Chapter 174
Veronica’s POV
Harmon Designs – President Office – next day
“Mrs. Rollings,” my secretary said.
“The formal notice has been made dissolving the partnership contract p>
I read it again, even though I had read it before, I gave consent to finalize it.
There was no doubt or any hesitation.
I signed it.
Now it is clear that Harmon Designs will not proceed with the contract.
Jonathan was beside me smiling, as this decision was ours.
I knew this would come with its consequences, but it was a step we had to take.
As the secretary left, I exhaled.
“Finally, his Chapter is over.
I was discussing the Heart collection when the secretary called me.
“Mrs. Rollings,” she said.
“This isn’t good p>
“What’s the matter?” I said on the phone.
“Alex Vale’s legal team contacted us p>
“They didn’t ask for negotiations or clarification, they said to be ready for legal action p>
My stomach tightened.
“Nicky?” Jonathan asked. “What’s the matter p>
My secretary entered before I could answer.
She placed the legal notice before me.
I picked it up and read the first paragraph.
“Alex is stating Harmon Designs withdrawal is a breach of the contract p>
I was questioning myself as I didn’t realize when we signed the contract with him in the first place.
I turned the page and as my gaze fell on the compensation amount, my breathing stopped for a moment.
I read the first and second page thrice.
“He’s claiming three hundred million for breach p>
“Call Vance.” Jonathan immediately called him to come over.
I quietly exhaled.
“So he wants to make this personal p>
“Mrs. Rollings,” the secretary said on the phone.
“The board members called for an emergency meeting p>
“Let’s go,” Jonathan said calmly.
Harmon Designs – Boardroom
As we entered I noticed several of the members were visibly nervous.
“Mrs. Veronica,” a member said, looking grave.
“Though we don’t doubt your decisions p>
“But regarding Alex Vale, we may have second doubts on your decision p>
“Harmon Designs barely got up,” another one said.
“Now this p>
“Our reputation will be ruined p>
I quietly listened to everyone without becoming defensive.
I understood their fear, and I was the one who rejected him.
For the first time since I became the president, I was doubting my ability as the president and if I took the right decision.
“Mrs. Rollings…are you certain rejecting the contract is a good choice p>
I remained calm.
“Accepting Alex Vale’s proposal is practically handing Harmon Designs over to Alex p>
“We all lose our rights to make decisions regarding everything we do p>
“He has the first right p>
The room erupted in whispers.
“I’m the one who just joined Harmon Designs p>
“But you all have been here before me p>
“Some of you were with my grandfather p>
“Harmon Designs existed before he came here p>
“The lawsuit won’t be easy, but I won’t bow to him as well p>
“We’re all with you Mrs. Rollings.” They said in unison.
I was happy finally they all began to trust me.
Harmon Designs – President office
Just then Vance came in.
I passed the legal notice towards Vance so he could examine it.
Vance read every section and then highlighted the clauses Alex’s lawyers were relying on to win the case.
I watched them as Vance explained.
He said there were termination clauses for compensation, and exclusivity as well.
Including confidentiality.
He said the notice states Harmon Designs harmed their international obligations.
My gaze shifted towards Jonathan who was extremely calm at such a crucial time.
Today I realized how hard it must have been for him to build Rollings Designs from ground zero.
“His lawyers are actually twisting the real facts and making every clause sound like a bullet p>
I read the sections Vance highlighted.
I was surprised how he used legal language to mislead me.
“Now what?” I asked.
“Simple, let me gather every communication he had with you both p>
“I need every clause he ever used with you p>
“John,” Vance called him.
“I want every digital record of Alex with Harmon Designs p>
Soon the legal battle became a team effort as not only we, John and Vance were in it, even the board members and legal staff joined in.
It didn’t take long for the lawsuit to reach the media.
Some news channels portrayed me as the inexperienced president who threw away an international offer,
While some suggested I was over domineering as if I had asked Jonathan, he would have stopped me from canceling the contract.
Alex’s representatives were very careful of what they spoke.
They never targeted me directly, but did state I had ’limited experience p>
“Jonathan?” I asked him.
“You’re awfully calm p>
“He’s trying to make you defend yourself emotionally p>
“This way it will be easy to break you p>
“If I lose my calm p>
“I won’t be able to be with you p>
I looked at him with a confused tilted head.
“I’ll be in jail as I’ll have killed him p>
“Jonathan,” I said softly, realizing even though he was looking calm, his blood was boiling.
“Didn’t you say, we’ll get by together p>
“We will,” he said in a determined voice,
“But three hundred million?” I said.
“That means we may have to lay off most of our staff, and cancel half of our orders p>
For a moment, the weight was becoming overwhelming.
“Nicky,” he said.
“Don’t worry p>
“A few pieces of paper won’t make him in the right p>
“Jonathan,” I said.
“I’m not worried about the money, but Harmon Designs reputation p>
“I can’t harm it when I’m the president p>
“Don’t worry,” he said.
“Nothing will happen p>
“We’ll make sure he never gets what he wants p>
“Jonathan,” Vance called out.
“There’s another hidden clause,” he said.
“If we want to avoid the compensation, Harmon Designs has to submit the historical Harmon assets p>
“In all be it jewelry, archives, legacy collections, and rare stones p>
“The compensation will be cleared p>
“Vance,” I asked.
“Are you saying all along he had other plans p>
For the first time I realized he had other plans from the beginning.
“Vance p>
“Is this separate from the three hundred million dollars or p>
“They are separate, but combined if you agree to it p>
“If you don’t,” Vance said.
“He’ll treat them as two p>
“What’s this?” Jonathan said as he saw an attachment at the back of the notice.
“It’s a treaty copy,” Vance said looking at it.
“According to this international jewelry treaty p>
“Every jewelry house has to submit their wealth to them for safety p>
“Treaty?” I was confused.
“It predates to when Harmon Designs was founded by your grandfather p>
“It states every jewelry house must give any historical and rare gemstones to them to be kept safely in the vault p>
I realized Alex opened a door I never knew existed and didn’t know how to confront it.
Vance placed the page in the center as we all glared at the last line.
Harmon Designs must give all historical and rare gemstones to be kept safely under the International Jewelry Treaty.