COLOR ME BLACK

It was like a punch to the stomach, the moment Sebastian Black uttered those words and River grew bereaved, yet abashed. For he couldn’t decipher why they rejected him when they had not completely read through his resume. A hasty and underwhelming decision that bombards him with confusion. River hadn’t noticed it was the stupidity of mentioning his personal life. Something irrelevant, and moronic of him to do.

“I-,” River paused as a stutter hindered him from speaking further.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Kennedi. This interview is over.”

“Was it because I was late?” River asked to comprehend the situation and the reason. “Because I can assure you, it will never happen again.” River blabbed on, but both Grace and Sebastian remained silent. “I had a little situation with my Car-,” Sebastian rose a hand to stop River, who’s words halted in an instant.

“Mr. Kennedi, I do not care for your personal dilemmas. I expect all employees, considered, or employed, to be consistent.” Sebastian interjected, his expression aloof and voice dissonant. “You have shown a blatant disregard for that, which is another reason this Job is not for you.” Sebastian peered away from River, refusing to look him in the eye after lying with such ease.

Taken aback by the man’s gruff, and unforgivable tone. River could feel his legs wobbling beneath him. His mind going hazy, as his lips pursed. Forcing dejection, barreling through his mind like a tundra.

“Sebastian, rethink that decision. Mr. Kennedi is fit for this position-,”

“A position that we will offer to someone else, with more experience than him.” Sebastian’s voice grew dry.

“I do not understand,” River shook his head, to clear away the fuzziness.

“Look at him, Grace. He does not fit the part, he’s much too permissive and spineless.” Sebastian acknowledged, causing River to look down at himself.

Grace knew at that moment. That River’s mention of his ex-boyfriend put him in that position. Yet she was the least bit worried about the young man’s sexuality. The one thing that coveted her mind, was Sebastian’s unmistakable disdain. A thing that did not surprise her. Yet it left her flummoxed and intolerant of her colleague’s homophobic behavior.

“Please, I need this Internship. This is my chance to further my career and make something of myself. I will do whatever it takes, I beg of you.” River pleaded, which only enraged Sebastian.

“Do not beg!” Sebastian spat, forcing River to recoil in astonishment—impoverished and indignant from disappointment. “It’s pathetic!”

At that moment, River forced back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He had already experienced enough for one day. Sebastian’s clear reproach was enough to throw him over the edge. Yet he gripped the edge of the cherry wood table, forcing the tears back. River had not expected Sebastian Black to be so sharp and cruel towards him. Yet he tried to fathom the occurrence. Feeling his insides split open as if impaled by a metal spike.

“Sebastian!” Grace gibed. A reproachful smile on her face, as his gaze drifted to hers. “May I have a word with you?” She forced a smile, “In private.” She demanded in a stern voice, the moment he opened his mouth to deny her request.

“My apologies, Mr. Kennedi. I need to have a few words with my Colleague.” Grace excused herself politely. Flashing River an apologetic smile—an awkward yet audible chuckle following.

“Oh, um. OK!” River beamed, his green eyes twinkling.

Grace rose from her chair, as if in a hurry. Causing the chair’s legs to scrape against the marble floor in cacophonous ramblings. Echoing through the Conference Room—splitting River’s eardrums. For it still baffled him, in the most harrowing of ways.

Sebastian gazed after Grace as she strode towards the glass doors. He then shifted his gaze to River—distaste heavy in his handsome features. Sebastian rose to his feet, gritting his teeth in contempt. Knowing what was to happen, the moment he and Grace were outside the room. A conversation with questions that would no doubt incite his arrogance. Yet he had no choice. Grace was a voice of Black Co. A voice of reason that Sebastian had to listen to.

Even when he didn’t want to listen.

River watched as Sebastian and Grace exited the Conference Room. Both disparaged by their silent disagreement. Their gestures and body language was enough to alert River. He knew then that the Job was not his, yet he kept a smile on his face.

At least until he had the pleasure of leaving.

Bothered that he had allowed himself to be late. Though he found it hard to feel guilty for checking up on his own Mother. A thing he had always done, despite their bad history together. Yet one terrible thing happened after another. Like a chain of events, hellbent on seeing River fail.

Dr. Hasan’s words that discouraged River, to the car breaking down, then being late—then turned down. A chain, so unexpected yet harrowing. For he expected the day to shine some light, on his rather gloomy mood.

River was confident that things couldn’t get worse. Even with all that happened, he learned that he should not think about such trivial things. Yet it was his own bad luck. Goat mouthed and fought against by the cosmos. Facing the wrath of an unknown entity that wished to see him buried in his own defeat.

After a minute of hope and burgeoning nausea. River was brimming with trepidation and querulous rancor—for himself.

Sebastian and Grace had returned to the Room. River discerned both’s displeasure with one another. Only grace held sympathy towards River. Someone that she saw promise in, and a bright future ahead of. He was well-mannered and expressed himself in a polite and steadfast fashion. Not too confident, and not at all too overindulgent. Traits vital to the role of an Intern, in the Black Co. establishment.

“Mr. Kennedi,” Grace’s eyes regarded River. A solemn look on her face, which was a result of seeing the one on River’s.

She grew more and more impressed by his demeanor, and his smile. A forced smile, because of him knowing the exact words to come out of her mouth next. Yet he upheld a calm approach—something that many of his peers lacked.

“Me and Mr. Black, have finally decided regarding your application, and we-,”

“Your application is lacking and your credentials do not match the Internship criteria. Our apologies for wasting your time, sir.” Sebastian butted in with haste.

A small frown crinkled Grace’s nose. Adding more wrinkles to her forehead as it was. River complied with a nod. Smiling through clenched teeth, as he rose to his wobbling feet. Attempting to mask his jarring despondency.

The moment River received news of the offered internship. It had excited River beyond any measure of his insecurities. His validation was perfect, and he had gained all the requirements. Yet, he felt there had to be more to the story. He heard the faint echoes of a nagging voice, telling him that even if he had not been late. He still would have gotten turned down—regardless.

“Thank you for having me,” he mustered a cool voice, to hide his disgruntlement.

“Thank you for coming, Mr. Kennedi.” Grace gave him a watery smile, her voice brimming with congealed affectivity.

River gave a curt nod at them both. Gathering his files in its neat jacket, then left without another word.

Grace turned to Sebastian, nodding in disbelief. He had lied to someone—that they did not have what it took to get a well-deserved Internship. A position that River Kennedi got vetted for. His high appraisals and recommendations, coming from a high caliber University.

“You are unbelievable, Sebastian.” Grace muttered, her voice brittle and stern, yet Sebastian remained neutral and unaffected. “You need to get over whatever sins your Father committed. That boy has nothing to do with that!”

“I take it you are not pleased, Grace.” Sebastian noted, his voice bored and uninterested.

Grace scoffed, waving him off in a dismissive gesture. “Sometimes I can’t fathom how you run this Company with that arrogance of yours.” Grace rose from her seat, gathering her files beneath her arm.

“You know that it’s what I do, don’t you?” He questioned with a coy smile.

“Where’s your empathy, Sebastian?” She asked, but he kept his irritation at bay. “Where’s your compassion towards others?” Sebastian refused to answer her questions, for they were rather irrelevant to him. Still, he grew annoyed with it. Bothered by her judgment, even if he failed to show it.

“You weren’t this closed minded, to how other people lived their lives!” Grace was seething with disappointment. “Where’s the young man that I knew all those years ago?”

“He died the moment that man finally kicked the bucket!” Sebastian spat with dripping hatred. Grace shook her head in a blatant display of her vehemence, but dialed back her retort.

She broke into a brisk walk towards the door, but halted then spun on her heels to face him once more. “He was the right fit for that Internship, Sebastian. You know that and I do, but if you want to act like a Child. Then, so be it!” She snapped, fixing her Jacket then stalking from the Conference Room—no doubt peeved.

Sebastian kept his gaze glued to the City before him. Thinking of different options for the internship that his Company offered. He was certain that another could fill those shoes. Only, he didn’t think of the shoes that River Kennedi would fill, as much as the ones he had to wear himself.