CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Paula stood silently at her brother's door, her eyes filled with tears as she watched him lying on his bed, headphones on, lost in the music.

Jessie had just revealed that Raymond had built an art gallery for Jeremiah's writing, a gesture that touched Paula deeply.

She always knew her brother had a tender heart, but this was beyond her understanding.

She never realized that Raymond's love for her ex-husband had never wavered and that he was still so full of the love of God.

In a moment, Raymond had helped Jeremiah back on his feet after losing everything in that devastating fire.

Jessie, the spy Paula had hired to discreetly monitor Jeremiah, had shared these revelations, leaving Paula overwhelmed with emotion.

She brought Raymond his favorite green juice and placed it on his table, her back to him, wondering why he wasn't working on his laptop as usual.

No one could distract Raymond from work, except Catarina Johnson—the powerful woman who had captured the hearts of the two men Paula loved the most.

"Is it Catarina?" she asked, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, still facing away from him.

Raymond sat up, removing his headphones with a troubled expression. "I can't stop thinking about her," he admitted.

Paula handed him his tea and watched as he took a sip. "So, she ended the deal without looking back?" she asked, sitting beside him.

Raymond sighed. "I told Juliet to convince her to return to Bower Bound, just so I could have a reason to keep seeing her, but I don't think she'll give up her teaching job for me. It means too much to her."

Paula looked skeptical. "She came all the way to resolve issues between you and the board members, and you still believe teaching is more important than you?"

"I'm not important to her," Raymond replied, his voice heavy with doubt.

"I don't think that's true," Paula countered. "If she didn't care about you, she wouldn't have come to that meeting."

"No, she came because of Juliet."

"And would that have prevented Juliet from getting paid?"

Raymond remained silent, sipping his tea with a pensive expression. "She still loves Jeremiah, not me."

"And yet, she didn't know about the fire that destroyed everything Jeremiah had, but she knew instantly when the shareholders were about to pull your tie," Paula pointed out.

"She got the information from Juliet,"Raymond said quietly.

"She gets all her information from Juliet until something serious happens, and then she steps in," Paula argued.

Raymond sighed, his voice trembling. "I'm scared of getting my hopes up, Paula. I won't be able to bear it if she rejects me."

"But you have to let her know how you feel,"

Paula urged gently. "Just to avoid being friend-zoned."

"I can't tell her, Paula. Don't even think about it," Raymond said firmly, turning away.

At that moment, his phone rang.

It was their father.

Both siblings exchanged nervous glances.

"Why is father calling all of a sudden?" Paula whispered, her voice filled with dread.

Raymond connected the call and brought the phone to his ear. "Hi, Dad."

"Did you hear the news about Swanta's father?" his father asked.

"Yes, Dad."

"What are you planning to do about it? No matter what, he's still Swanta's father."

Raymond and Paula exchanged another worried look.

"It's been handled, Father," Raymond assured him.

"I trust my son. How are things at home? I'll be coming there next week."

They gasped, exchanging alarmed glances.

"Why, Father?" Raymond asked in surprise.

"Why? Don't you want to see me?"

"It's not that, Father, I—"

"Well, I'm not coming to see you. I'm coming to see Catarina Johnson."

They exchanged shocked looks again.

"What about her, Father?" Raymond asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I have a recording of how she handled the issue with the shareholders. I want to see her."

"Why, Father?"

"I'm the founder of Bower Bound, and I have every right to meet those who bring solutions to the company," his father replied, ending the call abruptly.

Raymond sighed, the weight of the situation pressing on him. "All this pressure might make Catarina disappear for good."

Paula placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Are you really focused on God's will, or are you letting your overwhelming feelings for her cloud your judgment?"

Her words finally brought Raymond a sense of calm.

                     ***

Tears filled Jeremiah's eyes as he watched visitors stream into his art gallery—a dream he had long hidden away, doubting his own worth.

The very drawings he once condemned were now captivating an audience.

Yet, amidst the triumph, his thoughts drifted to Paula, whose voice had been the strongest encouragement in his artistic journey.

He silently thanked God for this second chance, a new beginning that he never believed he deserved.

He couldn't help but smile as he watched Swanta, his daughter, guide the guests around the gallery.

She was confident, humble, and full of smiles—a reflection of his mother.

The pride he felt was overwhelming, and it reminded him of the days when Paula was the same—bold and radiant, before he had extinguished that fire in her.

Gratitude surged within him for Raymond, who had raised Swanta to be such an outstanding young woman during the five years of Jeremiah's absence.

Now, he felt the freedom to finally express his feelings for Paula, feelings he had long suppressed out of fear that they would never be reciprocated.

Jeremiah knew where to find her—at home, cooking for Raymond, as she often did on Saturdays.

He hurriedly returned home to retrieve a new recipe book he had created, one that featured a unique beans cake he knew Paula would love to try at her restaurant.

Arriving at the house, he found it just as he expected: Raymond was absent, and Paula was about to take out the trash.

She froze when she saw him, the trash slipping from her hands in shock.

The sight of her, in that familiar apron with her hair unkempt, hit him hard, bringing back a flood of memories from years ago when he would come home to find her just like this.

The emotions overwhelmed him, bringing tears to his eyes.

Jeremiah quickly moved to pick up the trash. "Let me take care of this," he offered, taking the trash outside to avoid the awkward tension between them.

When he returned, she was back in the kitchen, focused on her cooking.

He hesitated at the doorway, unsure of how to approach her. "I... I came to check if you're okay," he stammered, unable to meet her eyes.

Without turning around, she replied coldly,"As you can see, I'm fine."

Jeremiah swallowed hard. "That day at your restaurant, I came by because I just wanted to see you, even from afar. I felt every bit of your pain, and I wanted to help, but I was terrified... scared that Raymond would... kill me."

Paula turned to face him, tears already forming in her eyes. "Your cowardice has caused more harm than good, Jeremiah."

He nodded, accepting her words. "I know I can't change the past, but I can still do something—anything—to help, even if it doesn't seem important."

She looked away, her expression unreadable, as he placed the recipe book on the counter. "This is a new recipe I developed for beans cake. It's unique, something no one else has discovered. It could intrigue your customers."

Paula's voice was laced with doubt as she asked, "Are you doing all this because you think you don't have a chance with Catarina Johnson anymore?"

Jeremiah sighed deeply. "I did have a crush on Catarina. Every man goes through that phase where his love for his wife is tested by something new and seemingly more attractive. But that phase is an illusion, a flare that can make you lose sight of what's real."

"I'm not your wife anymore, Jeremiah."

"But you were. And you've lingered in my memory for five years. I want to be your husband again, Paula—a better husband who will treasure you and constantly renew the love he has for you."

Tears streamed down Paula's face as she whispered, "I don't believe you love me, Jeremiah."

He stepped closer, gently taking her hand and looking into her eyes. "Believe what you see, Paula, not just what I say." He placed a pack of her bronchitis medication on the counter before turning to leave. "For your health," he added quietly as he walked out.

Paula's heart ached as she watched him go.

She loved him deeply but was terrified of giving him another chance, afraid that it would only bring more pain.

Alone in the kitchen, she broke down, sobbing as her emotions overwhelmed her.

                  ***

Raymond stood stiffly beside his father, his hands trembling slightly as he helped knot the tie.

"Why are you trying to strangulate me just because I asked you to knot my tie?". Joseph snarled as he called back Raymond to reality.

Raymond who had been so deep in thought that he hadn't realized that he was almost strangulating his dad sighed apologetically. "I am so sorry father. It was not intentional".

Joseph had been relentless since the issue with the shareholders surfaced again, insisting they go to work together, as if sensing something deeper was at play.

Raymond's mind raced, searching for a way to tell his father that Catarina Johnson had solved the problem, even though she was no longer an employee.

But every time he tried, the words stuck in his throat.

As they arrived at the office, the sight that greeted him nearly made him stumble.

The employees were gathered, and at the front, applauding them as they walked in, was Catarina.

She wore her familiar office slacks and a crisp white blouse, a stark reminder of her days as an invaluable part of the company.

Raymond's heart clenched.

He had been thinking of excuses to give his father, but there she was, back in the office, her presence speaking volumes.

Juliet must have convinced her, and for that, he was more grateful than words could express.

He forced a smile as he followed his father to the office upstairs, his mind still reeling from seeing Catarina.

After a tense silence, Joseph finally broke it, his tone stern. "Call Catarina Johnson in."

Raymond moved to the receiver, his heart pounding.

He dialed her office, nearly holding his breath as he heard her voice on the other end. "Please come to the general office," he said, his voice tighter than he intended.

As he set the phone down, he met his father's sharp gaze."Why were you talking to her like that? Do you like her?" Joseph's question was blunt, catching Raymond off guard.

Raymond turned, his hands fidgeting with the blinds even though they didn't need adjusting. "She's just an outstanding employee," he stammered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Joseph's eyes narrowed, clearly unconvinced. "If you like her, why aren't you telling her? Does she like you too?"

Before Raymond could respond, a knock on the door interrupted them.

His heart raced as he saw Catarina enter the room, and he quickly moved to his father, pleading with his eyes. "Please, don't talk about this with her. She's only interested in business matters."

Joseph smirked but didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Catarina, who had just stepped inside. "Come in," he said, his voice firm."Raymond, stay. I want to see you too."

Raymond awkwardly retreated to his desk, burying himself in his laptop as Catarina whispered a polite greeting to his father.

Joseph observed her closely, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "You're a very beautiful woman," he remarked, catching Catarina off guard.

"Er…thank you, sir," she replied, her voice hesitant.

"Please, sit," Joseph continued, gesturing to the seat in front of his desk. "Ever since the shareholder issue, I did some research. I found out you had already resigned when you came up with the solution that saved Bower Bound."

Raymond's eyes widened.

He hadn't expected his father to discover that Catarina had resigned.

Joseph shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "As fate would have it, you're here now. Are you here to stay forever?"

Catarina looked up, stunned. "Forever?" she echoed, disbelief in her voice.

Raymond, sensing where the conversation was headed, rushed to his father's side, showing him the company design on his laptop—a desperate attempt to steer the discussion away from feelings.

But Joseph wasn't easily distracted. He pushed the laptop aside and looked directly at Catarina. "My son is in love with you. What about you? Do you feel the same way?"

"Father!" Raymond cried out, panic evident in his voice as he fled the office, unable to face the situation.

Joseph chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Look at him, behaving like a child over a woman at his age," he mused. He turned his attention back to Catarina, who sat frozen in her seat. "Did he tell you he loves you?"

Catarina took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper as she replied. "Did he really tell you that, sir?"

Joseph leaned back, taking off his glasses. "You don't need my glasses to see the truth. My son is an open book, and he's not good at hiding his feelings. The moment I heard what you did for the company, I knew I wanted you for him. Ray needs someone strong by his side, someone who can be his partner in this business—and in life."

Catarina's hands trembled as she absorbed his words, her emotions swirling within her.

"Do you love him?" Joseph asked gently.

Tears filled Catarina's eyes as she whispered the truth she had been hiding from herself. "I came back to Bower Bound because of him."

Without another word, she rushed out of the office, her heart pounding in her chest.

As she reached her office, she leaned against the door, trying to catch her breath.

It was all becoming clear now—she had come back not just to solve the shareholders' issue, but because she couldn't bear to be away from Raymond.

At church, they were always busy, always watched. But here, she could see him, be near him, without the constraints of their roles.

Her phone rang, startling her.

She looked at the screen and froze.

It was Raymond.

Panic seized her, and she dashed to the bathroom, hiding from the one person she wanted to see most.

She heard him enter her office, her heart pounding louder with every step he took.

When he knocked on the bathroom door, she felt her world closing in.

He forced it open, and there she was, crouched on the floor, her face buried in her hands.

Raymond knelt beside her, and she could hear his heart beating just as fast as hers.

Summoning her courage, Catarina looked up, their eyes locking in a moment of undeniable connection. "I love you, Catarina Johnson," Raymond whispered, his voice raw with emotion.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized how much those words meant to her, words she had once heard from another but had never felt the same way until now.

She didn't need to say anything; the love in her eyes said it all.

She simply wrapped her arms around him, holding on tightly, as if afraid to let go.

He pulled back slightly, searching her face. "Do you love me, Catarina?"

Her voice trembled as she answered, "I love you so much, Raymond."

The weight of her confession seemed to lift something heavy from her chest, and Raymond pulled her into his arms once more, holding her as if he'd never let her go.