Chapter 3 A New Game Plan #3
When she did, her voice was controlled—but thinner. “…Late.” Janet didn’t interrupt. Veronica set her cup down gently. “He waited too long,” she continued. “He let her sit in doubt… in pressure… in confusion.” Her eyes lifted again. “I didn’t.”
“No,” Janet said softly. “You didn’t.” Another pause. Then— “So,” Janet continued, folding her hands in front of her, “what’s your next move?”
Veronica exhaled slowly, leaning forward now, elbows resting lightly on the table. “She’s coming onto the tour,” she said. “That puts her in my world. My schedule. My structure.” A slight pause. “My control. All I have to do now is keep her busy to push him out of her mind.”
Janet’s gaze sharpened slightly at that word—but she didn’t challenge it. “And Greg?” she asked.
Veronica’s eyes flicked up again. “He’ll follow,” she said simply.
Janet studied her for a long moment. “You sound very certain.”
“I am,” she replied steady.
“That confidence…” Janet said carefully, “…is it based on who he is?” A slight pause. “Or what you want him to be?”
Veronica held her gaze. “…Both. He’s a professional in the end.”
Janet leaned back, considering that answer. “You’ve been patient,” she said. “More patient than I expected, honestly.” A faint smile touched her lips. “Most women would have forced this months ago.”
Veronica’s expression didn’t change. “That wouldn’t have worked. Erica Stamson screwed up his heart and mind too much. I’ve had to take my time so he feels safe with me.”
“No,” Janet agreed. “It wouldn’t have worked to force it.” She tilted her head slightly. “Because he needed to lose her first.” That sat there—unspoken confirmation of what had just happened. Veronica didn’t deny it. Instead, she shifted slightly in her chair, her tone changing—more focused now.
“She’s not the problem anymore,” Veronica said.
Janet’s eyes narrowed just slightly. “Careful.”
Veronica met her gaze. “She’s not,” she repeated. “She made her choice. She walked away.”
“And you think that means she’s out of the equation?” Janet asked.
Veronica didn’t hesitate. “Yes. Absolutely.” Janet held her gaze a second longer—then slowly shook her head.
“No,” she said quietly. “It means she’s wounded.
” That shifted something. Veronica’s expression tightened just slightly.
“A wounded woman who still loves the same man…” Janet continued, her voice calm but precise, “…is far more dangerous than one who’s still trying to win him.
” Silence. “Like Erica Stamson.” Veronica looked down for a moment, processing that.
“…She won’t come back from this,” Veronica said finally—but there was less certainty in it now. Janet didn’t push.
“She might not,” she allowed. “But you don’t build your plan on hope that she won’t.”
Veronica leaned back again, arms crossing—not defensive, but thinking. She sipped her coffee, thinking for a moment. “So what do you suggest?” she asked.
Janet’s answer came without hesitation. “It’s just like with Erica Stamson, child. You don’t fight Carry,” she said. “Not directly.”
Veronica’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then what?”
“You make Greg choose you,” Janet replied. A pause.
“He already is,” Veronica said.
Janet shook her head once. “No. Right now… he’s reacting.” She leaned forward slightly. “You don’t want a reaction.” Veronica held her gaze. “You want a decision.” That landed clean. The room went quiet again.
Then—Veronica reached for her coffee, taking a slow sip as she thought it through. “…He’ll be on that tour,” she said finally. Janet didn’t respond—just listened. “And when he is…”
“When he is?” Janet encouraged her to finish the thought out loud.
Veronica continued, her voice steady now, “…he won’t be watching her from a distance anymore.” She set the cup down. “He’ll see everything clearly.”
Janet’s eyes stayed on her. “And what exactly do you think he’ll see?” she asked.
Veronica didn’t hesitate this time. “Me,” she said. “Not Carry. Me!”
A faint smile touched Janet’s lips—but her eyes remained sharp. “Then you’d better make sure,” she said quietly, “that what he sees… is something he can’t walk away from.”
Veronica held her gaze. “…It will be. Just like the Caribbean Cruise.”
Janet’s eyes didn’t move off her. “The Caribbean Cruise worked because you didn’t have competition. Carry was on the run, out of his life. You controlled the narrative,” she said quietly. “All the variables were at your command. Environment. Timing. Access.”
Veronica gave a faint nod. “Exactly.” She leaned back slightly, her fingers resting lightly on the edge of her cup. “And this time… I have something better.”
Janet’s brow lifted just slightly. “Better than controlling the man?”
Veronica’s eyes sharpened. “I’ll control what he sees.
” That hung in the air. Janet didn’t interrupt.
Veronica continued, her voice steady, deliberate.
“Carry walks into Veronique thinking she escaped something,” she said.
“Thinking she chose a new path.” A faint pause.
“And I make sure she continues to think that way, when she didn’t. ”
Janet tilted her head slightly. “Then what did she do?”
“She stepped onto a stage,” Veronica replied. Silence settled between them.
Janet leaned back just slightly, studying her now with more interest. “Go on.”
Veronica reached for her coffee again, but didn’t drink.
She just held it there, thinking it through as she spoke.
“Remember my first performance, when I was just eight years old, before mom got sick and we moved to France.” Janet smiled as she remembered that birthday party with little Veronica singing the happy birthday song for her and her twin brother.
“I was nervous at first, but then it filled me with a sense of being, like I belonged there.” She sipped her coffee then sat it back down.
“She has the look,” she said. “Natural. Unrefined… but real. That’s what makes it powerful.
” Her eyes flicked up. “She doesn’t know how to use it yet. ”
Janet’s lips pressed together faintly. “And you do.” Janet took a drink of her coffee then sat it back down on the table. “Are you sure about this?”
A small smile touched Veronica’s mouth. “I’ve built entire campaigns around less.
” That wasn’t arrogance. It was fact. “She’s going to be the face,” Veronica continued.
“We’ve been building this campaign, but with her disappearance, we had to change things.
I’ve got to shift this immediately. I have to answer all the questions.
” She set the cup down gently. “But not so fast that it doesn’t feel organic. ”
Janet’s fingers tapped once lightly against her cup. “You’re going to elevate her.”
“Yes. We’ve already sent out the press release.”
“And you don’t see the risk in that?” Janet asked.
Veronica didn’t hesitate. “No. Why should I?”
Janet watched her carefully. “Explain that to me.”
Veronica leaned forward slightly now, her tone tightening—not emotional, but precise.
“Right now, she’s a question in his mind,” she said.
“Unresolved. Emotional. Untouched.” A slight pause.
“That’s dangerous.” Janet didn’t disagree.
“But if I put her in front of him at Veronique,” Veronica continued, “every day… under lights… under pressure… under expectation…” she gave a faint shake of her head, “…she changes.” Janet’s eyes narrowed just slightly.
“She won’t be the girl he’s holding onto anymore,” Veronica said.
“And what will she be?” Janet asked. Veronica met her gaze.
“Product.” That word sat heavy. Janet didn’t react immediately—but something in her eyes shifted. “She’ll be a star.”
“You’re very sure she’ll survive that transition,” she said.
Veronica’s expression didn’t change. “She doesn’t have a choice.” That was colder than anything she’d said so far. A brief silence followed.
Then—“And Greg?” Janet asked again, quieter this time.
Veronica exhaled slowly, settling back into her chair. She sipped her coffee before she spoke. “He watches it happen,” she said. “Day by day.” A slight pause. “He sees her becoming something else. Something… distant.”
Janet’s gaze stayed fixed on her. “And you?” she asked.
Veronica’s eyes didn’t waver. “I stay the same.” That landed exactly how she intended it to.
Janet leaned back slowly, folding her arms. “So while she transforms…” she said, “…you remain familiar.”
Veronica gave a small nod. “Safe,” she added.
Janet’s lips curved faintly. “Comfortable.”
“Yes.” Veronica smiled softly. Another pause.
“And by the time he realizes what’s happening?” Janet asked.
Veronica didn’t miss a beat. “He won’t be looking at her anymore.”
Silence. Janet studied her for a long moment—longer than before. “…You’re not just removing her from him,” she said finally. Veronica didn’t respond. “You’re changing who she is to him,” Janet finished. That earned the faintest hint of a smile.
“Yes. I’m changing the end game and how it’s played.” Veronica’s eyes brightened.
Janet exhaled slowly, shaking her head once—not in disagreement, but in recognition. She took a deep drink of her coffee then set it firmly on the table. “That’s a dangerous game, Veronica,” she cautioned.
Veronica picked up her coffee again, finally taking a sip this time and setting it back on the saucer. “So is losing,” she said simply, giving a dismissive wave of her right hand.
Janet watched her over the rim of her cup. “…And if she doesn’t break?” she asked.
Veronica lowered her cup slowly. “Then she becomes exactly what I need her to be,” she said. A pause. “The face of Veronique.”
Janet’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And you’re comfortable putting her that close to him?”
Veronica’s gaze didn’t shift. “I’m counting on it.” That sat there. Heavy. Intentional. Calculated. Janet finally leaned back, giving a slow, measured nod.
“…Then you’d better be right,” she said quietly.
Veronica didn’t hesitate. “I am. Trust me mom, I’ve got this. I’ve not come this far to retreat now. My patience will pay off in the end.”