Chapter 11: The Unexpected Arrival
The private jet touched down in Geneva just after 3:00 PM. The sky was a pale gray, brushed with fading sunlight, and the Swiss air was crisp and sharp with the promise of early winter. Kai Harlon stepped out of the plane, his coat buttoned up to the collar, dark sunglasses shielding his tired eyes.
He wasn't tired from the flight.
He was tired from thinking.
As he stepped into the black car waiting on the tarmac, flanked by two assistants who began reciting details about the next day's business presentation, his gaze remained locked on the empty seat beside him.
River wasn't there.
He hadn't called.
He hadn't even sent a direct message.
Just a relayed excuse through an assistant: "River won't be able to make the flight. Something came up."
Kai hadn't responded.
Instead, he told his staff clearly: "Make sure he's in Geneva before tomorrow. I don't care how."
Now, as the car pulled away from the runway and headed toward the city, Kai kept checking his phone. Not a single message. Not a single missed call.
He said nothing, but the air inside the car was stiff. Tense.
When they arrived at the hotel—a tall glass and steel structure overlooking Lake Geneva—everything was ready. A private suite on the 17th floor. Perfectly arranged schedule. Warm towels, complimentary wine, security check.
But none of it felt right.
Because River still wasn't there.
Kai stepped into the suite. It was massive, luxurious, quiet. The assistants laid out his schedule for the next morning and set his files on the glass desk.
"Would you like dinner served in the room, sir?" one of them asked.
"No. Leave me."
They hesitated, then bowed out.
The moment the door closed, Kai sank onto the couch and leaned forward, fingers rubbing his temple. His phone buzzed once. Just a system notification.
He threw it aside.
His eyes drifted across the room—the two glasses set on the minibar, the two keys at the front table, the untouched robe folded on the second bed.
Everything was ready for two.
And River hadn't come.
---
The next morning was business.
Kai stood in front of the mirror as he adjusted his collar. His assistant knocked once, then stepped in with his suit jacket.
"You have twenty minutes before the board meeting at the Geneva Tower. All members confirmed."
"Fine."
He slipped into the jacket and gave himself one last glance. He looked sharp. Composed.
But inside, something was restless.
---
The Geneva Tower boardroom was filled with polished wood, glass walls, and sharp minds.
Representatives from ZTV's European division, a few stakeholders, and their legal team sat in a clean semi-circle as Kai began his presentation.
"The core proposal for next quarter," Kai began, his voice calm and steady, "is full integration of ZTV's blockchain-secure data system into our European media logistics network."
A few heads nodded.
"That means we're moving away from traditional data silos. Everything from production timelines to user analytics will be traceable, encrypted, and automated."
He tapped the tablet, and graphs appeared.
"Projected returns over the next six months indicate a 12% profit increase from reduced licensing delays. That number doubles if we're able to scale across both entertainment and sports streaming."
Someone raised a hand. "What about compliance issues? Europe's laws are tighter."
Kai nodded. "That's why we've partnered with DelRoix Tech to ensure we meet EU data handling standards."
Another spoke. "And staffing?"
"Handled. Our Swiss and Berlin branches have already begun onboarding for hybrid data teams."
It was perfect. His presentation, flawless.
But every time he clicked to the next slide, his mind flickered.
River would've reminded me to bring a backup tablet.
River would've caught that typo in slide 7.
River would've been standing near the door, nodding when I made a point.
His thoughts were quieter than his voice, but they were louder in his chest.
By the time the meeting ended, everyone was shaking his hand, complimenting his sharpness, his clarity, his planning.
"Always a pleasure working with you, Mr. Harlon."
"Your team's preparation was stellar."
"You make this look easy."
He smiled, nodded, played the part.
But he left the building with a headache and a heart that wouldn't settle.
---
It was around 4 PM when he returned to the hotel.
The suite was still quiet.
Still cold.
Still empty.
He took off his coat and threw it across the bed. Loosened his tie. Poured a drink.
He was about to sit down when he noticed something.
The second glass on the table.
Filled.
His eyes lifted slowly.
And there, sitting at the edge of the bed, phone in hand, dressed in a soft gray shirt and black slacks—was River.
"Hey."
Kai froze.
"How did you—?"
"I took the 8:00 AM flight," River said calmly. "Didn't want to miss your big day."
Kai was still standing.
River looked at him, lips twitching. "You're going to scold me, aren't you?"
"You're damn right I am."
River chuckled softly. "Okay. But maybe after you finish that drink. You look like someone who just survived a 3-hour boardroom interrogation."
Kai's mouth twitched.
But he didn't sit.
He walked slowly toward the minibar, picked up the other glass, and took a sip.
"How did you even get in?"
"Asked the front desk. Told them I was your assistant, they didn't at first but I showed them Id and other things they asked."
Kai sat down slowly across from him.
River stood up and walked to the table, taking the files from the desk.
"Your presentation slides were good," he said, flipping through the pages. "But you forgot the disclaimer about Swiss employment clauses. They might bring it up later."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're lecturing me now?"
"Just helping," River said with a shrug.
There was silence.
Then Kai asked, more quietly, "Why didn't you come with me yesterday?"
River sighed and looked down. "I needed to breathe. That's all."
"You needed to breathe the moment I needed you most?"
River looked at him. "You don't say what you need, Kai. You never do. You just push. And when people don't respond the way you expect, you make them feel like they failed."
Kai stared at him. Am I actually like that? Kai thought while twitching his brows.
River continued. "You want everything in order. But people aren't files you can drag and drop into the right place."
"Is that what I do to you?"
River didn't answer.
Kai set down the drink.
"You hurt me too, River."
River blinked.
"You disappeared for ten years. Then you showed up and smiled like nothing happened. And I let you. I let you just walk back in."
River looked down at the glass in his hand.
"I'm here now."
Kai looked away. "Yeah. Now."
River walked closer, then stopped a few steps away.
"I know you're angry. You have a right to be. But you don't get to punish me with silence and pretend it's professionalism."
Kai met his eyes.
"I missed you," River said quietly. "I didn't think I would. But I did. And it scared the hell out of me."
The air between them was heavy.
Kai stood.
For a second, he looked like he was going to say something sharp. But instead, he simply said:
"I ordered room service. There's enough for two."
The door bell rang and River went ahead to open the door . It's was the hotel waiter with the ordered food.
"Your room service" the waiter said.
River allowed him in, has he carefully placed the food on the roundtable, bowed and left.
River walked over to the covered and opened it and stared at the content of the food while smiling faintly. "You remembered I like mushroom risotto?"
Kai walked past him. "No. They just brought it."
River laughed.
But inside, they both knew it was a lie.