Novel-novel oleh Tina Taran

The black sedan, long and discreet, pulled up to the service entrance of Emberwood. Even though the engagement party had officially ended the night before, the atmosphere around the restaurant still hummed with the aftershock of the scandal. Reporters lingered near the main entrance, hoping for a quote from the dumped fiancée, but William had timed their arrival perfectly, slipping through the secure rear gates.Mimi felt the heavy, cold weight of the diamond ring on her finger, a constant, tangible reminder of the lie. She adjusted the dark designer sunglasses William had provided, the large frames hiding the fierce apprehension in her eyes. She wore an elegant, understated silk dress, another item from the emergency wardrobe Mrs. Ade had prepared. She looked every inch the reserved, wealthy fiancée.William, looking impossibly composed in his bespoke suit, turned to her before the driver opened the door. Five minutes, Mimi. You are acting the part of the slightly nervous, secretive

Mimi woke up on the velvet chaise lounge in the small private study, the sunlight streaming in through the panoramic windows already intense. She sat up slowly, feeling the stiffness of sleeping in an unconventional position, but also the strange, disorienting peace of absolute silence. This was it. This was the golden cage she had bought for herself with a contract and a single night of dazzling deceit.The first sound she heard was the subtle click of the door opening. A moment later, a small, impeccably dressed woman with kind eyes and a professional smile entered, carrying a pressed linen tray. This was Mrs. Ade, the personal assistant William had mentioned.Good morning, Mrs. Williams to be, Mrs. Ade said softly, her voice respectful but not overly familiar. Mr. Williams asked me to bring you a light breakfast and to brief you on your schedule. The legal team has arrived to finalize the contract documents, and then you have a video call with his mother, Mrs. Evelyn Williams, at 1

The eruption of sound in the ballroom below was deafening, a volatile mix of applause, shocked gasps, and the furious click of high end camera shutters. Mimi felt William’s hand tighten on her waist, a proprietary, guiding touch that was entirely public, entirely fake, and entirely necessary to sell the lie. She held the flawless, beaming smile until her cheeks ached, her entire being focused on holding the professional pose she was being paid millions to maintain.Keep smiling, William murmured close to her ear, his voice low and cold, utterly devoid of the passion he had just demonstrated for the cameras. Look only at the reporters directly in front of you. Do not look at my mother. Do not look at Ethan. You are ecstatic. You are mine. Now let’s get out of this fire.He didn’t wait for her to respond. He spun her around, tucking her securely against his side as the security detail immediately formed a tight cordon around them. The next ten minutes were a terrifying, exhilarating blu

William felt the familiar cold certainty settle in his gut, the strange, unsettling feeling he got right before making a massive, irreversible business decision. He was standing on the edge of the rest of his life, about to commit to a future that felt entirely too comfortable, too calculated. He gripped Sophia’s hand tighter, reminding himself this was the right path, the perfect path. He wanted to tell her he loved her, to reassure himself that this union was based on feeling, not just strategy, but the words felt hollow on his tongue. He simply smiled, trying to sell the feeling to himself one last time.Suddenly, a sharp, insistent knock rattled the heavy office door. It was an unusual, unprofessional sound in this inner sanctum of luxury, a jarring intrusion into their carefully curated moment. William frowned, annoyed at the interruption that broke his concentration.I’ll get it, Ethan said, already moving toward the door with urgency, a worried look flashing across his face. He

William couldn’t stop talking about her. Ethan listened patiently, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. He understood the pre wedding jitters, the last minute doubts that sometimes manifested as sudden, inexplicable attractions. He knew William’s life was mapped out in perfect, calculated steps, and Mimi, the contract worker, was a dangerous anomaly in that precision. She represented a break in his rigid control, a risk he usually wouldn't tolerate in his controlled world.A firecracker, you say, Ethan murmured, setting his phone down on the mahogany desk. Careful, Will. Sparks near a high society event can burn down a reputation quickly. You’ve got Sophia arriving this evening. Focus on the main show, man. She’s the prize, the one who brings stability, the one your mother finally approved of.William pushed off the doorframe, walking to the leather sofa and sinking heavily into the cushions. He didn’t want to talk about Sophia. He didn’t want to talk about the guest list or th

Mimi walked into Emberwood, her heart racing with an excitement she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years. This was it. This one contract job was her bridge back to financial stability, a clean slate after five years of careful budgeting and lonely resilience. She’d gotten the call that morning, an impersonal but life altering conversation confirming she’d landed the contract job to assist with the biggest event of the season, a job so well paid she couldn’t afford to pass up the opportunity. The payment was more than she made in three months of scattered, temporary work, a figure that felt like a lifeline thrown into a raging sea, a chance to finally stop juggling bills and start building a real future.She made her way through the back entrance, navigating the maze of stainless steel and bustling kitchen staff. The air was thick with the aroma of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee, layered with the metallic tang of ambition and professional intensity. She’d always loved the at