Diamond Girl 1998

Claire Barnard, an unassuming paralegal, works in a small law office for Denny Montana, a carefree lawyer more interested in tennis and chasing women than he is in his work. Claire’s quiet efficiency keeps the firm running smoothly, and after her parents died in a car accident four years ago, she has looked after her younger brother, Sean Barnard. In the four years she’s worked for Denny, she has kept her romantic feelings for him to herself, keeping a calm professionalism that quietly underpins the practice.

Regan Montana, Denny’s haughty older brother, arrives from London and quickly takes over Claire’s office and the planned merger negotiations. He is wary of the motives of the prospective buyer, Jean-Marc Bernier, and believes he can secure a much larger payday for the family winery. To impress Bernier, Regan takes Claire to a makeover spa and outfits her with expensive, stylish clothes, transforming the once unassuming paralegal into a glamorous woman who can stand in sharp relief beside the wine’s storied legacy. Denny and Margo De La Vera are both impressed and surprised by her new appearance, a change that shifts the power dynamics in the negotiations.

Regan explains to Claire that Margo has Denny unwilling to hold out for more money, and he proposes a plan that leverages Denny’s competitive streak by pretending to be in love with Claire. The aim is to draw Regan’s eye away from Margo and toward Claire, turning a business deal into a delicate personal game. As they work this ruse, Claire and Regan begin to learn more about each other, and Claire starts to feel genuine affection for him. Meanwhile, Bernier’s interest seems tied to the possibility that his wine label might soon be diluted by cheaper vintages from other holdings, a concern Regan shares as they discuss the Napa Hills property—the heart of the family’s legacy.

Claire’s feelings grow deeper as the charade continues, but the situation becomes messier when Denny grows increasingly jealous. When Regan leaves town for a few days, Denny asks Claire to dinner, hoping to recapture their old dynamic. Regan arrives unannounced at the dinner, breaking up the date—indicating his own jealousy and the fragility of the plan. Bernier eventually agrees to Regan’s demand for an additional two million dollars, a concession that momentarily reshapes the deal and stirs fresh doubts about the true motives of everyone involved.

At Napa Hills, Regan confesses his unhappiness with selling the property that had been purchased by his grandfather, and his mother, Abby Montana, hopes he will stay and take over the vineyard himself. Abby’s concerns add emotional weight to the negotiations, even as Regan shows Claire the property and the two share an intimate kiss that deepens the romantic tension. Later, Claire overhears Regan telling his mother that he plans to leave for London, a revelation that breaks her heart and reframes the entire conflict.

Denny arrives to support Claire as she processes the revelation, admitting that the pressure of competing with Regan had driven him to pursue her in the first place. He suggests they maintain their ruse—pretending to be in love—to keep Regan entangled and to push him toward a decision. Yet as the story moves toward its close, the negotiations deteriorate, and Regan’s ongoing struggle to commit to a life in Napa Hills becomes clear. That night, after seeing his brother kiss Claire, Regan returns to her room and they share a passionate, definitive moment that tests both their loyalties and their futures.

The next morning brings no easy resolution. Regan contemplates leaving for London, unable to commit to the life Claire invites him to share, but Denny intervenes again, urging him to choose love over fear and urging him to return to the woman who has captured his heart. The vineyard becomes the hopeful stage for a new beginning as Regan finally confesses his love for Claire, and the pair begin a life together at Napa Hills, balancing the weight of legacy with the promise of a shared future.