Chapter 46
Silent Treatment
Veronica’s POV
“Are you serious about this?” He asked, shock clearly shown on his face.
“Yes. father. I might have been his secretary but I was more of a personal assistant to him. I wrote every proposal he ever presented to any investor which is why I can confidently tell you that I wrote this months back,” I
said.
“Wow!” He exclaimed. “That is shocking. So he supposedly runs this company as CEO but has no innovation or strategies?”
I knew it was low of me to expose him to my father like this but he undeniably deserves it.
“Yes,” I answered. “It was all me.”
He shook his head in disbelief, “And how much exactly does he pay you. for slaving away to him like that?”
I bit my lip, knowing he would be heavily disappointed.
“Veronica?” He called again when I hesitated.
“Twenty thousand,” I answered.
“A month?” He asked and I felt even more stupid. Thinking about all the things I did for love, I couldn’t help but curse myself for letting him use me like that.
“A year,” I answered and I didn’t think I’m not it was possible for him to
get more shocked.
“You wrote proposals for him, scouted for both investors and clients, acted as his PA and secretary, all for twenty thousand a year?” He asked to be sure I wasn’t tripping.
“I was in love, father,” was the miserable explanation I could offer.
“That is not love, Veronica. It is stupidity. Pure stupidity. You practically helped him build that company!” He stated. “He cheated you both as a wife and employee.”
His words cut deep because he was fucking right. I practically threw away my skills and ideas to Carter, I for what? The scraps of attention he gave
me every time he needed my help.
My father shut his file and stared at me critically.
“You know, I’m still trying to understand what made you pick Carter over Orthon,” he said suddenly and I felt my cheeks heat up. Were we
seriously going to have this conversation now? “I mean, look at him, he is everything Carter can never be.”
I couldn’t deny that he was right about that. Qrthon was every woman’s dream but I had thought the same about Carter back then. I crushed on that man for years before he finally noticed me!
What am I saying? He didn’t even notice me. He was under the influence of aphrodisiacs when he slept with me and I was too in love with him to
resist it.
Three years later, I was paying for that stupid mistake.
Tell me Veronica, do you really not like Orthon? Not even a little bit?” He asked and my cheeks heated up. I couldn’t deny that of course. I knew I liked Orthon. A little too much even.
“Can we not talk about that, Father?” I asked. “Orthon and I are just fiends.”
“But you like each other a lot. I’ve seen the way he treats you, like his world revolves around you. I can tell just from his eyes that he can give you the world,” he said.
His words were starting to alleet my thinking and I knew immediately the conversation had to end.
“I just go and drop this upstairs,” I said and he gave me a knowing look.
“You can’t run away forever. Veronica,” he stated and I was tempted to answer that I could, as long as I wanted even, but I decided to keep quiet.
“I’ll leave you to your work, father,” I told him.
“You should drop the bags and join me here. You are after all the heiress. of Peyton Consortium,” he said.
“Alright, father. I will drop this and come back down. Just as long as you promise we won’t be discussing Orthon. I already talked to him and we decided it was best we remained friends,” I said.
“We? Was it a two way thing or just your decision?” He asked.
“Now you’re just being nosy, dad,” I chuckled, then grabbed the bags and headed upwards.
On reaching there, I couldn’t help but think back at his words. I rubbed. my stomach gently and sighed. The most important thing should be creating a nontoxic environment to raise my baby.
I emptied the bags and set aside the jewelries carefully. I honestly couldn’t wait to try them out. If Meghan was shopping, it only meant that she was going to be Carter’s plus one for the gala.
I huffed. I couldn’t wait to see her stupid face when my father introduced me as the new CEO to Peyton Firms.
I shut the drawer and headed downstairs to see my father. I joined him to look at the proposals and shortly after, Orthon arrived.
“Did you see her?” My father asked and I stared between them in confusion.
“Yes.” Orthon responded without sparing me a glance. There was this full ache in my chest but I tried not to let it show.
“And?”
“Still unapologetic,” he sighed. “I tried my best to explain things to her but she still thinks that you are having an affair.
I was beginning to get a clue on who they were talking about. Betty, my supposed step mother.
“Even I were, that shouldn’t be any of her business. We are long divorced and should only rightfully exchange pleasantries. She has no right to meddle in my life!” He stated. “I guess it is my fault. Maybe I have given her too much access to me…”
“I think you should give her time,” Orthon said. “It’s a little hard for her, accepting you have someone more important in your life.”
“That still doesn’t give her any right to attack me. I could have died! To think she even abandoned me there!” I cut in.
Orthon gazed at me for the first time but I tried to lock gazes with him, he looked away.
“And I promise you she will suffer for that,” my father assured me but my focus was mostly on the man who wouldn’t even spare me a glance.
Chapter 46
He still didn’t say anything, even to my father’s words.
I couldn’t take it any longer and decided to speak.
“How was your day, Orthon?” I asked. “Mine was great. You’d never guess who I bumped into today at the jewelry store.”
He looked at me for a significantly short time. “I’ll take my leave now.”
