𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐫 | 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢

Champagne Wishes

I planted my hands on my hips, waiting for Veronica's response to my accusation. "Just admit it already. You're cheating on Cheryl."

She grimaced, then smirked. "Look at you, so self-righteous, pretending you have the moral high ground. A bit hypocritical don't you think?"

My stance quavered. "Uh.. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, please. Cut the high-and-mighty- act. I know you're not as innocent as you pretend to be. You might think I'm oblivious, but it just makes you careless."

I sighed deeply. "Look, it's over between me and Cheryl. I can march over there right now and tell her that we were wrong, we never should've even thought about indulging in our feelings and--"

"Blah, blah, blah, Jesus!" Veronica mocked. "No need to be so dramatic. I'm not here to catfight over Cheryl. I'm a businesswoman. Let's make a deal instead. Here are my terms. You don't reveal my secret to anyone, and I won't have you fired and sent back home without a single job prospect." She finished with a smile and a shrug of her shoulders.

I stared at her incredulously, then my lips spread into a cheeky grin. "Is that supposed to scare me? You know I'm not trying to be a nanny forever, right? So what if you give me a scathing reference. You're not my boss."

Veronica bit back a smile. "Oh sweetie, you misunderstood. You can nanny to your heart's content. I don't care about that. But I will have you blackballed from any businesses owned by or affiliated with my little empire. That's a lot of labs."

I tried to keep my composure, but I could feel myself slipping. "Cheryl won't let you do this, especially after I tell her about your little indiscretion."

Veronica's playful expression turned serious. "Let me be clear. If you don't take this deal, Cheryl will have to weather a scandal the likes of which you've never seen before. Not to mention the fact that it'll ruin the merger, and she will have to watch Jason seize the throne, leaving Casey and Chelsea with nothing."

My heart thumped painfully against my chest, as she carried on.

"Then, just when you all think your lives have gone back to normal.. BAM! My tearful tell-all will hit the shelves and ruin everything all over again."

Now, I was seething. How could someone be this.. callous!

"So you see, you don't have much of a choice. Not if you care about Cheryl and her kids as much as you claim to. I'll give you a chance to think about it. Bene?" Without waiting for a response, Veronica strolled out of the room.

. . .

A couple days later. I sat folding my laundry, still trying to shake off my confrontation with Veronica.

If I take the deal, I lose. If I don't take the deal, I still lose and Cheryl's life is ruined. What the hell am I supposed to do?

I went over my options again and again, taking out my frustration on my clothes until...

"What did those poor shirts ever do to you?"

I jumped. "Cheryl! I didn't see you there."

"That's obvious." She smiled. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you, I just haven't seen you much in the last few days and wanted to check in."

I faked a smile. "Everything's great. The twins are having a blast, and I think I'm finally over my jet lag."

"Glad to hear it. That's always tough to beat." She said and I slowly nodded.

Cheryl crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. "I hate to burst your bubble, but you should know that Veronica's family just arrived in town."

I groaned loudly. "They aren't staying here, are they?"