Maya awoke with a smile, looking at the clock on her bedside table she was surprised that she had woken up that early without any alarm. Maybe it was because she was looking forward to today. Rising from her bed she knew she had enough time to transform herself into an image of confidence and allure. Today, she was determined to put her best foot forward, not only to impress Jesse but also to feel good about herself.
She dedicated an entire hour to carefully selecting her outfit and applying her makeup with precision. As she stepped out of her home, her phone buzzed, revealing a text from Jesse that greeted her with warmth.
"Good morning sunshine, I'll see you in a bit, yeah?" The text only widened Maya's smile more, and with a bit of that warmth flowing through her chest, she hailed a cab to take her to the Cafe.
The cab ride was brief, as the early morning hours ensured minimal traffic on the roads. As Maya emerged from the cab, she noticed that the sun had yet to fully rise, casting a soft, ethereal glow over the park outside the Cafe. A cool breeze lingered, carrying with it the alluring scent of freshly baked pastries that emanated from the Cafe's bustling kitchen.
Maya had already sent a text to Jesse, notifying him that she was on her way. However, it still came as a pleasant surprise to find the Cafe's owner waiting for her at the front door. "Hey boss," Maya greeted him with a warm smile.
"I'm not your boss... yet," Jesse playfully retorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He gestured for Maya to follow him as he led the way into the Cafe.
As Maya entered the Cafe, she was greeted by the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweet smell of pies and pastries. The cozy atmosphere was enhanced by the soft glow of warm lights, casting a gentle ambiance over the space.
Jesse guided Maya towards a small table tucked away in a corner, providing them with a semblance of privacy. They settled into their seats, and Jesse leaned back, studying Maya with a mischievous smile.
"So, Maya," he began, his voice laced with playful teasing. "Tell me, what brings you here? What made you want to work with me?" Jesse took a leisurely sip of his coffee, awaiting her response.
Maya played along dutifully, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. "Well, Jesse, I recently escaped a toxic work environment, and I craved the serenity and peace that I believe this Cafe can offer. Plus, I must admit, the promise of free pastries had its own allure," she added, winking at him.
Jesse's smile widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Alright, you're hired," he declared, sealing their agreement with a handshake. "Now, we can start you off with learning the register or familiarizing yourself with the layout. What's your preference?"
Maya pondered for a moment, her mind made up. "I'll start with the register," she decided confidently. Numbers were her domain, and she felt at ease with the familiarity it offered.
"I'll introduce you to Jax first," Jesse smiled, motioning for his other employee to join them. As the bald man emerged from the kitchen, Jax's eyes lit up with recognition. He had a knack for remembering the Cafe's regular patrons.
"Oh, it's you, Miss Hazelnut Coffee with Whipped Cream," Jax called out, his voice filled with a hint of playfulness. Maya couldn't help but chuckle at Jax's unique way of acknowledging people.
"Nice to meet you too, Jax," she replied, a smile adorning her lips.
"Maya is going to be working with us from now on, Jax. I took your advice and decided to bring in more help," Jesse explained, earning an enthusiastic cheer from Jax.
"That's fantastic news, boss!" Jax exclaimed, his booming voice resonating through the Cafe. He clapped Maya on the shoulder, welcoming her to the team. "I can finally live my life again," he added wiping away a fake tear.
"Was it that bad?" Maya asked curiously.
"Oh, it was hell, especially for the boss," Jax replied with a mixture of exasperation and amusement. "Fifty percent of the customers just come to ogle at him. I mean, it gives us sales, but it's just too much!" Jax complained, shaking his head in disbelief. He then grabbed Maya's arm and pulled her towards the counter, eager to show her around.
Maya couldn't help but chuckle at Jax's frankness. It seemed like working at the Cafe was going to be fun. She turned her head towards Jesse, catching his amused expression as he mouthed the words "Good luck." Maya nodded in response, appreciating Jesse's amusement in her current predicament.
With a mix of excitement and curiosity, Maya followed Jax as he embarked on the tour of the Cafe, eager to learn the ins and outs of her new workplace.
Work at the Cafe proved to be a refreshing experience, to say the least. As soon as the doors swung open, customers flooded in like a river, their enthusiasm palpable. Maya found herself grateful for Jax's enthusiastic explanations during the tour, as they helped her remember the various tasks she needed to perform. Her natural dexterity came in handy as she skillfully used her hands to handle an assortment of pastries, her memory becoming a blur of cinnamon rolls, croissants, and muffins.
The lunchtime rush was a whirlwind, with a constant stream of orders and a bustling atmosphere. Maya's multitasking abilities were put to the test, but she tackled each task with a sense of determination. She couldn't even count how many different pastries she had handled, but she took pride in her ability to keep up with the demands of the job.
Finally, as the lunch rush started to die down, the trio of Maya, Jax, and Jesse found a moment to catch their breath. The cafe gradually emptied, leaving behind a tranquil ambiance in its wake. Maya took a deep breath, savoring the rare moment of calm after the storm. Or so she thought as a cop entered the cafe.
-Break-
As Jesse took advantage of the small reprieve from the onslaught of customers, the bell to the cafe rang, and a familiar face entered the Cafe. It was Officer Jim, a regular patron of the cafe who had a fondness for pastries, specifically cinnamon rolls.
"Hey, Jesse got a box for me?" Officer Jim smiled with familiarity as he looked at the plate full of rolls atop the display counter.
Jesse, the dutiful business owner, laughed and grabbed a few, placing them inside a box. "Of course, I was actually wondering when you were gonna drop by." he smiled as he rang up the order.
Jim laughed as he pulled out his wallet to pay. "Ahh, I was going to drop by earlier, but there was trouble last night. Have you heard of the commotion by 3rd Street last night?" he asked, his face scrunching in apprehension. "Pretty nasty business, should be in the papers this morning." he observed as he pulled up a copy where it showed, '17 dead in a shootout last night in a canned tuna factory, Bestfoods a secret drug front?'
"Oh really? Sorry I haven't seen the paper yet, I've been busy baking Cinnamon Rolls." Jesse replied as he took a look at the paper.
"Yeah," Officer Ramirez continued, taking a bite of the cinnamon roll. "Apparently, one group got completely massacred. Witnesses said they saw a red-headed guy in the mix. You don't happen to know anything about that, do you, Jesse?" he joked, a twinkle in his eyes.
Jesse chuckled, playing along. "Oh, you caught me. Fighting drug dealers is just one of my many talents."
Jim raised an eyebrow, pretending to be stern. "Well, I guess I'll have to arrest you then. Vigilantes operating outside the law, you know."
Jesse sighed dramatically, his hand on his heart. "Ah, but then you and the guys at the precinct will miss out on my cinnamon rolls," he lamented. "For the safety of the people, I shall turn myself in," he added, playfully offering his arms as if for imaginary handcuffs.
Both of them burst into laughter, breaking the tension and ending their playful exchange. Officer Jim collected his order, bidding farewell as he exited the cafe, the bell ringing once again.
As the sound of the bell lingered in the air, Jesse couldn't help but be reminded of the events that had transpired the previous night, triggered by the ring of a bell.
/-Last Night-/
As Jesse closed the Cafe for the night, he pulled out his phone to check on the requests he had made a while ago. When he saw the replies his blood started pumping. His targets were supposed to meet late into the night for their weekly meeting and it gave Jesse more than enough time to prepare a trap.
Ahead of schedule, Jesse arrived at the meeting place—a simple factory. The production line hummed with cans being processed, while the storage area held products destined for shipping. But tonight, it would serve as the meeting ground and the final destination for several unsavory individuals.
As Jesse lurked in the shadows, he observed a team sent by the organization already surveying the area. Silently, he followed their patrol, ensuring that the location was secure for their meeting.
"Area secured," one voice confirmed.
"No one here," another voice echoed.
"CCTVs are shut down," a third voice reported.
With him dodging the last of their patrols, Jesse swiftly and quietly laid down the traps he had prepared. Each one was carefully positioned to maximize their effectiveness and catch his targets off guard. Once satisfied with his preparations, he glanced at his watch, noting the time—21:55.
Peeking out of one of the windows on the second floor, the Chinese had started to set up a table in the middle of the production area of the factory. Bundles of cash were arranged, along with a substantial amount of drugs being weighed, repackaged, and stored in the inconspicuous boxes that held the factories' normal produce.
As Jesse confirmed that all of his targets were present, Jesse decided that tonight was a good time to hit them. The people below were part of the upper management of the Chinese organization he was currently targeting, their group aptly named Western Dragon had been operating in multiple parts of the world, and now their American branch was going to be dealt a crippling blow.
As Jesse wrapped up his preparations, he triple-checked his gear. He wore an all-black attire. A form-fitting sweatshirt hugged his frame, complemented by military cargo pants that offered both flexibility and durability. The sturdy combat boots he wore provided a solid foundation for his stealthy movements. He secured a protective kevlar vest around his torso, ensuring an added layer of safety. Lastly, he pulled a face mask over his features, concealing his identity as best as he can. His hair was neatly tied up in a short bun, keeping it out of his way as he took a deep breath, ready to start his operation
Jesse pulled out his phone and activated the cameras and microphones he had set up, with another tap he activated and primed the grenades he had set up. 'It's go time' he thought, giving himself a bit of a pep talk.
Taking out his preferred weapon, a silenced M4 Assault rifle, Jesse aimed at one of the better bodyguards in the report. Deciding on his string of targets from left to right, Jesse started his assault.
"One, Two, Three." Jesse counted as the bodies fell to the floor.
It didn't take long for his targets to retaliate, opening fire almost immediately. Jesse sought cover, moving swiftly from his current position to a safer spot behind boxes of canned products. Shouts filled the air as they attempted to pinpoint his location on the second floor.
*Boom* an explosion rang out towards his nine o'clock. "Four." Jesse counted.
Peering from his cover, Jesse engaged and dispatched two henchmen rushing towards him with cleavers. "Five, six," he counted. They held up a cleaver each as they let out a crazed roar for battle.
Observing the main group below, Jesse triggered additional traps using his phone. Fires erupted near the exits of the building, and a cry for help echoed as one of the henchmen became trapped in the flames. "Seven," he noted.
Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the fire, Jesse eliminated another target with two well-aimed shots. "Eight," he remarked.
The leader of the Chinese group barked orders, pointing toward Jesse's location. The group split into three, each focused on taking him out. Anticipating their approach, Jesse positioned himself near one of the stairs, ready to strike.
As the men ascended the stairs, Jesse dropped a grenade from behind the steel banister, causing panic and eliminating one of the only avenues to the second floor. "Nine," he counted, noting that two of the men managed to escape.
Hearing noises from a nearby hallway, Jesse positioned himself behind a table, pointing his weapon toward the door. As two men entered, he unleashed a barrage of bullets, dispatching them swiftly. "Ten, eleven," Jesse counted, another explosion signaling the activation of more traps. "Twelve," he added.
Peering down from the window the rest of the Chinese had grouped themselves in the middle of the production area, using the tables they had brought as cover. Jumping down from the ruined stairs, Jesse took cover near one of the support pillars of the building as their shots hit the concrete.
"Who the fuck are you!" one of them shouted rage in his voice as he surveyed the scattered bodies of his men.
"You with the Russians?" he continued, his voice filled with aggression.
"Take the money here, let us leave!" he pleaded repeatedly.
Jesse ignored their pleas, crouching under cover to reposition himself. With a single shot, he struck one of the henchmen in the head, splattering blood onto the speaker.
"What the fuck do you want?" their leader shouted, the group firing at Jesse's position.
Returning fire Jesse downed two more, leaving the leader and one more person left. Seeing as they had no intention to shoot and were more keen on negotiating their way out. Jesse approached them, gun drawn and pointed at them, Jesse stepped out into the light.
"We can talk this out, right?" the blood-spattered man nervously blurted.
"Nobody needs to know. You know what, I'll just disappear," he continued, attempting to sound confident.
Standing a few feet away, Jesse detected a slight movement as the other man discreetly reached for a gun. Before he could cock the pistol, Jesse swiftly incapacitated him. "Sixteen," Jesse counted.
"I'm only going to ask this once. Is Western Dragon working with Terra?" Jesse inquired, staring into the man's eyes.
A flicker of recognition flashed across his face, quickly disappearing.
Jesse raised his M4, firing two shots into the man before he could even deny it. As the man fell to the floor, Jesse could only utter a single word.
"Fuck."