Chapter 10: The House, the Laughter, and the Mirror
Kai's apartment was quiet, save for the low hum of the city beyond the glass walls. He sat on one end of the long leather couch, legs crossed, jaw resting on his knuckles, watching Jasper laugh like he hadn't just dropped a landmine in the middle of their conversation.
Across from him, Jasper was sprawled out, one arm over the backrest, the other clutching his stomach. "You're serious? You saw River's face while kissing her?"
Kai narrowed his eyes. "It wasn't like that."
Jasper snorted. "Oh please. Don't give me that crap. You just told me you had a whole-ass moment — with her naked — and the only thing your brain pulled up was your best friend's face."
Kai's foot bounced slightly on the rug. "I've always been into women. Always. Don't even start."
Jasper held up his hands. "Alright. Relax. I didn't know you were homophobic."
"I'm not."
Jasper raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Kai's mouth tightened. "I just… I'm not used to thinking that way. It was just a moment. A weird, messed-up moment."
Jasper leaned forward, grinning. "Messed up is the right word, buddy."
Kai leaned back, arms folded. "It doesn't mean anything."
Jasper smirked. "Keep telling yourself that."
A brief silence stretched between them. The TV played muted news coverage neither of them cared about.
Then Jasper tilted his head. "By the way… you been seeing Dr. Raymond lately?"
Kai blinked. "Not in a while." he said pouring himself another cup of drink.
" Why?"
He didnt get a response
Jasper shrugged and sigh concerned. You know He's… good with complicated cases. Y'know, emotionally…" looking down at his trouser "physically." Jasper completed.
Kai narrowed his eyes slightly, knowing fully well of the what Jasper mean by physically, but he didn't press.
"i know that and it will get better."
"And you what have you been up lately?" Kai asked while sipping his drink " we haven't gotten the chance to talk lately , always about my problem"
Jasper grinned but didn't answer. "Man's gotta have his secrets ."
Kai shook his head, but a smirk played at the corner of his lips.
Jasper stood up, stretching. "Anyway. I'm out. Try not to dream of River tonight."
"Get lost."
"Already on it."
---
The next morning was a different story.
Kai walked into the office with that unreadable expression on his face, coat slung over one shoulder, phone pressed to his ear.
River was already at his desk, reviewing the quarterly finance files, and adjusting Kai's meeting schedules after an overnight change in the board's availability.
"Good morning," River greeted him softly.
Kai gave him a single glance, then walked straight into his office.
No response. Not even a nod.
River paused for a second, then lowered his gaze and went back to typing.
---
The tension only worsened as the day dragged on.
Kai handed River a stack of handwritten notes and said, "I need this typed, formatted, cross-checked with last month's numbers, and printed before noon."
River blinked. "It's already 11:10, sir."
Kai's expression didn't change. "Then I suggest you work faster."
Mara, who had been standing near the copier, smirked.
River took the notes without a word.
It didn't stop there.
Emails sent back with vague instructions. Presentations requested at the last minute. Corrections demanded that didn't make sense.
And River… endured.
Meanwhile, Mara was back at it.
"Honestly," she whispered to another assistant during lunch, "I don't know how he's still standing. Mr. Harlon's going to tear him apart. Maybe then he'll get the message that he's not special."
But River didn't break.
He finished the work. He adjusted the schedule. He corrected the files. All without a single complaint.
Kai watched him from the glass wall of his office.
Watched the way River bit the inside of his cheek. How his hands trembled just a little when no one was looking.
He wanted to stop. To call him in. To apologize.
But he didn't.
Because some part of him still didn't know how to face what he felt.
He turned away from the window and whispered under his breath:
"Ten years, and you still make me feel like this."
~~~~~
The morning air was cool, crisp, and laced with the low hum of the city waking up. Outside the towering Harlon Enterprises building, a sleek black car waited near the curb, engine running. Kai Harlon stepped out from the glass doors, dressed in a tailored dark gray suit, sunglasses shielding his eyes from the mild sun.
Behind him, two assistants scrambled with his briefcase and luggage.
"Flight to Geneva is in two hours," one assistant murmured.
"Hotel's been confirmed. The car's ready."
Kai barely acknowledged them with a nod. His eyes scanned the front sidewalk, then flicked toward the company's entrance.
"Where is he?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone.
"Sir?" the assistant asked.
Kai removed his glasses slowly. "River. Where is my secretary? He's supposed to travel with me."
The two assistants exchanged a glance.
One of them cleared her throat. "Sir… Mr. River called early this morning. He said he wouldn't be able to make it."
Kai froze. Just for a moment. The expression on his face didn't shift much — but the air changed.
"What?" he asked quietly.
"He said there was an emergency, but he didn't give details. Just said he'll try to rejoin you as soon as possible."
Kai's jaw clenched. He turned sharply toward them. "Call him."
"Sir—"
"Now."
The assistant nodded, fumbling for her phone.
Kai paced once, then stopped abruptly. "Tell him he needs to be in Geneva before the board presentation. I don't care how he gets there. Plane. Boat. Magic. Just get him there. Tomorrow. 9 AM."
"Yes, sir."
From the side, a familiar voice rang out. "I can go with you instead, Mr. Harlon."
Kai turned. Mara stood in a wine-colored skirt and cream blouse, holding a leather folder tightly against her chest.
She smiled, almost sweetly. "I've memorized the presentation notes. And I've worked with the Geneva team before. It would be easier if I—"
"No," Kai said sharply.
Mara blinked. "But—"
"You're not my secretary. You never were. And I didn't ask."
The assistants went quiet. Mara's cheeks flushed slightly, but she kept her voice soft.
"I just thought—"
"Don't."
Kai's voice cut clean. Cold.
Mara looked at him for a moment longer, then forced a smile and stepped back.
He turned back to the car, slipping into the back seat without another word. The door shut. The assistants loaded the bags. The car pulled off.
But inside, Kai wasn't focused on the road. Or the flight.
His thoughts were already racing.
Why didn't River come?
What emergency?
And why did it matter this much that he wasn't by his side?
He looked at the empty seat beside him.
And for the first time in a long while, the silence actually hurt.