Desired by the Billionaire Brothers

Veronica's POV:

I used to think that I was so lucky to have my entire life sorted out at just twenty-five.

While my peers were struggling, I was lucky enough to be the fiancée of Chase Pemberton, one of the most prominent business figures in New York City.

Chase Pemberton isn't just my fiancé; he's my best friend who understands me very well.

I didn't know my entire life would turn upside down as I stood outside Chase's office door at Pemberton Industries.

I clutch the surprise lunch I'd prepared for him, his favorite turkey club with extra bacon, just the way he likes it.

Modern women would judge me for playing the traditional housewife role; however, I see no shame in it. It's Chase, and for him, I was ready to play any role he wished. Anything!

The mahogany door is slightly ajar, and I'm about to knock when I hear his voice, low and calculating.

"Make sure you get a good angle of her face and body when she comes in tonight. Penny's always been photogenic, hasn't she?"

My blood runs cold. Penny? My best friend Penny?

I blink, assuming something is wrong with my hearing. Chase is very loyal; he has eyes only for me. That's what he tells me every time: that I'm the most beautiful person, that I'm cute and funny.

I lean in a little closer, my grip on the lunch tightening.

"Alright. I'll spike my little pumpkin's wine as usual. It will help us focus all on our Penny."

I freeze in absolute terror. This... this can't be real. Chase would never do something like spiking my drinks, something that would wreck my health. Was this all a prank? Does he know I'm here, and is he trying to scare me?

I decide to sneak in, and at that moment, I hear what proves to me that Chase wasn't pranking after all.

"We're going to make Penny our new bitch. You know, I'm seriously bored with Veronica. She's nothing more than my maid now. I'm not attracted to her one bit."

As soon as he says that, I'm already face-to-face with him, and his eyes widen in shock as he sees me approaching his desk.

"I'll call you back," he says tersely into the phone.

"Veronica," he says, his voice smooth as silk, the voice I always admired. "What a wonderful surprise. I didn't expect..."

I stand still as a log, and that's enough for Chase to understand that I overheard the conversation.

Chase stands up and closes the distance between us. His grey suit is perfectly tailored, not a thread out of place, hugging his tall frame in a way that once made my heart skip. He looks as good as ever. That's what makes this betrayal cut so much deeper.

"You're bored with me," I say, glancing up at him, tears making my almond eyes look like glass. "Am I just a maid to you?"

His green eyes, usually warm when they look at me, are now sharp and alert, scanning me.

"No... what you heard me say, I was just joking."

"Don't." I hold up my hand, my voice barely above a whisper but carrying all the venom I feel coursing through my veins. "Just don't. The fact that you say this in my absence shows how much you undervalue me."

"No, I don't..."

"We've been living together for the last three years, and I'm already like a housemaid to you. Most of the time, I don't even let the actual maids cook for you or wash your clothes, and even now, I brought you lunch. Do you know why?"

He is silent and frozen.

"It's because I loved you, and I wanted to contribute by taking care of you, nurturing your needs in ways that even a maid couldn't. I even gave up pursuing my career, thinking our love was above everything else, and now..." I swallow hard. "You say that you're bored with me?"

Now he doesn't even meet my eyes and looks guilty as charged.

"And what are you trying to do with my best friend, Penny? And with me and my drinks?"

He jolts and says, "No... no. It's all a misunderstanding. I can explain."

My throat burns, and I can't contain it anymore. After hearing and seeing Chase's reality, his disloyalty, I can't look at him the same way. All the effort I put into nurturing him, only to be dismissed as his maid and called unattractive compared to my best friend.

"I really love you, pumpkin. You're an angel, and I love how you take care of me." He extends his hand to take the lunch I'm holding. "I'm hungry. What did you bring me?"

I lose it completely. "I'm done being your maid," I yell at him and throw the lunch box directly at his face.

The container bursts open on impact, sending turkey slices and crispy bacon strips flying across his perfectly pressed grey suit. Mayo and mustard splatter across his white dress shirt, creating yellow and white streaks that seep into the expensive fabric. The sandwich filling slides down his chest, leaving greasy trails on his silk tie before landing with wet thuds on his polished leather shoes.

Chase stands there in shock, turkey hanging from his collar, bacon grease staining his lapels.

The smell of the meal I spent an hour lovingly preparing now reeks of humiliation and wasted effort.

Then I remove the shiny, expensive engagement ring from my finger, the three-carat diamond that once symbolized our future, and hurl it at him with all the force I can muster. It strikes his chest with a sharp ping, then bounces off. A piece of lettuce gets stuck to his suit jacket, and the box falls to the marble floor with a crystalline cling that echoes through his office.

"I'm done with you."

With tears streaming down my face, I storm out of his office.

"Yeah, well, you think you can just walk away from me, huh? You'll never get a better husband than me in this entire city!"

I turn and look directly into his eyes. "Oh, don't be so delusional, Chase. Every other man in New York City is already better than you. You're just a piece of shit wandering as a man."

I should leave, but I stand still in the doorway and take a deep breath. He can't just insult me and my dedication and get away with it.

I turn and say, "I will be marrying someone richer, more handsome, and better than you, and you're going to see it with your own eyes." I throw down the challenge before leaving Pemberton Industries for good.

And just like that, my entire existence turned upside down.