Chapter 161 Unreasonable Demands
Amid the bustling crowd, Justin found himself engrossed in conversation with Zachary Bailey. He was eager to make a lasting impression on the man who could potentially become his future superior. The prospect of a managerial position, where he could comfortably enjoy the cool breeze of air conditioning and savor afternoon tea while delegating tasks, was alluring.
"I should mention that I've been a recipient of a scholarship every year during my college tenure. My professors often commend me as being quite the—" Justin's self-promotion was abruptly interrupted by a sudden, sharp pain in his leg that sent him sprawling out of the elevator and crashing into a man who had been holding his cousin’s hand.
Quickly releasing Winona Sullivan, Matthew Watson steadied Justin. Regaining his footing, Justin spun around, frustration etched on his face. "Who the hell kicked me?" he demanded. The occupants of the elevator, barring his parents, wore nexpression of indifference. His parents, however, appeared utterly baffled. "Justin, why did you step out? Get back in; the doors are closing," they implored.
As if on cue, Zachary Bailey extended his hand, pulling Winona Sullivan back into the elevator. The doors slid shut just as she was yanked inside, leaving Justin feeling disoriented. A realization dawned upon him about the possible identity of his assailant. He turned to Matthew Watson, his gaze piercing. "What's your issue with my cousin?" he asked, surprised at the audacity of the man making advances on his cousin in front of his cousin-in-law.
Matthew, smoothing out a wrinkle in his shirt, responded nonchalantly, "I'm currently pursuing your cousin." Justin sized him up, "You appear well-mannered, seemingly from a respectable family, yet you're keen on playing the role of the other man?"
"Your cousin and her husband are divorced," someone interjected.
"Impossible," Justin retorted, disbelief evident in his voice.
Divorced. The word echoed in his mind, threatening the dream of his cushy, do-nothing job.
"Don't you ever watch the news?" Matthew queried as the elevator arrived. He stepped in, leaving Justin with a choice. "Are you coming up or waiting for the next ride?"
Absorbed with his phone, Justin was frantically searching for Zachary Bailey. His gaming obsession had left him oblivious to recent events. The numerous articles confirming Zachary's divorce from Winona Sullivan hit Justin like a ton of bricks. He was still reeling from the shock when he finally arrived at the private dining room.
Melissa, noticing his dazed expression, waved him over. "What's with the confusion, kiddo? Come, sit down, and chat with your brother-in-law. Fill him in on what's been happening."
Observing Melissa's overly concerned demeanor, Winona Sullivan sensed her ulterior motives. "Melissa, Mr. Bailey and I are divorced. Please refrain from asking Justin to address him as 'brother-in-law.' It would be awkward for Mr. Bailey."
Zachary Bailey merely observed her, responding with a cold, dismissive snort.
"Divorced?" Melissa's face fell, and she turned to her husband in confusion.
Her husband, equally clueless, could only shake his head in response.
A wave of disappointment washed over Justin as he handed over his phone. "It's already in the news."
A quick glance at the articles on Justin's phone left Melissa feeling as though the wind had been knocked out of her. As the waiters began serving an array of extravagant dishes, a chill settled in the pit of her stomach. The cost of the meal was equivalent to their family's monthly income.
"It's okay, it's okay. Divorces happen. Young folks these days have short fuses; they fight and talk about divorce, but they could easily reconcile once the anger cools down," she consoled herself inwardly as the food was served, unable to cause a scene at that moment.
Midway through their meal, Melissa turned her attention to Zachary, her voice carrying a hint of hope. "Zachary, my son Justin completed his studies six months ago, but he hasn't yet found a suitable job. Does your company have any vacancies that might suit him? The experience is more valuable than the pay or the title; he just needs an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities."
Zachary Bailey responded in a matter-of-fact tone, "The hiring process falls under the purview of our HR department. I would suggest that he forward his résumé. If his application is successful, they'll reach out to him for an interview."
"But could you perhaps use your influence to help me?" Justin implored, desperation tingeing his voice. "I've perused the job listings at your firm. My degree doesn't quite align, and all the positions demand a postgraduate qualification or higher—I'm not exactly the ideal candidate."
Justin's bachelor's degree from a modest college seemed a meager offering compared to the lofty prerequisites of the company.
Zachary Bailey drew in a long puff from his cigarette before responding, "That, my friend, is a query best directed at your cousin. She's far more experienced in that field."
The eyes of Isaac's family of three sparkled with anticipation as they collectively turned their gaze to Winona Sullivan. They had only registered the first part of her sentence, completely disregarding the latter half.
Melissa's face was a picture of delight. "Winona, help yourself; I ordered all your favorites today."
She set a dish of abalone before Winona Sullivan, her voice filled with nostalgia. "I remember how much you used to enjoy abalone," she reminisced.
Winona Sullivan's enthusiasm faltered. "That's very kind of you, Melissa, but Justin is in need of..."
Melissa interrupted her, her voice taking on a reminiscent tone, "When your mother was pregnant with you, your grandfather was livid. He even insisted she terminate the pregnancy. But look at you now, so successful."
Isaac, who had been silent up to this point, suddenly interjected, his voice stern, "What kind of nonsense are you spouting in front of the child? Winona and her family have only just returned. Let's enjoy our meal; we can discuss these matters after dinner."
Chastised, Melissa quickly agreed, "Yes, let's focus on our meal for now."
Perplexed by the sudden shift in the room's atmosphere, Winona Sullivan sought clarification, "Didn't grandpa like my dad? Why would he insist on an abortion when he discovered my mom was pregnant with me?"
Melissa couldn't meet Winona's intense gaze and evaded the question, "Your father was just a poor boy back then, and your grandfather, a distinguished professor, didn't approve of him. That's all water under the bridge now. Isaac and I had just begun dating at the time, so I'm not privy to the specifics."
Winona's brow furrowed; something about the situation didn't sit right with her.
Beside her, Matthew Watson deftly removed the abalone from her plate, replacing it with a rack of lamb. His movements were fluid and natural, reminiscent of a long-married couple.
Zachary Bailey noticed the exchange, his expression darkened, "There's plenty of food on the table. If it's insufficient, we can request more from the waiter. There's no need to take from someone else's plate."
His remark drew everyone's attention to Matthew Watson.
Unruffled, Matthew met Zachary's gaze with a subtle smile, "Winona doesn't eat abalone."
The two families had a long history, and Matthew, being observant, had noted this detail from their few shared meals, even though he hadn't been particularly interested at the time.
Melissa remained silent.
Zachary was at a loss for words.
The revelation that Winona didn't eat abalone was news to Zachary. Their shared meals were few and far between, usually limited to visits at Crest Manor, and due to Lydia's frail health, Sarah never prepared such cold-natured foods.
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