3

Tiffany's POV

I gaped, shocked speechless.

“Tiff? Hello? Are you there?” Rosie asked.

“How…how did this get online?” I stammered.

“You didn’t post it?”

“No! Of course not. I took them a couple of days ago to send to Fred as a surprise, but I didn’t. I deleted them. How did they get online?”

“Maybe you pressed the send button by mistake?”

“I did not. I would never post such pictures.”

“Well it’s out there, what are you going to do? We better think of something fast before your family see it.”

“Too late. My dad just ordered me home sounding pissed. Now I know why.”

“Want me to come give morale support?”

“No. I’ll handle it. I'll explain to my dad. He knows I’d never do this.”

How wrong I was. My dad was pacing the living room when I got home, he was hopping mad and refused to even let me explain.

“How could you be so shameless Tiffany? Are you so desperate for attention you have to act a slut?” Huge Baxter yelled at me.

My stepmother Cynthia sat on the couch, hiding her face in her palm as if in great distress, but I knew she was probably grinning behind those palms. I wasn’t surprised. Seeing me in trouble was what she lived for. What did surprise me was my half-sister Bethany’s behavior.

We were really close, despite her mother hating me, and I expected her to come to my defense. Instead she sat beside her mother, arms folded in front of her, staring at me like I was a pile of stinking garbage.

“Dad, I swear on Mom’s grave I didn’t post this, someone leaked it.” I said tearfully.

“You didn’t take these pictures?’ He asked.

“I did, for Fred, but I didn’t send them,” I added quickly, “I deleted them.” I turned to Bethany. “Beth, you remember that day when –“

“Don’t you call my daughter’s name in your depravity you disgusting slut!” Cynthia warned, glaring at me. “First you said you didn’t take the pictures, now you said you did! Have you no shame you liar?”

“I never said I didn’t take–“

“Enough!” my father roared. “I'm disappointed in you Tiffany. My company and this family won’t share your shame. I don’t want you near either. Pack your things and get out. I don't care where you go, just leave. I never want to see you again!”

He walked out, leaving me stunned.

“Go get a job in the p**n industry, you’ll do well there.” Cynthia said mockingly.

She and Bethany walked out giggling.

I stood there, tears rolling down my cheek for what seemed like forever. Then I pulled myself together and went to pack my things. It was no use reasoning with my dad when he got like this, I’d leave and go stay with Fred. Once I explained everything he would believe me without question, and even help me find the swine that had leaked this.

Again, I was wrong. On my way to his place I received a text from him, calling me unprintable names and warning me to keep away from him.

I parked the car on the side of the road and read it in disbelief. Had the man I loved and planned to spend my life with just broken up with me without bothering to even hear my side of the story? I burst into tears.

After crying myself weak I called Rosie and begged her to come get me. She arrived immediately and drove me to her place.

“Cynthia dosen’t surprise me, not even Beth. Despite what you’ve told me, I’ve always known Beth was a snake. But I can’t believe your dad, and Fred. They could at least hear you out.”

“Fred didn’t even ask my side of the story, he just sent me a text and blocked me.”

“He trusts you so little but was willing to spend the rest of his life with you? Is he dumb or stupid?”

“It dosen’t matter. My family hates me, my dad’s kicked me out of his home and company. My life is over.”

“No it’s not. You’ll bounce back. Give it a week and this scandal will be replaced by a juicier one. It's social media. Controversies pop up like weeds after a good fertilizer. In the meantime, stay here and put yourself back together. Forget Fred. He’s an asshole and you’re better off without him anyway.”

So I stayed at her place, and like she predicted, after a week of gossip on social media the story died. But so did my reputation in my family. Everyone kept whispering I'd never get a decent date again. I tried to see Fred, but he’d ordered his company security not to let me anywhere near his office.

So I sent him to hell in my mind and moved on. I got a place of my own and used my savings to open a dentistry clinic.

My life was going fine till three months ago, when I logged onto social media and entertainment blogs announced Fred Castle was marrying Penny Baxter!

“What the fuck!” I shouted to my empty house.

I was devastated. How was this possible? Fred knew Penny was my cousin and knew she hated me, for no reason except her mom had been jealous of mine, and had transferred that hate to me. When had they started seeing each other? For how long? Was this engagement his way of giving me the finger?

“Fuck him and her.” Rosie said when I showed her the post. “We’ll show them you’ve moved on too.”

“How?” I asked.

“Leave it to me.” She said smugly.

Looking back, I wish I hadn’t. Days later she posted I was engaged to a mystery billionaire CEO.

The entertainment blogs took up the story and it was news for weeks.

I was gratefully to Rosie for the new found respect I was receiving, till I got a call from my dad, the first in nearly a year.

“Penny is marrying Fred,” he said coldly, without even bothering to say hello first, “the Baxters and Castles will now be a family. Thanks to her for cleaning up your mess.”

“I’m sorry dad. I swear I –“

“Save it! The only reason I’m calling is because I heard you are engaged to a billionaire too, is it true?”

“Yes.” I lied.

“I’m surprised. Well you may finally have a chance to redeem yourself. Who is he?”

I hesitated.

“He and I have decided to keep it private for now.” I said.

“Whatever. But I want to see him and you at the wedding. It will shut up gossip about our family.”

My heart sank. “Em…dad…I…”

“What? The gossip is all because of your slutty behavior. The least you can do is help clear it. So be at the wedding.”

He hung up on me.

“Yes! I told you it would work.” Rosie said in excitement that evening, when I told her my latest problem. “Now those assholes will respect you.”

“But there is no billionaire fiance, I’m not dating.” I reminded her frantically.

“Easy. We’ll find you a fake boyfriend in time for the wedding. How hard can it be?”

It was very hard! And now as I sat in my office thinking about it, I felt like giving up.

“No, I won’t be beat.” I grabbed my phone and logged into social media.