Jonathan's POV
It was a new morning, but lately…they had stopped meaning a new beginning for me.
Apartment - Early Morning
The files were still spread across the table.
More so because that's where I left them.
I began to review them again.
The inconsistency kept flowing in front of me.
Signatures…approvals.
My signature verifying them.
A quiet breath escaped my mouth.
"How come I never noticed this?"
The inconsistencies were practically glaring back at me.
For a brief moment…
I wanted to be angry at Veronica for not telling me.
But as the truth settled in on my chest…
I was angry at myself.
I was the one who trusted Imelda so blindly, I never saw what I was verifying.
"As Veronica's husband…"
I let out a bitter laugh.
"I didn't even bother looking at what I was verifying."
My grip tightened against the file.
"It shouldn't have been like this."
All the while I was thinking what made her leave so suddenly.
Now I was certain there was more to Veronica's disappearance.
Now not only did I realize, I began to understand.
I picked up my key, phone and locked the door behind me.
I drove straight to my office.
I used to head straight to Imelda's before, but that was months before Veronica left me.
Rollings Designs
I laid out some of the files I brought along with me from home and began reviewing them again.
Just then my assistant walked in.
"Mr. Rollings," he said. "Someone named Daniel Staf is here to meet you…he says it's important…but he doesn't have an appointment."
I was going to refuse but then the name struck a bell.
"Daniel Staf?" I recalled the name from the folder at home.
I paused for a moment.
Was about to call him in…
My assistant spoke before I could…
Oh, he also mentioned he knows Harmon Designs."
"Send him in…if Imelda calls…don't tell."
He nodded and left.
"Daniel Staf…" I said to myself.
As he walked in, I noticed he was not only calm, but was actually observing my office and wasn't intimidated by me.
He didn't carry the air of a client or a friend.
"Mr. Rollings," He said as he walked in. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I would say the same if I knew you." My voice was plain as I didn't know what to feel seeing him.
"State your purpose." I said, gesturing to him to sit.
Even after taking a seat, he didn't rush.
His aura somehow felt unusual to me.
I felt like he had a holding on me that I couldn't pin-point.
"I might seem intrusive…but could you please tell me about your…I mean the Rollings and Harmon collaboration."
It wasn't a question nor a request.
It sounded like he was certain I'd tell him.
"And what makes you think I'll tell you?" My voice was as frank as I expected.
I knew he would tell what's on his mind.
Somehow I felt he didn't come wearing a mask.
"Well…let's call it my intuition," he said, folding his hands.
"I'm not prying or anything," he said. "I just want to know how the work flows. Like…who handles the cross-company operations."
"Don't you think these are internal matters?" I said leaning forward.
"I just met you and you expect…."
"I already know it was one person," he said in a calm voice. "I just want to confirm it."
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hey, relax," he said. "I'm not against you…for now at least."
One thing I was sure of…
was…
He wasn't here just prying into things.
"Veronica was the person…" I said trailing off as I was observing his expression. "But, I presume you know."
"So, I was right," he said. "one person was really managing both sides."
My eyes narrowed slightly again.
So he is digging into Veronica's past here.
"Isn't that a heavy load for one person?"
He said in a flat tone.
I didn't want to say as I knew the fact.
But at the same time, I wanted to know on who's side he really was.
"She managed," I said. "But what's it to you?"
He paused.
"She managed…" he trailed off before answering. "Or she wasn't even asked if she could."
Silence fell in the room.
It was the first uncomfortable implication he made since he came.
Now..
I was certain he was on Veronica's side.
But who was he?
How come I never knew about him?
How come Veronica never mentioned him?
I was busy thinking about all this…when he asked another question.
"So," he said, taking a sip of the tea from the cup he was holding.
"Are you and Imelda married?" he said. "I mean you both have a son, Adrian."
"No, we're not." I said frankly. "And Adrian…is adopted. I acknowledged at a party. I presume you must know about it."
"Isn't…he your biological son?"
That question caught me off guard.
Apart from me, Imelda and Fredrick were the only ones who knew.
Even Adrian didn't know.
"He's not mine."
I don't know why but when I said he wasn't mine, I actually didn't feel anything compared to the pain I used to feel in my heart when I mentioned Janet wasn't my biological child.
"I met…or rather saw Adrian at Janet's school." He said. "I can tell he doesn't resemble you. I was just asking."
Now I remembered where I saw him.
The day the principal called us and Veronica at the school. He was there with her.
Now I was certain he was the Staf who was helping Veronica.
"So Adrian isn't yours as in yours."
I didn't argue.
If he was with Veronica, this was the last thing I wanted her to know.
My original plan was to give Imelda a fake wedding so Adrian won't be called illegitimate and then we'd fake a divorce.
But somewhere along the line…she detoured.
From five years…
it became seven.
Also, I didn't see the reason to state Adrian is my son by DNA.
But when he mentioned Janet…
"And Janet, is—"
I cut his words mid-way.
"Don't you dare speculate about me and my daughter. She is my one and only child. And Veronica is my wife."
He leaned back into his chair and smiled.
As if he had won something.
"So, how long has Veronica worked for…both companies?"
"She didn't work for both."
"She worked for a few months at Imelda's."
"As for mine…she only used to bring the files Imelda sent over."
"Her pay…was it to the standards?"
I leaned over again.
"Would you believe me if I told you what I really knew?"
"Of course," he said. "I can tell if a person is lying to me. Comes with studying psychology."
"I didn't." I said flatly.
"Honestly," I said leaning back into my chair. "I thought she was getting paid what Imelda said. It was later on at the hospital…I found out."
"But this should be of no concern to you."
"It might….and it might not be."
Now I felt like he was interrogating me as if he came to find out something.
Daniel was about to say something…
Imelda walked in.
"Jonathan," she said, the sound of her heels clicking against the marble floor.
"You're really avoiding me, aren't you?"
Then her gaze fell on Daniel's back.
"Oh, sorry," she said. "I didn't know you had a…"
The moment Daniel got up…
Imelda froze.
She paused for a moment.
Her expression shifted to a very subtle one.
"What are you doing here?"
"And, it's nice to see you too."
My eyes were drifting between both…
After all…
I just realized they knew each other, and not in a formal way.
Maybe more than I and Imelda knew each other.
"You didn't answer my question."
Her tone was cold as ice.
"Imelda," I spoke up. "Even if you do know him, he's my guest. And our work ... .you shouldn't be bothered with it."
"Oh, actually we were talking about your ex-assistant Veronica."
Daniel said, getting me off guard.
"What's he up to?" I said in my mind.
"I mean who she used to handle the work and all."
I smiled at the way he said 'all' with a weight.
"Yes," she said as she sat beside him in a chair. "She used to handle things efficiently."
"One person huh," he said, nodding.
"Well…" she trailed a bit, trying to grab the right words. "Some people have different abilities, but nothing you can't find in another."
"Really?"
Daniel's words hit like hot iron.
Apart from the fact that they knew each other…
I wasn't just listening to what they were saying…
Rather reading them.
As for me…
I began to read their body language.
Daniel was more calm in contrast to Imelda's attempt to remain calm.
I also noticed how she was controlling her tone…
Something she only did in front of Fredrick.
"They're not talking ... .they're measuring each other as to who they are."
I said in my mind, realizing they definitely had a history.
One that I didn't know of.
Just then a notification popped on Daniel's screen.
"Oh," he said, getting up. "I have an urgent meeting."
He offered his hand.
I was shaking hands with him…
"Mr. Rollings," he gave a side-glance towards Imelda. "You should review your…things with care, lest you end up losing something dear to you."
His expression changed from grave to mellow.
"Well, then." He said. "I'll take my leave for now."
"Yes…" I trailed off a bit. "And, rest assured, I will never lose the ones I love."
I saw Imelda smile on hearing that, and I knew what she was thinking.
"Even if I have to go to the end of the world to get them back."
Daniel nodded and left.
A small laugh left my mouth as Imelda was back to her old self.
Take control over me.
"Jonathan," she said in her frank cold voice. "There's no need to keep any contact with him."
He's…" she trailed off a bit. "An irrelevant person."
My head tilted slightly.
"Really?" I said. "Then why were you so cautious around him?"
She paused for a brief moment.
"Cautious?" he said. "Of course not. Why would I…I mean…."
That was the first crack I saw in her as she lost her composure.
Especially for a person, whom I knew rarely could.
Which made me think…
Is this Daniel so important to her she actually lost her composure in front of him.
But then I was completely oblivious of who they mean to each-other.
All of a sudden Imelda bolted from her chair and left without a word.
I was left sitting alone in my office.
The fact he believed I didn't know Veronica was getting paid less…
even if he says he studied psychology.
Him questioning Imelda face-on.
His calm composure contrasted to her cracking composure.
Her reaction changes from the time she entered to the time she left.
The staff statements regarding Veronica's place and work over at Harmon Designs.
Then…
I paused.
"Danilel is asking about Veronica…"
I paused again.
"What does he know about her that I don't?"
Silence.
"Could he know…."
I took a deep breath as I leaned back into my chair.