Diamond Tears | Book 2 of The Champagne Chronicles

F O U R - Unveiling Shadows

The streets of Monte Carlo were quiet tonight, the soft glow of the city lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. Yves walked at his usual pace, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, music pulsing softly through his earbuds. Late-night walks like these always brought a flood of memories, and tonight was no different.

Yves was a nostalgic soul—of all his friends, he was the one who always looked back. He chuckled to himself as a familiar song shuffled through his playlist, transporting him back to a specific moment: the time they had performed with their band in the heart of Monte Carlo, playing for passing tourists and locals. They were doing what they loved, just enjoying the music—until security from the Arnault Hotel had caught them.

At the time, it had been tense. They were just teenagers, thrilled by the energy of the city, but when the security guards approached and threatened to call the police, Yves had felt his heart race. Benoit had been cool about it, but the whole ordeal had been stressful at the time. They'd been forced to work off their "debt" at the hotel, a task none of them had enjoyed. Still, looking back, Yves found himself laughing at how seriously they had taken it. What mattered was that their music had brought them together, creating memories they'd always share.

Yves sighed and found a bench tucked away near the sidewalk. He sat down, pulling out his notebook—a habit he'd picked up over the years. Lyrics often came to him at random times, and tonight, inspiration struck as the memories swirled in his mind. He scribbled a few lines, capturing the feeling of longing and nostalgia that always seemed to haunt him.

But as he wrote, something caught his eye. Across the street, near the entrance of a dimly lit alley, he saw two figures standing in the shadows. Vincent Grimaldi and Benoit Arnault.

Yves frowned, watching them for a moment. It wasn't unusual to see people out late at night in Monte Carlo, but this—seeing Benoit and Vincent together, away from the crowds—felt different. Benoit, smoking a cigarette, stood with a posture that seemed more rigid than usual, while Vincent's cool, collected demeanor was unmistakable. Though their conversation was low, Yves could catch snippets of it: "You know what will happen if you don't keep your end of the deal," Vincent's voice sharp with a warning.

Benoit exhaled, his tone more restrained, but the tension in his body was clear. "I never wanted it to come to this, Vincent. But you made sure I had no choice."

Yves leaned back slightly, trying not to draw attention to himself, but his curiosity was piqued. What were Vincent and Benoit discussing that required such secrecy? Yves didn't know the details of Daphne and Vincent's fake relationship—just that it had been a public display. Was this about Daphne? And why did it sound like Vincent was holding something over Benoit?

Vincent's voice cut through the air again, a bit colder this time. "If you reach out to her, everything falls apart for you. Don't forget that."

Yves strained to hear more but could only catch Benoit's frustrated response: "I didn't forget. I won't."

The conversation ended abruptly, with Vincent stubbing out his cigarette and nodding toward the alley. He disappeared without another word, while Benoit lingered for a moment, exhaling smoke into the cool night air before walking away in the opposite direction.

Yves sat there for a few moments longer, processing what he had just seen. He hadn't thought much about Benoit lately; in fact, he hadn't seen him in a while. The conversation between Vincent and Benoit, though, stuck with him. It seemed Vincent had leverage over Benoit—something serious enough to keep him from reaching out to Daphne.

He shook the feeling off, closing his notebook as he stood up to continue his walk. Monte Carlo was full of powerful families with secrets—maybe this was just one of those things he wasn't meant to understand