Billionaire In Broken Pieces

DAISY LORNE I quickly took a bath, fully aware that I was running late. I hadn't even had breakfast yet and was still getting ready in the bathroom. I had so much on my plate, juggling multiple jobs, that I even forgot I had been selected for some interviews. Some of which I would attend only if I felt like it. Next week, I was set to start another high-paying job. Oh my God... I had 20 minutes left; I needed to move fast! I put some leftovers from last night into the microwave and hurried to get dressed.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed, had placed the leftover rice on a plate, and started shoveling it into my mouth. I managed to eat in just four minutes and dashed out of my apartment as if I had been zapped by an electric current. Maybe I would check on my family this evening, especially my mother, to see how she was doing. "Make way!" I shouted while running, not even realizing I was wearing mismatched high heels and a skirt that looked like it was from the clearance rack. To top it all off, I was already ten minutes late. "Elevator! Hold the door!" I yelled, but the doors closed on me, just like a villain in a movie slamming a door in someone's face. I had no choice but to wait for the elevator to open again. With a wrinkled blouse and my ID badge on backward, the doors finally slid open, allowing the outgoing staff to exit. I strode inside and pressed the button for the 29th floor, taking a deep breath to calm myself. This company was intimidatingly tall and stressful, and I could barely let my breakfast settle. I realized I had never seen or met the CEO since starting this job. After enduring my usual morning scolding, I settled into my workstation. Later that evening, I went to my parents' house. "Mom, Dad, John! I'm home!" I visited frequently because of Mom's health. She had been diagnosed with kidney problems two years ago and needed a transplant costing an estimated $200,000. I didn't even have $10,000 saved up. The medication she needed cost $2,500 a month, providing only slight relief from her pain while we scrambled for the money for the operation. It felt like the money I was trying to save for her transplant kept dwindling because I couldn't skip a month of buying her medicine. Mom couldn't even shout at us anymore or scold me, Dad, or John like she used to. Time seemed to take everything away. "Oh, my gracious daughter, how have you been?" she asked, welcoming me at the entrance. "Mom, I'm the one who should be asking how your health is. I've been too busy at work, which is why I haven't visited." "All has been good, thanks to the medications you're providing," she replied but then started coughing. "Mom, what's wrong? Do you need water?" I asked anxiously as she shook her head, lowering her hand from her mouth. Blood... Mom, you're coughing up blood? Does this happen often? When did you start noticing this? Have you been taking your medicine, or has it run out? We need to see the doctor! "No, don't worry. I've been coughing up blood frequently lately. The medicine isn't managing the pain anymore. I don't want to stress you out; you're already doing so much. You've spent most of your salary on my medication." "Where are Dad and John? Do they both know about this?" I pressed. "Yes, they both know. I told them not to disturb you. John hasn't come back from school yet, and your father has gone out to work in the garden." "I will make sure to gather the money as soon as possible; we can't delay your kidney transplant any longer," I promised her, fully aware of how difficult it would be to find that money. My monthly salary was only $5,000. I helped her tidy up the house and gave her a massage so she could relax. I decided it was best to leave for now and send my love to Dad and John. "I'll visit again tomorrow, Mom. I love you," I said. "Love you too," she replied. As I stepped outside, I popped in my AirPods and played some calming music. On my way home, I noticed a sign for "Bubblesnacks," a place selling snacks and soft drinks. "How may I help you?" the cashier asked. "Five pancakes and one Coke" I replied. "Okay, miss. That will be $5," she said. Prices just keep rising. "Here's my card," I replied. She swiped my card and handed me my order. I planned to eat my snacks on the way home and cook a proper meal when I got there. It had been a while since I started juggling different jobs. I needed to support my mother's operation fee while also taking care of my own needs. They even suggested I work at a bar to earn more money, but my family wouldn't support that decision. I'd rather take on three jobs or more than compromise my self-respect by working in a bar. I currently have two jobs. My first job is a full-time position at Ray Tech that runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. My second job is in the evening, which is a shift position from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. After that, I have another job waiting for me. Additionally, I am considering a part-time position at a new restaurant close to my apartment. All of this meant I was barely getting five hours of sleep a night. I received a call on my phone from my best friend, Lucas. LUCAS BLAKE I was looking through the document, and this is the contract my father wants me to acquire. Thankfully, it has been signed. The private hospital is owned by my friend James Balton. We met in the business world, and he is also our family doctor; his hospital is one of the biggest in the world. I signed the contract for the project with him. "It's been a long time, Luca," James said. "The poor can't afford treatment here, and most of them are being helped by the foundation." "Would it be better if I expanded the hospital to poorer countries or somewhere suitable?" he asked. Of course, he is my friend and business partner; he has been married for the past three years, and I attended his wedding as the groom's friend. "It's up to you, James. After all, you own this hospital. My duty is to have my staff supply the necessary resources and oversee the project. There's nothing wrong with expanding it abroad. You know I don't need to tell you what to do; just execute your plans. If you do, this could be the biggest project ever," I said, and we both chuckled. "I know that's what you would say. I want to arrange meetings with several investors who are willing to help us with this project," he replied. "No problem, James." "I'll take my leave now because I'm heading on a business trip to China tomorrow. I need to finalize a deal with Mr. Kong, a Chinese supplier of raw materials for our technology project development." "Oh, that reminds me, I haven't had my check-up in quite a while," I said. "I thought you were a real man now! You don't need to worry about anything," James teased. Simon, my trusted personal assistant, pressed the button for the floor where the medical laboratory is located. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my mother. I picked up, "Hello, Mom..." "Lucas, why are you doing this to me? You know I always respect your decisions; any girl you choose is fine with me. I even suggested some ladies whom I thought might meet your standards, but you ended up rejecting them. Do you want me to grow old without seeing my grandchildren, or do you want me to die young? I want to see my grandchildren! Your father is worried about you. Please, don't do this to us." "Calm down, Mother..." "Don't tell me to calm down! I'm starting to-" Beeep. "Why did you hang up? She was saying something reasonable," James asked. "Well, it seems I had to because she doesn't give me a chance to speak. Whenever we're on the phone, her voice always drowns mine out. She barely hears what I'm saying. I've been told not to come home without a girlfriend or fiancée. She calls almost every day; that's why I'm troubled." "Yes, I understand, but they are your parents. You don't really have a choice; I support them. You're in a difficult situation, and your little brother isn't responding. You need to find a way to solve this. Maybe a marriage contract would help." "Hmm... Yes, you make sense for the first time in history! But I don't know how it works, and I don't have anyone to turn to or know whether I should make a poster or a flyer for it but that sounds ridiculous." "Just think of any woman who could help you," said James. "Lucas, think hard. I could ask Daisy if she would help me. She is my childhood friend, and it has been a while since we spoke or saw each other. She has always kept my secrets, but I don't have any romantic feelings for her," I said. "It's not necessary to love her, but you have to treat her like a real couple. And to be precise, you will have a contract between yourselves, and you'll be paying her. She can't do it for free if she truly wants to help you," James noted. "I know, but I don't know how to approach her about this situation, and I'm not sure how to say it in her presence because I'll just freeze up and won't be able to say anything." "You can do this," James said, tapping my shoulder.

DAISY LORNE

I stood in front of my apartment door, reaching into my bag for my keys while receiving a call. It had been a while. "Lucas, what's wrong? Why are you calling me so late at night? Did you want to tell me something?" I asked, using my shoulder to hold the phone while I unlocked the door.

"Where are you? Are you just getting home? You should have called me to pick you up," he replied.

"You don't have to worry. I don't want to stress you out; we all have our own issues."

"How are Uncle, Aunt, and John? I hope all is well. It's been a long time since I've seen them."

"Same as you, I've missed you, Daisy."

"They're fine..." I wasn't quite sure what to say next.

"Maybe I'll come and visit very soon."

Suddenly, an idea struck me. What if I asked Lucas to lend me some money? I could pay him back over time, maybe within five years. But would people, including his parents, think I was trying to take advantage of him just because he comes from a wealthy background? I heard he's the CEO of a company. Maybe that's why he hadn't shared his success with me-he might think I'd drift away from him if I knew. I decided I should tell him first to see how he reacted. Or, if I acted like I knew about his company, I could have applied for a job there, I thought.

"Lucas."

"Daisy."

We both called each other's names at the same time and chuckled.

"I have something to tell you."

"I have something to tell you too."

We both spoke simultaneously again.

"Okay, ladies first," he said. "You go ahead."

"Hmm... don't worry. I bet you have something more important to share since you called me first. You should be the one to go first." I said, feeling too scared to ask him for help.

There was a brief silence before he spoke again. "Daisy, please, I need your help. I know you're the only one I can turn to. You are my trustworthy best friend."

"What's wrong? Talk to me. Is your work keeping you busy, or is it stressing you out?" I asked.

"No, that's not it. Let's meet up... don't worry, I'll come pick you up when I come back from my business trip. I will be catching the flight to China tomorrow. I will let you know before coming. Send me your new apartment address since you've moved from your last place.

"Okay, I will. Take care," I said before hanging up.

I realized that I needed to take a day off to clean my messy apartment before the day arrives.

Going out with Lucas felt overwhelming. I was way out of his league. Even his tailored suit could buy my entire wardrobe. I didn't have money for nice clothes; I will just wear a simple, ordinary outfit. Then I went straight to the kitchen to prepare something to eat.

LUCAS BLAKE

I decided to branch off to the bar that James talks about. This man has never given up on trying different tricks with me. He came and sat beside me, and I always passed by the dark, dim passage before entering the VVIP room.

This was my third time here, and it's always been because of him. You can never change, James, can you?

That was true back then, but my wife is correcting me now. I just like this place; it's a spot to lift my work burden, get some drinks, and go home. That's it. So, how's it going?

I've called her, and I will meet with her when I come back from China.

Okay then, let's enjoy our wine. How about you test your middleman? Maybe it could wake up; you know, a miracle could happen.

I don't know exactly what you're trying to say, but after I drink my wine, I'm heading home. I have a flight to catch tomorrow, I said.

If that's what you want, then fine, but China isn't going anywhere. Let's just enjoy the night, he replied. Then he ordered one of the waiters to come over and whispered something in his ear. The waiter hurried out of the VVIP room. I didn't think much of it. I filled my glass with wine, and then a couple of seductive ladies came in and started dancing.

One of the ladies was truly a beauty, sexy and hot, dancing provocatively. She started undressing, exposing some private areas of her body. However, despite the efforts of both young ladies, I still felt nothing; my brother was not standing. I felt empty. I took another sip of my wine, and James noticed.

"What's with that face?" he asked.

Are you talking to me?

Yes, you, of course. Who do you think I'm talking to a faceless ghost? He replied.

Shut the f*** up, p***k. You need to learn to mind your own business sometimes. Maybe I should tell your wife that two ladies are dancing for you right now, saying you're receiving the best pleasure here. Who knows, you might end up with the same problem as mine.

"What? Stop that, bro. I'm not cheating on my wife. I brought these ladies for you. A doctor doesn't have time for cheating on his wife, and I will never have an issue like yours. Never," he retorted.

Oh, you mean your wife trusts you a lot, huh? I smirked and told Simon, my assistant, to dial James's wife's number and inform her that her husband is having a threesome.

"Yes, sir," he said, taking out his phone and looking at James.

"Don't destroy my home, you impotent black-headed wolf."

Then tell his wife that the two ladies are moaning softly under his touch.

"You cold, arrogant CEO," James shot back, then signaled for one of the ladies to come over.

"Hey, handsome," she said.

"You're so hot; I want to eat you alive. My name is Lara. What about you, hot guy?"

You can call me LB, I replied.

"Alright," she said. We ordered more drinks, and I noticed she kept staring at me, licking her lips. Even her leg was caressing mine.

"You're handsome and hot at the same time, and I'm sexy and seductive. How about we satisfy our needs with each other?" she proposed, caressing my chest. She leaned in and whispered, "I'm going to eat you out until you beg for mercy; your d**k is waiting for me."

Her hand was sliding down, almost touching me there. Despite the intense seduction, I still felt no desire. I stopped her, with James watching me with a side eye.

"Stop it; I have a flight to catch tomorrow. If I stay a little longer, I'll be late, so I'm going to leave first. You can keep him company," I said, pointing at James. "Don't worry; the bill is on me."

"Okay," she said.

"No, wait! You can't leave me alone here. I don't want to cheat on my wife. I'm a responsible husband," James protested.

We both left the bar and went our separate ways home.

LUCAS BLAKE

As I got home, I went straight into the bathroom and took a quick shower. After changing into my pajamas, I slid onto my bed. I unlocked my phone and went to my photo gallery. As I scrolled down, I came across pictures of my ex-girlfriend, Clara. I had once planned to settle down with her and spend the rest of my life together. I intended to propose to her after I was appointed as the new CEO of my father's tech company.

Three Years Ago

"What secret are you keeping from me, Lucas? Can't you talk?" Clara asked, visibly upset.

"I've told you countless times. I'm not dating Daisy; there's no secret romance. She is just a childhood friend. I don't see her in the way you're implying. She's not even in my class; she can't be my wife. It's you I want-all of you," I replied, unaware that Daisy was standing at my front door, listening to the conversation. She had come to celebrate my new appointment as CEO, which had been announced recently.

"Clara, believe me, I have never loved Daisy. I never will," I insisted.

Just then, Daisy was about to open the door when she froze upon hearing those words. After processing what she had just heard, she turned and left.

I moved closer to Clara, hugging her tightly and kissing her lips. "If you want me to never speak to her again, I'll do it," I promised. When I glanced out and saw Daisy walking away through the gate of my mansion, I didn't stop her; my focus was on solidifying my relationship with Clara.

From that day forward, Clara went to Daisy's workplace to confront her, leading to Daisy losing her job. Clara justified her actions by saying she did it for me. Whenever they crossed paths, Clara somehow made Daisy feel like an unwanted third wheel in our relationship. As time passed, the bond between Daisy and me grew more distant.

One day, Clara's ex-boyfriend, a renowned actor, returned to Australia. The news spread quickly, and Clara began acting strangely. She picked fights over minor issues and sometimes stayed out late.

One night, however, Clara returned home early, and I was surprised. She rushed to me, welcoming me home with kisses.

"Babe, I'm sorry for the recent arguments and for coming home late. Please forgive me; it won't happen again," she said, and I readily accepted her apology. She then offered me a tea that I had never seen before. But since it was from Clara, I didn't mind and drank it, even though it had no taste.

She continued to offer me the tea daily, and I eventually asked, "What kind of tea is this?"

"Huh... um... it helps improve your immune system and serves as a refreshment," she replied.

"Okay, if you say so. By the way, we're going on a dinner date tonight," I said, embracing her, and I planned to propose to her that evening.

Later that evening, we went to a fancy, upscale restaurant designed for the wealthy.

Upon entering, I noticed that the decorations I had arranged were perfectly in place. Our table was set in a special location beside the window, offering a beautiful view that would make the date unforgettable. Clara and I took our seats, and soon four waiters appeared in a line, presenting the dishes I had ordered before our arrival.

"Wow!" Clara exclaimed with excitement. "Babe, thanks! This is the best date ever, and of course, it's the last."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, confused.

"Oh... it's nothing, I'm just happy. Let's dive in before the food gets cold," she replied.

We enjoyed our meal, engaged in conversation, and shared some laughs. Then, I stood up and knelt halfway, retrieving a small box from my chest pocket. "Clara, you have been the light of my world; without you, I'm nothing. You are the oxygen I breathe.

I love you. Please marry me." The patrons around us began to cheer, chanting, "Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!"

"I'm sorry, Lucas. I can't marry you. I have the person I love, which you know, and to be honest, you are impotent. I can't marry an impotent man," she said loudly, without any sign of remorse.

Everyone in the restaurant fell silent, shocked, and whispers rippled through the crowd. Just then, Mike entered the restaurant and walked up to Clara.

"Darling," he said, kissing her on the lips, eliciting gasps from the patrons; several pulled out their phones to record the moment.

"Mike, this is Lucas, my friend. Lucas, meet my fiancé, Mike."

That's when the reality hit me like a drumstick. "Clara, are you joking? Mike is your ex-boyfriend? Or have you been playing me all this time? Have you been toying with my feelings for all these years? I have loved you all my life. Is this how it's going to end? Please tell me I deserve an answer," I said.

"Don't be foolish, love. You knew that even after Mike and I broke up, I still loved him. Dating you was just to make Mike jealous. I tried to fall in love with you, but it never worked; I can't help it."

"You deceived me for three whole years, thinking you loved me!"

"I didn't mean to, and I know you have no hidden relationship with Daisy," Clara replied.

"You made me sabotage my friendship with my childhood friend; you will regret this," I said, storming out of the restaurant.

I hurried to my car and drove off.

I was almost home when suddenly my brakes failed.

Crash. My car collided with a truck coming toward me.

DAISY LORNE

I have this long face because I had a terrible night. I keep dreaming about the same weird dream: I'm having a wedding with a faceless man, kissing him, and even spending the night with him.

For goodness' sake, Daisy! What was wrong with you last night? What is that strange dream about? Could it be a sign that I'm getting married soon? But why would I marry a faceless man, for crying out loud? Are there no eligible men left on earth that I would choose to marry someone without a face? Even if he is wealthy, I still wouldn't marry him. I only know about my own clumsiness; I don't have bad luck. What kind of dream is that? I talk to myself while staring at my reflection on my phone camera.

But somehow, that feeling... it feels so real like it's really going to happen. Nah! Like my friend Mira always says, she believes in spirituality; dreams like that might come true, but in a different way. That's why it felt so real to me, but to me, it is still just a dream. A dream will always be a dream. I don't even have a boyfriend, let alone be thinking about getting married. I still want to continue my studies where I left off.

Alright then, wake up, Daisy. It's time to get ready, I remind myself. I climbed off my bed and walked into the bathroom. I splashed some water on my face and ended up taking a bath.