Chapter Three: Crossing paths

Chapter Three

Malcolm POV

Why was she here? It had been a year and yet she still managed to get under my nose without trying so hard. It was her i saw back at the boarding area and now she was here. Why? Maya was trouble and from the little time I’ve known her, i know that she is a woman who carries chaos with her.

I raked my hands through my wet hair as i stood under the shower head which released hot water to ease the tension on my shoulders. Maya Kristoff. 

Her honey eyes were still the same, soft yet nothing about her was friendly, they still housed that door of unattended emotions, her nose, a product of her dangerous engagement and her lips, soft and possibly luscious. 

“You shouldn’t be having such thoughts about this woman.” I scolded myself rubbing my hands across my face but it was no use, the image of her face was already implanted in my head. She had dyed her hair, it was not as the bright champagne, instead, it was a deep shade of brown almost like she is hiding a part of herself.

Not every part though, the image of her crossing her hands over her chest flashed through my mind and i leaned on the cold wall as I let the water beat on my chest and further down my body. 

I was grateful when my phone rang loudly, i turned off the shower head and with a towel wrapped around my waist i stepped out to grab my phone, the name on the screen was the person i was here for.

“Lucas,” i said as i answered the call. I walked further into the room and raked my hand through my hair and sat on the edge of the bed in my hotel room.

“Malcolm, the rain decides to greet you on your return back to the city. How was your trip man?” he asked with a light chuckle in his voice. “Hope there wasn’t anything too much that happened?” 

“Not exactly, but yeah, it is great to be back here,”i replied pushing away my encounter with Maya away from my mind. “I had a good trip, can’t wait to see if they still serve the best drinks down at Joe's.” 

“Ah! You still remember, well, yes. Joe is still standing strong but there’s a new place i would like for you to check out tomorrow evening, it's Friday and it's a special night, we could hit the spot there. What do you say?”

“I’m down, totally,” I replied and got up from the bed as I walked towards the window, the lights from the streets and the other building illuminated the space giving it a cool yet strong ambience. This was where I was going to be the knock on my door pulled me away from my monologue and my brows creased as I wondered who it might be.

“I’ve got to go, Lucas, I’ll talk to you later.” I ended the call and trudged towards the door, without thinking twice I pulled at it and was greeted by the same person I was trying to run away from.

“What in the actual hell?” she cursed when her eyes landed on me. “What the hell are you doing here?” she fired ignoring the fact that she was the one who came knocking on my door.

“Still as rude as ever,” I remarked crossing my hands over my chest, it was then that her knitted brows relaxed and then her lips parted slightly almost as if she was trying to put two and two together.

“Wait a minute, it was you- you were the person i bumped into back at the airport, you’re the obnoxious dude-” 

“And you’re the one without manners,” I muttered back calmly and it only made her frown even more. “What are you doing in front of my hotel room?”

“Your hotel room?” She asked looking down at something in her hand. “No- you’re highly mistaken-” she drawled out as her eyes skimmed over the information on the card in her hand.

“Are you sure that you aren’t the one who is mistaken? I mean you’re knocking on a door that doesn’t belongs to you-” i pointed out and then her eyes reached up to me.

“Oh.” the words were faint but i heard the regret in them, like she had made a mistake, becasue she did. “Uhm- well-”

“Find where you’re meant to be and don’t be a nuisance.” i pointed out and slammed the door in her face.

MAYA POV

Malcolm.

Malcolm was here.  

He was just in front of me- well opposite, since he slammed the door in my face.

He slammed the door in my face. I clenched my fists and raised the card for my room, the number read 124b, i glanced at the number of the door in my face, it was also 124b. I wasn’t wrong but why were there two rooms with the same numbers. I turned to find another door behind me, the number read 124b and when i placed my keycard it unlokced. I enetered and the lights came on, i dropped my bags to the side and paced around the room thinking about why Malcolm was here.

He was here and he was right in front of me with his stupid handsome face and that smug look on his face.

My phone rang bringing my mind out of the banter with Malcolm’s face.

It was an unknown number and if it was one thing, all the calls from the association was encrypted with no names.

“Agent-”

“Maya- maya are you there?” It was john and his tone was rushed and firm. “Maya, i need you to listen to me carefully-”

“John, such a way to greet me-” but John was having none of it. 

“Maya, now is not the- ime- i need yo- nee-” the line was breaking up and everything was sounding way intense than my normal conversation with John would be.

“John, john- what is going on?” i asked while my hands fingered my hair.

“May-ya, y- yo-you, ne- lea-leav- sa-s-” the line went dead and i stood in the middle of the spacious room with my brows narrowed in confusion as i tried to make do of his broken sentences. 

I set up my laptop and the documents i would be working with, i packed my hair in a high ponytail and removed my jacket leaving me in my black tank top and my jeans. I sat by the bed as my eyes skimmed where the first gem was going to be in.

Omni Corp. 

I don’t realize how much time i’ve spent sitting until a knock came on my door, i raised my head making loose strands of hair fall into my face, who was it? I wasn’t expecting any person to come up here, i also didnt call any hotel service.

I headed towards the door when the knock came again and without looking at the peep hole, i jared the door opened.

“Malcolm?” my voice was iced and his gaze was fixated on my face. “What do you want?”

“Wanted to check in to see if my hot headed neigbour has found what she was looking for.” he said leaning on the door frame, a strand of his hair fell into his face. I remained silent as i didn’t want to entertain him. His jaw tightened and his eyes examined me. “Tell me Maya, what exactly are you doing here? Its not natural for hunters to be taking vacations in a big city, unless there is a big catch ir big trobule.”

“I dont think it’s any of your business.” i said crossing my arms over my chest with my firm gaze locked on him.

“Hmm, i see, being as defensive. Whatever it is Hunter, stay clear off my-” but just like he did me, i slammed the door right in his face.

…………………………………………………………………

The next day

It was until eight minutes until my interview. I turned to my right where i noticed the rest of the candidates who were seated, each of them had the expected look in their eyes and determination. They all wanted one thing, this job but it wasn’t going to happen. It was going to be mine. 

The atmosphere in Omni Corp was filled with high expectations and professionalism, it was almost like the hunters headquarters, my eyes skimmed towards the glass doors which showed when people got off the elevator to get to their various spaces, my hands tapped on my lap when a woman in a two-piece black suit and lush black hair walked up to us in glossy black heels which echoed away. Her lips were coated in bright red lipstick and her cat-like hazel eyes beamed in excitement.

“Welcome to Omni-corp, my name is Harley and I’ll be in charge of co-ordinating your interview. Like stated in the emails, you will be scrutinized by a panel of four judges-” she said and I frowned, i was sure that it was normally three people, i had gone over the people in charge and taken note of every single detail about them but this fourth person was new.

“We will begin from the left to the right, your names will be called and you will enter the conference room right there-” she pointed at a large black door with a silver handle. “from me to you all, good luck,” she said and walked away. 

Three of the applicants had gone in already and even with how prepared i was, my knees bounced up and down. I was next.

“Anya Henry?” It was a priority to change my name and alter my identity, Serg made sure of it. The woman stepped out with her notepad in hand, i rose to my feet brushing my hands against the sides of my skirt. She passed me a smile as i reached her and she pushed the door open for me and whispered.

“Good luck.” 

Ready to take on the interview with ease, my lips were stretched into a smile and my eyes bright, i was to sell the enthusiastic idea to them, the idea that i was the one they should pick for the job but when i entered the conference room and the figures of the people came into view, my eyes narrowed in on one man.

“Take your seat.” The man in the middle said, Derek Winsley, I remember him from the files. I ignored the gaze of the man who had his eyes piercing on me. Finally, with courage, i turned in his direction and his narrowed gaze and hardened Jaw found mine.

Malcolm was the fourth man that wasn’t on the list. Why was he in Omni-corp?