Chapter 70
Veronica’s POV
Grand Del Hotel – Private Room
I arrived at the hotel at five and headed over to the private room section.
Seven years since I last came here.
The very private rooms where I served drinks.
The very halls where I served drinks at their private parties.
The very private room where Sanders harmed me.
Today, I was walking as the CEO of Rollings Arts, a millionaire self-made business.
I stopped at the entrance as I knew Imelda was already waiting for me.
I wasn’t anxious…only aware of my current status compared to the past.
Over the past seven years I had grown emotionally.
As I walked inside the room, I noticed Imelda seated at the host chair.
I observed her posture.
As always one of the CEOs.
Her expression grave as always and her unchanged confidence, or rather over-confidence.
” Seven years back, I would have wished to turn back, as meeting her was never any good. But today I’m walking in as today I’m the one paying for the room and not her. Today I’ll speak on my terms not hers.” I said in my mind as I walked over and took a chair.
“Veronica, long time no see p>
Imelda spoke the moment I sat on the chair.
Her tone was as usual had the familiar calm and superiority in it.
I registered her manipulation immediately.
After all, I had been manipulated by her for seven years.
“Veronica, why are you dozing off?” Imelda’s voice changed into a polite but condescending tone.
” Same voice with the same strategy. First come sweet then finish without evidence.” I said in my mind on seeing her change her voice tone.
I didn’t give her a reaction or a reply.
I wanted to study her before I began.
After all, it’s been seven years since I met her.
And from the files, USBs and folders I saw on Jonathan’s laptop, I barely knew her then let alone now.
” Let her take the first move, then I’ll strike.” I said in my mind.
I walked over and stood beside her with crossed arms.
“I presume you know I paid for this room p>
I might have given her the chance to strike first, but I won’t be submissive towards her.
“Oh, I just thought sitting in the host chair in front of me, you would feel p>
I cut her words midway.
“I never felt low before and I definitely don’t now.” I said in a frank voice.
Imelda got up and took a guest chair.
I sat in the host chair with crossed arms, and looked at her.
A waiter came in and placed tea and some snacks.
“Oh Veronica,” she said as she was mixing sugar in her cup.
“Don’t worry,” she said, smirking. “I’m here for you p>
“After all, you’re an orphan p>
“Obviously you don’t do much after all you were a server and did what you were told.” she continued.
“I’ll teach you how p>
I cut her words midway.
“Imelda, etiquette is not something you’re born with, you are either born into it or learn it p>
“Serving tea in place of wine is not inferior p>
“It’s only a preference p>
“I don’t drink, and I want you in your senses p>
” I don’t owe her any politeness for what she’s done to me. Today I will strike p>
“Get to the point.” I said.
“Why did you want to meet p>
“Veronica,” Imelda said, placing her cup on the table.
“If only you had stayed wherever you ran off to,” Imelda continued.
“It would have been all the best p>
“Seven years were enough for him to forget p>
“You know he stopped looking for you years ago p>
She leaned back into her chair.
“You should understand that. He stopped looking for you because he moved on p>
“It was only a matter of time before he would have officially accepted me p>
“Even back then,” she continued.
“In those seven years, every time Jonathan chose me over you p>
“We both were kidnapped p>
“You were obviously injured, I didn’t even have a scratch p>
“Yet he chose me and took me out to safety p>
“Then, just my words and he brought you over to the casino and left you for Sanders p>
“And of course the stairs, he totally forgot what the doctor said about your wound p>
Then she let out a hypocritical laugh.
” There she goes again. Repeating the choices, patterns and history to make me feel he really doesn’t love me.” I said in my mind.
I remained neutral.
I showed no visible emotion on my face.
I only observed her.
I leaned forward and spoke with a determined voice.
“The reason he chose you was because of the message.” I said.
“He thought it was the messenger’s work and wanted him to continue thinking you were his wife so the police could save me p>
I saw fury flash across her face.
“He brought me to Sanders’ room only because he didn’t know what you were up to p>
“The stairs p>
I trailed off a bit as that part was more emotional to me then the kidnapping.
The wound I suffered during the kidnapping could have healed, but the stairs worsened it.
“He didn’t want anyone to find out I’m his wife, again p>
“He was protecting me p>
“Imelda,” my voice was frank.
“You are great at manipulating p>
“You always find ways to put him in places where his only choice is you p>
“Seven years ago, I hoped he would look back even once and choose me p>
I paused for a brief moment.
“But not anymore p>
“Because that girl died the day she entered the operating room p>
” And, seven years ago he chose me, seven years now he’ll choose me p>
“Veronica,” Imelda said, planting a smile on her face.
“It’s nice to butter the words, but over-buttering only makes them greasy p>
She made a frowning face.
“However you want to put it, eventually he chose me over you p>
“Not once, but every time p>
She leaned in on the table.
“You know, even if now he gets called that we’re being held hostage and he can free only one of us p>
She trailed off and laughed out loudly.
“He’ll still choose me p>
” So that’s what you’re up to,” I said in my mind.
” She’s trying to anchor the past as a reality into me p>
“Matter of fact, let’s play it fair and square p>
I looked at her with a tilted head.
“A seven day challenge p>
My heart skipped a beat for a moment as I recalled the seven days I gave to Jonathan in which I chose to leave him back then.
“He’ll do it again as he did back then p>
That line shocked me more than the first line did.
“What do you mean by that p>
“Oh,” Imelda said, smiling as if she just won a medal.
“You didn’t think I didn’t know about your seven day thing back then, did you p>
“The maid told me about the calendar thing p>
“Every time I called him over p>
“Every time he left you for me, was planned p>
“I did back then, I can do it again p>
I didn’t reply or react.
I was shocked, but more curious.
“So this is what she’s been planning.” I said in my mind.
I preferred using silence as power and observing just to what level she can lower herself.
I knew she was expecting resistance from me,
Or maybe desperation.
But here I was giving her stillness.
“Fine,” I said calmly.
“You want to play for seven days,” I said.
“You got seven days,” I continued, keeping my domination on the conversation.
“But get one thing clear p>
“These seven days are not going to be me competing with you for Jonathan p>
I spoke before she could comment.
“Because it was never about winning his love p>
“I already had that and do.” I said in a frank voice.
I smiled as I noticed her flaws I never noticed before.
“She’s still using the trap of choosing over us to show her value to me p>
I smiled as I now knew how badly she’s going to lose.
But maybe it’s high time she found out and faced the reality.
So I decided it’s time to change my dynamics.
“In these seven days p>
“You’re not proving Jonathan will choose you again over me p>
“Rather…you still need him to choose you to show me he values you over me p>
“Whatever,” she said, waving her hand in the air.
“It’s the same thing to me p>
“Seven years ago, I was waiting to be chosen by him p>
I said as I got up sliding the chair against the marble floor.
“This time Jonathan and I will choose whom we really love p>
I walked towards the door and as I held the door knob.
“Seven days didn’t change him back then p>
I trailed off a bit.
“Seven days from now won’t change him either p>
“If anything that will happen is, you’ll be exposed for who and what you really are p>
I walked out leaving her alone with her unsettled feeling.