Chapter 4: Different worlds

When the clock ticked 7, the alarm jangled and Maya lazily stretched her left arm with her eyes still closed to switch off the intruder. A few seconds later she groaned and stretched slowly opening her eyes. It was a new day, she could see the rays of the sun behind the thick fabric of the silk curtains, she lazily rolled off her bed and sat up with her feet on the bedside mat. She yawned covering her mouth with her hand, looked around her room, and walked to the bathroom. After a quick piss and brushing her teeth she changed into a pair of black tights and a black hoodie, put on her running shoes, and checked her email on the desktop. There was one new mail from a certain Mr. Blue;

"Meet up. Usual place. 7"

Maya exhaled and logged off the computer, she lodged an ear pod in her left ear and put on music on her phone while walking out. With a hoodie covering her head, Maya ran across the neighborhood, stopping to wave at her neighbors. Her last destination was the park a couple of kilometers away. She was not alone; a bunch of other people were running in either direction. And one guy behind her seemed to be a bit competitive she was just cautious, waiting for a quick exit.

"I bet I can beat you in a race," he said getting closer to her.

"You think?"

"I'm Mark"

"Everyone in the neighborhood knows who you are. How about I tell you my name after this race"

"Win or lose?"

"No hotshot, you have to win. It's approximately a hundred meters to the park" She slowed down, "you ready?"

"Wait" he went down to tighten his laces, "just so you know I'm not a terrible loser"

"I don't know what losing feels like" Maya made him even more nervous, "ready, set, go!"

She was right about not knowing what losing feels like. A minute or so after she arrived at the park Mark came jogging out of breath. He had picked the wrong woman to race against.

"Are you okay there, neighbor?"

"I'm... I'm fine. Damn you're fast"

"Thank you"

"Are you sure you're not a professional athlete?"

"No. I'm a banker"

"Of course, I know" Maya looked surprised, "my wife told me she knows everything except when to shut up...I'm glad you're okay. I also heard about the robbery"

The duo walked further in the emerald green park with stone curved paths, well-mowed grass, and benches for resting. In the middle of it was a pond, birds hovering around it feeding on worms and insects and others entertaining the universe with their melodies as they flew from one tree to another, frogs croaking and cars hooting from a distance, humans chuckling and laughing in small coteries. It was a brand-new day, a clean slate for good decisions. Maya led them through some aerobic exercises, other groups joined them seeing how good she was with team building and it turned into a makeshift gym class. Even those who were doing yoga abandoned their yoga mats and joined in.

"Nice, stretch all the way down. I want to see your fingertips at the back of your ankles...that's it! Keep holding until it hurts"

When she ended the drill, Maya got a much-deserved standing ovation before the crowd dispersed. Most of them had work, and so did she. Just as they had come she and Mark jogged on their way back home.

"You're cool"

"Everyone is cool in their own way Mark. Find your cool"

"Are you seeing anyone?" Maya looked confused, "oh no. That's not...I mean you're so hot but I'm not trying to hit on you"

"I didn't say anything"

"My younger brother is coming to town and he is single I'd love it if you know...we can use someone like you in the family"

"I'll consider it"

"Dinner? Our place?"

"Sure"

"Thank you. It's been a pleasure"

"Good day Mark" she cracked an easy smile as they both headed to their respective houses.

Inside she went straight to the kitchen, dancing to inaudible music in her ear as she made breakfast, an omelet with bread, and a cold glass of mango juice. She quickly took breakfast in her small dining humming the lyrics to the song in her ear and scrolling on her phone. Just in case a text had come in or a phone call.

"Coward. Why isn't he calling?" She groaned on her way back to the sink.

Well, she wasn't joking about feeling attracted to a masked bank robber. She was hoping he called.

******

The man Maya was expecting to call her back was lying sprawled in his mansion with two ladies by his side. He came back around the moment his door alarm went off, luckily it was his cleaning lady. A stout woman in her early forties with an easy smile, frizzy curled brown hair, and a pair of circular metallic framed glasses tied on a chain. She was wearing a pair of blue scrubs, her handbag hanging around her left shoulder, and black doll shoes on her feet. One would have confused her with a nurse.

"You forgot the code again Katarina?"

"Sorry sir. Good morning"

"Good morning I'm sorry about this...hey get up" he shook his guests dragging himself back to the couch while tubbing sleep from his eyes, "how's your family?"

"They are fine sir. Should I make you breakfast?"

"Yes" Knox channeled enough strength to get back on his feet, he walked to the base of the spiral staircase with the bag of money in his right hand, "Show the ladies to the guest room. After they freshen up get them some clean clothes, serve them breakfast..."

"I know what to do sir" she respectfully interrupted.

"I underestimate you. Thank you for everything you do for me"

"You're welcome...this way ladies"

Katarina had seen far worse than what Knox was apologizing for. Having done it uncountable times, she knew the drill about his guests. From dry cleaning their clothes, and preparing breakfast to ordering a cab to drop them home. She loved her job. Not just because of the outrageous amount Knox was paying her for service but also due to how kind he was. Their employer-employee relationship was good. And Knox cherished her because she was good at minding her own business, as far as she was concerned he was a security contractor.

"Your breakfast will be ready by the time you finish up. I'll be in the kitchen in case of anything"

"Thank you" one of the girls replied. Katarina smiled sheepishly before walking out.

She went straight to the kitchen and grabbed a glass from the marbled kitchen slab in the middle of the massive modern kitchen. From the fridge, she took out a blender jug full of a green mixture, re-blended it poured a glassful of the mixture, put it on a tray, and headed underground where Knox had a home office that also served as a workshop and a gym. Loud music could be heard as she walked down the stairs to a glass barricade, she keyed in the code and the door opened.

"Sir!"

Nope. He couldn't hear her. He was lying on his back bare-chested in a pair of shorts lifting weights high above his head. She took the remote and turned down the music, it immediately caught his attention.

"This loud music is bad for your ears"

"Can't help it, is that what I think it is"

"I know you hate it but it helps right?"

"Yeah. Kicks hangovers ass" he grabbed the glass from the tray and took one large sip, “thanks!"

The moment she left he turned the music back up and kept working out. Old-school hip-hop always put him in the mood, he changed the routine and grabbed the dumbbells. He sat on the comfy bench, staring at himself in the large mirror in front of him. His hair was soot black, a pair of grey irises darting in the milky cornea of his eyes. Tanned skin, heart-shaped lips, and a well-trimmed beard cascading on both sides of his ears down to his chin where he had it dyed with shades of grey. His physique was masculine, complemented by his broad chest and ribbed abdomen. There was a butterfly tattoo on his wrist, a giveaway that Maya noticed. His powerful feet were hairy and standing at 5,9" he had the body of a professional boxer.

His phone rang interrupting the music, he angrily dropped the dumbbells on the rubber-covered floor and walked to the small console.

"Good morning boss"

"I didn't expect you to be up at this hour. You had fun kid?"

"Too much fun. What's up?"

"Just a reminder about the meeting. Your leave is over, it’s scheduled for lunch hour so you can get time out of your God-damned job that I don't understand why do it anyway"

"I got to blend in. The best place to hide is in plain sight, when someone checks into my background they find a normal working citizen who pays his taxes on time..."

“Save me this bullshit. Don't be late. I need that deal and you happen to be the smartest of us"

"You got it, boss"

The call ruined his morale for workout. He grabbed his phone and scrolled to the picture of him and Maya, cracked a smile. Went to the contact list. He froze. Maya's angelic voice was a dial away, but it also posed a risk of being caught. Losing his family and the man who had saved his life to the corrupt authorities. The man who gave him a chance to fight back and get revenge on the people who ruined the lives of many young people, others were his friends. Knox exhaled sharply and put the phone back in his pocket. He had to see her and talk to her as soon as possible. But how? The only way he could think of was risky and it was going to blow the uncle's mind with anger, but Keanu Reeves once said to be a lover you gotta be a fighter. Fight the fear, fight the doubt, and just love.