Series: Doubting Power Pt. 5

“Is that any way to greet your ‘sweet pea’?”

“Save me. What are you doing here?” he looked at her stern and straight-faced but Maya found pleasure because her smile never left her face.

“Okay Vince Johnson, I know the suspense is killing you so let’s cut to the chase. You have no idea who you’re playing with and Joey Vansant doesn’t know who he is playing with so this whole ball game is going in different directions and he hasn’t got the slightest clue who is on his team.”

“So you know of this Joey... Interesting.” His legs crossed and a half smile sprung on his face.

“I see you’ve lost your touch, have you stopped researching your clients? If it were ten years ago you would have already known that I know of this Joey.”

“Are you gonna keep talking or are you going to leave?”

“Have I left from your chair yet?” Silence rushed across the room and after seconds Maya then smugly said, “Didn’t think so, so think before you ask another stupid question.”

“Remember whose domain you are in.”

“Remember who doesn’t give two shits about whose domain this is originally... Let me break this down for you old man, you’re yesterday, I’m today... When I’m not here Tom, Dick, Harry and fu**ing Jim might run shit but the minute I step in they know to back down because I’m not the one to mess with and you have NO right to even think that the same rule doesn’t apply to you... Got it?”

His voice rose as he stood placing his hands firmly on the desk between them “I am not afraid of you, Maya!”

And as if mimicking his every move Maya pounced from the chair she sat in and with twice the strength that he had shown placed her hands on the desk and the echo of it bounced off the wall and her voice joined in the chorus, “And you! Most certainly don’t scare me! Either you’re too dumb or you’re in the early stages of Alzheimer’s to realize that so SIT!” He took a deep breath and anger coloured him red, he slowly sat and Maya watched him keenly, the second his buttocks touched the chair she smiled and sat. It was evident that it hurt him to surrender to her as was it evident that it brought Maya pure joy. But why though?

Maya continued, “Now as I was saying, Joey has no idea why I hate every fibre of your being and that is not going to change, at least not now anyway. The way I see it... You have three options, either you’re going to accept his 200,000 and stay the hell out of our lives or you just stay the hell out of our lives or you keep tormenting him... and have me torment you. Knowing you old man, you’re going to choose option three and nothing... Nothing, would bring me more pleasure.”

“How cute... You honestly think you are a match for me?”

“I don’t think I am a match for you...”

“Oh, good girl. I admire your bravery young lady, I’m almost proud of you.”

“I didn’t finish my statement... I don’t think I am a match for you, I know I outmatch you, you’re a rookie in my league.” He laughed sarcastically at her and she remained serious her eyes fixed on him. While back in Joey’s office...

Joey’s secretary ringed his phone telling him a Marshall was there to see him, “Send him in please, Vanessa.” A tall dark man walked in to the office, his hair was so perfectly lined that it seemed like if it was touched would slice your finger.  His black shirt fit his muscular body superbly and his bare chest peeped through the first four unbuttoned buttons. By his stride you could tell he was a man with an agenda that he had no time to waste, everything about him was elegant yet so masculine; as he closed the door behind him his manly voice softly but eloquently broke the silence.

“Joey, Joey, Joey, again?”

“I know Marshall and I’m not proud of it either.”

“What do you want me to do this time?”

“Well...”

“Wait, before we get into details, does Maya know?”

“Yeah, she knows and that’s part of the reason why I called you. She’s scaring me about the whole situation, she’s giving me half of stories, vague stories, she’s telling me things that I can’t even start to explain.”

“Like?”

“Like stealing, killing.”

“Holy! Are you for real?”

“I can’t even believe myself man.”

“Okay, let’s talk strategy then.”

“I want to come up with all the money by next Tuesday or before.”

“Any ideas?”

“No.”

“Okay, how much do you have?”

“I have 200,000.”

“Okay, you wanna sell shares or stocks or something?”

“If I got to I got to. Maya doesn’t know about the stocks and shares by the way. I feel much better now knowing that she hasn’t told me everything there is to know about her too, we’re even.”

“What exactly has she said about this?”

“She said I’m supposed to tell her these things so she can help me out. She said trust her and whatever. I told her I’m not coming home tonight and I don’t intend to either.”

“Well hey; you can crash at my place.”

“Cool thanks.”

“How’s Jeff?”

“He’s good I’m guessing still buying what the ladies selling.”

“Don’t be judgmental! I buy too!” They both laughed and Marshall started the paperwork for their business transaction. Back Downtown Ashburgh...

“You see Maya, I’m a businessman and I don’t do special treatment, he owes, he needs to pay that’s how this works.”

“That’s how it normally works... you know what,” she got up from the chair and turned to the wall of windows that was behind it, “I’m not even going to repeat myself, I gave you your options and that’s... that,” she continued gazing through the windows, “I know all your tricks, all your trades, all your tactics. They don’t change, you don’t change, so since you want it the hard way, game on Vincent Johnson. Telling Joey you would visit his home... I dare you. The day you take a step on my porch is the day everybody you know take a step to your graveside.”

“I’m utterly amazed by you. For the first time you’re giving me a different angle... I like it.”

“Well since you like it, don’t make it too easy for me to annihilate you, you come with a new angle as well and may the best woman win.”

“Confidence.”

“And a load of it.” She gathered her things and got ready to leave.

“You know the story of my caterpillar in a jar, how I watched it change into a butterfly and because it wasn’t the plain, old, slow caterpillar anymore and my jar couldn't contain it anymore, I plucked the wings and watched it die. You see young one, my world is the jar and everyone is my caterpillar... So Maya, you might not be a slow, weak caterpillar anymore, but just like you rise...”

“You’ll have to catch me first and I’m already a dozen steps ahead of you.” He gave a conniving chuckle and Maya walked towards the door. “Oh, you warn Felix... The next time you send him to drive pass Joey’s house, you tell him I live there too and I will C4 his ass.” Her eyes glared with anger and she reeked of enmity. “And another thing, you can uncover your surveillance camera now.” She smiled and said pointing to the camera in the far right corner of the room.

“Bye.”

“We’ll meet again so it's not bye... Later.” She strutted through the lobby not glimpsing back, he stood at the door watching her leave in total awe and amusement mixed together.

To Be Continued! Next Week ;)