Chapter 165
Veronica’s POV
Grand Del Hotel – The next day at the restaurant
I was on my way to meet Alex as he called me for a private meeting.
Jonathan had to meet a client of Rollings Designs, I didn’t think much of it and agreed.
Though this was the first time I would be in a meeting with Jonathan, John or Vance beside me.
I smiled as Alex welcomed me with a polite smile.
He pulled the chair for me, which was alright as a manly gesture to me.
But the moment I sat down, I was equally surprised by what he asked.
“So, Ms. Harmon, have you painted anything lately, or been too busy p>
“Ah,” I said surprised. “My paintings it’s been a while p>
“Weren’t we here to discuss business p>
“Oh, actually I’ve always admired painters, especially those who add personal art to their work p>
I relaxed slightly as this felt different from the formal meetings I’m used to.
“So, Ms. Harmon, what made you start painting?” he asked.
“That’s if it’s not personal p>
“No, no,” I said.
“Like I said, I was in the sixth at the time and art p>
I trailed off a bit.
“It helped me express my emotions as back then most of the time I wasn’t able to express myself in words p>
He kept listening without interrupting.
Only asked thoughtful questions.
They weren’t about money or business, only art…my favorite topic.
I didn’t realize when I began to enjoy the conversation.
For once no one was talking about Harmon Designs or me being the president.
Only about what mattered to me…painting.
And the real woman behind the president mask p>
The painter.
I kind of began to understand why he possessed a strong reputation.
He knew how to make people feel they are important.
Alex smiled warmly.
“That’s the reason your collection Reunion won my heart p>
He told me how important it is for me to have my own success.
How I became a self-made person.
How I never used the Harmon name for success.
How I already was the owner of the successful Rollings Arts.
How my paintings gave me my own recognition.
How I was an independent woman, not relying on any man.
And how Harom Designs was nothing more than a place I could express myself.
I was no doubt appreciating his compliments.
After all, I spent years proving my worth and making my own life.
And for some odd reason, his words made me feel understood.
“Which makes one thing difficult for you to understand,” he quietly said.
I titled my head.
“And what may that be p>
Alex didn’t answer immediately.
More like processed what to say.
“I’m referring to your marriage p>
“I mean how did you meet your husband?
“Oh,” I relaxed as I thought it was nothing.
“We met in college p>
“And how long were you apart p>
He didn’t let me finish and threw the next odd question.
“For seven years,” each word sounded calculated to me.
“How did you find each other p>
“I came back obviously p>
Now I was becoming curious as to what was he up to.
And decided to only answer what I was comfortable with.
All the while he quietly listened.
“Ms. Harmon,” he said.
“Don’t mind my saying, but someone with your talent deserves someone who truly understands you and the life you built p>
I stiffened as I realized now the conversation was no longer about my art.
“I think you chose the wrong husband p>
He finally said as he corrected his lime probably noticed I became stiff.
“Sorry for my bluntness, Ms. Harmon p>
I was completely still.
“I actually read a lot about you and your husbands relation p>
“I mean the years you had to live alone p>
“The pain you had to bear all alone p>
“The life you could have had, but had to live p>
Though he wasn’t openly insulting Jonathan.
He was making criticism that was no less.
“I mean you lost sixteen years p>
“Can he ever make up for that p>
“I believe someone who truly valued you for seven years, would have searched the depths of the ocean and the heights of the sky to find you p>
“He let you live those lonely seven years all alone p>
Even though I was listening quietly,
I realized he was trying to rewrite a part of my life he or anyone can never understand.
My voice remained calm.
“Mr. Vale, yesterday also you kept calling me Ms. Harmon p>
“I didn’t say a word p>
“I am a Harmon by birth p>
“But I was a miss, now I’m married to Jonathan Rollings, and now my name is Mrs. Veronica Rollings p>
He didn’t say a word.
“Jonathan may not be perfect p>
“But neither am I p>
My expression was firm throughout my speech.
“My marriage isn’t something for anyone to judge as a few newspaper articles cannot judge my married life p>
I wasn’t angry but I would do all to protect the one thing that’s more precious to me than my own life p>
Jonathan.
“As for what you said p>
“Jonathan is the best choice I ever made in my life p>
“He never abandoned me p>
“Rather he suffered to protect me from a hidden enemy p>
“For seven years, he stayed away from me to protect me p>
“He spent the next seven years living alone because I told him not to find me and I would come back when I felt I could p>
“You don’t know what or how much he sacrificed for me p>
I took a breath.
“So, please don’t decide based on some words in the news, until you know the whole true story p>
He remained silent and only smiled.
He didn’t apologize or challenge me.
He didn’t defend what he said.
Only said p>
“I understand p>
This definitely wasn’t the response I expected.
Suddenly he reached for the contract.
And began talking about the contract as if nothing had happened.
His ability to change subjects so easily definitely put me on alert.
He began explaining the contract.
I quietly listened.
I didn’t reject him.
But I didn’t approve of him either.
Designing was not my domain and I would not discuss without Jonathan’s consent.
Finally, noticing this conversation will only stop at my yes.
I closed the folder.
“I and Jonathan will review the proposal and let you know p>
“Oh sure, take your time Ms. Harmon p>
My patience had faded away.
“You’ve been calling me Ms. Harmon since we met p>
“I’m married and not a miss p>
“I’m Mrs. Rollings p>
“Oh I was calling you that on behalf that you were a Harmon before marriage and now the president so p>
“So, I am married and a Rollings p>
I paused.
For the first time his expression became hard for me to read.
What was he after,
Me or Jonathan?
After that we had tea and he left.
As I sat there alone, I wondered did he have some agenda against Jonathan?
I exhaled.
“Even if he does, I’m beside my husband, come what may p>