Chapter 8

• RAFAEL
• “Congratulations!”
• My family uttered simultaneously at the dinner table. Julian announced he’d successfully impregnated his young wife. It had been six months since their wedding.
• His wife, Anya, was one of my best composers and songwriters, despite being new in the industry. The songs she wrote for pop star Ophelia Grant hit seven hundred thousand sales on the album and half a billion in audio streams. She now had offers to write songs for an upcoming animated fantasy film.
• Their story was similar to those of romantic comedy movies. Julian was Anya’s music professor at Whitlock School of Music. I was skeptical about their relationship; I thought Julian was stupid to date his student. But it worked out for both of them. I admired these types of marriages, but it didn’t mean my views about settling down changed if I met someone like my brother’s wife. I didn’t think I could handle being a doting husband or a father. I just couldn’t see myself changing diapers and bathing babies.
• That wasn’t me, so I’d leave it to the expert.
• I was more adept in something else than anyone in the family: running the business and keeping their wallets and bank accounts full.
• “We’re only ten weeks. We just wanted to let everyone know,” Anya said.
• My mother dashed from her seat with an ear-shattering squeal, squeezing her arms over her precious daughter-in-law and favorite son, pouring them with sweet praises. My mother, Rachel Sebastian, always wanted a daughter after getting four boys. Now she got what she wanted, and that was with a bonus.
• Adam went on about becoming the best uncle. If it was a boy, he would teach the kid his ways. He was a judo and karate blackbelter as a kid. Then, played all-rounder in the band in his teenage years and went to directing and film school for college. We often shared the same ideals, so I made him chief of operations of Sebastian Pictures, while Julian shared the same title at Sebastian Records.
• As for Carter, he was currently the CFO, but I wasn’t sure when he would take anything seriously. He had a double major, but still couldn’t decide what he wanted to do with his life.
• My father, Benjamin Sebastian Jr., made it perfectly clear I’d follow in his footsteps as the first son. It was a custom in the family that the first in line inherited the legacy. So when my grandfather stepped down, Dad took over the chairmanship and made me CEO. I was burdened with the mission to carry the family name. If I hadn’t had children, the title and fortune would be given to Julian’s kid.
• My father raised his glass of champagne. “Great job, Julian and Anya. I’m proud of you.”
• “Aren’t you going to say anything?” My mother smiled at me.
• I cracked my knuckles, but I lifted my glass. “More Sebastians to come.”
• “So, when can we expect yours, darling?” Mom asked innocently. She knew I hated subjects like this. Marriage to me was off the table. It always had been.
• “Or you can continue this happy celebration than ask me. That’s easier.” I saved Julian’s ass many times. It was thanks to me his career didn’t fall down the drain. It took every measure to stop his ex-girlfriend from making a big scandal when she caught him dating his student. That should count as one of my accomplishments.
• “You’ve turned thirty-six, honey. It is time—”
• “When are you going to see Sue Winkler, Carter?” I stopped my mother from finishing her sentence and ate the steak.
• “I have a flight tomorrow and will come back in two days, as you requested, Your Highness. Is there anything I can do for you?” Carter shot me a glare, shaking his head.
• “Stop that,” Julian scolded him. “Sorry, bro.” At least he knew how to acknowledge his master.
• “You guys are so sensitive,” Adam joined in, chuckling.
• I eyed them and sighed.
• “Would you like some of these? It’s not very sweet, just like you prefer,” Anya asked me, offering the pies she baked.
• “Thank you.”
• Anya put a slice on my plate.
• I tasted the food so she wouldn’t be offended. It was still sweet and tasted like mixed fruits, but I wasn’t as heartless as I appeared to be. I appreciated her kindness in the past several months.
• “Now, now!” Mom clapped her hands, claiming the stage again. “I’m very excited about the new addition to the family. Our very first grandchild.” She kissed my father’s head. “My darlings, thank you so much for making my dream come true. I hope it’s a girl.”
• But Dad would still prefer a boy.
• “Don’t worry, Mom. We plan to make as many as you like.” Julian winked at his wife.
• “Perfect! We should celebrate more!” Mom sang.
• I exhaled. I felt this celebration wouldn’t last until the kid turned seven.
• Seven. That number had already traumatized me when I turned that age. Especially on my birthday.
• When my mother finally decided to finish her dinner, everyone shut their mouths. However, I wasn’t exactly enjoying the evening. There were many reasons why I shouldn’t.
• ***
• “Peek is your shot to prove you’re worthy of your title, son.” Dad’s words to me always had weight.
• “I don’t forget that.” It was my ticket to inherit his fortune, power, and position.
• He joined me and sat in front of the fireplace. “Let me ask you a question. You are alone, have no heir, and spend most of your time behind your desk.”
• “That’s not a question.”
• “When you inherit my legacy, what will you do with all that privilege? You can do everything you want, but where will it take you?”
• “If you’re referring to the news about me and Zoey Blanchet, those are just media bullshit.”
• “Does Alex know that? I don’t want to have problems with him.”
• “Come on, Dad.” I filled my empty glass with the brandy again. “Since when did you believe in reporters? It’s not true, and I don’t need to explain that.”
• “How will you convince Emilio to bring Peek to us? He probably heard that news.” he challenged.
• “What does it have to do with my personal life?”
• “It has everything to do with it. You will not make it if this is how you see things. “
• I gritted my teeth. “You don’t know that.”
• “Yes, I met the man, spoke to him, and all he could talk about was his family. Like you, your brothers and your mother are everything to me. Emilio wants a business partner who shares the same principles.”
• “I think you’re just old-fashioned.” There was no way Emilio had said that. Dad just knew how to manipulate words. “I can handle this.”
• I proposed a business plan to Peek that could increase their proceeds, and I would offer him a fortune higher than his current net worth than any entertainment business could. That should be enough.
• “The tabloids have branded you a Casanova, whatever that means. Have you ever thought about handling that?”
• Casanova meant a ladies’ man. I mostly fucked women from my circle, successful women who already had a name because they all knew what to expect when I jumped on the bed with me. It was only the media making false stories about it.
• “I never promised them anything.”
• “That’s the problem. Look, son. We can’t stop people from trying to destroy our name; that’s their job. But it’s your job to keep them from coming after you by doing what is ethical.”
• “What are you trying to say?” Where exactly is the conversation going?
• “I’ve been hearing backlash. Your rating as CEO is going down. Did you know that?” And why are we jumping from one issue to another?
• “Our stock had gone up by fifteen percent. It was more than last year,” I pointed out.
• “Your accomplishments mean nothing if they want you out.”
• “No one wants me out.”
• “The board has been talking. You don’t listen to them. The employees are scared of you, and you have no friends. You’re a mystery. The media follows you because they seek a hole they can use to break you. You have no wife, no partner, no meaningful relationship. Your decisions are the only thing that matters to you.”
• I cocked my head to the side. “I listen to my brothers.”
• He sighed. “They wanted Julian as my successor.”
• “What?!” Now, that was almost like a bomb dropped on my head. This wasn’t just about the title anymore. This was about my life.
• “Julian listens to the people,” Dad went on. “He’s been a media darling for the past few years. He’s hardworking, approachable, innovative, and a dedicated man to his family. He’s never a Casanova. He’s a settled man.”
• Did my father forget this was how he molded me? He was the one who made me the way I was. He wanted me steadfast, merciless, and stonehearted when he appointed me CEO. It was ridiculous how he was criticizing me now.
• I put my glass down, fighting the urge to just walk away. But no one did that to Benjamin Sebastian.
• “So what? You want to put Julian as the head of Sebastian Entertainment and this family because he managed to settle down?”
• “You need an heir, Rafe. You know what it means to be the firstborn. When will you give me grandchildren?”
• I knew I needed an heir at some point, but if I gained control and authority over everything he held dear, I wouldn’t need to think about that anymore.
• “As you said, I don’t have a wife. I made it clear that I also don’t need an heir. I can be your successor with none of those.”
• My father rose to his feet and pointed his finger at me.
• “Your achievements aren’t enough! I watched you pass every test, succeed in every trial, and sprout your wings, but how will you stay at the top? Don’t you remember how your grandfather started the company? He built it for us. His family. We were his pillars. I have brothers and a sister, but they have their own paths to walk, just like your siblings. You need a family of your own, son. It’s time to settle down. Especially if you want to be the head of the family. You won’t win Peek, if you can’t understand this.” He leaned toward my eye level. “Fuck this up, I will appoint your brother as chairman. Julian will be perfect for the job and you will work under him. And after him, everything you worked hard for will be handed down to your future nephew or niece. I will make sure of that.”
• Dad stalked out of the library and slammed the door behind him.
• A fury inside me surged. He would step down as chairman in four months when he turned sixty. I had to make Emilio sign to Sebastian Entertainment in two months. How was I able to do that in a short time?