Chapter 6 Unexpected Meeting

• -=Ram's Point of View=-
• Shouldn't I have given up by now? But that didn't happen, especially since I couldn't help but look for her every time I passed by, even though her pimp told me she probably went back to her province, wherever that was.
• I was looking forward to seeing her again, and maybe she'd return to that place because she needed money again.
• When I remembered that I was her first, I couldn't explain the warm feeling inside me, and I was really hoping to find her first, in case she needed money.
• "She's mine," I thought to myself when I decided I wouldn't let any men touch her.
• I woke up that morning, feeling a bit under the weather. Who would be exhausted if you tried searching almost every night in that same place?
• It has been two weeks since the pimp I talked to told me that the woman I slept with probably returned to her home province.
• "What was her name again? Jocelyn... right, her name is Jocelyn."
• "Pull yourself together, Ram!" I chastised myself.
• I forced myself out of bed to get ready to work. Even though I'm the boss, I rarely miss work unless it's for an important matter or maybe something to do with my dad, and in regards to the prostitute, it isn't that important that I have to miss going to work.
• I was still staying at my dad's place, and I wanted to make sure that I could monitor his condition; he's the only family I have.
• It was fortunate that his condition is getting better as the days go by, but I couldn't help but notice that there were times when he appeared to be in deep thought, and when I tried to ask him about it, he would just laugh at me and tell me that I was just thinking too much.
• Just like today, I just came down from my room when I saw him looking outside.
• There was a blank stare in his eyes, so I could tell that he wasn't looking at anything in particular.
• "Good morning, dad," I said.
• I noticed that he looked startled when he heard my voice, but a wide smile appeared on his lips when he looked at me.
• "Good morning, son," he said, and then after that, we both went to the dining room, where our breakfast was already served.
• "It seems you came home late again," I heard him say.
• I was surprised when I heard that. I was pretty sure that he was already sleeping when I got home, but then again, I've been going home a lot lately, so he's bound to notice it.
• "I've been busy with work," I said, without looking at him.
• I didn't want him to know that a simple girl was affecting me so much; after all, I'm Romano Santiago, and it was normally ladies who had trouble attracting my attention!
• "Make sure to watch over your health," he said, and after that, he remained silent as he ate his breakfast.
• Looking at his face, I could tell something was really bothering him, so I decided to confront him regarding this.
• "Dad..."
• "Yes, Ram?" He asked, smiling.
• Even though he was smiling, I couldn't see any sparkle in his eyes.
• "I need you to be honest with me; is there something bothering you?" I asked somberly.
• When he heard my query, the smile on his lips vanished, and he avoided my gaze as if scared I might read the answer in his eyes.
• "There's nothing wrong, just some thoughts I had, but nothing to worry about," he said, still avoiding my gaze.
• I wanted to continue questioning him, but he said I had to leave for work, which was obviously his ploy to avoid the topic, making me even more worried about him.
• I had no choice, but to go to my car and drive to my office.
• While driving, I still couldn't shake that nagging feeling that there was really something going on with my dad, especially when I remembered how he tried to dodge answering my question.
• I wanted to know what he was going through; maybe I can help him, I'm his son, for Pete's sake!
• I promised myself I would force him to confess to me once I get home later, but for now, I needed to put that thought aside because I have to stay focused on work.
• "Good morning, Sir Ram."
• All the staff greeted me when they saw me in our building, and after acknowledging them, I went ahead and boarded my personal elevator going to the top floor of this building, where my office is.
• Aside from my office, I also have a personal space there in case I need to work overnight and need to stay.
• "Good morning, sir," Tricia greeted me when she saw me walking through the door.
• She immediately briefed me with the schedule for today, and that includes my appointments today.
• I have several meeting appointments for today, including a client meeting and a meeting with the head of the department.
• "All right, got it; just send me the documents I need to sign before my meetings," I said.
• After she had gone, I went to a much smaller room on the right side of the floor and turned on my computer to check for emails.
• Tricia arrived a few minutes later with the documents I requested.
• "Thank you, Tricia; you may leave," I said, but she didn't, so I raised my head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
• "Is there anything else?"
• "The chairman of Castro Company called and asked to meet with you this afternoon," she explained.
• When I heard what she said, I frowned; I knew the chairman she was referring to because he had tried numerous times to set up an appointment with me.
• The Castro Company is just a small company that wants to ask our company for help, and I told Tricia to decline their request because I don't see how the company can profit from them.
• "Haven't I told you before that we're not interested in working with that company?" I inquired.
• "I informed Mr. Castro about it, but they insisted, and he said he would wait for you there for however long it takes," she explained.
• After telling me that, she returned to her seat, leaving me frustrated. I hated it when I had already turned someone down, but they continued to bother me.
• "Let him wait," I muttered cruelly, and then I started working on signing the documents.
• After an hour of signing documents, I decided to stand up and stretch, which was just in time because Tricia had informed me about my first appointment for today.
• I immediately drove to my first appointment, and we decided to meet at one of the five-star hotels in the area to discuss a business proposal.
• Actually, there are several companies that are proposing for us to partner with them to open a first-class island resort, probably somewhere in Palawan.
• I was really interested in it, considering that our line of businesses is mostly freight and shipping.
• I didn't waste any time discussing his proposal because I had two more appointments that day.
• The presentation took less than an hour, and after I said that we would study the proposal, I immediately left and headed to my next appointment.
• When all of my meetings ended for the day around four o'clock in the afternoon, I returned to the office and caught up with Tricia, who was still busy working.
• I was about to take a seat when my office door unexpectedly opened, and I was taken back when I saw who my visitor was.
• "What are you doing here?" I asked emotionlessly.
• I noticed the hurt that registered on her face, but I ignored it.
• "Can we talk, please?" She asked, her voice hesitating when she saw the expression on my face.
• "I didn't see the point in talking to you again, Janine; you've already made your decision, and nothing could be clearer than that," I explained.
• "No, Ram, you haven't heard everything I wanted to say, so please..." she begged, but she was cut off when the door unexpectedly opened and Tricia's head appeared.
• "Sorry for the interruption, sir, but Mr. Castro called again," she said.
• For once, I was relieved to hear that name because it provided me with an excuse not to listen to whatever Janine had to say.
• "I'm sorry, but I have a meeting and I need to leave," I said, and before she could respond, I grabbed my keys and left.
• Strange, but Janine hasn't crossed my mind in the last two weeks, despite the fact that we just broke up; my mind is preoccupied with the woman I slept with.
• "The Prostitute"
• As much as I appreciated the alibi, I still resented the fact that I still needed to meet the chairman of Castro Company. However, perhaps meeting him in person is for the best; perhaps if I told him personally, they would finally give up and stop bothering me.
• I arrived in the restaurant at around six o'clock, and like my secretary told me, the chairman actually waited for me to arrive.
• I couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or sorry for the old man because the moment he saw me, he stood up and raised his hand, as if expecting a handshake.
• "Thank you for..."
• I didn't let him finish because I'd already made up my mind, so I raised my hand to silence him.
• "I'm going to be straight to the point, Mr. Castro. I already made a decision, and the answer is..."
• When my gaze moved to the entrance door, I felt as if I had been struck by lightning and abruptly stopped speaking.
• I was surprised to see the woman who walked right through the door; she was very different from the first time I saw her that night.
• I noticed the dress she was wearing, and I was pretty sure it was expensive, but honestly, whatever she wore, she never failed to amaze me.
• "Mr. Santiago..."
• I heard Mr. Santiago, but my main focus was on the gorgeous woman.
• It perplexes me to see her here of all places because it's unlikely she can afford it, but my thought was interrupted when I noticed her arm clinging to an elderly man who was waiting for her.
• My brow furrowed as I noticed her arm clinging to the older gentleman, and if I'm not mistaken, she's with Henry Cervantes, a well-known businessman not only in the Philippines but around the world, considered to be one of the richest men in the world.
• "It's no wonder I didn't see her in that place," I mumbled.
• I was surprised when I felt a tap on my shoulder, and then I realized that I was still with someone.
• "I'm sorry, Mr. Santiago, but what were you saying?" He asked, his voice sorrowful, as if expecting rejection from me.
• "My answer is yes; just send the contract to my office so I can have my lawyer check on it, and in case we want something changed, we will just contact you," I told him.
• He looked so happy when he heard my answer, and he kept thanking me, but I ignored him because my attention was on the two people a few tables away from our table.
• Seeing them together made me realize that the woman I was looking for might already be with someone else.
• I can't help but lose hope because he is richer than me, but I will not give up, even if it means stealing her from someone like Henry Cervantes.
• "I will get her by hook or by crook."