Chapter 123
Jonathan’s POV
Rollings Designs – John’s office- Afternoon
My phone buzzed as I was reviewing a file.
“John?” I said as I saw the ID.
“Hello,” I said on the phone.
“Jonathan,” his voice was tense. “Come over p>
With that he disconnected the call, so I went over to his cabin.
“What’s the matter?” I said as I pushed the door open and walked inside.
John looked up.
I could see his weary eyes and that made me down as it was all cause of me.
“I got some new surveillance footage yesterday night p>
“You won’t like the place,” he said.
I leaned over his shoulder.
“See,” he said as he played the footage.
“You can see these (he pointed to three cars) cars, they’ve been seen parked consecutive days outside Rollings Arts p>
My face lost its color the moment he said Rollings Arts.
“Look,” he said.
“The same people and none of them are customers p>
“Jonathan,” he said in a grave voice. “I think someone is watching over the gallery p>
I froze as I sensed this could be directly connected to Fredrick’s remaining network that’s still functional.
“Jonathan,” John said quietly. “This isn’t random watching p>
“Take a seat,” he said. “It’s going to be long p>
As I sat beside him,
“Look,” he said, as he displayed some photos on his laptop screen.
“All of them are unknown visitors, but same people, the cars are same, license plates are different p>
“Do you mean to say someone’s deliberately avoiding detection p>
John nodded.
“Then let’s tell the federal p>
“We can’t,” he said, cutting my words. “At least not now p>
I looked at him confused.
“The Federal’s can’t act as these men haven’t committed any crime p>
“You can’t pick them up for standing there p>
I began to grow increasingly uneasy.
I just realized Rollings Arts had become an easy target for Fredrick’s men.
Without saying another word, I left his cabin and headed towards my office.
I grabbed my car keys and drove off.
I drove as fast as I could towards the gallery.
My mind was a spiral of thoughts as I was driving down the roads.
I looked at the calendar on the dashboard.
Exactly today,
Seven years ago p>
Veronica left me along with Janet, leaving behind only a few words.
The next seven years p>
Veronica spent suffering all alone.
Janet grew up thinking her father didn’t love her.
Joshua grew up without a father beside him.
I shook my head.
I would not let history repeat itself.
Every red light I had to stop, felt like I was losing Veronica.
Every passing minute was fueling my anxiety.
My mind was no longer of a billionaire businessman.
I was only a husband who was worried for his wife.
“I can’t and won’t lose her again p>
I parked the car right in front of the Rolling Arts entrance.
I immediately noticed a sedan and a familiar face I saw in the footage.
“John,” I said as I dialed John’s number. “Sedan, across the street. Check it out p>
“Okay,” he said. “One sec p>
After a brief pause.
“Okay,” he said.
“This sedan has come five times this week, and the men stay in the car the whole time p>
“They just stay and watch and leave once Veronica locks the gallery p>
I memorized the license number as I took the back entrance to go inside.
It was clear, whatever or whoever had already reached Veronica and now I can’t wait any longer to take action.
Rollings Arts – an hour later
As I entered the gallery, I saw Veronica smiling as she was arranging some new paintings.
I knew she loved painting and now finally she got the chance to exhibit them.
She smiled warmly on seeing me.
I couldn’t.
“Jonathan!” she said surprised on seeing me.
“What p>
I cut her words midway.
“Nicky,” I said in a low voice as I held her by her shoulders.
“I want you to close Rollings Arts p>
Veronica blinked as she said, questioning me.
“Close p>
“Yes,” I said.
“Close it temporarily p>
“No exhibitions, no meeting clients p>
“Just stay at home…please p>
She pinched her eyebrows as my sudden request caught her off guard.
Veronica was speechless for a few minutes.
“Why?” she finally asked quietly.
I hesitated p>
I can’t tell her about the federal investigation
I can’t tell her about the suspicious cars outside the gallery.
I can’t risk exposing John or Vance as I don’t know if the gallery is bugged.
And I knew my silence would say more than words could.
But what if my silence was misunderstood?
I couldn’t tell as every explanation stopped on letting her know about the investigation.
I can’t tell her about the surveillance.
I can’t tell I’m suspicious Fredrick is behind all this.
I can’t tell I believe Fredrick is targeting her.
But as Veronica’s expression slowly changed, my heart sank as well.
I knew my silence was not coming out in good words.
To her, my silence probably sounded like I no longer am supporting her dream.
At the moment nothing could hurt her more than my silence.
Yet, I couldn’t explain to her what and why I was demanding her to close the gallery.
I immediately shook my head.
“Nicky,” I said.
“If Rollings Arts closes for any reason p>
“I don’t care as I can open a hundred more p>
“If Rollings Designs bankrupts tomorrow p>
“I can re-build it again p>
“But you p>
“Kids p>
“I can’t get another Janet or Joshua p>
“I can lose my business, your business p>
“I can’t lose my family p>
My body was practically trembling.
For me it was no longer about our business,
It was about survival.
“I can’t get another Veronica p>
I blinked as I knew Veronica could see fear, genuine fear in my eyes.
And the last thing I wanted was to make her worry.
Suddenly, Veronica reached for my hands.
She looked at me with warm eyes.
“Jonathan, what aren’t you telling me p>
I looked away.
“The investigation is not only dangerous but too many lives depend on us keeping secrecy,” I said in my mind.
I simply whispered.
I simply whispered,
“Nicky, please trust me this time p>
I knew my request was hurting her more than the answer would, but I had no choice.
Finally p>
She nodded, but I knew the uncertainty remained in her mind.
Later that evening, Veronica packed the paintings and stored them away.
She also packed the unfinished paintings of her own and Janet’s.
Apartment – night time
Later at night, Veronica was quiet throughout the evening.
She did agree to close Rollings Arts, but there was something that just didn’t feel right.
I knew she must have realized I was carrying secrets once again.
Exactly like I did seven years ago.
The walls I spent seven years tearing down p>
Seemed to be rebuilding themselves.
The peace that I cherished inside the house seemed to be disappearing.
My phone buzzed as I watched Veronica for a brief moment before I left the room to answer the call.
I spent the remaining evening on a conference call with John and Vance.
Our conversations were regarding the case files, the evidence gathered, the CCTV footage, and the witnesses we have.
I barely noticed the dinner had gone cold as I stepped back inside from the balcony after my call with John and Vance, I saw Veronica quietly reheated my dinner without saying a word to me.
She was smiling, but it wasn’t the carefree one I fell in love with.
Since she closed the gallery, she’s been quieter and more thoughtful.
Every time I would look up at her, I would see her looking at me, only to look away before I noticed.
My chest tightened. I couldn’t make out what she was thinking.
But I feared I already knew.
She probably was already believing I was shutting her out of my world.
I knew she must be thinking the walls we once threw down are rebuilding around us.
I exhaled as if only I could tell p>
Be it seven years before, or now p>
Every secret I kept from her was only to make sure she lived even if it meant hating me.
“Nicky, I swear I will protect you no matter what I face. Until Fredrick is behind bars for good, I won’t rest.” I swore in my mind.
Then I would tell her everything.
The next day
Federal headquarters – morning
As I entered, John read my expressions.
“Jonathan, you should have told her p>
I sighed.
“I wish I could p>
“But if she does, then she’ll also become part of the investigation p>
“Now they’re only watching over her p>
“Then she’ll become the target p>
John nodded as he understood.
I quietly finished.
“I know I’m closing down her dream p>
“But if this means keeping her safe? I will p>
I exhaled as this was a hard fact in love.
At times to protect the one you love, means to let them misunderstand you.
John silently placed his hand on my shoulder.
I knew he was assuring me, but nothing could ease my mind.
After that I went back to the office and went home in the evening.
Apartment – evening time
Later that night, I had to leave late at night again.
Vance called for an emergency meeting at the Federal quarter.
He had another lead, and it would be another dangerous night.
I climbed into my car and glanced at our apartment window.
Veronica was watching me.
I was leaving without telling her a word.
I wish I could tell her where I was going.
I wish I could run back in and hug her.
I wish I could forget about Fredrick.
Forget this whole investigation trash.
But I couldn’t, if I wanted to keep my family safe.
As long as people like Fredrick were free, at least not till then.
I started the engine and drove off.
I looked in the mirror and watched the apartment disappear as guilt settled heavily in my chest.
Every mile I drove away, I felt I was driving away from the only woman I loved.
I wondered if she would forgive me once this was over.
I banged my hand on the steering wheel.
“Why??” I said. “Every time I want to protect her, why do I end up being close to losing her p>