CHAPTER 55: PART OF THE BUSINESS

It felt like he was trampling all over me and pointing out the fact that I was struggling to find a new job. Competition was very fierce in the job market, and it was getting quite hard for me to explain why I had suddenly quit my job at my old workplace. Usually, it would have been easier for me to find a new job if I was still employed, and I would have more bargaining power that way to negotiate my new job contract. I should have thought of that before making the hasty decision to suddenly quit my job, but it was too late now for any regrets because there was nothing I could do about that now.

"Thank you for your concern, but I’m sure that I’ll find a job soon enough," I replied flatly.

"Of course, I’m concerned about you. You’re supposed to be my precious little sister now, and I can’t have you unemployed for too long. Although, I guess it would also be fine if you never return to work. It’s not like we cannot afford to provide you with a comfortable life if you decide never to work again," Raphael said before showing me a smile. I had no idea if he was truly concerned or if he was simply teasing me.

"Don’t worry, I will make sure that I don’t end up being a burden for you or Bennett," I said stiffly.

"That’s not what I’m worried about at all. Actually, I would love for nothing more than you to become a burden of mine," Raphael said with a grin.

"You know, sometimes I truly don’t understand you or what you’re thinking," I said honestly before I could stop myself. Raphael didn’t seem surprised at my words as he nodded his head slightly a few times.

"Let me try to put this more simply for you. I honestly don’t know why you’re job hunting like a regular person," he said, sounding genuinely confused, as if what I was doing was completely unexpected.

"Well, it’s because I am a regular person," I replied.

"That’s my point. You’re part of our family now, and that means that you’re not exactly supposed to be a regular person any longer," Raphael said as he stared directly at me.

"I don’t think I understand what you’re trying to get at," I said while trying to ignore the nagging feeling at the back of my mind.

"What I’m trying to say is that you should start abusing your position as a member of the Hayes family," he suggested as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Honestly, I still struggle to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m now part of the Hayes family. While my mother seems to have already assimilated perfectly into the family and her new lifestyle, I was clearly struggling.

“I don’t want to abuse anything or anyone. Thanks for the offer, but I’m just going to continue job hunting my way," I said while feeling quite stubborn. I thought it wasn’t right for me to resort to nepotism of all things, and that I should rely on my own capabilities and track record to land a new job. It felt like that was the only way for me to get a good fresh clean start.

"I’m not telling you to do anything that you should be shameful of, but I just want to point out that it’s going to be hard for you to land a job on your own," Raphael said, looking quite serious.

"Are you underestimating my capabilities?" I asked as I stared back at him.

"That’s not what I’m trying to say. I’m sure that you’re capable enough, but with the news of our parent’s wedding out there, people now know that you’re a part of the Hayes family, I doubt that people would view you the same way. After all, they would question why you would want to work at their company when you could easily work at the Hayes Corporation," Raphael explained.

That possibility never occurred to me before, and I wonder if what Raphael was saying was indeed true.

"Listen, no matter where you go, people can tell that you are somehow tied and connected to the Hayes family, and they are not wrong. As long as your mother is still married to my father, you’ll be part of our family. Accepting you into their company is going to make it complicated for them to manage you, so why would they take that risk if they could just hire someone else?" Raphael continued explaining.

"Then what are you suggesting I do? Just pick out a job that I want at Hayes Corporation? Are you suggesting that I rely on your family business, or that you want me to be stuck in this business forever?" I asked sarcastically as my anger started to boil over.

"It’s our family business now. I’m not sure that’s what I’m saying, but I also don’t see why that would be so bad," Raphael replied, and I was surprised at how he seemed to be seriously considering it.

"I don’t want to talk about this anymore," I said before we would have another argument. By that time, I could no longer focus on the food, and I had lost my appetite completely.

I didn’t want to tell him that one of the reasons why I was so desperate to find a job in another company was so that I could avoid spending even more time with him. Perhaps, if I got employed somewhere far away I could find a valid excuse to move out of the mansion as well, but I knew very well that my mother wouldn’t like that idea very much. Although I hoped that my mother was having a good time on her honeymoon trip, I couldn’t wait for her to return.

"It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about this right now, but know that I’m always here to support you, and I would love it if you would accept my help," Raphael said before showing me a sweet smile that I felt didn’t fit his overall image at all.

"I don’t want to work for Hayes Corporation. I don’t know why it seems like you want me to work there so much," I said stubbornly without hiding my suspicion.

"I just think that there is an opening that would suit you perfectly," Raphael replied.

I simply glared at him without even asking what role he was referring to because I wasn’t at all interested.

That was how my first dinner date outside with Raphael ended.

–To be continued...