Hello! Welcome to my new fic. I've had a loooong hiatus and I hope that my longstanding fans can forgive me for my brief disappearance. I hope you enjoy this. It's something that I have been toying with for a long time. I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its affiliated parties. Also, I have limited knowledge regarding the diamond/jewellery industry so forgive me for any blunders yes? Ta!

Author: Cher

Email: R (just in case hee)

In The Rough

Chapter One

All that Glistens

There was something to be said about a woman's hand. If she was well kept it was a testament to her lifestyle. Long nails adorn long fingers, polished and buffed to glimmer under even the dimmest lights. A woman's hand was just as much the inside to her life as her eyes. You could tell everything from a woman's hand. Jewellery was the advocate of this.

Is she wearing hulking pink diamonds on the middle finger? She's young, rich, bubbly and probably impeccably groomed to follow the latest designer trends.

What about a string of beads nestled simply on the thumb? Creative. This girl's jewellery is probably on par with her clothes - that is to say, homemade and all the more quaint for it. An artist in every sense of the word, her hands are probably speckled with paint as well as the random creations of jewellery you might find. She might be rich or poor materialistically speaking, but the girl with the homemade jewellery has wealth in her soul.

Ah the left ring-finger diamond. This is probably the happiest you'll ever see any woman. The left hand fingers will wave constantly throughout the day. Up and down and side to side, she wants you to see how beautiful her hands are now that they are graced by the presence of an engagement ring. Regardless of shape, colour, style and price the engagement ring is the ultimate achievement for a woman in this century.

That is what Usagi Tsukino used to think. Back when her own left ring finger was graced by the presence of the unique Harry Winston diamond her and her fiancé had designed together. Back then Usagi loved her feminine hands. Her nails were always French-tipped. Her hands were always spotless.

She looked down now to assess her once beautiful hands. They were pale now, no longer slender and elegant but skeletal. The nails were ripped and scaly from when she pulled off her last set of acrylics. She had a few scars on her hands now too. Evidence of the last two months she spent cleaning hotel rooms for the pittance her boss called a wage.

With a small sigh, Usagi reached into her handbag and grabbed a hair elastic. In a deft movement she had pulled her golden hair into a ponytail, her fringe still hanging irritably over one eye. Back when she had money the fringe was easily maintained. It was one of her trademarks. Her golden hair layered effortlessly downwards, across her back. She was what the Paris Hilton's and Jessica Simpson's ached to be and now her famous hair was growing at an alarming rate. She'd have to get it cut - after she paid her phone bill that is.

As if on cue her mobile phone shrieked to life. She reached in and grabbed the slim black flip-phone. It was yet another memento of her once comfortable life.

"Usagi Tsukino speaking." She said in a hushed tone, so not to disturb the other passengers on the train.

The voice on the other end of the line was mechanical and very American. "Will you accept a collect call from…Mina…?" Usagi's face lit up, the whispered voice of her familiar friend pulled a smile from Usagi. "Yes, yes of course." Usagi said quietly into the phone.

"Usa!" Minako's voice was whispered and hurried and so good to hear.
"Minako! It's so wonderful to hear from you!"
"Oh Usako, you too!" She giggled, the excitement clear in her voice. "Yaten would kill me if he knew what I was doing. I snuck out to the payphone, it's two blocks from our hotel but it's so worth it to hear your voice."

"H…how is he?" Usagi asked, feeling the stress spread it's way through her neck. "Yaten I mean."
"He's fine. Pish posh, I don't want to talk about him." Usagi could almost hear the smile on Minako's face. "How are YOU more importantly?"

Usagi forced a smile to her face, even though Minako couldn't see her. "Fine, I got a new job in the country. The pay is…" Usagi laughed softly at this point. "Well not what I'm used to of course but it's much more than my last job."

"God Usako! I'm so glad you got out of that bloody hotel. It may have five star services but by the sounds of things they treated you pretty miserably. How are you for money? Do you need a loan?" When Minako offered Usagi a loan what she really meant was she wanted to give Usagi money and forget about the transaction completely.

"No, no." Usagi could feel the tears of shame pricking at the back of her eyes. "Minako, this is something I must figure out myself. I made the mistakes and I must suffer the consequences."

Minako scoffed audibly into the phone. "Usa, I'd hardly call what happened between you and Seiya a mistake on your behalf. In any case if you get desperate you can always ask your parents." Her voice softened, she was so kind. "They're really quite worried about you Usa, you just…left everything behind you. Are you sure you don't want me to tell them where you are?"

"No! Minako please, I don't want anyone to know where I am. I shouldn't have even told you."

Minako gasped at this. "Usa, why would you say such a thing, you're like a sister to me."
Usagi smiled. "Suppose Yaten caught you talking to the woman who completely destroyed his best friends life. What would that do to your marriage?"

Usagi could hear Minako clicking her tongue on the other end of the line. "Usagi, I've known you since high school. Yaten would just have to deal with it." She said rather firmly. "The only reason I keep it secret from him is that it is so soon since the whole…ordeal."

"Well you're right, it was an ordeal and the best thing for everyone involved is for me to just disappear." Usagi chewed on her thumbnail nervously, worried at the consequences of contacting Minako all those weeks ago. "I should let you go Minako" she sighed softly "I don't want you to get in trouble."

"Nonsense, stop being so wibbly. Now I'll be over to visit you in a month's time. You best be back on your feet young lady or I'll be dragging you straight to Ami's office in London for a serious reality check." Minako said, her mother voice firmly in place.

"Thanks Minako, but no matter what state I'm in when you get here, I need to do this on my own."
"Usagi, I know this, but just don't turn away from your friends. Ami, myself, all the girls, we still love you no matter what. Quickly tell me about your new job before I have to sneak back to the hotel." More giggles.

"There's not much to tell. It's a live-in job so I'll be staying on the premises which means no rent but I'll be stuck in the countryside." Minako made a small noise of disgust. "The pay is good. They described the job as a kind of…personal assistant to a very busy man." Usagi said, feeling the nerves rise again.

"Yech, stuck in the country serving an old English coot! Honestly Usa, think about coming home. You can always move just out of Tokyo, away from everyone but still close by. Your parents will help you out."

"No Minako, I need to do this."
"Hai, of course you do. Must run; remember to call my super secret cell if you desperately need to. I love you Usa, take care okay!"

"Love you to Minako, thanks for calling. I miss you!"
"Hai, me too! Ja!"
Usagi smiled. "Ja!" She said this softly, snapping the phone shut. Minako just couldn't understand the idea of starting a new.

Usagi turned her attention to gaze out of the window as the cityscape of London melted into the green meadows of Southern England. She was headed for Kent, just South of London and she was scared. Usagi glanced down at the crumpled fax in her hand and sighed shakily. She read and re-read the information supplied to her.

Assistant/keeper of busy professional + Home

Must be well kept and have knowledge of social etiquette

Wages negotiable hours not

You will be required to live on the premises and will be on call most of the day and night.

Applicants must have prior experience in service industry

Usagi thought she sounded like the exact candidate they were after. After a few phone interviews and some transferring of paperwork it was eventually Usagi's mentioning of her Japanese upbringing that sealed the deal.

"You're not actually Japanese are you? Why your accent is as English as the Queen." Gushed the interviewer over the phone.

Usagi simply laughed. "No, I'm afraid not. My parents were English, I was born here but we moved to Tokyo when I was four." She explained to the interviewer how her parents were quite wealthy and hired a Japanese nanny to look after her as she grew up.

This, Usagi made clear, was where her Japanese heritage came from. If it weren't for Luna - a pet name for her nanny - Usagi would still be plain Jane 'Serena' from Yorkshire, England. If that were the case though, none of the mess with Seiya would have happened in the first place.

"Well I must say, those Japanese are awfully polite. Would you consider yourself like them?"
Usagi smiled, feeling a little rush of satisfaction as she blitzed the interview. "Oh yes, it's all I've ever known."
"Well Miss T…Tu…"
"Tsukino." Usagi proffered gently.
"Yes, yes very well. I think it's safe to say you've got the job young lady."
Usagi gasped in delight. "I haven't even met my employer…shouldn't you confer with him?"
The kindly woman on the other end of the phone laughed in delight. "Nonsense, when it comes to these kinds of decisions I always get the final say."

Usagi laughed and thanked the woman who informed her that she would need to be on a train at once.
So that was where Usagi was. Sitting on a train, replaying the events in her mind that led her to this fragile moment in her life. In a short while, Usagi had drifted off into a dreamless sleep, her once perfect hands resting possessively on her handbag.

----

"Welcome to Eastwell Manor, Miss Tsukino." A middle-aged redhead took Usagi's handbag from her and passed it onto the stiffly standing butler.

Usagi stared in awe at the ancient manor that towered before her. The manicured lawn stretched for acres either side of her. There were rose gardens, hedged mazes, and water fountains, all of it rising up from the grounds as if some kind of fairy tale was opening up in front of her. The house itself sat in the middle and was built of a beautiful coloured stone. It looked like a castle towering above her, three stories high with ancient vines creeping their way skyward across the silvery-grey stone. The front door itself was traditional of a castle, arched and high and made from heavy wood. Usagi could make out rich curtains inside the several windows that spotted the walls of the manor.

"It's so…" Usagi said, unable to finish her thought.

"Beautiful? It's nationally listed, a historic property dating back to…" Usagi felt a small smile tugging at her lips as she took in the immense gardens stretching onwards for acres, the woman who was speaking long forgotten..

The woman talking to her was Molly, a polite British woman who was head of the household staff. Her husband, Melvin helped the master with his books. They had, Molly revealed, been with the master for some time. Molly had served the masters parents when he was a toddler and in doing so had seen him grow into the powerful young businessman he was today. It was through the master that Molly had met her love Melvin.

Usagi smiled politely listening to the tale of her new boss' love story, pushing thoughts of Seiya from her mind.

"…And you're lucky enough to be sleeping just down the hall from us, so if you need anything at all you be sure to ring us on the intercom." Molly said handing Usagi a thick book of extension numbers that each were assigned to certain areas of the house. Usagi was having a bit of trouble taking it all in. While Molly continued her barrage of instructions, Usagi felt the throbbing beginnings of a migraine. It was so much to take in, the manor, the constant chatter, not to mention the instructions. With a shaky hand, Usagi pressed her temple in a feeble attempt to rid the impending pain.

"Bless me, are you alright, miss?" Molly said.

"Fine, if it's alright with you, may I have a quick lie down? I think all the travelling has caught up with me." Usagi said, smiling, her eyes apologetic.

"Of course, the Master can't meet with you till tomorrow anyway, you go ahead and have an early night, I've prepared your bathroom and like I said if you need anything, call us on the intercom."

Usagi nodded as they made their way through the maze of the house.

When they reached her room, Usagi couldn't mask her astonishment. While she was expecting a cramped, simple living quarter, what stood before her blew her away.

While it wasn't enormous, the room was large and spacious. Directly in front of the doorway was a semi-circular alcove that housed a desk, covered with all kinds of technological gizmos. A large wooden bed was revealed as Usagi and Molly stepped further into the room. It was tucked away to the left of the doorway, enclosed by the mini-hall in the entryway.

"I…I thought this was the servants quarters." Usagi said, completely bewildered

Molly simply smiled and said, "It is, Love. I've a feeling you've underestimated your position here though. If you feel up to it have a read of our policy and procedures we've left for you on the desk. I'll leave you be now, your bathroom is through that door on the right. Again, call if you need me." Molly left before a shocked Usagi could even utter her gratitude.

Her migraine forgotten, Usagi took a hesitant step into her room. Her hand lifted to touch the elegant design that curled across the cream wall. The bed was large, she thought maybe a king-size, with a beautiful brown spread. The detailing on the rich cotton was in gold and spread from the cover to the pillows. She turned her attention to the desk and noticed the curving window seat behind it that looked out onto the epic garden beneath it.

Usagi turned and noticed a rich wooden cupboard resting against the left wall. She resisted the urge to giggle with delight as the cupboard opened to reveal an entertainment system that featured anything and everything she'd need to unwind after a long day at work.

Usagi tore her eyes from the elaborate entertainment set up and made her way to the bathroom, a new bounce in her step.

She was speechless when she opened the bathroom door. An old-fashioned clawfoot tub sat completely at ease in the marble finished bathroom. A shower was nestled away in the corner and the room itself opened into a walk in robe that was half-full with a variety of clothes bearing the Eastwell logo. Her uniform perhaps? She wasn't too sure, though it was all her size.

Usagi had bought with her the bare essentials, underwear, toiletries, a few outfits from her days as a rich society wife and her beloved vintage 'Venus' by Dior. A vision of charcoal grey silk and net. It was worth more than her life, she thought, at this moment in time and Usagi delicately lifted it from the battered Louis Vuitton suitcase she had salvaged in time, before she walked out on Seiya. Two suitcases were all she took and one was filled with the dress that she treasured. She'd never even had the opportunity to wear it. Usagi gingerly hung it at the back of the wardrobe, hidden behind a line of three different coloured terrycloth bathrobes.

After Usagi had unpacked her belongings into the wardrobe she threw herself into the shower, eager to wash away the hours of travelling she had endured that day.

Could this be happening? She'd felt for sure she'd walked away from a life of luxury for good. Growing up, meeting Seiya, all of her life she had been pampered and comfortable. Now as she tried to live her life incognito she was once again thrust into the comfort and opulence of money. While the thought made her smile a little, Usagi was determined to keep her feet planted firmly on the ground. None of this belonged to her. It was the 'masters' and if she didn't do her job to his standards, he could promptly snatch it all away from her.

It was this thought that nagged at Usagi as she towelled herself dry. She slipped into her boy-leg pyjama bottoms and white cotton singlet and padded her way to the desk and found the policy and procedure documents that Molly had told her about. With a small sigh, she lifted her body onto the window seat and began thumbing her way through the hefty documents.

Mamoru Chiba hated his current situation. He gazed listlessly out of the window from his third story office. He was home, which explained why it felt so wrong to be working as hard as he was.

Mamoru was successful in every aspect of his life. He had money, more than enough, so much so that it was almost laughable. He had his family to thank for that. His ancestors had lived in Eastwell Manor since the 19th century. Mamoru's family originated in Japan, though their work in the jewel industry eventually led them to take up residence in England. They were one of few Japanese families that socialised in the high-class English aristocratic society. Mamoru was proud of his heritage, prouder of his fathers' success in business.

Not content with simply dealing jewels, Kazuya Chiba pushed Chia Inc. into the realm of jewellery design.

When Mamoru took over at the age of 26, his parents having passed away after a drunk driving accident, the company was slowly spiralling out of control.

Kazuya had done a good job launching Chia as a high-class diamond house that specialised in Haute Couture but as the years went by and his drinking problem escalated he let the reigns of the company slip little by little.

It had taken Mamoru 2 years to rebuild most of the departments. When he took over, he fired almost half of the executive and dispelled the board. Choosing key players who were both competent in business and passionate about the pieces, Mamoru steadily bought the company back into flourish.

It was too early for celebrations yet, but Mamoru knew that his success would arrive soon. Despite his fathers alcoholic rampage towards the end of his life, Mamoru knew he had paved the way to success for Mamoru, Chia was destined for great things with its easy access to jewels to its sleek, sophisticated jewellery designs, Mamoru was sitting in the throne of what could be the most successful of its kind.

Smiling, Mamoru spun his chair from the window and stood. He flexed his neck muscles and felt the tension ease only slightly. He knew that he'd have to call it a night he had a big day tomorrow which started with the long drive back into London. Mamoru hated that he was constantly back and forth between the countryside and the city but his advisors had recommended the temporary move to the country for secrecy. The business world was abuzz with gossip of how the young heir would right the wrongs of his father within the company.

Mamoru's final piece in the puzzle was of course the showrooms. There were four in Europe, three in Asia and six in the United States. When Mamoru had entered the company he found that not only his executive team were slack and listless in their business affairs, but also the showrooms that housed the exquisite pieces were nothing short of dismal. It was his final task now to reinvent them so that they competed with the likes of Tiffany's and Cartier. His designs were top secret and every business gossip columnist was eager to grab a piece of the puzzle. Nothing could be leaked and it meant that Mamoru was stuck in his country estate with no company aside from the help.

Which reminded him, his new house assistant was arriving today. He had conferred with Molly on this one and given instant approval when he was told she was from a Japanese background. Mamoru knew the Japanese well; he was after all from that bloodline. Compliant and timid, exactly the type of woman he needed to assist him while he was stuck in the country.

Mamoru remembered he had her contract still sitting on his desk. He poured himself a scotch while he tried to remember if she was arriving today or tomorrow. Mamoru lifted his organiser from the desk and scanned the page before him. He was meeting her tomorrow so he assumed she'd be arriving then. Mamoru loosened his tie and lifted it from his neck, feeling the hot alcohol spread through his chest. He ran a tired hand through his inky black hair and looked haggardly to his computer screen. The time blinked ten minutes past midnight. It was definitely time for Mamoru to call it a day.

Mamoru's thoughts briefly flickered over the prospect of his empty bed. That was another thing he hated about being stuck in the countryside. Unless he wanted to fool around with his staff there was really no one appropriate for him to bed.

Not one to consider the feelings of the women he seduced, Mamoru was known in London for his straying eye. He was never long left alone by the female sex and he always had a woman at his side whenever he ventured from the office. Be it at corporate functions or a quiet nightcap. Yes, Mamoru had no reason to settle, although it didn't stop the gold diggers from sniffing around every now and then.

Mamoru usually used them for their bodies, taking great delight in sending them packing no matter how hard they tried to win his heart. He could always see them coming from a mile away.

It was with this thought that he strode soundlessly through the hall of his house. He would drop the contract into his new assistants empty living quarters and then have a long, hot shower. Mamoru bit the papers in his mouth and began unbuttoning his shirt as he trotted down the steps to make his way to the west wing, where he would be housing his assistant.

With in no time he had arrived at the door to the servant quarters. What used to be a dorm for more than eight servants, Mamoru had transformed into a suite reserved for the one he would be working closely with. He smiled at the thought of his new assistant, something to brighten his day. He loved the way Japanese woman looked, dressed, spoke and thought. He loved everything about their childlike manner. Mamoru wondered if his new assistant would be as small as Yukiko, the last Japanese girl he'd bedded almost two months ago while on a business trip in Okinawa. Yukiko was soft, short and almost too cute for Mamoru to leave the next morning. He felt a stirring in his pants as he remembered the night he spent with her, the delightful sounds she made as he thrust himself viciously into her body.

Opening the door, Mamoru's rakish grin widened as he remembered her offering him her soiled, pink frilly panties as he left. He didn't take them, Mamoru was a man of class, he wouldn't ever stoop that low.

That was his final thought as he heard a sharp intake of breath. To his surprise the room was well lit and the smell of Chanel perfume wafted in the air. Mamoru turned his eyes to the source of the gasp and almost stumbled backward at the site of a tall leggy blonde draped across his favourite Baroque piece, the burgundy chaise lounge, and his first piece of vintage furniture he'd ever purchased.

The blonde wore nothing but a pair of chocolate brown boy-leg panties and a matching cotton bra. Mamoru's eyes slid over her long, tanned legs, toned to perfection, and crossed invitingly over one another. Her stomach was taut and flat, and he could see a sparse dusting of golden hair trailing from her belly button to the waistband of her panties. This was, Mamoru thought briefly, his favourite part of a woman, the golden road, and hers was not helping the earlier stir in his pants. He lingered on her breasts, full and perky in their constraints, lying on her side meant that they were pushed together to form a slight cleavage. To Mamoru, she was the perfect size, just a touch more than a handful.

The blonde goddess had a long neck; her lips were parted in a small o of surprise and her blue eyes wide in shock. Golden blonde hair that looked softer than silk and it tumbled down around her shoulders. Mamoru had the sudden urge to wrap it around his fist and pull her to him…but who was she?

She moved first, brushing her fringe out of her eye. She looked as if she couldn't believe this almost-shirtless man had intruded her space. Mamoru remembered himself and looked down at his bared, chiselled chest. She was moving a cushion in front of her stomach. She was clearly feeling very vulnerable.

Mamoru shook his head and placed the forgotten contract on the entryway table. "Can I help you?" He said, taking another step into the room to which she visibly tensed.

"Uh…I'm not sure…I…who…Are you…?" She stammered, her eyes darting around the room as she tried desperately to avoid his gaze.

Mamoru couldn't place her accent. There was a definite British undertone but she had something else, something more exotic laced in. He watched with amusement as she visibly collected herself and took a deep breath.

"Could you hand me a robe? They're in through that door." She said, her eyes a little harder now that the initial shock wore away.

Mamoru smirked and made his way to the walk in wardrobe. He thumbed through the robes and finally selected a short, navy silk robe. His smirk spread into a smile. She must have been a guest of Molly's. But why would Molly put her in this suite when the little Japanese girl would be arriving tomorrow? Mamoru shrugged and made his way back out to the delicious woman sitting on his lounge. He tossed the robe to her and nearly sighed in disappointment when she slipped her arms through the sleeves.

As she was fumbling for the tie she looked up at him, he was unabashedly staring at her as she slipped into the robe.

Her eyes flashed, "Who the hell are you? You can't just storm into somebodies room like this!" She said, her voice more confident.

Mamoru smiled, burying his hands in his pockets. "I'm Mamoru Chiba and I can storm into any room in my house if I so feel the need." He said, grinning boyishly.

The girl's mouth opened in awe. She knew his name and he desperately hoped she wasn't another gold digger.

She rushed to him, the tie on her robe forgotten so that it lifted behind her, exposing her beautiful body to him again. The girl reached for the lapels of his shirt and clutched on tightly.

"I am so sorry!" She said, her voice thick with…tears? Mamoru did a double take. Her eyes were red rimmed and her lips were trembling.

"Please, please don't tell Molly about this…" she whispered, her head down, avoiding his eyes.

Mamoru reached for her wrists and lifted her hands from his shirt. He gazed down at her and said, "Why would I tell Molly? Are you a friend of hers or something?"

She looked up at him, all blue eyes and pouty lips. It was almost enough to send him insane. "I'm Usagi Tsukino, your new assistant. Please, God, don't fire me!" She pleaded, reaching for the tie of the robe.

Mamoru's smile instantly fell. She was Usagi Tsukino? THIS was his new assistant? What of the Japanese girl? Why did this woman with the bronzed skin and perfect body have a Japanese name? How did she end up here in his house, as his assistant? Goddamn Molly, didn't she at least have a face-to-face interview? She knew what he got like when he had a woman like that in proximity.

"I'm never going to get any work done again," he whispered, trailing off, gazing at the top of her thigh where the blue silk ended.

"I'm sorry?" Her voice was soft, resigned, she was waiting for the worst.

Mamoru met her eyes and saw fear. He shook his head, smiling a very tight smile. He held his hand out to her and said, "my apologies Miss Tsukino. I was under the impression that you would be arriving tomorrow. I came to drop off your contract. Welcome to Chia. I expect you in my office at 8am sharp."

Usagi could only nod as she shook his hand. He had done a complete transformation from laid back, gorgeous intruder to brisk, cold business executive.

Both Usagi and Mamoru diffused the situation with one thought: This was going to be a nightmare!

Done. Ah it feels good to be writing trashy romance again :D I hope I do not offend with Mamoru's brief interlude re: Yukiko. I wanted to really paint him as a womanising business man and went to the extremes with that one. As always, review, email, sing me a song, whatever. I'm always happy to hear from fellow writers and fans. Muah! Cxo