River threw open her bedroom door and ran down the hallway to the stairs. Once she got to the top of the landing, she slowed down before placing her hand on the banister and elegantly descending into the foyer of her parent's home. She was raised to be as ladylike as possible, or at least in front of her parents and important visiting dignitaries.
Her parents always got her a gift when she returned from school on break. Freshman year of college she had gotten new riding equipment for her horses just for coming home for Thanksgiving. She went back to school, came back for winter break and in return choreographed a local orphanage's dance recital. Sophomore year she got a car and then a chance to backpack across Europe completely parent free, but her brother Simon came along.
Simon wasn't any better than both of her parents combined. He was an amazing brother, but a rather uptight parent. River often shuddered mentally at the images of Simon as a father produced.
The floral dress she was wearing tickled her knees as she stepped down from the stairs. River eagerly, but poised, came into the living room where her parents sat with their usual serious faces. Her father stood up at once at her arrival and tried to smile at her, but his brow stayed furrowed. Her mother, Regan, stayed seated, hands grasped tightly in her lap, facing the window.
"River, dear, have a seat." Gabriel said.
"Daddy, what's wrong?" River walked over to a high backed chair next to the empty fireplace and sat down, crossing her ankles and placing her fair hands on the arm rests. The mood of the room stated she was not to be receiving another welcome home gift, but that didn't stop her from giving a subtle once over of the room, looking for any large boxes or something shiny. She doubted that another car would be waiting outside, but she caught sight of a large SUV looking vehicle parked in the driveway.
There was no big red bow, and it didn't look as welcoming as the last one she received. "Who's here?" She asked, leaning forward from the chair.
"River…" Her father clasped his hands tighter behind his back and looked down at his wife, not meeting the eyes of his daughter.
"Is everything alright?" River glanced at her mother, still looking out the window.
"Don't interrupt your father," her mother's voice was soft and low as she talked to the wall. "We have very important news concerning you."
She hadn't done anything, River thought to herself. She was doing good in all her classes, exceeding them. She hadn't snuck out, she kept her room clean, not one car wreck. Their grave expressions suggested there was nothing good coming out of this conversation.
"River," her father started, "you know Daddy has connections with people all over. Powerful people." She nodded. "And you understand many of these powerful people have obtained their status by not always following the law and not doing the right thing."
He was beating around a rather large bush. River crossed and re-crossed her legs as she frowned up at her father. Gabriel Tam had begun to pace behind the large brown couch in the middle of the living room, moving his hands while he talked.
"Well, Daddy has…"
"Oh for Heaven's sake, Gabriel! Just tell her already!" Regan Tam whipped her head around, her voice tight as she looked at here tense husband. When he only gritted his teeth, searching for words, she sighed. "River, we've sold you."