Jonathan's POV
I woke up as the sun rays fell on my face.
I sighed thinking she had forgotten to pull the curtains, as she usually does.
I reached the side table beside my bed for my bed tea.
But it was…
Empty.
I sighed.
"She must still be angry," I said. "That's why she didn't make it."
I sigh again and wait in bed.
I know when I didn't come out, she would eventually bring my tea as she knows I wouldn't come out till then.
But a few seconds went into a few minutes, then I began to get irritated.
"She's used to waking up early…still gets irritated by me waking up late."
I looked around as I rolled my eyes.
"Like for real…she's actually beginning to leave things midway?"
By now I was annoyed to the maximum, as today I had an important meeting and being late and on an empty stomach was the last thing I needed.
Harmon Design
"Mr. Rollings," her secretary said. "Miss Harmon is in her office."
I had a meeting over at Imelda's office so I went over.
"I'll see her later," I said as I walked towards my office. "I'm in my office."
I went straight to my office and opened my briefcase.
I removed the files I had related to Veronica.
But for some odd reason, I put them aside and began dealing with the pending files.
Then one employee came over.
"Mr. Rollings." He said as he came in. "Sorry to bother, but could you please give me Miss. Smith's number? She managed stock revenue, and now…it's a mess. Miss. Harmon said she had her old number."
I gave him the number Sandy had given me.
Then again I went back to my files.
Again someone came.
"Mr. Rollings," she said. "But Miss. Smith used to maintain an inventory. Now, we need time to get on track."
Then while I was making myself a coffee, I overheard the employees.
"Her coffee was so tasty."
"What do you mean by that?" I said to one of them.
"Oh, one of them said that. "Miss. Smith…she used to make coffee for everyone whenever we needed it."
"And who told her to do this?"
"Of course," one of them said. "Miss. Imelda. She said she was here for whatever we didn't have time for."
"She was really a great worker." Another one added. "She used to handle both Harmon Designs and Harmon Design Partners' work as well."
I frowned.
She was working more than she was appointed to.
Not only as Imelda's assistant, but doing every other work here, including odd jobs such as making coffee for the entire staff.
I was going back when I stopped by her desk near the trash cans.
I recalled what I said to her at the time:
"At home, don't you spend most of your time in the kitchen? Isn't the trash can always in sight?"
Later on, as the evening was settling in, I packed, and again went to get some coffee.
Again I overheard from the employees.
"Miss Harmon's angry…" the employee said. "But what was I supposed to do? Before Miss. Harmon would call Veronica to deliver the files to her, no matter how late it was. I remember…once she even got her to deliver a file at two in the midnight. And her daughter was also down with a fever at the time."
"Well," another one said. "She's a widow. No family. What can she do?"
"Yeah," the first one said. "Miss. Harmon barely used to let her sit."
I interrupted them.
"Get back to work."
My voice was sharper than required.
Not that I was irritated, but it was bad enough that I was oblivious to all that happened.
Lest they speak about Veronica, when they didn't know the truth…
The truth…she wasn't a widow…the truth is she had a family...me.
The next day, again I was at Imelda's office.
The Blue Heart Project was in the final stage. Once it was finalized, I could finally break free from Imelda's grip.
But now…
Veronica wasn't with me…though not for long as I will find and bring her back.
Again everything was chaotic at the office.
I went about doing my own work as I wanted to see what they would do.
I had given one employee Veronica's number, but I couldn't ask if he talked to her.
Just then Imelda walked over.
One employee was stuck at the print machine.
Imelda went over and took a stack of papers.
Set them and the printer begins working.
Then she went over to a table and sorted the employees' paperwork.
"See," she said. "Just read the instructions and you can run any machine. As for the paperwork, just look at what's required. Anyone can do all of these works."
Then she turned around.
"And stop complimenting Veronica…she just followed the instructions I gave her. Now I'll tell you. For the coffee, let's hire a boy and remove that table. Now that she's not here, we don't need it."
Again I didn't react to what she said about Veronica. Not that I agree, but I couldn't say a word here…now.
Here, I was Imelda's fiancé.
The least I could speak was out of sympathy.
But not as a husband.
Now they were pitting her, then I would.
I didn't realize that when it was lunch time, that I heard the staff's laughter.
Probably someone was cracking a joke.
Which also meant it was lunch time.
I looked at the table beside the sofa.
Empty.
No lunch boxes.
My assistant came in.
"Mr. Rollings," he said. "Do you want me to arrange lunch or something?"
I was almost about to say…
Veronica will be coming over, but will stop.
"No!" I sighed. "I'm not hungry to begin with."
In reality it has been days since I've had a proper meal.
Because of my weak stomach, Veronica used to make sure that, no matter where I was, she would send me lunch.
I rarely eat outside.
To keep my mind off hunger I went back to some paperwork I had left for later.
As I began to go through them, I kept moving pages left-right.
It was right before my eyes but I kept moving the paper hoping I mis-read it.
The papers were reviewed by Veronica and she signed them only using her initials: V. S.
Even though I didn't acknowledge her in public, she always used Rollings in the middle as an alphabet.
R. S
And if asked, she'd say it was Richmond, her father's surname.
But I noticed it's been a year since she used 'R' in her signature initials.
I paused.
"What happened?"
"Why did she change this?"
I flipped more papers.
All had the same initials.
What stood in front of me wasn't a conclusion, but an uneasy feeling that devoured me.
A few days later again, my driver asked me about picking Janet up from her school.
A small laugh came out of my mouth.
Another month had gone by since they left.
"Don't ask again," I said. "She's gone from here with her mother."
"Yes sir."
The fact is she didn't just leave.
The fact is she was planning during those seven days.
The fact is I never noticed..
Haunted me to this day, and probably till her come back.
It was another success party.
Me and Imelda were the hosts as usual.
I was busy having a conversation with a fellow businessman when Imelda called out.
"Everyone, may I have your attention please?"
She smiled and looked at me.
"Jonathan dear, please come over."
"What's she up to now?" I said with pinched eyes.
As I got onto the stage, she took hold of my arm.
"Everyone knows Jonathan is my fiancé and my son, Adrian's biological father."
"Imelda??!" I cursed under my breath. "Why the hell do you have to say all of this?"
"Hush." she said with a smile.
"Today, I, Imelda Harmon announced that I and Jonathan are getting married this Saturday. Everyone is invited."
I didn't reply or react.
As news involving two business tycoons, I knew the news would become viral, and hoped Veronica would see and react.
Maybe she's coming back for Janet's sake.
"We'll see about that."
I had a frown on my face.
I could see Imelda's gaze wasn't happy.
I was sure by now she knew I wasn't the same Jonathan who was at her beck n' call.
Harmon Design
The next day I went to Imelda's office as I had some designs to check.
As I entered her office, she was talking to one of her staff employees.
"Miss Harmon," he said. "Miss. Smith used to take care of your personal and cross-company matters. Now…"
"So?" she said in a cold tone. "That was her job."
"Yes," he said, not looking in her eyes. "But the ones who came in her place, no one is able to…"
"Okay," she said looking at me. "Let me think."
I walked over and sat in a chair across from her.
"She was useful, I won't deny."
"I thought you said anyone can do her work."
"Jonathan," she said. "Do you have to roast me like this?"
"I was just…"
"You've changed….since she's gone." She said leaning back.
"She left you. She didn't care…"
"She's angry," I said. "She has the right to be."
"Anyway, I came for the sketch." She pushed a sketch towards me.
Apartment
I came back home and made some food for myself.
Then I dialed her number again.
The ring went on unending.
I whispered…
"Pick up…"
The call ended with a long beep.
Then I picked up my cup of coffee and began to recall the events of the day.
"She was doing her job, she was mis-treated, she never told me…"
"Is this all…or…."
"Why do I feel there's still something I can't see…but what?"