Rhythm and Ray: A DJ’s Journey

[Chapter 251: Decision]

Why didn't the medication work?

Ivanka stood in front of the mirror, staring at the blonde woman in the reflection with furrowed brows and anguish painted on her face.

She lifted her nightgown to examine her flat, toned abdomen; even taking a month off from the gym, her body remained sculpted, with clear abs and muscle definition still visible.

As she placed her hand on her stomach, it seemed she could sense a heartbeat -- though that was unlikely so soon.

Putting down her nightgown, Ivanka returned to her room to change; she intentionally opted for a loose T-shirt, fearing her mother would notice anything unusual.

After making sure she was fully covered, she exited the room.

"Mom, I'm stepping out for a bit," she said, hurrying to slip on her heels but opted for flats instead in the end.

Her mother was engrossed in her favorite daytime show and didn't notice her daughter's urgency.

...

Ivanka took a drive to a high-end private gynecological clinic in New York, using a pseudonym. Upon facing the doctor, she kept her sunglasses and mask on, and the doctor didn't seem surprised or question it.

Ordinary hospitals required lines and appointments for even simple tests, but the pricey private clinic provided immaculate service -- though expensive, it was a non-issue for Ivanka.

After getting her blood test results, Ivanka confirmed that she was indeed pregnant.

"When can you tell the gender?" she asked the doctor.

"Not for a few months," the doctor replied.

"Can I get an abortion?" Ivanka asked straightforwardly.

"Of course, it's New York; you can do whatever you want."

Without lingering, Ivanka left the clinic and called her close female friend.

...

"Lysandra, I'm pregnant! My mind is in a fog; what should I do?" Ivanka panicked, stamping her feet, panic written all over her face behind the mask and shades.

On the other end was Ivanka's close friend, Lysandra Ohrstrom; they were both alumni of the same Upper East Side preparatory school, best buddies. Currently, she worked as a retail real estate columnist for the New York Observer.

"Pregnant? Are you kidding me?!" her friend was shocked as well.

"Do I sound like I'm joking?"

"Do you know who the father is?"

"I know... it's... let's just say I know," Ivanka hesitated to reveal.

"Is this man married?" Lysandra caught on quickly.

Ivanka didn't respond, tacitly agreeing.

"Should I consider an abortion?" Ivanka questioned.

"Of course, you should! You aren't married! This secret must not get out! Where are you? I can get there immediately," Lysandra urged.

Ivanka provided her address.

"Let's discuss the specifics when we meet," her friend said before hanging up.

...

Ivanka returned to the clinic, where she was quickly ushered into a waiting room.

About half an hour later, her friend rushed in.

"Have you scheduled the procedure?" Lysandra questioned as she sat down.

Ivanka shook her head.

"I'll go, you just stay here and relax," her friend said, getting up.

A while later, her friend returned with a nurse; together they led Ivanka to see the doctor. While in the corridor, Ivanka saw a mother passing by, cradling a sleeping baby, which caused her heart to skip a beat.

Her friend remained by her side as Ivanka underwent a series of checks. Finally, Ivanka found herself in a VIP recovery room, waiting for the surgery to begin.

"Rich people's clinics are great. The surgery can be done today," Lysandra murmured.

"Why are you still standing there? Change clothes already, don't tell me you have other thoughts!" her friend reminded her.

Ivanka paused, "Will this expose my identity?"

"It's not that easy to be exposed. You're not a major celebrity. The doctor assured that it wouldn't hurt at all; rest for a few days and you'll be back to your usual self," her friend reassured her, considering Ivanka was in a relationship with a married man; having this child simply wasn't an option.

"But..." Ivanka gazed at the surgery bed being wheeled in and finally came to a resolution.

"I changed my mind; it's a life, a life that God arranged to come into this world. What we're doing would be no different than murder," Ivanka shook her head.

She had always been a Protestant, so changing her belief held weight for her.

For believers, abortion was deemed unacceptable -- equated to murder -- even in cases of accident.

Her friend continued to urge her for some time, but Ivanka's resolve remained solid.

"As for the child's father, he has a right to know. Whether he takes responsibility is his matter. I will give birth to this child," Ivanka declared firmly.

"Have you thought this through? Well, then," her friend sighed, no longer persuading her. With such wealth, supporting a child wouldn't be burdensome. Many men would line up to be the child's stepdad in New York.

Ivanka changed back into her clothes, and she and her friend stepped out of the clinic again. A few steps away, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number she hadn't deleted.

"Ryan Rivers, I'm having your baby!" Ivanka took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

...

At the same time, Ryan stood frozen, holding his phone.

The members of Maroon 5 noticed Ryan's sudden shift in expression.

He quickly got up and stepped into an empty storage room to respond.

"Is it confirmed?"

"It's about four weeks along, and the timing matches perfectly. Also, I've only... been with you," Ivanka spoke with difficulty.

Since it was confirmed, Ryan had no reason to doubt Ivanka's words; if she wanted to find someone to take responsibility, it wouldn't be that hard -- she could find someone richer with ease.

With the news delivered, it was clear abortion wouldn't happen.

Pondering, Ryan said, "Then let's have the baby; I'm the father and will take responsibility. Although we can't marry, we are the child's parents, and we must care for them like any family would, providing a loving environment. The child is innocent, and adult struggles shouldn't fall on a child."

"I... I thought you would..." Ivanka hesitated.

"Did you think I would want you to terminate the pregnancy?"

"Yes. But hearing you say that, it sounds a little fatherly, and that puts my mind at ease." Ivanka's tone lightened.

"I still don't get it: why did the emergency contraception I took not work?" Ivanka expressed confusion.

"Just because you took the pill doesn't mean there's zero chance."

"In other words, this was destined."

"Where are you now?" Ryan asked.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Of course, I want to see you; I'll head over after the carnival wraps up."

"Don't come over just yet. I haven't figured out how to tell my family," Ivanka replied, slightly worried.

"You'll have to tell them eventually; you might as well do it directly."

"I don't want my parents to worry about me... how about this: I'll stay at Mar-a-Lago for a while," Ivanka suggested as a compromise.

"That's even better," Ryan thought. It would bring Ivanka closer to him.

"Then I'll leave tomorrow." Ivanka had been cooped up at home for a month and was eager to step out.

...

After hanging up, Ryan returned to his office, where a few Maroon 5 members were posing with his Grammy trophy, which was a common visitor's activity.

"Wonder when we can get our hands on one of these," vocalist Adam Levine expressed longingly.

His voice was sharp and easily recognizable, earning him the nickname "Slam," and he was known for cavorting at shows with models, much like a younger Leonardo DiCaprio.

"Hey Ryan, I heard your ladies are pretty nice around here," he shifted the topic toward women.

"Sorry, fellas, but I have work to do. I can have someone show you around elsewhere," Ryan smiled and waved them off.

...

As various artists began to arrive in Florida for performances, the atmosphere in Ryan's office became lively, bustling with activity.

Having just received such significant news, Ryan wasn't in the mood to entertain anyone.

After Maroon 5 left, he decided that this situation could not be disclosed to Taylor just yet.

He envisioned Taylor's heartbroken face, crying, and then imagined her packing her bags in anger, only to be followed by a haunting thought of her aiming a gun at him with a smile...

Could she pretend to have a "boyfriend" like before? Would Ivanka cooperate? Probably not, as she had no reason to.

...

Pushing the matter aside, Ryan dialed another number. Avicii quickly entered his office.

"How's the new song coming along?" Ryan immediately inquired.

This was recent good news; Avicii had burst with inspiration last week and created a beautiful melody he wanted to base a song around, aiming for a pure progressive house track without vocals.

"I added some effects to the lead; you should check it out," Avicii replied, pulling out a USB drive from his pocket.

This had been prepared yesterday, and whenever Ryan had free time, he'd call Avicii over for updates and suggestions.

Ryan listened to it, noting that the piece was still just the drop, but overall it sounded promising, featuring familiar sounds like saw waves, high pitch slides, and side chain compression -- common in the genre.

Although it didn't possess the glamour of Wake Me Up or Hymn for the Weekend, it was catchy and soothing, boasting Avicii's unique signature sound.

"Sounds great, but it's lacking some groove; your drum kit could be better; listen to my tracks for inspiration," Ryan pointed out flaws quickly.

"Understood," Avicii nodded, channeling the energy of a diligent student.

"What are you planning to call this song?" Ryan removed his headphones.

"I'm thinking of calling it Levels," Avicii scratched his head, the title only decided yesterday.

"Is there a meaning behind it?"

"Not really, just felt it represented the theme of electronic music -- pushing boundaries and continuously striving for higher states."

"Sounds good! When you present it on radio, be sure to explain it like that," Ryan advised.

Avicii beamed in joy, eagerly agreeing.

"Make sure you finish production before the carnival opens up," Ryan emphasized.

The carnival was a brilliant publicity opportunity; if the music was solid enough, it could lead Avicii to stardom with just one song!

"I got it," Avicii committed to revamping his drum kit.

Ryan then thought of himself, realizing that since FRIENDS, his deja vu had gone dormant for a while.

Now, it didn't worry him at all; with his artists increasingly gaining strength and the Bad Room serving as the cornerstone, even if the sense of déjà vu disappeared completely, he could still collaborate with other DJs; ultimately, he would not go out of business.

...

"I heard you've been setting up quite a bit for Virgil?" Kanye West visited Ryan with his current girlfriend. He didn't know Kim Kardashian yet. The current girlfriend was a bit of a social media celebrity with a quirky style that Ryan found unappealing.

"I'm so happy for him."

"You'll see him tonight; he's handling the opening act," Ryan said before checking the time and rising to bid Kanye farewell.

...

He drove straight to Mar-a-Lago. Ever since he led his men to raid the club, the security personnel here had remembered him, and Ryan was stopped outside as expected.

"Your boss's daughter asked for me," Ryan mentioned.

"The boss said under no circumstances are you to step foot here!" the guards fiercely insisted.

"I asked Ryan to come over; he's my guest!" a familiar voice called from a distance.

Ryan looked up and saw Ivanka, whom he hadn't seen for a month, standing there.

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.