"It's just water, Judith, serve it and return to the counter," Judy whispered to herself, attempting to find some calm amidst the chaos of her troubled thoughts. The events from the previous night replayed relentlessly in her mind, overwhelming her as she let a deep sigh escape. She placed the field glasses of water on the counter, berating herself inwardly.
"Stupid girl, what have you done?" she lamented, knocking her head lightly with her palms, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her. "He wouldn't recognize my face; it was dark after all… or would he?" she pondered, reassuring herself. "After all, I didn't do anything that bad." Gathering some conviction, her trembling hands took hold of the two glasses as she made her way toward their table, her thoughts clouded by the unexpected encounter.
As she approached, Judith lost her balance and stumbled, tipping the cold water all over the man who stood up to catch her. This rather undignified scene caught the attention of Mama Kate, who entered just in time to witness her daughter's clumsiness.
Matthew, observing from across the table, couldn't help but grin; he was thoroughly entertained by the spectacle. He anticipated the reaction of his notoriously stern boss, who often avoided interactions with women. Matthew was surprised to see his boss, Julius, standing up to catch the falling lady, a rare display of chivalry for him.
Judith, scrambling to right herself, looked like a child on the verge of tears. "I am so sorry," she blurted out, her embarrassment palpable as she quickly placed the empty glasses on the table, desperately hoping he wouldn't recognize her face. As she fumbled with a handkerchief to help with his water-soaked suit jacket, she was disheartened to realize it was an impossible task.
The awkwardness intensified. As she awkwardly dabbed at his suit in a bid to dry it off, her shy eyes averted from his face, she sensed the disapproval in Julius's deepened brow. Meanwhile, Mama Kate stood at the entrance, palms over her face in embarrassment, reluctant to intervene with the imposing figure of Julius. Concluding that it was best to let Judith handle the predicament herself, she chose to observe from a distance, waiting anxiously in case the chaotic encounter took a turn for the worse.
Judith's panic, Matthew's amusement, and Mama Kate's anxiety swirled together in an awkward blend of emotions, setting the stage for an unpredictable outcome as the tension hung heavily in the air.
Irritated, Julius seized both of her trembling hands with one of his, lifting it sideways to compel her to finally meet his gaze. Mama Kate, witnessing this, felt an urge to intervene, but her eyes locked with Judy's, which silently conveyed a plea for her to stay out of it. Julius' presence was menacing, a fact that left Judy flustered and unable to articulate her thoughts clearly.
"I am…your suit…for…sorry….for yester…" she stammered, struggling to complete her sentence. She noticed his frown morphing into a smirk, a disturbing shift that only heightened her anxiety. Julius leaned closer, invading her personal space, and as she instinctively attempted to pull back, she remembered that his grip held her in place.
"Are you not so willing to die by my hands?" he murmured, just loud enough for her to hear, which made her eyes widen in shock. "He recognizes me?" she thought anxiously.
Before she could respond, a man clad entirely in black entered the coffee shop. The newcomer, though surprised to find his boss engaging in an unusual interaction with a woman—something Julius typically avoided—maintained a neutral expression due to his training. He approached Julius and whispered something that caused a frown to reappear on Julius' face, after which he shot a lethal glare at Judy. Releasing her hands, he exchanged a knowing look with Mathew, and together they exited hurriedly.
Both Judy and Mama Kate exhaled in relief as the men left, glad to see the tension dissipate, out of haste or urgency. Mama Kate walked over to Judy, lightly tapping her forehead with her finger, prompting an involuntary "Ouch" from Judy.
"Judy!!! I just went for a short errand! You should have waited for me. Are you hurt? Why didn't you want me to stop him earlier? Do you know him from anywhere?" Mama Kate bombarded Judy with questions, not allowing her the chance to respond. Judy held her forehead where Mama Kate had tapped, mentally shifting her focus from the recent confrontation to the older woman's concern.
For a moment, she forgot about her troubles, observing Mama Kate's fierce nature and recalling how she'd witnessed her stand up and defend both her and Alice on numerous occasions. Judy admired that spirit, wishing her own mother could exhibit even a fraction of the strength Mama Kate displayed.
"I'm okay, Mama. Let me get a mop and dry this place," Judy reassured her mother, but the older woman swiftly interjected. "Oh no, no, no, you don't have to do that. We can't have you going to the pageant nervous." She gently pulled Judy away from the mess to the other side of the counter, guiding her toward the door that led to her apartment. "Go inside and take a little rest; we don't have much time."
Just as Judy was about to step through the door, Kim burst into the coffee shop, panting and wide-eyed. "Good morning, Mama," she said hurriedly while locking the windows and door.
"What's going on?" her mother inquired, concern etched across her face.
"Mama… a man, two streets away… on my way here… a man was shot dead…" Kim gasped, the severity of her words hanging heavily in the air.
"What!!!!!!"
*********
In a different scene, Julius sat in the backseat of a car as it sped away from their previous location. A second vehicle filled with his men pursued them closely. They arrived at the Jones Enterprise, a towering presence in the business sector. The atmosphere shifted instantly; the employees became rigid, hyper-focused, as Julius's aura radiated authority. With measured steps, he headed toward the VIP elevator situated at the far end of the lobby, accompanied by Matthew and several of his men.
Upon reaching the top floor, they were met by two guards positioned outside the elevator. The rest of the team fanned out, standing watch outside Julius's office door. As Julius took his place at his impressive desk, he activated his computer and began to work. Matthew remained in the background, silent, prepared to respond whenever Julius might need him.
Five minutes passed, with the only sound being the rhythmic tapping of keys. Finally, Julius broke the silence, saying, "He sent the files."
The weight of the moment hung in the air as Matthew acknowledged the statement.