Series: Doubting Power Pt. 6

Maya pulled into the parking lot at the Binder and Stoles Accounting Firm, she tied her coat at her waistline and placed her dark Chanel shades upon her face. She sophisticatedly walked through the doors into the building and entered the elevator. When she got to the 8^th floor she strolled into the lobby and spoke to the receptionist, in her mind hoping she wasn’t as ignorant as the one she had had an altercation with earlier; as if reading Maya’s mind the receptionist sent her in to see Mr. Vansant. Maya entered the office and a cloud of surprise, irritation and resentment hung over her. “Oh, I wasn’t aware you were in a meeting, Joey... Good afternoon.”
“That’s because you don’t call you just show up, Marshall, this is Maya,” Marshall looked up at the debonair young woman standing in the office, the shock of the current happenings was printed all over Marshall’s face and body language, in a split second he covered it up, rose from his seat and stepped towards her holding out his hand for her to grasp.

“Nice to finally... meet you Maya, long overdue I’d say.”

She held his hand loosely, “I’m afraid I can’t say the same, he’s been holding your acquaintance hostage but however, nice to meet you as well.” Joey could sense that something was awkward about their meeting but he wasn’t one to highlight such things, he often just kept it to himself. “So should I go?”

“No, Marshall, we’ll finish this later.”

“If it’s business you’re dealing with I’ll go, we’ll talk later.”

“Ok,” Joey responded sceptical, he didn’t know what was going on in Maya’s head and it scared him. Maya walked towards the door then slightly turned as she was about to step out and dourly said,

“Marshall, see you around.”

“Indeed,” Marshall responded just as stern. Joey was taking everything in without mumbling a word. As Maya stepped into her car she got on the phone immediately.

“Craig! Why did I not know Nigel was in town?... That’s unacceptable and he’s making moves on my turf... Meet me in Kitsen tomorrow at 9am sharp.” Maya rushed home and packed her bag hurriedly while back in Joey’s office...

“Well that’s all the paper work for now my good man, Maya doesn’t seem like the type you’ve been telling me about... How long have you known her?”

“For about 5 years, we’ve only been together for 4 though.”

“Oh that’s cool, well I’m gonna go now, if you need me call me.”

“Ok, no problem and thanks again for all your help. It’s nice to know I can still trust one person that’s not me.”

Marshall packed the papers into his briefcase and left. As he stepped through the door his cheek bones tightened he got into his car and made his way to a very familiar place. He made his way to the 13^th floor...

“You have me playing with fire! I’m not at all amused! When you got me into this you said it was ‘easy pickings’... How can it be easy pickings if Emeline is involved?!”

The old man sat, pen in hand staring at a frantic Marshall and coolly said, “Take a deep breath, calm yourself and sit.” Marshall tried to do that failing at two of the three commands. As he sat his eyes became fixed on a sheet of paper on Mr. Johnson’s desk. “Now will you calm down?”

A smile budded on Marshall’s face, “Long overdue, are you going to take him out of retirement?”

“That’s the plan I’m trying to put together... He’s the only one that knows which buttons to push with ‘Maya’ and I need to weaken her she’s too cocky, although I must admit she has all reason to be. I am yet to shake her, but how could I have missed the link between her and this Joey fellow?” Silence took over then he continued, “But, how did you know she was involved?”

“Joey called me over to his office today and while I was there she stopped by.”

 “Last you heard she wasn’t Maya but now you know so be on your P’s and Q’s quite frankly all the damn letters of the alphabet, you know what she’s capable of.”

“Definitely, it’s sad though, not having her on our team... The one that got away.”

“It’s not sad, it’s competition.” Mr. Johnson picked up the telephone on his desk and made the winning phone call, “Craig Hartwell, I’d like to meet with you sooner than later this is Vincent Johnson... So when do you get back from Kitsen? Ok so Thursday at 5pm it is then at the Horizon Hotel bar, I’ll make sure I don’t waste your time.” As he hung up he was kissed with contentment and the emotion was evident in Marshall as well.

“This is gonna get good.”

“Too good my son, too damn good.”

Maya had called Joey to find out if he was able to talk now and having received the response she yearned, she was back out of the house and on her way back to the office. Joey fought desperately with his thoughts and the papers on his desk he was troubled and all he could think of to unwind was...

“Joey, I have to go to Kitsen to take care of some business, I’ll be back in a day or two. Please don’t ask me to explain or give you details because it’s one of those things but just...” Joey walked over to Maya and grabbed her by the wrist.

“You do nothing... but stress me, you know that?”

“What are you talking about?” Maya wrestled with Joey and tried to free her hand; she looked into his eyes and saw what was going on.

“Since recently, Maya has changed... Joey doesn’t know Maya anymore.”

“Joey, you’re hurting my hand.”

“Maya, you’re hurting my heart. You walk in here with some half a story about Kitsen and want me to not question it? What!...Is going on Maya!”

“Just calm down, please.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!”

“What can I do for you to not question it and just trust me I mean you no wrong, no harm, Joey?”

“What can you do for me to trust you?” He let go of her wrist and laughed sarcastically, “Give me all the answers I want, that’s what you can do!”

“But that I can’t do right now, Jo...” she was interrupted by Joey’s angry but now low voice.

“Just go... But as sure as the sun shines in the day, Maya until you tell me all I need to hear... We’re done... And I was dead serious about not coming home too.”

“Joey, don’t do this, we need each other...” she walked over to Joey and placed a convincing hand on his cheek and kissed his lips, “You know I love you...”

“You may see yourself out, Maya.” As tears filled her eyes Maya slowly kissed him once again and walked sulkily though the door, she knew it made no sense blaming Joey because in fact it was her fault. She sat in the driver’s seat of her car and as if it was the one that did her wrong, she swung punches after punches at the steering wheel and screamed frustration when she realized it was hurting her more than it was hurting it, it wasn’t something she had regularly done but she took time out of her drive to Kitsen to mourn the loss of the one she was doing this all for. At momentary intervals she had built up the courage to walk right back into the office and tell him everything but the thought of how it would complicate things even more discouraged her every time. The sadness mixed with fury took control of her and now it was a must to finish this once and for all with Vincent Johnson. The very thought of him pumped viciousness throughout her, it flowed through the cuts the dilemma was leaving on her and she couldn’t stop herself from crying. She started the ignition and glanced at the building she had just left from and like any woman with an agenda she left the parking lot to see it through.

TO BE CONTINUED =]