Rosia

Chapter 1

My fiancé's so-called "girl best friend" just announced she took his virginity.

He doesn't deny it. Just shrugs. "She doesn't get why I'd want to settle down so young."

So I slide the ring off my finger. Set it down. "Okay then. No wedding."

They both stare at me like I've lost it.

Then I smiled. "How exactly are you planning to explain this to my PARENTS?"

They think them are just some ordinary couple.

BIG MISTAKE.

My dad runs the underground arms trade in Boston. My mom owns a luxury empire.

And they've got one rule: their daughter doesn't fight. She just ORDERS.

But my fiancé and that bitch didn't stop there. He promoted her. They kissed in the break room.

Fine.

Enjoy your life sentence.

--

My dad's been a walking nightmare since he was a kid.

Used to scream that nobody owned him. That his fate was his alone.

Then he fought his way up and became the guy who runs the underground arms trade in Boston.

My mom? She's got a terminal case of Main Character Syndrome.

Her life motto is simple: whatever a woman wants, she gets.

And she built a luxury empire to prove it.

So yeah. Go figure.

Two completely unhinged people somehow balanced each other out.

And they ended up with me. The most low-maintenance person you'll ever meet.

Everything was fine.

Until my fiancé's so-called "girl best friend" came back from Europe.

The night Sasha Flynn came back to town, Ronan Caster's group chat exploded.

[Everyone meet at the usual spot tonight. My boy's engaged. Time to vet the future Mrs. Caster.]

By the time I walked into the private room, it was already packed.

Sasha had her hand slipped under Ronan's shirt.

"Damn, two years and you finally grew some abs. Let me count."

Ronan laughed and tried to dodge. "Cut it out. You know I'm ticklish there."

Sasha didn't stop. "I'm just loosening you up. Don't act like I'm doing something wrong."

Some guy at the table looked up and saw me. "Everyone shut up! The fiancée's here!"

Sasha turned and looked me up and down.

But her hand was still inside Ronan's shirt.

Ronan quickly pulled her hand away and stood up to guide me to a seat.

The second I sat down next to him, Sasha elbowed him in the ribs.

"Nice work, kid. She's gorgeous. You didn't even give us a heads-up."

Ronan smiled, proud. "I wanted you to see her in person when you got back. So? Does she pass the test?"

Sasha took a sip of her drink. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Since when do I get a vote? Don't drag me into your lovesick nonsense."

Ronan's friends all laughed. Then the laughter died when they realized how awkward the room had gotten.

One guy quickly looked at me. "Sasha's just like that. Don't take it personally."

Sasha waved him off. "Yeah, that's just who I am. Don't overthink it. I've never liked hanging out with girls."

"Three women are a drama fest. Too much gossip. I can't stand it."

Ronan jumped in. "Well, there are only two women here tonight, so we should be fine."

Sasha smacked his arm.

"Screw you. I'm nothing like your precious fiancée. Don't you dare compare me to her."

Ronan rubbed his arm and glanced at me awkwardly. When he saw I wasn't reacting, he relaxed.

Sasha was the star of the dinner. She held court the whole time, telling stories about their childhood.

She talked loud. Gestured big. Slammed the table whenever she got excited. Ronan's friends played along, raising their glasses and hyping her up.

I knew exactly what she was doing.

She was pulling the guys to her side. Steering the conversation toward things I couldn't join.

But honestly? I didn't care. I've never been one to force myself into a crowd.

When Sasha saw that I wasn't bothered at all, she finished a round of toasts and suddenly turned to me.

"Vera, let me tell you something. Since you're marrying Ronan, I think I should come clean."

The room went quiet for a second.

Sasha took a sip and said it casually. "Ronan lost his virginity to me."

Ronan's face went blank. He automatically dropped his gaze.

Then Sasha laughed. "But that was years ago. We're just buddies now."

"Honestly, if I hadn't left the country for my career, things might have... but life's full of what ifs."

She set her glass down and looked at me.

"Forget it. I shouldn't even bring it up. I'm not like you. I don't make marriage my goal. My life is the real priority."

Ronan quickly looked up at my face. "Sasha didn't mean it that way. She just doesn't get why we're getting married so young."

He turned and glared at her. "Sasha, lay off."

Sasha held up her hands. "What? I'm just being honest. Marriage is supposed to be built on trust. I'm doing you a favor."

But I had already put down my fork.

I reached over and slipped the ring off my finger. Then I set it on the table.

"Alright then," I said. "Let's call off the wedding."

The whole room went dead silent.

No one expected me to be so calm about it.

Ronan went pale. "Vera, don't listen to her. She's just—"

Sasha suddenly reached over and snatched the ring off the table.

"God, I can't stand women like you. The ones who need constant coddling. You have a little fight and you take off your ring? Grow up."

She clenched the ring in her fist.

"Sweetheart, in this world, you fight for what you want. If you don't, you get no say."

"Women like you set feminism back. And then you go around pretending to be above it all."

"You think I'm scared because you took off your ring? You're exactly the type I can't stand."

I smiled.

See, I can afford to be low-maintenance.

Because I really do have everything.

Besides, my parents always told me:

Anything I like in this world should be handed to me on a silver platter.

Fight? I don't do that. Especially not over a man.

Then I changed the subject.

"So." I looked at Ronan. "How are you planning to explain this to my parents?"

Chapter 2

Before Ronan could even open his mouth, Sasha laughed.

"Daddy's girl." She leaned back. "Your girlfriend's a total daddy's girl."

She slipped the ring into her pocket. "Runs to her parents for everything. You'll never grow up, you know that? Never have an original thought."

Ronan saw the room going south fast. He turned to me. "Vera, stop. We're not calling anything off. Sasha's just messing around. Don't take her seriously."

I looked at him. "The ring's in her pocket. So who exactly do you want to marry?"

He turned to Sasha and held out his hand. "Sasha. Give me the ring. Quit screwing around."

But she pulled her hand back. "Why should I give it to her? Look at her. All she talks about is what her parents said."

"She takes off the ring at the first sign of trouble. Threatens to leave. That's manipulation, plain and simple. I'm helping you see it. Don't shoot the messenger."

I stood up and grabbed my purse. "Fine. Keep it. That little rock was too small anyway."

Sasha scoffed. "Too small? Then why were you wearing it? Stop pretending."

I didn't answer. Just walked toward the door.

The second I stepped forward, Ronan's voice came from behind me. "Vera, maybe you should go home and cool off."

He didn't grab me. Didn't chase me.

Because I'd never told him about my family. Why would I? I'm low-maintenance. None of that stuff seemed worth mentioning.

I looked back over my shoulder.

Sasha was leaning back in her chair, arm slung over Ronan's shoulder, patting it.

"Let her go," she said. "Don't chase a woman having a tantrum. She'll come around on her own."

Ronan nodded. "Yeah... Vera's usually really easygoing. I don't know why she's acting so dramatic today."

I smiled to myself and walked out.

When I got home, both my parents were there.

My dad was sitting on the living room couch, cleaning his collection of custom-made revolvers. The good ones. Italian.

My mom was lying in her massage chair, getting her nails done by a technician she'd flown in from Paris. Because apparently no one in Boston could do a decent gel overlay.

I changed into my slippers and sat down on the couch.

"Dad. Mom." I said it calm. "I called off the engagement with Ronan."

My dad's hand stopped mid-wipe. "You what?"

Without another word, he flipped open the revolver's cylinder. Checked the chambers.

"That bastard do something to you?" His voice went low. "Another woman? Did he hurt you?"

"Say the word and he's gone tonight."

My mom sat up straight. Ten freshly done nails spread wide like claws. Her eyes were on fire.

"Who the hell dares to bully my daughter?"

That's just how my mom talks. She's forty-seven and still acts like she owns the world.

You wanna know why my dad fell for her back in the day?

During a gang war, some idiot put a knife to her throat. And she just screamed, "Go ahead. Touch one hair on my head. See what happens. Your queen dares you."

So yeah. That's her.

I pulled a pillow into my lap. "No one bullied me. I just didn't want to get married anymore. Didn't feel right."

My mom's whole face softened. She patted the spot next to her. "Come here, baby."

"Fine. Don't get married then. Come pick out a nail design you like."

She waved her fresh nails at me. "Mommy always said that ring was too small anyway. I could barely see it without a magnifying glass. I'll buy you a dozen pigeon blood rubies tomorrow. You can wear them on your toes for all I care."

I stayed calm because I know my parents too well.

If I told them the truth? Ronan's family business would be shut down by sunrise. And Sasha? She'd turn up in the Charles River the day after.

With parents like mine, the only way to live is low-key. Otherwise we'd be on the news every other week.

Besides. I really am low-maintenance. Nothing feels worth getting angry about.

After my shower, I lay in my king-size canopy bed and stared at the lamp on my nightstand.

It was custom-made by an artisan in Florence. The base was encrusted with diamonds. Every single stone was bigger than the one on Ronan's ring.

I suddenly laughed.

Sasha said you have to fight for things in this world. No fight, no voice.

She said she couldn't stand girls like me pretending to be above it all.

But what exactly am I supposed to fight for?

Growing up, if I wanted something, my dad would have it in my room the next morning.

If I liked something I saw in a store, my mom would buy the whole display. I didn't even have to ask. I just had to look at it for one second too long.

My mom always said my life was supposed to be easy. No struggles. No drama. Just peace.

All I had to do was stay low-key. And everything would stay peaceful.

So tell me, Sasha...

What exactly am I supposed to fight for?

Chapter 3

I woke up the next day on my own. No alarm. No stress.

The housekeeper had already laid out breakfast. Avocado toast. Fresh berries. Cold-pressed juice. The usual.

My mom actually went to the office for once. She said there was a new contract to sign and wanted me to come along.

"Company's gonna be yours someday anyway, baby," she said. "Might as well start looking at the furniture."

So I ate my toast, changed into a silk dress, and had the driver take me there.

When I walked into the LXR headquarters, I saw Sasha.

She was standing by the reception desk, holding a coffee cup like she owned the place.

She looked up and saw me. Didn't even blink.

"Vera." She smiled. "Fancy meeting you here."

Before I could say anything, I heard Ronan's voice behind me.

He clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. Glanced at Sasha. Then announced loud enough for the whole floor to hear.

"Sasha Flynn is a Harvard Business School graduate. Her resume is insane."

"Our marketing department needed a manager. So I hired her. Everyone give her a warm welcome."

People clapped. Polite. Distracted. Then they went right back to their screens.

Sasha walked over and draped her elbow over Ronan's shoulder. Casual. Like it was nothing.

She smiled at me.

"Don't worry, Vera. I keep my professional life and personal life separate."

She paused. Let that hang.

"I gave your boyfriend a little lecture last night. But today at work? I'm his subordinate." Another pause. "And also... your boss."

She patted Ronan's chest. Smug.

"Looking forward to working for you, Director Caster."

Ronan quickly jumped in. "Sasha's really talented, Vera. I hired her for her professional skills. It's got nothing to do with our... personal history."

I watched the two of them go back and forth. Him fumbling. Her preening.

I chuckled. Quiet.

Ronan saw me smile and stepped closer. "Vera, Sasha brought the ring today. She'll give it back later. Don't be mad, okay?"

I shook my head. "I'm not mad."

Then I looked at Sasha.

"But I do have one question."

Sasha's face flickered. Disdain. Like she already knew I was about to embarrass myself.

"What right do you have to hire someone as manager at our company?"

The room went quiet.

I tilted my head. Smiled. Then I said it.

"You don't actually think you earned this position on merit, do you?"