Imelda's POV
The next day I went straight to Summervile School to meet the dean Claude.
As I took the seat, Claude poured some tea and pushed the cup towards me.
"Miss Harmon," Claude said. "What brought you here this early morning?"
I slowly lifted the tea cup but didn't drink it. The faint smell of rose drifted in the air, but it couldn't calm the brewing within me.
I placed the cup back on the saucer with care.
For years I had donated to this school. The name 'Harmon' was engraved in the auditorium walls.
And yet today–
My son's name is at the bottom of the top ranking students, with Janet at the top.
This humiliation was far beyond my digestion.
"What's this?" I said showing the result list.
"Claude," I said quietly, carried with softness that clearly showed the danger in it. "Do you know what this list means?"
Claude wiped sweat from his forehead.
"This means you're telling the entire city my son, Adrian Harmon, is inferior to Janet Smith, the daughter of my secretary."
"Ah," he said. "That's the—"
"I know," I said. "What's this?"
"Miss Harmon," he said, confused. "There's no favoritism here. It's purely—"
"No favorism," I said. "What's my son's name doing at the bottom?"
"Miss Imelda," he said. "The result is based on marks that—"
"Marks?" I said. "Fine, then from now on I'll donate according to the review your school gets online."
"Miss Imelda," he wiped his sweat. "The result has been posted on the school forum. Now—"
"I don't care." I said as I pushed a million dollar check towards Claude.
"Okay," he said, putting the check into his pocket. "I'll take care of this."
From there I went straight to my office.
On entering I saw Veronica was busy with some files.
"Veronica," I said in a dominating voice. "Get the mop and clean the floor."
"What?" she said, shocked. "But I'm—"
"You are what I tell you," I said. "I say, 'you're my secretary, you are. I say, 'you're the cleaner, you are."
"Imelda," Jonathan said as he came over. "What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing." I said. "I just told Veronica to mop the floor."
"Veronica, get back to your work, and from now on you're my secretary. Give Imelda's work to Freda. And go to cubicle seven, that's your new place."
Veronica left with a shocked look.
The office suddenly went quiet.
The staff nearby also pretended they didn't hear a word and were looking at their computer screens. But their ears were clearly listening in on what happened.
I noticed.
My lips curved slightly.
"Let them watch." I cursed under my breath."
Let them know who's the real boss here. Still, Jonathan's behaviour was bothering me. His sudden change towards Veronica. For years he never interfered even when I humiliated her in front of him.
But today–
He not only defended her, he stood up for her in front of my employees and also gave her a better position.
I was tapping my manicured nails against the desk
Something was changing, and I definitely didn't like it.
I stormed into my office.
"What's wrong with him?" I said annoyed.
"Veronica," I said with a clenched jaw. "First your daughter, and now you. And, what's wrong with Jonathan? Has he forgotten his deal?"
Then I made a call and booked a table and sent Jonathan a message.
As I arrived at the Club Aura Gardens, an escort came over.
"Miss Imelda," he said. "Box number five is ready."
As I took my seat, I picked the menu up.
"A Russian salad." I said. "And escort Mr Rollings when he arrives."
"Yes Miss Imelda."
After a few minutes Jonathan arrived.
"Why did you call me out at this time?"
"Let's enjoy our—"
"Imelda," Jonathan said. "What are you up to?"
I pushed the wine glass towards him.
"Take a sip," I said. "And relax."
He took a sip and as he kept the glass down, he began to feel dizzy.
"Veronica," I said. "It's time you know your place."
For a brief moment I stared at Jonathan's unconscious face, as a fair bitterness rose inside my chest.
Jonathan Rollings–
The powerful CEO, dream of every woman…
Yet–
He only loved Veronica.
Even when he himself insulted her in public.
Even when he pretended she didn't mean a thing to him.
His eyes used to follow her every step, every emotion that showed on her face.
I pushed Jonathan back, making him lay down, and opened his shirt.
My grip tightened around my phone as I took a selfie of me kissing on his chest.
Then I sent it to Veronica with a caption: Our first time to many!
"If humiliation is what it will take," I cursed under my breath. "Then that's what you'll get for taking him from me."
"What happened?" He said as he was rubbing his head.
"Nothing much." I said, showing him the video.
"What??" he said. "Imelda!"
"Relax," I said. "She's still busy with work and looks, she hasn't seen it. Remember your place and I'll delete it right now."
He didn't say a word meant, he understood.
I was about to delete the video, but the read sign popped up, and the phone fell from my hand in fear.
"What?" he said as he picked the phone. "Imelda??!"
"Jonathan," I said, a little worried. "I didn't mean to, but now that it has been seen, let's continue. I mean, it will give Veronica the sense to not trouble you in public. Then you don't have to say, 'her husband is dead in public. Ain't I right?"
"I guess so," he said. "It hurts me to see the pain in her eyes when I say that. She's a legal wife of a living husband, and I have to make her live like a widow."
"Exactly," I said. "Jonathan, we're almost close to our aim. Once it's over, you can announce to the world she's Veronica Rollings."
He didn't stay and left.
I presumed he must have gone to Veronica to explain, but I knew now it won't be of any use.
I was about to get into my car, but saw Daniel waiting for me.
"Daniel??!!" I was shocked.
"What do you want?" I said.
"From you," he said with a blank face. "Apart from Adrian, do you think you have anything worthy?"
I got worried as I hid this fact from him that Adrian was his son.
"Really," I said. "You didn't think so when you took the money and jewelry."
"Look," he said.
He showed me a newspaper from back then reporting a robber was arrested and the money and jewelry was returned to Mr Fredrick Harmon.
"Didn't daddy tell you?" He said in a pitiful teasing voice.
"No," I said, shocked.
"Father actually hid such a thing from me? He said Daniel ran away with the money and jewelry. But he didn't, then…" I was speaking to myself in my mind.
"What?" he said. "Thinking about what happened? Imelda, if you had stayed a few days longer, you would have known. But after what you did, I won't have anything to do with you. But Adrian, I'm not leaving him with a mother like you."
I quickly got into my car, and drove off to my lawyers office.
My hands trembled as I held the steering wheel. Daniel's appearance had shaken me far more than I expected.
For years I believed he betrayed me. He ran off with the money and jewels, and left me stranded. At least that's what father told me when he said he investigated.
But now–
If the robber was caught, the money and jewels were returned…
If Daniel hadn't betrayed me, then…
Why did father lie to me?
The thought alone was sending the chills down my spine.
Then I shook these thoughts out of my mind. Right now Daniel was not in my focus.
Now my priority was to protect Adrain and stop him from taking him away from me.
As I sat in front of my legal lawyer.
"Miss Imelda," he said. "Legally, your boyfriend has rights as he is the child's father. But considering the life he's living compared to a photographer's ability, he might not get custody, but visiting rights that he can get from court. So, I suggest we come up with a mutual meeting time."
"Thank you." I said. "I'll let you know soon what to do."
I went straight up to my room and sat on a rocking chair.
The more I rocked, the more furious I became.
"Daniel, it took me a lot of planning to get Jonathan in my hands, and I'm not going to let you ruin it."
Then I got up.
"So, he came to take Adrian," I said. "Then I'll make sure you realize your place in his heart."
"Hello," I said on the phone." Yes, and make sure to call all socialites. And remember to send a VIP invitation to Daniel Staf."