Chapter 149
Veronica’s POV
Harmon Designs – President Office – Morning time
Today was no different as I was busy with meetings, design approvals, and supplier updates.
My secretary walked in after knocking on the door.
“Mrs. Rollings,” she said, holding an envelope.
“This just came in for you p>
’But there’s no return address or sender’s name p>
“Should I send it back p>
I took the envelope and held it in the sunlight.
“No,” I said in a low voice.
“Call Jonathan, please p>
My breathing slowed down as a name emerged in the sunlight.
Fredrick Harmon.
Ever since the fact came out that I was Fredrick’s daughter, this is the first time he reached out to me.
I quietly opened the envelope.
And unfolded a handwritten letter.
I was surprised to see it was a rather short letter,
No explanation,
No excuse, or apology.
Just a Hi, one line that said to meet him in private, just once, and his name at the end.
I wondered what he had to tell me that requires a private meeting.
But more than anything the absence of an apology unsettled me more than any anger could have.
I quietly read the line over and over again, until Jonathan entered the office carrying a report.
“You called?” he said, worry was written all over his face.
His eyes darted on the letter that I was holding.
I walked over and handed the letter to him as I rested my head on his shoulder.
He put his left hand on my head and pulled me in for a hug and read the letter with his other hand.
I saw his expression harden as he read the letter.
On finishing the letter, he carefully placed the letter on the desk beside me.
I could tell he wasn’t happy with it.
“I don’t trust him one bit p>
He removed his phone and dialed two numbers.
We had just sat on the sofa,
Vance and John walked in.
I realized he called them over for me.
“Veronica, Jonathan,” Vance said in a grave voice.
“Meeting Fredrick at this time could have a legal consequence to it p>
“Yeah,” John said. “I think he plans to manipulate you p>
“Don’t meet him p>
Vance nodded, “Me too p>
Jonathan was the only one productive among them.
I knew regarding Fredrick,
Everyone only saw danger, no one saw any certainty in meeting him.
As silence fell between us, I exhaled as I realized the decision was mine alone.
Finally, Vance and John took leave as both were busy trailing Fredrick.
I quietly read the letter again.
I read the line over and over again.
Every word, every space in each word.
I tried to see if there was a hidden message.
Maybe an apology, a regret or maybe even a threat.
I couldn’t find anything.
The letter was a simple conversation line to meet.
As much as I tried, I couldn’t make out Fredrick’s intention of wanting to meet me.
Finally, I folded the letter and kept it on the table.
I got up and walked over to the window.
“Why now p>
“Why after all these years p>
“Why after the court case p>
“Why after I took over Harmon Designs p>
“Why didn’t he ever try to meet me when I was younger p>
“Why did he never come to give me the birthday gifts face-to-face p>
“Why of all times, now p>
The questions sounded simple, but they hurt like hell.
Jonathan quietly walked over and pulled me into his chest.
I exhaled as feeling his chest always made me feel safe.
“Nicky,” he said softly.
“No matter what you choose p>
“I’m with you p>
“I won’t let you face him alone p>
I thought for a brief second p>
If I chose to not meet him,
Jonathan is with me.
If I chose to meet him,
Jonathan is with me.
He isn’t pressuring me to make a choice.
The choice is completely mine.
Though it’s been almost two years since I came back,
But today for the first time I realized p>
I no longer have to face any difficulty alone, nor make any decision alone.
I smiled softly.
“Jonathan,” I said.
“I have to admit what I was truly fearing p>
Jonathan looked with concern at me.
“I was never afraid of Fredrick, not back then, not now p>
“I was never afraid of his lies, or his manipulation p>
“I was afraid of something else p>
“I had just begun to heal from the wound of knowing my father abandoned me p>
“Knowing who I was p>
“Knowing I was a Harmon, who spent her life hating Fredrick and Imelda Harmon p>
“Finding my mother, finding peace p>
“Now meeting him p>
I trailed off a bit.
“Means reopening those closed wounds p>
Jonathan gently took hold of my hand.
“Nicky,” he said, softly. “Your healing won’t disappear just cause he appeared p>
I realized my greatest battle wasn’t facing Fredrick,
But protecting the peace I had within me.
I quietly nodded, and walked back to the table.
I read the letter one last time.
It was the same.
Nothing had changed.
No message, just a request to meet him.
“Fine one meeting, one conversation, one chance p>
“That’s what he’s asking for p>
I couldn’t stop thinking, was this going to be the closure or a beginning.
After taking leave from the office, we both came back home.
Jonathan did the cooking as he knew I needed some time to think over one last time.
I didn’t mention the letter during lunch, so he also didn’t ask about it.
As much as I wanted to forget,
The letter was occupying every corner of my mind.
I knew he knew about this, but he didn’t interrupt me.
He just p>
Remained beside me.
My physical, and emotional anchor.
Later that night as I sat on my bed, I removed the letter one more time.
I stared at his handwriting.
Then my gaze fell on two family photos.
And an old one, of me, Jonathan, Janet, and Joshua.
A new one of me and my mother Jane.
This is the life I have today.
Just then I heard a voice call out.
I want answers.
I realized the voice belonged to the six year old Veronica who wondered why she didn’t have parents,
The woman who wondered what wrong did she do that a rich man is running her and her husband’s life.
I even wondered if the little orphan girl and he woman I am, could ever exist together.
I exhaled as I knew even if I do give this topic a closure, it will come at a cost.
I looked over at Jonathan.
He had woken up and was waiting for me to look at him so he could pull me over without scaring me.
Neither one of us said a word as I rested my head on his chest.
“Jonathan,” my voice was calm, not angry, or afraid, just a little uncertain.
“If you were in my place p>
I paused for a brief moment.
“What would you do p>
He didn’t reply immediately, instead p>
He gently took my hand and held it close to his heart.
I exhaled as I understood what Jonathan wanted to say.
At times it doesn’t matter if you forgive or not…it’s if you give the person one last chance to speak to you.