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SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Grandma's Visit
It was as if every space in Phoebe’s apartment was filled with a sort of tension that was inherited from the day. Christian sat on the couch thinking in circles all the while looking at the cup of coffee Christy handed him. Rising from the breakfast table, Christian was still weighed down by the morning’s developments; the feeling was a twinge of hope and a dash of apprehension churning in his stomach. He tried to control himself, tried to remain calm and collected in front of Phoebe, as she needed a strong man in her life. However, that was a huge issue that had led to tension between the two since the man did not know where he stood in the lady’s life.His musings were interrupted by a loud knock on the door which snapped him right back to reality. He frowned not seeing anyone that he anticipated to meet. But the sensation in his stomach did not let him go and he felt apprehensive as he got near the door.He of course did not think that the woman standing behind the door when he op
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD The Man at The Bar
And if you can’t demonstrate to her that you are all those things, that you are different and you are the one she should be with, she will move to the next man. Well, you’re on your own then, buddy or maybe I’m speaking to you, you never know. ”Suffocating with the pressure of her words was what Christian experienced Cameroonian could literally feel the weight from her words. He could not think of anyone who had an easier time with the girl of his dreams; he could not imagine that he would have to compete to have her.‘I’m not going to pressure her,’ he murmured, nearly choking on the words. “I am too fond of her to do that.”Grandma Patterson’s eyes drooped, but just a little and for a brief second only with disapproval. “That does not go well with caring, Christian. Not if Seth is still in the picture. You have to be assertive, have to prove to her who you are and that you are ready to go to the end of the world for her.”Christian squeezed two tight fists before him, the turbulent
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Mr Ally
Later that day, Seth arrived at his office and with his gaze fixed on the windows, he was looking at the city. He was in confusion wondering how all these events had unfolded in such a short time. The knock on the door brought him back to reality.“Come in,” Seth spoke, and he was not wrong about who would knock on the door.Aidan entered through the door and closed it without much dramatic display that made Seth feel uncomfortable.“Well, that went well, didn’t it?” Aidan asked, completely masking his true feelings with sarcasm.Seth looked at him squarely in the eyes and his face was set in stone. “What do you mean by that Aidan?”Aidan feigned innocence. “Playing at? I just wanted the company to be alright; you should thank me for bringing this to the board before it got out of hand.”Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You knew this was going to happen didn’t you? Before the board meeting? You planned this.”Aidan’s smirk widened. “Oh Seth, you give me too much credit But maybe that is somethi
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD Our Plan
He looked at her with a stern look. “I understand that But you see, we need him. That's the reason he is here at this time.” Sasha said, trying to convince Seth.Marlin had a wicked grin spreading over his face that indicated to Le Chucky that he had done what was expected of him. “Smart choice, Rivera.”Seth sighed, ”Well okay then” he said calmly but assertively. “Well I don’t like it either, Sasha. But we don’t really have a choice here. Aidan's more dangerous than I thought and well Marlin was right if we don’t get help we’re dead meat.”Marlin stood quietly watching the two of them while chuckling to himself with his arms crossed over his chest. “This is business, Sasha”Sasha shifted her gaze to him and looked at him angrily. “This is not just business, Marlin,” she replied, “You’ve attempted to take down Seth before and now we’re supposed to blindly follow you?”Seth interrupted the silence: “Guys” he said quietly. “Stop it! We have no time for this! Marlin, I will work with yo
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD The Request
Sasha nodded but did not reply immediately, “Okay… maybe I did say that,” she faltered. “Well, will he really help you out or is he simply waiting for the right time to turn your back on you?”Seth scowled, getting a serious look on his face at the question. “Damn, Marlin is selfish, all he wants is to gain something in return, so he will continue playing the game. We have to watch him closely.Sasha frowned and “I still can’t believe that we are even discussing this issue, not to mention with our character like Marlin.”Seth’s voice turned bitter. “Oh, I am not happy about it as I’m sure you can imagine neither but he is right on the money there Aidan is pure evil and if we don’t stop him now he will destroy everything.”Sasha paused for a few seconds and stared intently at the floor. “here i am craving you meant to have me under you instead being the one in the position you placed me in.”Then Seth looked into my eyes, his eyes looked so gentle and his tone was so calm. “Well yes, t
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD What I Really Want
Having heard enough already Seth bolted from his seat, paced to the window, then back and forth in an effort to organize his thoughts. He looked into his reflection of the mirror and he was confused but at the same time focused. I love Phoebe; she is not a distraction but the single woman that has given me the strength to fight for my freedom.“Fighting?” Marlin scoffed. “You believe this is a fight that you can still handle? Seth, you lost her in the first place, you don’t even stand a chance now that she has someone like Christian.”Seth’s eyes flashed to the boy and he frowned, “Turn around.” “This isn’t about Christian.”“Oh, but it is, ‘sir,” Marlin said, trying hard to be diplomatic. “He is already part of that picture, Seth. Phoebe’s engaged to him and while you were struggling with this business you lost; he is giving her a comfortable, stable and secure life. So what are you offering Phoebe, Seth? More chaos?”Seth’s jaw tightened. “I know what I have done Marlin”, but I have
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD The Price
Seth scowled as he looked up at Marlin with a confused frown. “She does not see you Marlin,she sees what you want her to see, oh not the real you, the manipulative selfish man, who only uses people for what he wants.”Again Marlin gave an unsmiling look, “And what about you, Seth? That is what she sees when she looks at you: a man who let his ambition tear apart his relationship with her or rather a man who no matter how hard he tries, cannot remove the mistakes that he made?”Marlin scoffed. “You changed? No, you did not, Seth, you still believe in working more, in throwing yourself to the uncertain future. But Phoebe wants order in her life now she wants stability and you cannot offer her that.”Seth’s gaze hardened. I have the ability to offer her love and love which you will never be capable of comprehending.Marlin smirked. ‘Love? Is that what you are claiming it to be now? I see obsession more than anything else! You can’t bear the thought of losing her and that’s why you are mo
SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD You Don't Love Her
Seth glared at him for a moment but his voice did not waver when he spoke. “The only fraud here is you, Marlin,” Seth said to him sternly, “You have lived your entire life in deceit, cheating people out of their hard earned money and now you want to drag Phoebe into your mess?”Marlin’s smirk “No, you are wrong about me, and my life has always been about surviving and that is what you will see in Phoebe because besides love, she must learn to live with someone who will take care of her and shield her from all that you have exposed her to.”Seth’s gaze was unwavering. ”What she requires is patronisation, affirmation of her abilities and capacity to make her own decisions not enslavement through manipulation”.Marlin spoke even more softly than before and his next words hung in the stillness hanging in the air minutes after he said them. She will make her choice, Seth, And when she does you are going to see that all your principles of love and trust do not exist when it comes to the rea
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- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
"What Regret"
“Regret,” she said with a sneer. Regret is just a euphemism for guilt. It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t wipe the slate clean, and it definitely does not heal the mess that you made.‘Christian,’ she said softly, ‘don’t come any closer.’ He stopped, as she decided to step back from him.Phoebe flared up again and asked him: “You said you came for the truth?” “Fine. Here’s the truth, Christian. I loved you. With everything I had. And you destroyed me. You were able to make me question myself in ways that I never knew existed. And now you stand here, asking me for what? Closure? Redemption? Forgiveness?”“No,” he said firmly. All I am demanding is an opportunity to prove that I can improve.” That I am better.”She scoffed. “And you believe that one conversation is going to make a difference?” You think I can just what? Stare at you and forget the years I struggled to climb up the ladder and get a life again?“No,” he repeated again, and there was no quiver in his voice. “But I can’t
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Need You
Christian did not answer this for a while. He looked down, his hands were tightly bunched into fists at his sides. “I know it caused pain,” he said, his voice rising in a hoarse whisper. “I know I can’t undo that. But I can’t just let things be this way. Not anymore. If that means living with your hatred then let it be so.Phoebe only chuckled bitterly and began to pace in front of the fire. ‘Christian, you keep saying all the right things.’ Saying sorry, admitting my mistake, promising to take my anger on myself. But you don’t seem to understand. It’s not about you. Not anymore.”He stared at her with a frown on his face. “Then what is it about?”“It’s about me,” she said angrily, turning to him. ‘That’s about the years I’ve spent struggling to climb out of the pit you dug for me to fall into.’ It is about finding out how to be independent, how to live without the feeling that my chest is going to collapse. It’s about healing, or at least, about trying to put myself back together aft
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Believe inYou
Phoebe shook her head, her arms wrapped around herself. “You don’t get it, Christian. Other people also had the same feeling as you; they were scared. I was terrified too. Of losing you, of not being good enough. But I stayed. I fought. And you didn’t.”“I know,” he said and his eyes welled up with tears. “And I hate myself for that. I wish I could have been stronger and did not leave when I did. But I’m here now, Phoebe. And I’m not running this time.”She glared at him and her eyes were red with rage, hurt and something else which she could not describe. “You say that now,” she whispered. But what happens when things get hard again? This begs the question, what happens when the cracks start to show?“They won’t,” he said firmly. “Because I’ve come to realize that running in particular does not solve anything. It just leaves a trail of broken pieces behind.”Phoebe only shook her head and a tear rolled down her face. She gently removed it as if she was embarrassed to show her weaknes
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
“I’m confused”
It’s convenient. You were waiting until you felt I was ready and powerful enough to take the news. Until you thought I didn’t need you anymore.”“That is not true,” Christian said quickly, getting up, his voice a high pitched note. “I have been taking this guilt with me every day since I left.” I did not return because of convenience. I returned because I could not continue living such a life knowing that I destroyed something that was wonderful.Phoebe whirled on her toes, glaring. “And what about me? Have you ever thought what it feels like to wake up every day with the marks you have made on others? To have to break yourself down and begin to build yourself up again from scratch just to have the one who was responsible for tearing you down appear with an apology?”“I do now,” he said quietly. “Because I do, I see it in your eyes. I hear it in your voice. And I hate myself for being the reason it’s there.”She was breathing raggedly, her hands were balled up at her sides. “You don’t
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Either you believe or not
Christian sighed deeply and rested his hands on the table. “I am a man who wants to know how to accept what I have done. To challenge it, rather than avoiding it. To be able to admit that I can change the future but I can’t change the present and I can’t change the past.”Phoebe scoffed. ‘You really believe that taking responsibility is sufficient?’ You really believe that saying you were wrong in any of this makes it alright?”“No,” Christian said quickly. “It doesn’t make it okay. Nothing can make it okay. But it’s a start, isn’t it? A step toward being better. Towards becoming a person who does not destroy things.”Phoebe looked at her sister with her face impassive and then shook her head. “You want to be better? Good for you. But you don’t get to use me as your redemption arc. I am not some check-point on your way to self-improvement.”“I’m not asking you to be,” Christian said, his voice quiet, but commanding. I don’t need your forgiveness or your approval for anything I am doin
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Lingering pain
“Phoebe,” he started cautiously, “I’m not here to put more load on you regarding this.” I know you didn’t want any of this and I’m not going to say that I’m so great for coming here now. But I’ve been attempting to take responsibility for my actions. And part of that means realizing how much I caused you pain.”Phoebe’s lips formed, her arms drawn tightly around her in the manner of a shield. “It does not heal the wound, Christian.” Oh do you think that knowing you regret it will give me back the time I lost? The trust I lost? The parts of me that had to be reconstructed?”“No,” replied Christian, who now looked ashamed. “I don’t. And I’m not asking you to forget what I did or even forgive me. I just had to tell you that… I can see it now. I can now understand how self-centered I was and how unable to notice your suffering.She tilted her head to the side, her mouth tightening as she looked out the window and saw the rain running down the glass. “Blind, huh?” she said with much bitter
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
All about Phoebe
Phoebe went back to the fire, her hands folding over her chest. For what seemed like a long time she did not respond. The fire crackled in the background, and its heat was the only thing that made the atmosphere between them warm.“What do you want from me, Christian?” she asked after a long time her voice was so low that it was barely audible.“Nothing,” he said quickly. “I don’t want anything from you. I just… I had to share it with you because it is the truth. To say sorry and let you understand that I noticed your suffering. That I see you.”Phoebe only managed to stifle a sarcastic laugh. “You see me now? That’s rich. Where was this clarity two years ago?”Christian moved a little closer and spoke slowly and calmly as if he was pleading with her. I was blind back then Phoebe.” As if the rest of the world does not exist, or, at least, I don’t exist to the rest of the world. But now… now I see everything I should have seen before. I understand how powerful you are, how much you inv
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Get rewarded
“Sorry isn’t enough,” said Phoebe, tears rolling down her cheeks. “They think they can just come out and apologize and that’s the end of it.”“I’m not expecting that,” Christian said quickly. I know that I can never reverse the wrong I have done. But I had to tell you. I had to stop bringing this with me without doing something about it.”Phoebe exhaled hard and then rested her weight against the windowsill. “Well, did you even know what you left behind?” “How much I had to tidy up after you?”“I’ve thought about it,” Christian said, softly. “But I know that thinking about it isn’t the same as living it. I still can’t fathom how difficult it must have been for you.”Phoebe looked at her and shook her head, fuming again. “And you didn’t just hurt me, Christian.” You made me doubt, everything, including us, including myself. I used so much time thinking why am I not enough. Why I couldn’t repair whatever was ailing you.”Christian cringed as if the words that came out of her mouth had h
- SETH RIVERA AND THE ULTIMATE BLACK CARD
Another Game
One part of him wanted to kick Christian out, shut the door and never see him again. But there was another part, a lesser, more contemplative part of him that was interesting. What if Christian really had transformed? What if this wasn’t just another one of his games?“Alright,” Phoebe said in the end, the word coming out sounding more like a bitter grumble. “You want to talk? Talk. ‘I’m not making any guarantees here,’ I tell him.Christian nodded and his shoulders dropped down as well. He looked around the room, and then looked at the couch. “Do you mind if we sit?”Phoebe frowned, then reluctantly gestured at the couch with a nod. He stayed on his feet, leaning with his arms folded against the wall, a defensive air about him.Christian leaned back on the couch, placing his elbows on his knees and his hands on top of each other. He looked at the floor for a moment with a blank face, then he said something.“I know I hurt you. And not just once—repeatedly. You wanted to help me and I
