My Corporate Affair

Chapter Nine

Elliot....

Dinner at home was always quiet. But not the relaxing kind of quiet.

I sat at the big dining table, slowly moving the food around on my plate. My dad was reading the news on his tablet like always, and my mum sat across from me with her usual soft smile and perfect posture.

“So,” she said, taking a sip of her drink, “how is work?”

“It’s been busy,” I said. “We just welcomed the new interns. There’s a lot going on.”

“Busy is good,” she replied. “I hope you’re being a good example. Everyone watches the CEO. You have to be careful.”

I gave a small nod. I’d heard this a thousand times before.

My father didn’t look up. “Any departments falling behind?”

“Sales needs a little push,” I answered. “But everything else is fine.”

My mum set her fork down. “Fine isn’t enough, Elliot. You’re not meant to keep things fine. You’re supposed to be ahead of the rest. You’re a Hayes.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I just nodded again.

Then she asked, “Have you been attending those charity events I sent you the invitations for?”

I paused. I hadn’t. “I’ve been busy with meetings....”

“Meetings are important, but public image matters too,” she said. “You need to show people that you’re in control. That you’re perfect.”

Perfect.

That word again.

I looked down at my food. I didn’t feel perfect. Not even close.

As they kept talking, my mind wandered. I thought about the girl from the office. Sophie.

The way she looked so shy when she gave me that cake. The way she smiled. I didn’t know why I remembered her at that moment, but I did.

Maybe it was because everything about her felt simple and easy. Real.

Unlike this table.

Unlike this house.

I shook the thought away and took a sip of my drink, just to do something with my hands. I didn’t have feelings for her. I didn’t even know her. But for some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about her.

Just when I thought dinner was finally over, my mother looked up from her plate.

“Don’t forget,” she said casually, “we’re attending the foundation gala tomorrow evening. Wear something sharp. We’ll leave by 6.”

I paused, my fork halfway to my mouth. “I'm really tired mum, and I was hoping to have the evening to..”

“No,” she cut in, her tone suddenly firmer. “This is important, Elliot. These are the kinds of events that keep our name respected. You know that.”

I sighed quietly, putting my fork down. “I just think....”

“You think too much about what you want,” she said, her smile still in place but her voice sharp. “This family has given you everything. The company. The life you live. You should be grateful you were born into this, Elliot.”

My jaw tightened.

That stung more than it should have.

I didn’t say anything. I just sat there, feeling like a child being scolded again. Every time I tried to breathe or choose something for myself, it always circled back to this. What they gave me. What I owed them.

“Don’t make a fuss,” she added quietly. “Just show up and be good enough.”

Good enough.

I forced myself to swallow the knot in my throat and nodded slowly.

“Fine.”

But inside, I felt that familiar heaviness grow again. I wasn’t even sure what “good enough” meant anymore. All I knew was… I was tired of chasing it.

Sophie....

I got back home just before sunset, holding the little box with Grandma’s necklace tightly in my hand. I had wrapped it with care at the store, and now I couldn’t wait to give it to her. Just seeing her smile would make everything worth it.

But even as I tried to focus on that, my mind kept drifting back to earlier.

That elevator.

Him.

Elliot Hayes.

Why did my heart still race just thinking about how close he was to me? The way he looked at me… like I was the only person in the world in that moment. It felt like a dream. A really crazy, unexpected dream.

I shook my head, laughing softly to myself.

“I need to stop thinking about him,” I whispered, dropping my bag on my bed.

I had to get my mind together. Tomorrow was Sunday. I promised Grandma I’d help with laundry and prep for her little book club. I wanted to be there for her, not floating around in some silly fantasy about a man way out of my league.

Still, as I lay in bed later that night, my fingers brushed over the necklace box on the table beside me, and my thoughts drifted again to him.

Why did he have to be in that elevator?

Why did he have to smell that good?

And why did his eyes make me feel like I could melt?

I groaned and rolled onto my side, pulling the blanket over my head.

“Get a grip, Sophie.”

But deep down, I knew… this wasn’t going to be easy.

The next morning was quiet. The sunlight spilled softly into the kitchen, casting a golden glow on the old curtains. Mom had already gone to help at the inn, and Grandma was resting on the couch, a blanket over her legs and her hands folded neatly in her lap.

I had been waiting for the right moment.

“Grandma,” I said gently, walking over to her.

She looked up and smiled, her eyes lighting up like they always did when she saw me. “Yes, my sweet girl?”

I sat beside her and took out the little box from my pocket. “I… I got you something.”

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You didn’t have to..”

“I wanted to,” I cut in softly. “You’ve always done so much for me. All those birthdays… all those nights you stayed up with me when I couldn’t sleep. This is the first time I’ve had something to give you.”

I placed the box in her hand.

She opened it slowly, her fingers a little shaky. When she saw the necklace, her lips parted slightly, and she just stared for a second.

“Oh, Sophie…” she whispered.

“It’s simple,” I said quickly, “but I really thought of you when I saw it.”

Tears filled her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

She looked at me, and in that moment, I saw so much love in her eyes. Then, her voice turned soft. “You know… your father once gave me a necklace when he got his first pay. He said it was a thank-you for being his mother.”

My heart tightened.

“I remember that,” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. “He always said you were his angel.”

She chuckled through her tears. “He used to say I was too soft for the world.”

“I miss him,” I whispered.

“I know,” she nodded, reaching over to touch my face. “He would be so proud of you, Sophie. He always worried about what kind of person you’d become after he was gone… but look at you now. You’re kind, strong, and full of heart.”

I couldn’t help it. I leaned into her, wrapping my arms around her as she held me tight.

We stayed that way for a while, just holding on to each other.