Fredrick's POV
Harmon Designs
"Prepare a statement."
No one asked any questions.
They never did.
Because when I speak,
It's never a discussion,
It's an order.
I watched my staff for a brief moment.
Not to see what they do,
But how they react..
As always…Fear, hesitant, obedient.
Just the way I like it.
This always meant they understood the weight of my words.
"Set the tone," I said.
"As soon as it's set, everything will follow the same tone."
The office stilled immediately. My secretary and PA already had their pens moving.
"Keep it formal, not an attack," my voice was calculative and deliberate.
I leaned back slightly, hands resting against the arm rests.
"Frame it as a concern."
I paused so they could absorb the distinction and write accordingly.
"She may carry his name…"
My gaze shifted toward the window, as I saw the city stretching below.
"But that doesn't mean she can drag his name in the puddle, especially when she's not meant for him."
Silence followed.
"Frame it with care," I added.
"Remember subtle doubt is far more effective than an open accusation, and it doesn't need any proof."
"People tend to resist force,"
"But they always welcome suggestions,"
Silence.
"You don't have to tell them what they should think,"
"You just direct them to it."
I tapped my fingers against the desk.
"By the time they begin to question Mrs. Rollings (he says in teasing tone),"
"They'll believe it was in their intention to ask."
I paused.
"And this is where her doings will become permanent."
Both nodded their heads.
"We're not removing her, nor want her to show up," I said quietly.
"We're only making people question her position as Mrs. Rollings, that's all."
"Mr. Harmon, she is his wife." My secretary said hesitatingly.
Silence followed.
"I don't have any issue in that,"
I let the words settle so they could understand me better.
"The issue is… everything else she does and has."
I rose slowly, walking a few steps across the room.
"Right from her presence."
"To her timing."
"And the influence she had on everyone."
Every word I spoke was a carefully laid piece on a chess board.
"This is no longer a matter of just removing a piece of the board,"
"It's about restricting the opponent's next move."
I turned slightly towards them.
"If he restricts her movement,"
"Means she can't move freely,"
"Then she'll become ineffective."
"When she becomes ineffective…"
A pause followed.
"She'll become irrelevant,"
Silence fell in the hall.
"And irrelevant pieces can easily be removed without anyone noticing them."
"Don't make it sound sudden."
"It should be precise."
I turned slightly, meeting their eyes.
"People never question what's official."
A faint smile formed on my lips.
"But they'll always question what doesn't make sense to them."
A pause.
"And right now…"
My voice lowered.
"She's the least one who makes any sense to anyone."
Jonathan's POV
Rollings Designs - hallway
"Mr. Rollings," my PA said.
"Sources suggest—"
I cut my PA's words midway.
My eyes were on the screen in front of me. Panelists shifted as voices overlapped. Though they were chaotic, it was not enough for me to lose my direction.
"So they're making a calculated entry."
"A strategic plan."
Media
"Was Veronica Rollings' disappearance planned?"
"Did Veronica Rollings' use Jonathan Rollings?"
The words echoed in the hall, sharper than any amplifier could make them.
My staff stood silently to the side, waiting for my reaction.
I didn't give any.
"They're building doubt against Veronica," I said finally.
The remote clicked softly in my hand as I lowered the volume but didn't turn it off.
"Even if they're adding a layer by layer,"
A pause followed.
"They're doing a good job."
Though I didn't like to admit it.
But you can't deny the truth.
Every word was well said…every pause was perfect… Every suggestion was well structured.
Perfectly placed.
I exhaled softly.
"If Veronica's watching this…"
"And is alone…"
I didn't complete my sentence.
Nobody knew this…
But the past seven years when I was alone at the mansion…
Missing her and Janet.
I wish I hadn't met her, because maybe if she had met someone else, she would have been happy.
I knew how she did and would feel.
My grip tightened against the edge of the desk.
"Not this time."
I turned towards my staff.
"What do you all think?"
The hall shifted slightly.
An uneasy confusion atmosphere engulfed everyone.
Every gaze was on me.
Not to get an answer, but direction.
"Mr. Rollings," a staff member asked quietly. "What do we do?"
"What's our priority?" I asked them.
I looked at them.
I exhaled.
"They're not attacking Rollings Designs," I said.
"And that's exactly why this is dangerous."
"Mr. Rollings, they're attacking you."
"Me?" I said surprised.
"They're not attacking me."
I leaned forward slightly, elbows resting against the desk.
My eyes darkened.
"They're targeting her."
My PA nodded, cautious.
"Indirectly forcing her to come out," he added.
"As he's sure your reputation is still valuable to Mrs. Rollings."
"Yes."
My gaze stayed fixed on the muted screen.
"They're framing her,"
"But in a different way."
A slow breath left me.
"According to them,"
"She's no longer a victim…"
A pause.
"She's now a threat."
"The shift is a subtle one. A more calculated and more effective one."
"Now Fredrick has no reason for people to hate her," I continued.
"He just needs them to doubt her enough…"
"Either she never returns…if she does the police will capture her."
"What is he up to?" A female staff member asked.
"Classic redirection." I said
"Classic redirection?" She was still confused.
I stood, walked towards the board pinned with notes related to Veronica.
"He's undermining her credibility."
I picked up a marker and wrote '1' on the board.
"Step one," I said.
"Is to introduce doubt."
Then I wrote '2'.
"Step two,"
"Repeat step one again."
Then I wrote '3'.
"Step three,"
"Let the others carry step one forward."
I stepped back from the board.
"This will no longer remain Fredrick's alone narrative."
A pause.
"It will become everyone's narrative."
Silence followed.
"And then…"
My voice lowered slightly.
"It will reach a point of becoming uncontrollable."
"Create doubt and let perception do the rest for you."
My fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the table.
"For this…" I continued.
"He doesn't need any proof,"
"All he needs is to plant uncertainty against her."
My PA was watching me closely.
"And once that starts…"
A pause.
"People tend to fill in the missing gaps themselves."
"Some would fill the correct ones, but most…"
I paused.
"The way he's using it, would fill the wrong ones."
"Mr. Rollings, are we just going to sit and watch?" My secretary cried frantically.
"This isn't the time for emotional response." I said in a steady voice even though my heart was aching.
My PA looked up immediately.
"Mr. Rollings?"
"We don't react," I said calmly.
I picked up a stack of files, handed it to my secretary to pass out.
"We respond following what I have here."
I looked at each member to make sure they understood.
"This is no longer damage control,"
A pause.
"Now we're going to correct a narrative that's going in the wrong direction."
Silence.
"We are not defending Veronica,"
Pause.
"We are only establishing the truth no one can deny."
"Once the truth is established,"
My gaze darkened slightly.
"Everything else that's irrelevant will automatically collapse."
A pause.
"With solid facts, with precise timing, and full control"
The hall's atmosphere felt more steadier than before.
More grounded.
"If we respond emotionally," I added, closing the file, we'll only validate their facts."
Silence followed.
"And I won't give Fredrick that benefit again."
"Make a list of everything from the files. "
My staff moved quickly.
"I want everything."
"Timelines, records of her expenses, school records, medical bills, rent, maintenance.."
"Everything in detail."
"Structured and clear."
"Nothing will be exaggerated and nothing will be emotional."
"Nothing should sound unnecessary,"
My staff nodded.
"Add only verifiable data"
A pause.
"Even if one detail is wrong,"
"It will give them a chance to attack back."
Silence.
"Mr. Rollings, don't worry," my secretary said.
"We won't give them that chance."
I closed the file I had in my hand.
I nodded.
"Everything we will be presenting,"
"Must be unquestionable."
"Witness, Mr. Rollings?" A staff member said.
"Yes," I said.
"It may be hard, but—"
A male staff member got up.
"Mr. Rollings, me and three others can go and ask about."
"Good," I nodded.
"Be careful."
"It can be anyone who has interacted with Veronica."
"Everyone, remember this is not to defend Veronica…"
"We're here today establish the truth,"
"Facts don't argue,"
"They stand as foundations that no one can object to."
"Once her name is clear, her image, and reputation both will be defended."
"Once all of this is released,"
"Everyone will know she didn't manipulate anyone,"
My voice was steady with certainty.
"Everyone will know how and what she endured and how she adapted to it all."
A brief pause.
My gaze lowered briefly, then lifted again.
"This will tell how she survived,"
Silence fell in the hall.
"That…it wasn't any strategy…but a necessity."
"Mr. Rollings," a staff member said.
"The first bulletin is up."
I turned towards the screen.
Media:
Regarding the reports stating Mrs. Veronica Rollings' involvement in the Harmon Designs fraud seems to be a scam. Records confirm Mrs. Veronica had limited finance in her bank account. She managed to give Baby Janet Rollings consistent school attendance but was never able to arrange money for school trips. She followed a stable routine. Mrs. Veronica Rollings' didn't have any irregular spending record nor did she have any hidden assets. The reports stating she manipulated her way is a total scam by Harmon Designs.
My PA glanced at the screen then at me.
A pause.
Silence.
I exhaled.
"Continue."
The staff didn't celebrate.
They didn't relax…they understood.
This was far from over.
And we're not even close to it.
"This has only shifted the ground towards us," I said quietly.
"The game is still on,"
My gaze turned towards the screen.
"And he definitely won't stop here."
Fredrick's POV
Harmon Designs - Same time
"Mr. Harmon," a staff member called frantically.
"Looks like Jonathan has responded."
He pointed to the news bulletin.
The news reader spoke…I heard…
My jaw tightened as my fingers curled into fists.
"The Rollings staff submitted the report and it's effective."
"Mr. Harmon,"
"This just came in from Rollings Designs."
I gestured to my secretary to check the content.
He read the report.
It was effective.
No exaggeration.
It was straight facts, no emotional defence.
"There are verified bills related to grocery, school fees, medical, rent and..'
"Enough." I raised my hand.
"There's nothing to argue here,"
"He has corrected the facts,"
So he's controlling the facts.
"Interesting."
"So, he really had learned a lot," I said quietly.
No one reacted.
"He's not reacting emotionally,"
Pause.
"He's adapting."
"This makes him…"
My expression changed from relaxed to anger.
"Inconvenient."
A smirk slipped my lips as I leaned back against the desk.
"But not unpredictable."
"This isn't over as I've just begun."
Jonathan's POV
Rollings Designs - Same time
"Mr. Rollings," my secretary said.
"Mr. Harmon's on the line."
I gestured to put the call on speaker mode.
"Hello," I said
"You crossed the line."
I didn't look surprised.
"Did I? Oddly, I didn't see any line."
I spoke in a casual voice.
"Do you think cleaning our laundry in public will do Veronica any good?"
"Correction please," I said. "I only made her visible."
Silence followed.
"You've turned her into a topic."
"I only adjusted the perception, and she's not a variable you can adjust to."
A brief pause followed.
"And you?" he said evenly,
"Let me make this clear," I said.
"From now on I won't let you use my wife or me."
Another pause.
"Not anymore." I continued.
"Until now, I was dealing with a strategic mind,"
"From now on this is personal."
Fredrick didn't reply.
He didn't have to, I knew he was out of words.
"Another thing,"
My voice was steady and calm.
"From this moment onwards…"
My voice was still steady.
"You and I are at odds,"
"We are no longer aligned, no longer on the same side,"
Silence followed.
Clear.
Final.
And for the first time it would be irreversible.
"From today onwards Rollings Designs… "
The pause was heavy and measured.
Neither of us spoke as my staff's gaze was on me.
Seven years of tolerating them, of compromising for them, of being silent when I knew it was wrong.
At that moment…
Ended.
I finally spoke.
"Will have no alignment with Harmon Designs and Harmon family."
My gaze darkened.
"Rollings Designs seizes all cooperation with Harmon designs as of now."
My staff immediately set into action and began to close the projects, fund circle, and also sent out emails to other clients informing Rollings Designs will not cooperate with those working with Harmon Designs.
At the back of Fredrick a staff member called out.
"Mr. Harmon, clients are taking their orders back."
"Jonathan!?"
"Lower your voice," My voice was steady.
"Today is the last time I'll consider you an elder, today onwards don't you dare cross my path,"
"If I hear you even touched my wife or my daughter's shadow,"
I clenched my jaws.
"I swear I'll make you regret the day you were born."