My Corporate Affair

Chapter Ten

Elliot....

It was the evening of the foundation gala, and I stood at the entrance, looking out at the grand ballroom. The atmosphere was alive with excitement. The room was filled with tall, sparkling chandeliers that lit up the entire space. Everything around me was elegant, gold and white drapes hung from the walls, and the floor shone like a mirror beneath the guests' feet.

The cameras were everywhere. Flashes went off as celebrities and business people posed for pictures. I could hear the clicks and murmurs, the buzz of people trying to make themselves seen. It wasn’t just about charity tonight; it was about looking good while doing it.

I recognized a few familiar faces,people I had to know in this world of power and money. They all wore their best smiles and best outfits, blending into the high-class scene. It wasn’t my favorite place, but it was where I had to be. My family expected me to be here, looking sharp, representing the foundation.

I took a deep breath and adjusted my tie. Tonight wasn’t about me, it was about playing the role, saying the right things, and keeping up appearances.

The event started with soft music playing in the background and the sound of people talking, filling the big ballroom with excitement. Guests in fancy clothes were drinking champagne, and the warm light from the chandeliers made everything look golden. The big screens showed the theme of the night,“Legacy: Building Beyond Generations.” You could feel that everyone was here to prove something, and I hated how easily it felt like I was just a puppet following orders.

I tried to stay out of the way, greeting people with fake smiles as they passed. My parents were right in front, acting proud and scanning the room like they owned everything. Their expectations always felt like a heavy weight on my chest, pushing me to be perfect.

After a few moments, the host grabbed the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the CEO of Sterling Enterprises, Elliot Hayes!"

I felt a knot form in my stomach. There it was. My cue to get up and play my part. My parents' proud eyes were too much to handle as I walked toward the stage. They were staring at me like I had to be perfect, and it felt like too much pressure to carry.

When I reached the podium, I gripped it tightly to stop my hands from shaking. The microphone felt cold in my hands, and I could feel everyone staring at me. I looked at my parents again, and my anger grew. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t what I wanted.

But I had no choice. I had to do this. So, I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.

"Uh, good evening, everyone," I said, my voice shaky. I cleared my throat, hoping I wouldn’t mess this up. But I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t prepared anything. I had nothing to fall back on, and for a moment, I couldn’t even remember what the event was about.

Legacy. That was the theme.

I looked at the crowd, but all I could see was my parents. Their perfect smiles, their expectations, everything that felt so fake. The anger inside me started bubbling up.

"I guess we’re here tonight to talk about... legacy," I started, my voice getting a little steadier. I paused, trying to think. "Legacy is about leaving something behind, something that lasts after we’re gone. We all want to build something meaningful, right?" I stopped again, thinking for a moment. "But... what does it really mean?"

I let the question hang in the air. It felt like I was asking myself more than anyone else. My thoughts were racing, trying to find something to say.

"Legacy isn’t just about what we build. It’s about how we affect other people’s lives. We spend so much time thinking about what we can control, business, success, but in the end, what really matters is how we treat others, how we make them feel, and how we leave a mark on their hearts."

I looked up, surprised by the words that came out of my mouth. Maybe it was the theme of the night, or maybe it was all the frustration I had inside, but something about what I said felt... right.

At first, the applause was quiet, but then it got louder. I nodded quickly and stepped away from the podium. It didn’t feel like I was in control anymore. That speech was too real, too honest, and I wasn’t sure what to think about it.

I turned and left the stage, my mind still racing. I could feel my parents staring at me, but I didn’t want to look at them. I didn’t want to face their expectations tonight. Not now.

I just needed a moment to breathe.

The evening was starting to wind down, and the energy in the ballroom shifted from excitement to polite conversation. I stood off to the side, my thoughts still racing from the speech I had just given. The sound of chatter and laughter mixed with the soft music from the orchestra as the crowd slowly began to disperse, but my parents were still engaged in deep conversations with important people.

That's when I saw her.

Victoria.

She moved toward me with that perfect grace of hers, a smile already on her lips. She was stunning, as always. Her long brown hair cascaded smoothly down her back, framing her face perfectly. She wore a silver gown that shimmered under the chandelier light, and her dark eyes met mine with that practiced warmth that I knew so well. There was no question that she was everything my parents had hoped for: poised, composed, and flawless in every way.

I had known Victoria for years. Our families had been close for as long as I could remember. My parents had often made it clear that they expected us to be more than just acquaintances; they wanted us to be a match. It had always felt like they were pushing us together, whether we wanted it or not. She was always polite, understanding, and never failed to meet their expectations. And yet, for all her charm, I never felt anything for her beyond the fact that she was someone my parents admired.

“Elliot,” she greeted me smoothly, her voice soft and almost musical. “That was a great speech. You really spoke from the heart.”

I offered her a tight smile, not sure what to say. “Thanks, Victoria. It wasn’t exactly what I had planned, but… it seemed right in the moment.”

Her smile remained as she moved closer. “It was perfect. You know, your parents must be so proud of you. They can always count on you to pull through, no matter the pressure.”

I nodded, though the mention of my parents only stirred that familiar knot in my stomach. “Yeah, they have high expectations.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “And you always meet them,” she added, as if she had rehearsed this compliment a thousand times. It wasn’t untrue, of course, but I couldn’t help the bitterness that crept into my thoughts.

Victoria and I had never been close in a real way. She was the picture of perfection in my parents’ eyes, someone who always said and did the right things, someone who fit the mold of what they wanted. But I never saw her as anything more than that, someone who was expected to be there, expected to be perfect. And deep down, I resented that.

She continued, her tone smooth and calculating. “They must be so proud of you.”

I knew exactly what she was doing, feeding into their image of me, the son who could do no wrong. She was playing the part perfectly, just as she always did. The problem was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to play the part anymore. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be the perfect son for a family that didn’t see me for who I really was.

“Maybe,” I said, forcing a small smile. “But right now, I’m just trying to get through this night.”

She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling as she looked around the room, as though trying to decide which part of the event she should grace next. “Of course. But it’s always so important to make sure we’re seen in the right light, isn’t it?”

I forced myself to nod, though my mind was elsewhere. The more I spoke with Victoria, the more I felt that suffocating weight of expectation pressing down on me. It wasn’t that she was a bad person, far from it. But I knew what this was: another piece of the perfect picture my parents had painted for me. Another step I was supposed to take, even if I didn’t want to.