INICIAR SESIÓNCompartir
If You Don’t
Fecha de publicación:
2026-09-02 10:20:33**Tiffany’s Pov**
**twelve hours earlier**
“If you don’t get out of that chair in the next five minutes, I’m kidnapping you.
”
I didn’t bother looking up from my laptop.
“You say that every Friday.
”
“And one of these Fridays, I’ll mean it.
”
“You always mean it.
”
Molly sighed dramatically before dropping into the chair opposite my desk. The office had
emptied nearly an hour ago. Outside my floor to ceiling windows, Manhattan glowed beneath
the fading orange light of sunset,
Bennett Interiors remained illuminated by the fluorescent lights above us. Design
samples covered every available surface, fabric swatches, floor plans, paint palettes, and
coffee cups, far too many coffee cups.
“Tiffany.
”
“Hm?”
“You’ve been staring at the same kitchen rendering for fifteen minutes.
”
“I’ve been thinking.
”
“You’ve been spiraling.
”
I finally looked up.
“I’m fine.
”
“You’ve said that six times today.
”
“Because I am.
”
She folded her arms.
“The Harbor Heights contract.
”
I immediately looked away.
“I don’t want to talk about it.
”
“They chose Sterling Designs.
”
“I know.
”
“They didn’t choose them because they’re better.
”
“It doesn’t matter why.
”
“It matters to me.
” I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my temples.
Every rejection felt personal, not because my pride was bruised. Because every lost
contract meant another month of wondering how we would pay our employees. Another
month of pretending Bennett Interiors wasn’t standing on the edge of collapse.
“You need one night away from this place,
” Molly said gently.
“I don’t.
”
“You do.
”
“I have presentations to finish.
”
“They’ll still be there tomorrow.
”
“I have clients to call.
”
“They won’t answer tonight.
”
“I have”
“You have an invitation.
”
She reached into her handbag and placed a black envelope on my desk. The elegant
gold seal caught the light.
I frowned.
“What’s that?”
“The answer to your terrible mood.
”
“I’m not in a terrible mood.
”
She gave me a look.
“I was allergic to dust.
”
“Tiffany.
”
“
…Fine.
”
“You cried in the supply closet this afternoon.
”
She pushed the envelope closer.
“Open it.
”
I broke the wax seal, inside rested a thick cream colored invitation.
Foundation Annual Masquerade Gala.
”
“The Ashford
I blinked.
“No.
”
“You haven’t even finished reading.
”
“I don’t need to.
”
She snatched the invitation from my hands and read aloud.
“‘The Ashford Foundation
cordially invites Miss Tiffany Bennett to an evening celebrating architecture, design, and
charitable development.
’”
She grinned.
“Architecture.
”
I shrugged.
“So?”
“So every influential architect, developer, hotel owner, investor, and billionaire in New York
will be there.
”
“I don’t like billionaires.
”
“You’ve never met one.
”
“I’ve seen interviews.
”
She laughed.
“You’re judging an entire tax bracket.
”
“I’m judging their egos.
”
She leaned across my desk.
“You need clients.
”
“I know.
”
“You need investors.
”
“I know.
”
“You need one lucky break.
”
I stared at the invitation, she wasn’t wrong, and I hated admitting it. The Ashford
Foundation Gala wasn’t simply another party, it was networking disguised as elegance. Half
the city’s largest business deals were probably made over champagne at events exactly like
this.
“If I go,
” I said carefully,
“I’m going to talk about work.
”
“No.
”
“I’m absolutely talking about work.
”
“You are absolutely not.
”
“Molly.
”
“You are taking one evening off.
”
“I don’t know how.
”
Her smile softened.
“I know.
”
Silence settled between us. Finally she spoke again.
something that wasn’t for Bennett Interiors?”
“When was the last time you did
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. She waited, still nothing.
“I don’t remember,
” I admitted.
“Exactly.
”
She stood and clapped her hands together.
“I’m still working.
”
“No.
”
“Go home.
”
“Molly”
“I’m your assistant.
”
“Yes.
”
“Technically, that means you report to me.
”
I laughed.
“I don’t think that’s how employment works.
”
“It is today.
” She reached over, closed my laptop, and picked it up before I could stop her.
“Molly!”
“No work.
”
“Give that back.
”
“Nope.
”
“I’ll fire you.
”
“You adore me too much.
”
“
…That’s true.
”
“I know.
”
She smiled triumphantly.
“What?”
“Meet me downstairs in an hour.
”
“Wear the navy dress.
”
“My navy dress?”
“The one you keep saying is too fancy.
”
“It is too fancy.
”
“Perfect.
”
“I don’t even have a mask.
”
She pulled one from her bag, it was deep sapphire blue, with tiny crystals shimmered
around the edges.
“I bought it yesterday.
”
“You planned this.
”
“For three weeks.
”
“You are unbelievable.
”
“I prefer prepared.
” She walked toward the door before pausing.
“And Tiffany?”
“Yes?”
“Tonight…
” Her smile became surprisingly gentle.
”
company.
“
…don’t be the woman trying to save a
I frowned.
“Then who am I supposed to be?”
She thought for a second.
“Just Tiffany.
”
*****
An hour later, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me in my apartment mirror.
The navy silk gown hugged my figure without being overly dramatic, my brunette hair fell in
soft waves around my shoulders. The sapphire mask transformed me into someone…
different, and more confident.
It was strange how hiding half my face somehow made me feel less exposed. The ride to
the Royal Crescent Hotel took twenty minutes, my stomach twisted tighter with every
passing block, luxury cars lined the entrance, photographers crowded behind velvet ropes,
as different women stepped out wearing designer gowns worth more than my annual salary.
“I definitely don’t belong here,
” I muttered.
Molly linked her arm through mine.
“Neither does imposter syndrome.
”
“I hate when you’re wise.
”
“I know.
”
The ballroom doors opened, my breath caught. It looked less like a hotel and more like a
palace, crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, an orchestra played near the marble
staircase. Hundreds of guests drifted across the ballroom wearing masks of every
imaginable color.
No names, no reputations, and no expectations. For one evening… everyone was simply
another stranger. Maybe… that wasn’t so bad. A waiter offered us champagne, I accepted a
glass more for something to hold than something to drink.
“I’ll be right back,
” Molly whispered.
“Where are you going?”
“I spotted dessert.
”
“You’ve been here thirty seconds.
”
“I have priorities.
”
Before I could answer, she disappeared into the crowd, I laughed under my breath. Some
things never changed. Left alone, I wandered slowly through the ballroom, admiring every
carefully designed detail.
The floral arrangements, the lighting, and the elegant balance between modern
architecture and historic luxury. Whoever designed this space understood that beauty wasn’t
just something people saw, it was something they felt.
Lost in thought, I stepped through a pair of open French doors leading onto a quiet
balcony. Cool evening air brushed against my skin, the sounds of the ballroom faded behind
me. For the first time all day… I could breathe.
I rested my hands on the marble railing and stared out over Manhattan. The city glittered
beneath the night sky like scattered diamonds, they were beautiful.
“You look like someone who’s hiding.
” The deep masculine voice behind me sent a shiver
racing down my spine.
Slowly… I turned. A man wearing a silver mask stood in the doorway, he was tall, broad
shouldered, and dressed in an impeccably tailored black tuxedo. He wasn’t looking at the
skyline, he was looking at me. And somehow…
It felt as though he’d been searching for me all evening.
Último capítulo
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? I Barely Slept
TIFFANYI barely slept. By morning, the story had spread everywhere I looked, my father’s name was attached to words like gambler, debt, scandal and bankruptcy, and somehow my name had become part of it. Worse still, people were calling my marriage to Damian a calculated business move. A wealthy heir marrying the daughter of a failing businessman, a convenient way to save a dying company, a perfect arrangement, except it wasn’t, at least not to me. I sat alone in the penthouse, staring at my phone, then I saw a message from Molly.“Are you okay?” I didn’t know how to answer so I didn’t, then another message appeared from Molly. “Please call me.” I locked the phone, I couldn’t talk to anyone, especially not Damian. He had left hours ago, we hadn’t spoken since the argument, part of me expected him to come back and apologize, another part of me knew better. The worst thing about our fight wasn’t that Damian had been angry, it was that his words had revealed som
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? Did you know?
TIFFANY“Did you know?” Damian’s question hung in the air, I stared at him, unable to breathe, his phone was still in his hand, the screen displaying the article that had just turned our wedding night into a nightmare. My father’s gambling, Bennett Interiors’ debt, years of financial problems, and my silence.I swallowed hard. “Damian, I…”“Did you know?” His voice was colder this time.“Yes.” The moment the word left my mouth, something changed in his face, his jaw tightened, and his eyes hardened.“You knew?”I nodded slowly. “I knew my father had a gambling problem. I found out how bad it had gotten a while ago, but…”“But you said nothing.”“I was trying to handle it.”“Handle it?”He let out a bitter laugh. “You were trying to handle it?”“I didn’t want anyone to know.”“Apparently.”I flinched.Damian stepped closer. “So let me understand this. You knew your father had gambled away company money. You knew Bennett Interiors was drowning in debt because of him. You knew
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? The Reception
TIFFANY The reception was beautiful, everything about it screamed Ashford, elegant decorations, crystal chandeliers, an enormous ballroom, flowers everywhere, champagne flowing, and guests dressed in designer clothes. I stood beside Damian and watched people congratulate us, I still couldn’t believe this was my life, at one point, I leaned toward him.“Your family went overboard.”He smiled. “This is considered modest.”I stared at him. “Modest?”“Yes.”“You have a very strange definition of modest.”He laughed. “You’ll get used to it.”I looked around. “I don’t think I ever will.”He leaned closer. “You will.” His voice dropped. “Especially once you see where you’re living.”I frowned. “What does that mean?”“You’ll find out.”“Damian.”He smiled. “Patience.”***** After hours of photographs, speeches, dancing, and endless congratulations, the reception finally began winding down, we said our goodbyes, then Damian took my hand.“Ready?”I nodded. “Where are we going?”“Home
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? The Time I
TIFFANY By the time I left the restaurant, my mind was completely exhausted. I had spent the entire evening sitting between the two most complicated men in my life. Damian, the man I was marrying tomorrow, and Leon, the man who had been my closest friend for years. I couldn’t shake the strange tension that had existed between them, it had been obvious, even I had noticed it. Damian had barely spoken during the last part of the meeting, and Leon had looked like he was deliberately trying not to provoke him. I had no idea what was going on between them, and honestly, I didn’t have the energy to figure it out. Tomorrow was my wedding… my wedding. The thought still felt unreal, I was actually getting married to Damian Ashford. A man I had met under the strangest circumstances imaginable, a man I had kissed before I even knew his name, a man I had agreed to marry because my company needed saving, and somehow, somewhere along the way, things had become complicated.
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? The Next Day
DAMIAN The next day, I changed three times, I wasn’t going to admit that to anyone, certainly not Ethan. But if I was meeting one of Tiffany’s closest male friends the day before our wedding, I wasn’t showing up looking ordinary. I wanted to look like her fiancé, not simply some man she’d agreed to marry. I chose a perfectly fitted charcoal suit, white shirt, with a dark tie, my watch, and a subtle amount of cologne, nothing excessive, but just enough. I looked at myself in the mirror, I felt ridiculous. I was preparing for a meeting like it was a boardroom negotiation, except this wasn’t a boardroom. It was Tiffany, and apparently Leon. I adjusted my cufflinks.“Get a grip,” I muttered.***** Tiffany was already waiting when I arrived. She smiled when she saw me, and just like that, all my irritation disappeared. She looked beautiful, of course she did. She was wearing a simple dress that hugged her figure in exactly the right places, her hair framed her face, an
Signed, Sealed, Seduced? I Had Never
DAMIAN I had never been particularly patient, but there were certain situations where patience wasn’t simply unnecessary, it was insulting. Ashley had crossed that line, I stood behind my desk, staring at the documents Ethan had placed in front of me. Every cancelled contract, every suspicious communication, every financial maneuver, and every connection leading back to Williams Holdings, all of it pointed in the same direction, Ashley. She had deliberately targeted Bennett Interiors, she had gone after Tiffany’s clients, she had interfered with her company’s finances, and she had done it because of me. My jaw tightened, Tiffany had been trying to handle all of this without telling me, the thought irritated me almost as much as Ashley’s actions did. I picked up my phone.“Get Ashley here.”Ethan nodded. “Immediately?”“Immediately.”He hesitated. “She may refuse.”“Then remind her that refusing isn’t going to change anything.”Ethan left. I looked at the clock. The
También te puede gustar
The President's Accidental Wife
Blue Fruity1.1M vistasTo Be Yours Again
Taylor1.0M vistasI Kissed A CEO And He Liked It!
LiLhyz1.5M vistasTwo Can Play
Rosa Kane1.2M vistasOwned by the Billionaire's Heart
Ms. Dhessa47 vistasMy secret triplets:my ex husband regret
Nefera Naruba Smalls14 vistasRegrets Behind a Tycoon Marriage
B.B. Knox124 vistasThe Wife He Loves to Hate
Frya Isaac52 vistas
