The Aftermath of Love and Betrayal

Romeo had been a mess after he had left Eden's mansion. He hadn't been able to sleep properly, constantly seeing the vampyress in his dreams. Her cold eyes, her nails piercing and her fangs sharp in his flesh. As a result of that and the fact that he hadn't taken time to properly heal, he wasn't doing great. And people were starting to notice. Today he had gotten dressed, aching as he tried his best to cover up the remaining bruises.
That was when his uncle had approached him. He was sorting through some school papers and feeling like he couldn't focus. Eden wouldn't reply. It made him worry more than he was willing to admit. "Sir," he greeted his uncle, getting up from his seat. He hadn't told what Kurtis and him had been up to, because it was hard without having to talk about Eden. So instead he had said nothing, which might come back to bite him in the ass. "I'm sorry, I'm still trying to sort through my paperwork," he chuckled softly.

Of course his uncle noticed how he had been slacking. He sighed, looking down as he hated being such as failure to his standards. But the question about Eden made him shake his head no, "Mr. Parish has been too busy to even meet with me; a death in the family," he said hoping it would explain enough. He looked at his papers, going back to sorting them out, still talking to his uncle while he worked. "I guess I've been rather homesick," he said in a ponder as if it wasn't something he really had thought much about. "My mother keeps me informed about the family back home, and I guess I had hoped my welcome to Churchill had been better," he said, meaning Alexis and Kurtis' hostility towards him.

Romeo nodded, "I have never shied away from telling you if I need a hand," he said, but he was clearly appreciative of it. The notion about teenagers hiding did make him feel a little weird. He had never been one to keep secrets, not even from his uncle, and now he was avoiding the truth.
His uncle continued, talking about Kurtis in a way that made him curious, but alas he wouldn't dare dig too much in to. Not when his uncle promised him that Romeo would know soon enough. He looked at him as he drew nearer, feeling the hand on his shoulder and he couldn't help but smile at the praise he received, even though he didn't feel like he really deserved it. "I'll be back to normal soon enough, working even harder to make up for my slack," he said, a promise he intended to keep. He couldn't be expected to be less than perfect. No, that wasn't an option. Especially as Eden refused to reply to him, he needed to focus on his work once more. It was his future, though deep down he hoped that the vampyre would end up in that future as well. No matter how it was.

Romeo smiled, he liked having the ability to bring a smile on his uncle's face. It made him very proud. The mention of a visit back to Eden's firm and a subsequent event didn't make him feel good in his stomach, but he didn't show it. "Of course, sir," he said, continuing with his work.

By the time they had to go visit the firm he had gotten most of the paperwork sorted and gotten dressed. He got in to the car, traveling with his uncle.

Romeo didn't ask for anything but a bottle of water. Getting in to the meeting room there was part of him that had hoped to see Eden. Just seeing him and knowing that he was at least alive. But then again seeing him might've made it worse. He looked though the papers with a careful eye, not really noticing anything out of the usual. The man across from him asked him a question and he hummed softly, closing the papers, smiling politely. "Not at first sight, but I do like to read it through a couple of times," he said politely with a small chuckle.

As the meeting took a break he got up to go out and have a cigarette. But as he patted down his pockets, he couldn't help but overhear the ladies talking to one another. He shouldn't have been listening in, but he did and as he passed she caught him looking at them, playing it off with a charming smile. He felt his stomach churn, heading outside and down to the smoking area where he popped one between his lips. Lighting it he inhaled, finally feeling the nicotine enter his body, making him less tense already. He just couldn't wrap his head around all of this. Eden not answering his calls, him not showing up at meetings. Something was wrong, wasn't it?

When he got out he barely got to think as one of the ladies from within the meeting said his name. He looked a little confused, even as she mention knowing him as a small kid it didn't really jog any memories. Perhaps because he wasn't that good at remembering his childhood. "I am terribly sorry, but I dont seem to recall your name," he chuckled in a friendly manner. Anyone who knew his uncle was to be weary of until they stated their alignment. "But my guess is you haven't changed a day since then," he said, inhaling from his cigarette and just looking out at the trees that had been planted near the building in some effort to make it more appealing.

Romeo chuckled along side her, being polite as always, though he did wonder what had led to this woman not sticking with her uncle. Besides the fact that she was a vampyre of course. Seeing how his uncle had barely greeted this woman, there was of course other more worrisome ideas in his head. "Acton. Well it is nice to formally meet you, miss Acton - or is it Mrs.?" He just wanted to be sure he didn't address her wrongly.
She mentioned the weather and he couldn't help but chuckle, "a vampyre adoring sunlight is new," he said with a smile, though he wasn't mocking her. "How come you won't join us in the next half?"

She kept referring to how he had been as as kid, and it was honestly ticking him off. But he kept it casual, kept it polite, and yet he felt the anger grow in him. Perhaps it was that and the frustration that Eden wasn't fucking there! He let his frustrations go as she told him about the weather ordeal. That was a fair enough explanation, though he was more curious about her role in all of this. She explained herself and he hummed. It did make sense that a third party was necessary, not just because it was a good idea, but because trusting someone who had already betrayed you could be too dangerous.
The conversation turned more interesting as she spoke about having to check up on the company itself. What was she doing? Investigating something? The question made him hum, blowing out some smoke as he seemed to think it through. "Well for now I'm still debating," he said, being more serious in his words, "while the mistake in the number last time around was pretty extensive, I feel the problem might've been in the fact they trusted a senior too much to not look through his paperwork." Romeo took these kinds of things very serious, and it was clear in how he moved. "But then again, the person in charge has been dealt with, and we have been given compensation," it was a tough one to deal with.

Even if she had insisted on an answer he wouldn't have given one. Romeo was perhaps weird like that, but he trusted his uncles decisions. He watched as she seemed preoccupied with her wrist for a moment before greeting the man behind him. He felt strange. His heart pumping faster and yet on the outside he remained calm. Miss Acton left and he was now standing so close to Eden. He felt bitter. Bitter and perhaps angry even. Besides he was about to throw up about the formalities. He felt betrayed in a way. He had risked so much and yet Eden was so calm. "Mr. Parish," he replied in a neutral yet polite tone. Feeling beside himself he snuffed out his cigarette even though he wasn't finished with it yet. "I have a meeting to attend, but have a nice day," he smiled politely, but he was steaming with anger. And the worst part was that he knew that Eden could see right through him. He knew the vampyre a little too well, and he was starting to feel ... Used. Had he only been a plot to help kill off his sister? Did he even matter? He just headed for the inside, not caring anymore, just needing to focus on work.

He wanted to just leave it at that. Leave and just not turn around, not another word, and yet as he heard Eden's polite tone he grabbed hard around the door handle. He looked well? Was that all? Not even an attempt at some sort of apology, or maybe something discreet? No, clearly not. He just hummed, holding back his outburst. Why was he so angry? He was usually so calm, collected and cool. And now he felt more like his cousin than ever! No. He couldn't think like that. He had a lot to do, a lot to work on.
Trying to think of a smart comeback he just left it at that, leaving Eden outside as he went to join the meeting once again. Besides the vampyre clearly had more important business. And so he sat there by his uncle's side, attending the meeting like the perfect boy wonder he was.

The Thomb. Of course. He hadn't expected less. And yet he had hoped for so much more. Maybe because he felt like this was where every vampyre took it's prey at some point. The club was discreet, professional and above all else it was mainly vampyres who worked here. Though as you walked through the doors, the heat of everything hit you. Keeping the blood warm, so to speak, at least that was Romeo's first thought. He had dressed quite nicely regardless, a nice orange turtleneck with a golden chain, the patterns on the fabric intermingling in to q delicate design that seemed to shift with the light. Over it he bore a light blazer and for his trousers it was a pair of chinos matching the color of the blazer. His fingers had a few rings, one of which was rather new. His uncle had apparently written to his mother, asking to send a specific family jewel belonging to his grandfather. It was a gold ring, the head of it a wolf molded and carved in to the front, the eyes fillet with shining garnets. The same color as Romeo's lycan form. He had felt quite overwhelmed when he had been presented with it, but he had no chance to refuse before his mother- over the phone - had instructed his uncle to test it on him, seeing if it fit. And it did. His mother had been pleased, calling him a true Trevino, and he felt quite proud in that moment.
But now he was here. Surrounded by vampyres and businessmen - though what was really the big difference? Both were hungry for money and power in the end. Romeo was handed a drink, nodding at the waiter before he decided to walk around. He greeted a few, sticking up conversations pretty easily. Okay, maybe he was getting back to his normal self. He barely had any bruises, besides those on her ribs. They seemed stubborn, but he guessed it was how it was going to be.
It didn't take long before he spotted Kareema, smiling as he approached her standing by herself. "Miss Acton, hello," he greeted her politely. Even if she had insisted on calling her by first name, it felt a little weird to do so at such a public event. "I can't say I'm surprised to see you, but I have to wonder if you are meaning to use tonight to network," he asked, chuckling softly in his charming ways. He felt good, and yet he hadn't even taken a sip of his drink yet.