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River enters the apartment, hearing the city continuing its noises below. He presses his back against the door, his face contorting with emotions as tears stream from his eyes. With a quiet cry, River sinks to the floor, and lets his tears loose. Deciding it was best to let it all out, purge his system of whatever inhibitions he withheld.
Seeing James's face and clearing things up was all he needed. He hadn't realized until leaving the venue, but it was a revelation that caused hurt and reminded him of the trauma. River wanted to hate James, but he'd been left with hating the situation, the cause behind their split. Closure was paramount in moving on, but he had no clue it would leave him in anguish as much as it did in the moment. He could only hope that things would get better, that he would recover after mulling over it long enough. So he lets himself go, and lets it hurt him just like it
-A knock at River's office door pulls his attention to it. Beyond stands Anthony, who offers a small smile and wave, but River doesn't hesitate to beckon him inside the office. The man then opens the door, and steps inside, carrying with him a familiar air of confidence. Though, it was doused in guilt and shame that River couldn't notice with the naked eye."Don't throw me out before I can apologize." Anthony pleads, silently waving the white flag. River smiles then nods. "How are you, Anthony?""G-good." The man expresses, then awkwardly grins. "How about yourself?""Taking it a day at a time," River shrugs flippantly, as he stacks files on top of files. "Will you be attending the lau
-- A Month Later -"Take it from me, they'll be eating out of Charles' hands." River raises his glass at Sebastian.They sit before the view of Manhattan on colorful pillows, legs crossed, enjoying a game of chess with wine involved. They'd met many nights like this in the past few weeks. Stealing whatever time they could, to be alone before other responsibilities needed their attention, which was quite frequent."He already pitched the proposal to the board. Now he just has to do that with shareholders, investors, everybody involved in the Merit Global operations." Sebastian makes his move, though absentmindedly."Wasn't the merge final a couple months ago?" River chances a look in Sebastian's direction.
-From the air, a black helicopter descends, lowering to the landing spot behind a vast villa, designed like a modern mansion. Twenty or more small towers form a protective barrier all around the villa, connected by enormous, thick walls made of brick and concrete."It's even big in the sky," Cairo beams scanning the place's entirety and ornate windows scattered around the walls in a symmetric way."Still looks like a good way to get lost," ever the skeptic, Caleb adds with a bored voice.Like the two boys with their heads pressed up to the window, River watches in awe. He shakes out of it when the landing gear hits the pad, and Sebastian steadies his shoulders."It has a pool," Cairo shrugs and Caleb's face perks up. "We've never had a pool." 
-"Any calls, Ansen?" Sebastian asks as the eccentric man approaches him at the entrance of his office."A lot, sir," Ansen announces nervously and Sebastian nods, but follows up with a flippant shrug. "There was a call from Patrick Salazar from Akel Media." Ansen informs Sebastian who shakes his head in aggravation. "I told him if he wanted a story, he should either get his ass down here, or publish some slander on his blog like he usually does." Ansen finishes and Sebastian's eyes narrow making him fidget in agitation."Get me a list of the contacts for the Merit Global Board." Sebastian demands and Ansen nods compliantly."I'm on it.""Good Job, Ansen," Sebastian pats Ansen, who jumps
-- 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
-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
-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 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.