Crossword Genius

A woman keeping a note and cash, resisting all requests (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

adamantine

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'a note and cash resisting all requests' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'a woman' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'a' could be 'an' and 'an' is located in the answer.
'woman' could be 'tine' and 'tine' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'adam' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'keeping' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for adamantine that I've seen before include "attractive" , "impossible to break into" , "very strong" , "firm" , "Impervious to pleas" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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