Walking embarassment

Veronica’s POV:

I only looked into his blue eyes for a second before a sick twist rose in my gut. Before I could stop it, I bent forward and hurled everything all over his polished leather shoes.

The last thing I heard before the world turned black was his sharp voice.

“Oh my! This beauty just made me dirty.”

And then… nothing.

…

When consciousness drifted back, shame weighed heavier than the hangover pounding in my skull. I didn’t dare open my eyes. God, I had just puked on someone. Not just any but a bad boy billionaire—Maximilian Ashford.

If I opened my eyes now, I’d have to face him. Face them. The other billionaire brother, the smart Theodore Ashford, was there too. I couldn’t bear it.

So I stayed still, breathing slowly, faking my unconsciousness like some cowardly actress, praying they’d all just go away.

But their voices surrounded me.

Max’s sharp, mocking tone cut first: “Come on, Theo. She puked on my shoes. Do you know how limited edition these are? These shoes are from 'John Lobb bespoke’. You can’t just buy another pair off a rack.”

Theo’s voice came next, calm and steady, like a balm to Max’s rough, deep edges. Both of the brothers' voices themselves had such contrasts. “I don’t trust you, brother. You have a tendency to… pick on vulnerability. She’s not your game, Max. Pick someone else to womenize.”

A pause. I could practically hear Max’s smirk in the silence that followed.

“So now you’re pinning this on me? Get real. Her breakdown’s got nothing to do with me—it’s her father, and you know it. She was this close—” he held the air for emphasis, “—to jump over the ledge. If I hadn’t grabbed her at the right second? We’d be scraping her off Fifth Avenue.”

My stomach clenched again—not from alcohol this time, but from the raw truth of his words. Father. The real reason behind the ache. The constant disappointment. The endless pressure.

Theo’s voice cut in, sharp with disbelief. “What? Was about to jump? Max, are you serious?”

Max gave a short, incredulous laugh. “Why the hell would I kid about something like that? You came a few minutes late to that spot and missed the whole damn show, bro. I saved her damn life. I am a goddamn hero here.”

It was official! I am a living embarrassment now. The memory of me standing close to the ledge hit so hard, my chest burned, but I forced myself to keep still, lashes fluttering as though I were still out cold.

How could I be this stupid?

Then another voice broke through the tension.

“Guys—thank you for covering for me!” Penny’s frantic words came in a rush, the sound of her heels clicking against the rooftop concrete. “I was stuck in traffic and I didn’t know who else to call.”

She was here. Finally!

And then I was able to connect the dots. She had called the billionaire brothers to check on me. It was her.

My best friend, my safety net, the only one who knew how fragile I’d become and took action to save me.

But even now, I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes. I kept lying there, still as stone, letting them talk over me like I was nothing more than a broken doll on the floor.

Because maybe, at that moment, that’s all I was.

I stood perfectly still, eyes shut, trying to keep up the illusion of unconsciousness when, suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped tight around me.

“Veronica, my darling!” Penny’s voice cracked as she clutched me, rocking me like I was a child. Her perfume, familiar and warm, filled my senses. “Why did you scare me like that? Drinking on a rooftop, sitting on the ledge—do you have any idea what that did to me?”

I almost broke then, but before I could say anything, Max’s drawl cut in, dripping with sarcasm.

“You still don’t know the full story, sweetheart,” he said lazily. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know he was smirking, loving every second of this. “Your darling here? She was about to—”

That did it.

My eyes flew open, and I shot upright, ripping free from Penny’s arms.

“No! No, I did no such thing!” I shouted, the words tumbling out too fast, too defensive. “I just… I just got overwhelmed, alright? That’s all it was. Nothing else.”

They all went quiet for a beat, everyone staring at me. My cheeks burned hot.

Then Theo stepped forward, sincerely, and I couldn’t help but feel calm as his green eyes burnt at me," Veronica… you can’t deny what really happened to you. And you can’t keep drowning yourself like this. Do you think you’re the only one with a difficult father?"

Max snorted. “Yeah, join the club, princess. You think Ashford Senior ever gave a damn about me? Hell no. My old man cared more about mergers and headlines than his own sons. We’re nothing but scorecards in his book.”

“Our father pushed us too,” Theo said steadily. “He tried to shape us into men long before we were ready. Max reacted one way, I another. But in the end, I fought to carve out my own identity despite the pressure.” He paused, giving his brother a wary glance. “Max… he never cared enough to try.”

A low growl rumbled from Max’s throat. His blue eyes narrowed, sharp as glass. “And I don’t care what my old man thinks about me. You know why? ’Cause the second you stop giving a damn, you’re free. Do you have any idea how much freedom it gives you—doing whatever the hell you want, not chasing anyone’s approval?”

And strangely… even Max’s words made a twisted sort of sense. His way was chaotic, reckless, maybe even disastrous—but it was freedom all the same.

While Theo stood like a perfect role model. Max burned like temptation. And I can’t deny that both paths called for me.

Penny cupped my face, forcing me to look at her tear-stained eyes. “They’re right, V. Fathers can be cold, controlling, cruel… but they don’t define us. You don’t have to let his disappointment write your story. You still have a voice. You still have a life.”

I swallowed hard, blinking back tears as I stared between the three of them—my best friend, and the other two men I never imagined would be standing here lecturing me on life and fathers.

For the first time in forever, I felt seen. And that terrified me more than the rooftop ledge ever had.