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- Earlier -
The second River enters the bathroom, he crouches over the toilet, spewing out the bitter, acrid liquid from his mouth. He wretches, coughing and sputtering, whilst trying to remain quiet. More vomit comes up, burning his throat as it comes up to fill his mouth. River opens his mouth, choking as his gag reflexes react to the acid in his throat.
He could hear Sebastian on the phone, but the man's voice grows louder minutes later. Luckily, River had dealt with his vomiting and was seated beside the toilet- gathering his strength.
"River?" Sebastian's voice startles him from the other side of the door. "Are you ok?"
River straightens up and wipes at his lips desperately. "I'm
-River's eyes fly open, startled awake by the loud ringing of his cellphone. He quickly shuffles to sit upright, grabbing the gadget from the bedside table to answer."Yes, h-hello?" His voice cracks,"Mr. Kennedi, thank heavens you're awake! I've been trying to call Sebastian all morning, but he won't answer." Grace informs River, who is still half asleep and groggy.After his confrontation with Sebastian, River retired to his room to avoid the face-to-face with the man. He had busied himself with the Merit Global merger files, in hopes of distracting himself. Fortunately it had worked, and River fell asleep after preparing his own presentation since Charles didn't show up, nor did he hear anything else about the man returning. He didn't see nor hear a peep from Sebastian since their last conversation.
-Minutes into the discussion end of the meeting, River has everyone eating out of his hands. Many were still skeptic, but all he could do was designate his point of view and give them a clear and concise view into a possible future."Merit Global's revenue is at an all time high, Mr. Kennedi, so we're hoping to see triple that if and when we agree." Julian Marx chimes in, and River faces him. "We however believe, that this merge is a tactic to remove the competition, by taking it over." He narrows his gaze at River."I respect that as your take on this, but I must inform you that Merit Global is a complementary corporation to Black Co.," River begins and Jason scoffs loudly, but Julian stops him with a hand on his shoulder. "However, I reviewed the balance sheets, and I've discovered a few discrepancies that could harm this
-As River awakes, the sounds of a new day invites him into a feeling of solace and warmth, but it doesn't last long. The sudden feeling of sadness washes over him, yet he manages to get out of bed and to the coffee machine. Though, as he goes to pour a cup, the doorbell rings.River clutches the coffee pot with a frown, considering pouring it out and taking a sip before answering the door. His face then falls as he remembers his predicament."Oh, yeah." He shakes his head. "I can't have coffee."He places the pot down and walks out of the kitchen, then into the living room from the hallway. Learning his lesson from too many unexpected pop-ups, River pauses before opening the door."Who
- "I've been lying to you this whole time, and you don't deserve this, you deserve better than me-," he stops when Sebastian closes the distance. "You don't get to tell me what I deserve, because I want you, and you sure as hell don't deserve a mess like me, but I'm not willing to throw away something like this because of my insecurities." He finishes with a firm shake of his head. "But-, but you're-," River sighs, shaking his head in vehemence. "I wasn't sure I was pregnant until last week, the day we went to that restaurant with the boys." He admits. "They said it could be a mis-fire, but Dr. Abrams confirmed it when he called." "Well, I couldn't be happier." Sebastian grins, gently shaking River's shoulders with his rough, but calming hands.
-River Kennedi’s tight curls glisten from the overhead white lights, pinching his caramel skin and low, taper-fade that stresses the chiselled appearance of his face. His eyes, like stone, blink when his chin rests against his hands atop the protective railing around the hospital bed. In that hospital bed was his mother, Rose Kennedi — still catatonic.He regards her, covered under drab white linen, hooked up to the life-support machine. A dreadful sight, even worse than it appeared weeks prior when he last visited.His mother was once so beautiful with hair as brown as pure honey, now just bland and filled with perspiration.There was nothing more River hated than visiting Pearl Grove Memorial Hospital. Not for the sake of his loathing for medical facilities, but for his fear of losing his last remaining relative. It was a place of dread and a reminder of tribulations faced in the past and present.
Twenty-two minutes after leaving the Pearl Grove Memorial, River enters the relative calm of his small, rundown apartment. Its decor is second-hand furniture, displays of amateur art, plastered in every corner, or standing on an easel. The two-bedroom, one-bath apartment is spotless except for River, the only other case of disarray against the washed out, but immaculate space. The paved tile floors cool his feet after he kicks his shoes off to free himself of its restraints.River releases his messy bun and whisks his curls out of his eyes. He takes a few awkward and pained steps towards the dark green, floral couch, sitting in the middle of the room, across from an out-of-place smart tv.The small, but frail, rectangular table sitting between the couch and the television set becomes River's only moment of peace when he crosses his feet atop it. Slowed by his own weariness, River rubs his pale knees with delicate, defined arms. A futile attempt to soothe
The night had come and past—just like a distant memory in Sebastian Black’s mind as his dark, onyx eyes flutter open. He blinks against the assault of ultraviolet rays, kissing his vision with an annoying ebb of pain. His dark, Nubian complexion blesses the sunlight that trails against his half-naked body. Angled perfectly, yet lazily on the king-sized bed he lays in, after an eventful night of drinking wine and staying home. Before he can reflect on anything else, Sebastian swings his legs off to the side of the enormous bed. Gazing ahead, at the full view of Manhattan, and the reflection of himself in the glass.After a long, thorough shower, Sebastian grabs a pair of boxers from a hallway closet. Hurriedly slipping them on, then walking across the modestly designed penthouse living room area. Sparsely decorated with grand paintings lining the walls. Granting access to his modern condominium is an elevator that opens to his squinted view. Enormous
--River sits up, heart palpitating so loud, he can hear it beating as if within his eardrums. With a fidgeting thumb, he opens the email. To further aggravate himself, he waits ten seconds, but nothing happens. Another ten seconds later, his patience breaks. Yet there was still nothing. He opts to wait another ten, but he gives up after three, the moment he remembers owning a laptop. The only thing in the apartment connected to the next-door neighbor’s Wi-Fi.“Crappy phone!” River curses under his breath, chucking the device on the bed.River then forces himself to his feet and begins skipping towards his uncluttered computer desk where his laptop sits, half-cracked. He opens it up, narrowing his gaze as the screen lights up and within seconds, he enters his password and smiles. He pauses for a second, even more agitated than before. Head swollen with trepidation and rising anxiety. River squeezes his two eyes sh
- "I've been lying to you this whole time, and you don't deserve this, you deserve better than me-," he stops when Sebastian closes the distance. "You don't get to tell me what I deserve, because I want you, and you sure as hell don't deserve a mess like me, but I'm not willing to throw away something like this because of my insecurities." He finishes with a firm shake of his head. "But-, but you're-," River sighs, shaking his head in vehemence. "I wasn't sure I was pregnant until last week, the day we went to that restaurant with the boys." He admits. "They said it could be a mis-fire, but Dr. Abrams confirmed it when he called." "Well, I couldn't be happier." Sebastian grins, gently shaking River's shoulders with his rough, but calming hands.
-As River awakes, the sounds of a new day invites him into a feeling of solace and warmth, but it doesn't last long. The sudden feeling of sadness washes over him, yet he manages to get out of bed and to the coffee machine. Though, as he goes to pour a cup, the doorbell rings.River clutches the coffee pot with a frown, considering pouring it out and taking a sip before answering the door. His face then falls as he remembers his predicament."Oh, yeah." He shakes his head. "I can't have coffee."He places the pot down and walks out of the kitchen, then into the living room from the hallway. Learning his lesson from too many unexpected pop-ups, River pauses before opening the door."Who
-Minutes into the discussion end of the meeting, River has everyone eating out of his hands. Many were still skeptic, but all he could do was designate his point of view and give them a clear and concise view into a possible future."Merit Global's revenue is at an all time high, Mr. Kennedi, so we're hoping to see triple that if and when we agree." Julian Marx chimes in, and River faces him. "We however believe, that this merge is a tactic to remove the competition, by taking it over." He narrows his gaze at River."I respect that as your take on this, but I must inform you that Merit Global is a complementary corporation to Black Co.," River begins and Jason scoffs loudly, but Julian stops him with a hand on his shoulder. "However, I reviewed the balance sheets, and I've discovered a few discrepancies that could harm this
-River's eyes fly open, startled awake by the loud ringing of his cellphone. He quickly shuffles to sit upright, grabbing the gadget from the bedside table to answer."Yes, h-hello?" His voice cracks,"Mr. Kennedi, thank heavens you're awake! I've been trying to call Sebastian all morning, but he won't answer." Grace informs River, who is still half asleep and groggy.After his confrontation with Sebastian, River retired to his room to avoid the face-to-face with the man. He had busied himself with the Merit Global merger files, in hopes of distracting himself. Fortunately it had worked, and River fell asleep after preparing his own presentation since Charles didn't show up, nor did he hear anything else about the man returning. He didn't see nor hear a peep from Sebastian since their last conversation.
-- Earlier -The second River enters the bathroom, he crouches over the toilet, spewing out the bitter, acrid liquid from his mouth. He wretches, coughing and sputtering, whilst trying to remain quiet. More vomit comes up, burning his throat as it comes up to fill his mouth. River opens his mouth, choking as his gag reflexes react to the acid in his throat.He could hear Sebastian on the phone, but the man's voice grows louder minutes later. Luckily, River had dealt with his vomiting and was seated beside the toilet- gathering his strength."River?" Sebastian's voice startles him from the other side of the door. "Are you ok?"River straightens up and wipes at his lips desperately. "I'm
-As tensions rise in the room, Sebastian steps forward. "Hold on, Charles. That is completely absurd." He assures the man."I don't know what you're talking about, but if this was in any way my fault I apologize and I assure you, it wasn't intentional." River interjects, staring at Charles who scoffs and turns to face Sebastian."Oh, cut the horseshit, you've been out for me since that day in Chicago! The media team created the tutorial based on your design, and Merit Global is eating it up." Charles complains."Are you sure it's not eating you up?" Jaeger interjects, smiling feebly at Charles."Stay out of this, village biscuit." Charles points at Jaeger."My, my.
-Sebastian straightens his composure, and walks around his desk as Camila enters. He'd set himself straight, deciding that whatever she had to say wouldn't deter him from apologizing to her. He wanted to be honest, even when it was the hardest thing to do. Hard to make up his mind and come to the realization that she didn't deserve being left in the dark."You look troubled. Should I be worried?" Camila's voice floats across the office and Sebastian looks up then smiles weakly."Camila. What brings you by?" He asks, walking up to greet her."I came to apologize." She cuts to the chase, ignoring his offer for her to have a seat. "I just don't like wasting my time, Sebastian, and it felt like I was.""I agree I'm not very forthcoming wh
-As Sebastian pulls into the large driveway behind the villa, he thinks of the moment he'd met River. The feisty, confident young man who put him right in his place. He didn't know that love at first sight existed, but Sebastian could tell that the second he met River in person he felt a connection. The thought of it all distracts him until he's bumping into River as he steps into the living room."River?" Sebastian frowns, but solely out of surprise and embarrassment for his clumsiness."Hi." River smiles, but he notices Caleb and Cairo clutching on to River's hands. "Me and the boys were just going to walk to the stables, maybe pet a few horses." He begins, but he dresses back suddenly aware that Sebastian was home early."Come with us, papa." Caleb ple
-- Two Weeks Earlier -The nearly inaudible ding of the no-smoking and seatbelt signs sound, pulling River's attention from the file he reads while seated in the first class cabin. The lights above each seat becomes illuminated, causing a certain unrest in River as he sits up and closes the file. Seconds later the light in the first-class cabin dims, and River fastens his seatbelt. His hands fidget as he fiddles with the strap around his waist, feeling a sense of confinement. He failed to decipher why he felt trapped, but he knew all too well that his fear of flying had already begun to weigh down on him.It was mere hours after takeoff, and the lit signs above the passengers heads clicking on meant they would soon arrive. River remains calm, as his stomach feels stirred and bothered by the shaking of the aircraft. No Flight Attendants could be seen, but he could hear them in the lower cabins speaking to unaware passeng