Signed, Sealed, Seduced?

I Remembered

TIFFANY

I remembered Richard’s words. “I won’t ask for your answer today.” He hadn’t forced me, he had given me a choice, and now I finally understood what that choice really meant. I could protect my pride, or I could protect my company.

My eyes burned, I hated this, I hated that my father’s mistakes had brought us here, I hated that the Ashfords had the power to fix everything with one signature, most of all, I hated that the decision suddenly seemed obvious.

I reached for my phone, I stared at Richard’s number, my thumb hovered over it, then I stopped… no, I wasn’t calling him, not yet. If I was going to consider this, I needed to meet Damian first, I needed to know exactly what kind of man I would be dealing with, and I needed to see whether two years with him would be unbearable.

Maybe he was cruel, maybe he was arrogant, maybe he was impossible, but maybe… just maybe… I could survive him, so I called Richard, he answered on the second ring.

“Hello, Tiffany.”

“You knew this would happen.”

There was a pause. “I suspected you might reconsider.”

“I haven’t agreed to anything.”

“I know.”

“I want to meet Damian.”

His voice brightened. “Tomorrow?”

I swallowed. “Tomorrow.”

“I’ll arrange it.”

“And Richard?”

“Yes?”

“This isn’t a yes.”

“I understand.”

“I just want to meet him.”

“Of course.”

I ended the call. For several seconds, I simply stared at my phone, then I whispered to myself. “Just test the waters.” That was all, I wasn’t agreeing to marry him, I wasn’t falling for him, and I wasn’t sacrificing my life, I was simply meeting a man who might be able to save my company.

That was it… at least, that’s what I told myself.

*****

The next morning, I arrived at the office earlier than usual. I had barely slept, because every time I closed my eyes, I saw the bank notice, then I saw Richard’s business card, then I wondered what Damian Ashford looked like. I knew almost nothing about him.

He is thirty five, a CEO, the future heir, arrogant, stubborn, insufferably dedicated to his work, and apparently emotionally constipated, Richard had certainly provided a glowing description. I sat at my desk and opened my laptop, for the next few hours, I forced myself to work, and by lunchtime, Molly appeared in my doorway.

“You’re acting strange.”

I looked up. “I’ve been acting strange for days.”

“Exactly.” She walked inside. “What happened yesterday?”

“Nothing.”

“Tiffany.”

I sighed. “I’m just dealing with the bank situation.”

Her expression softened. “Is it that bad?”

I hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

She came closer. “We’ll figure it out.”

I smiled. “I hope so.”

She squeezed my shoulder. “We always do.”

As I watched her leave, guilt twisted inside me, I hated keeping secrets from her, but I couldn’t tell her yet, not until I knew what I was doing, and not until I knew whether I was about to make the biggest decision of my life.

*****

The next afternoon, I stood outside Richard Ashford’s office, my palms were sweating, I adjusted my blouse for the third time. This was ridiculous, I was going to meet a man, not attend an execution, so I knocked.

“Come in.”

I opened the door.

Richard was standing beside the windows, but he wasn’t alone, my heart immediately began pounding. A man stood with his back toward me, tall, broad shoulders, dark hair, and a black suit, with one hand resting casually in his pocket. Something about his posture felt strangely familiar, Richard turned toward me with a smile.

“Tiffany.”

I stepped inside. “Richard.”

He gestured toward the man. “Allow me to introduce you.”

The man slowly turned around, my breath stopped, those brown eyes, that jaw, that familiar expression, for one terrifying second, the room disappeared.

I was back in the ballroom, on the balcony, I saw the silver mask, the warmth of his voice, the night I had promised myself I would never think about again.

I stared at him, he stared back at me, recognition flashed across his face, and his expression changed instantly, from shock, to disbelief , then something I couldn’t quite identify.

Richard looked between us. “You two seem to know each other.”

Damian’s eyes never left mine, and then he said quietly, “Actually…” He took one slow step toward me. “…we’ve met before.”

My heart stopped, Richard’s smile widened. “Oh?”

Damian’s gaze dropped briefly to my face before returning to my eyes. “She’s the woman from the masquerade.”

My entire world went silent, and Richard’s expression told me he had just realized something neither of us had ever intended to reveal.