back to you, Miss Cole.

After that, he went on in the car.

I was standing in the rain holding on to the envelope tightly.

I was still in the apartment when Sophie snatched the envelope from my hand.

"Open it!"

I don't know if I should or shouldn't.

What if it's money?

"It could be anything."

She handed it back.

There's only one way to know.

Taking a deep breath, I broke the seal.

A number of papers were slid on the table.

Along with...

A black Credit Card.

My eyes widened.

"What..."

I was careful to pick it up.

No bank logo was seen.

No numbers are written on the front.

Two words in silver:

DAMIEN VAUGHN.

A note is written on the bottom.

If necessary, use it. No limits. No conditions. My offer is yours, however, and if you take it, no one should be homeless for any reason related to money. — D.V.

I read the note again and again.

Then a third time.

Sophie gasped.

"No limits?"

This must be a joke!

I picked up my cell phone.

"I'll call him."

Another paper came out of the envelope before I could dial.

This was not in the proposal.

It was a lot older.

Yellowed with age.

At the top there was a hospital logo.

I was shaking in my hand when I opened it up.

That was almost enough to bring me to a stop.

Birth Record

Mother: Grace Cole

Father: ...

The area was empty.

"What is this?" Sophie whispered.

I did some more scanning of the rest of the page.

There I spied a scrawled line at the bottom.

Confidential file sent by court order.

Just before I read anything else…

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

It wasn't Damien's voice on the other end.

It was a woman.

Cold.

Threatening.

If life is worth living, then...

she whispered,

"Stay away from Damien Vaughn.

The call disconnected.

I slowly lowered the phone.

I was observed by somebody.