CHAPTER 13: HIDDEN PAIN.
In the Theophilus mansion, everyone had settled down in the dining room. Each person sat opposite the other and also in a place that he or she wished to.
The mansion was quite huge and grand. Entering into it as an average fellow could make one feel worthless just by staring at the designs and huge materials. None of it was fake. Whosoever must have mixed the colors for painting should have been given an award.
While entering the mansion, the small guest room greeted the eyes of the guest and he or she would be made to sit there until being invited into the main sitting room by any family member. The sitting room was broad and it had rows and rows of artistic paintings that were either purchased or given as gifts to them.
Standing at the corner were rows of trophies that screamed more of the chairman of the company’s achievements.
The Theophilus family was well known amongst others for a lot of things that they were into. They had branches in almost all different parts of the country and some other countries. They were involved in buying and selling. They took up building projects, and Mandarin Theophilus, who was Michael’s wife, took the entertainment industry alongside her daughter, Josephine Theophilus to a higher level.
Everyone in the family was a high working individual with aims.
As they all settled for dinner, Raphael came downstairs sluggishly with his two hands inside his pockets, his hair was a bit rough but it only added to his handsome look. Everyone’s eyes darted toward him as he approached the table to eat. Mandarin snorted enviously but did not say a word. Raphael was the one who got his father’s features and was more handsome than his brother, Vegas but then money speaks.
They started eating. About five minutes later, Michael placed his cutlery beside his plate and chewed gently. This was what his wife noticed and she looked in the direction that he was staring.
“Ralph,” Michael called and he looked up at him.
“You called me father?”
“Hmm. How is the work with the Z-site going?” Michael asked.
“Not too well, father. The site has been encountering a few major problems these days as the workers complained of the land not being stable enough to build the already drawn design for the company.” Raphael reported.
“And why wasn’t I informed about this earlier!” Micheal asked, a little bit offended.
“I informed Vegas about it and he shut me off by saying that he would do something about it,” Raphael replied.
“You informed Vegas? How is that an excuse? Don’t you know how busy your brother has been for the past few weeks? Try to pity him most times.” Micheal scolded. Vegas looked at his father, pleadingly,
“That is alright, father. He actually did inform me about it but I forgot to tell you. It’s not his fault.” He spoke on Raphael’s behalf.
“Anyways, how old are you now?” Their father shrugged it off and continued. Raphael looked at his father and then at his brother, he was wondering who exactly was being spoken to.
“You mean me?”
When his father did not give his response, he cleared his throat and replied,
“Twenty-six. Why?”
“That’s good. My friend’s daughter is actually your age…I mean generation, you are only two years older than her. She is perfect and okay for you, she has the standards and meets up to our requirements as the daughter-in-law of the family.” Michael said and nudged his wife to help in discussing.
“That’s right. As a woman myself, I already scanned her and she is perfect for you, Raphael.”
They paid attention to his response but he didn’t give one for a long time as he silently ate his meal.
“It seems like you have nothing to say against my words this time around,” Michael commented.
Raphael took the last spoon, drank the glass of water, wiped his mouth, and relaxed on the chair. He was sitting at the end of the table so practically, he was sitting opposite his father. He folded his arms and looked at him coldly.
“Why should I get married first? Vegas is the eldest so he should get married first.” He replied.
“Why can’t you get married first? He is only a few months older than you so you are both of the same age therefore it doesn’t matter who gets married first.” Michael rebuked.
“It doesn’t work that way, father.”
“Yes, it does. You are not the one who will tell me how it works and how it doesn’t. Even if it isn’t marriage immediately then get engaged first, that will be okay for now. That’s my final decision!”
“But it isn’t my final decision! I have always been obeying every of your command and doing everything that you wanted because I want to show that I can be as good as him [points towards Vegas] or even better than him but if this is going to be the way you want it then I will have to be disobedient then. I am not getting married and that is final!” Raphael hits the table in anger and leaves coldly.
“Raphael! Raphael, you bastard, come back here!” Michael yelled as everyone in the dining room watched him leave. He was panting heavily from the yelling and his fists were curled up in annoyance.
Vegas stood up and quickly went beside his father to calm him down, and so did Josephine. She gave him a glass of water to drink for relaxation.
“I can’t believe this!” Mandarin grunted.
________
Raphael closed the door of his room with a bang and rested against it. He slid down to the floor and placed his hand on his raised leg while he grabbed his hair in pain, frustration, and anger.
They had started again! He was never peaceful at home! They never made it feel like he was truly a part of this family then he chuckled unhappily as he brought out a stick of cigarettes and lit the bottom, he inhaled the smoke and exhaled it before looking at the ceiling. Who was he kidding? He was never a part of the family to be sincere, he was nothing but a figurehead, a worthless human being that was used and manipulated to Theophilus’ bent wishes.
Maybe this was the punishment for the evil deeds that he might have committed in his past life but…did that even exist in the first place? Right now, what he needed was solace, he just wanted to seek warmth from someone but there was no one around.
He felt hurt and humiliated. He was a man! A man for goodness damn sake! He should be capable of taking his decision and standing up to others, especially this family!
Anyone out there would have believed that he had the perfect family but whoever knew the history of this family would have known that to be a lie because he was in no way related to this family in terms of love and care, he was only useful in taking over work.
“I am being treated unfairly.” He whispered as he puffed out another smoke.
As big as the company was, he took one of the most important positions yet secretly, he was just the slave in use. He had to do the dirty work on Vegas’ behalf who was seen as the smartest child and son in the family even when it was not his line of profession.
Raphael was only into building and construction. He studied engineering in school and was among the best, not wanting his talent to be put to waste and also to prove to his father that he could be the son he was proud of, he started working under him.
He was the reason why Micheal had to join the building and construction occupation to one of the services offered by the company. He was the beauty brain behind that aspect and every day and night, he would work, strain himself, attend meetings, and take up possible jobs that Vegas left behind and all these would still result in scolding and dissatisfaction from his father.
Sometimes, all he ever wished for was to get away from this part of the world to his world where he could rest without any problems but it was just a wish.
He never had a perfect family and he didn’t want the same for any of his kids. If only his mum knew the scumbag she got pregnant for before she died.
He brought out his phone and logged out of his Facebook account, he created another profile and then sent a friend request to Evelyn Rosé. No matter how tough it was, he knew that he was preparing himself for something bigger that was coming and he was sure that once it landed, no one would have expected it. The expressions on their faces would be the tip of joy for him. All of these were just for a while.
TBC…