When Love is Gone

Chapter 10

"S--sir..."

Ram can't believe what he just heard from VP George Castro.

The old man looked at him, studying him with an amused smile on his face.

"What I've said is true, Ram. I recommended you as my replacement as the VP for Construction. If you're selected, you'll be working directly under Grachelle."

Ram is still out of breath. His heart is pounding loudly on his chest. Becoming one of the VP's in the company is not one of his dreams or plans. Actually, he had not thought about it. But now, it is being offered to him by no other than the VP of Construction himself.

"Don't get too excited, Ram. Some might try applying for that position once I announce my retirement. But I will look into it and prevent them from submitting their application." The old man winked at him.

Ram felt a mix of emotions - happiness and confusion. The old man's attitude towards him had changed drastically over the years. They used to be close colleagues but after his breakup with Grachelle, the old man became distant and cold. Ram knew he deserved it, though. He was a jerk, plain and simple.

The old man treated Grachelle like his own daughter. She was the child he never had with his wife. Her leaving had deeply affected him. Now that she was back, it seemed like the old man's attitude towards Ram had softened as well. Perhaps that's why he recommended Ram as his replacement, despite knowing how much the higher-ups disliked him, especially Grachelle.

"Sir, why me? You know how they feel about me, especially... her," Ram asked, feeling a wave of shame wash over him. Even after all this time, the guilt of what he did to his boss's beloved daughter still haunted him.

The old man's smile vanished. He straightened up and patiently waited for Ram to lift his head.

"I know the pain Grachelle went through because of you. The suffering you caused her is still there, deep within her. But I believe that only you, Ramses, can help her heal. I'm not suggesting you rekindle your old relationship. No... I just want her to see that you regret what you did to her. Do you regret it?"

Ram nodded.

"I do, Sir. It's been almost four years now." He smiled bitterly, feeling the pain in his heart as he recalled how long he had been carrying the burden of his mistake.

"I knew it. You seemed content when she left and you started dating your ex. But after a while, I noticed the light in your eyes fading. I saw you searching for someone, even though you never admitted it to anyone. I knew it was Grachelle."

"Yes, Sir," Ram confessed, letting out a heavy sigh. Finally, the secret he had been keeping for years was slowly coming to light.

Just a few months after he thought he was happy with Sarah, he began missing his wife, or rather his ex-wife. He cared for Sarah, or so he believed at the time. But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself that he needed Sara, his heart yearned for someone else, always searching for the woman he had hurt.

"Have you talked to her since she returned, Ram?" the old man inquired. Ram met his gaze and nodded.

"I spoke to her last night. I went to our old house and found her there," he revealed.

"You did?!" The old man exclaimed with excitement, but seeing the amusement in Ram's eyes, he cleared his throat.

"I mean, what did you two discuss? Did you finally tell her you love her?"

Ram's face flushed with embarrassment as he recounted the events. Old George Casto was known for his straightforwardness.

"I tried to explain, but she didn't believe me. I haven't even had the chance to ask for her forgiveness," Ram admitted, feeling like a teenager confessing to his 'father'.

Old George let out a sigh and gave him a questioning look.

"Perhaps you didn't handle it properly," the old man seemed to imply.

"I panicked, Sir," Ram confessed honestly. "Seeing her after four years, just a few steps away from me, made me lose my composure... Almost drove me crazy. I was completely captivated. I stammered about how much I missed her and loved her, and yet... She just laughed at me." The last words were barely audible, but the old man heard them.

"Oh, boy. It seems like you have a lot of work ahead of you to earn her forgiveness, Moore. But I have faith in you. I believe you can make amends. And I'm not just doing this for you. It's more for Grachelle. I truly want her to move past all the pain you caused her. I want her to finally heal. She may act like she has, but I know better. Her parents and I know her well. Ultimately, the decision to forgive you lies with her. She has the final say now that she's taken over the company. So, if I were you, I'd start preparing my resume and impress her with my qualifications. I'd try to mend your relationship, but no guarantees, Moore. I'll do what I can."

Ram rose from his seat as the old man did.

He extended his hand for a handshake.

"Thank you for your trust, Sir, and for the opportunity you are giving me. It's not just about the position, but also about the chance to earn Grachelle's forgiveness."

"I only want what's best for her. We all do. I'll head to my office now. There are contracts waiting for me." With that, the old man bid his farewell and left without a backward glance.

Once the old man was out of sight, Ram sat back down. He couldn't believe his luck. Even though there was a 10 percent chance he wouldn't get the promotion, that was still a significant risk if Grachelle decided to block his advancement. A mere 1 percent was enough for her to reject him. But Ram held onto hope that Grachelle would give him a chance. They both wanted her to heal from the pain he caused her. If he was fortunate, maybe he could win her heart back once she forgave him.

With that determination, Ram felt a newfound energy that had been missing since he saw Grachelle again after four years. He began clicking and typing on his computer, printing out the necessary documents to prove his worthiness for the VP position.

His eyes sparkled with joy when he received a recommendation letter from VP George in his email. It felt like he was just a few steps away from bridging the gap between himself and Grachelle.

Ram was in the middle of searching for some certificates when Brennan suddenly burst into his office.

"Hey, buddy! What's keeping you so occupied? Let's grab a bite to eat. I'm starving." Brennan plopped himself down in front of Ram's desk.

"Move!" Ram pushed him aside. Brennan chuckled and made himself comfortable on the couch.

"What's going on with you? Are you finally planning to break up with your difficult girlfriend?" Brennan inquired.

Ram paused his task and gave Brennan a puzzled look.

"What are you talking about? Did Sara do something to you?"

"Well, she's been blowing up my phone all night. It seemed like you weren't home or weren't going home." Brennan stared at him, clearly curious.

"I stayed in my other apartment," Ram confessed. He had rented another place to escape Sara's constant complaints, which had escalated since Grachelle returned.

Brennan rolled his eyes.

"And now she's bothering me because your phone is off! You're lucky she hasn't shown up yet."

"I instructed the guards to inform her that I'm out of town if she arrives."

"Perfect! Now I'm the one stuck dealing with her. Come on, Ram! If you're done with her, just tell her. End things so she stops interfering in other people's lives!"

"I thought you liked her? Just put up with it," Ram retorted.

"I'm only friends with her because of you!" Brennan grumbled.

"Quit complaining and block her number so she leaves you alone. Now, please go. I have a ton of paperwork to get through."

"Fine. I'll let her know that you promised to be home tonight so she stops calling me," Brennan said before exiting, leaving Ram to shake his head and resume his work.

A few minutes went by, and he lost track of time.

"Brennan, I already told you to give me some space," he said as the door creaked open. When it didn't shut, he furrowed his brows and glanced up, only to see a pair of adorable eyes staring back at him.

"Hey there."

He greeted the little boy by peeking in at him. He flashed a smile to reassure him. He couldn't help but wonder who brought their child to the office.

Standing up, he approached the door, waiting for the boy to fully reveal himself.

"Are you looking for your Mom or Dad?" Ram asked gently, trying not to startle the child.

"Ar... Are you my D--daddy?" the boy's sweet voice inquired.

He smiled at the boy but was puzzled.

Why was the boy asking if he was his father? Didn't he have a dad?

"I'm..."

"Daddy!"

The boy swung the door open wide and dashed towards him. His tiny hands wrapped around his knees.

Ram was taken aback by the boy's actions. He bent down to lift the child, wanting to explain that he wasn't his father.

"I'm not your..."

"Charlie!"