KAYA

Erex Castillo was not a hermit but he was good at avoiding when he so wished. I didn't get a single look at that raven head since last evening.

And I was spying on him with a lot of dedication.

"A caramel mocha and a blueberry muffin, please and thank you." I ordered the barista, two women and a man standing in line behind me.

"Mmhm, sure thing." The dark skinned Latina behind the counter stared at me for a second too long and then started to prepare the order. I kept a pleasant smile on as the smell of coffee and baked goods permeated the air.

The back of the place was a restaurant but in the front, they'd modelled it into a wonderful Cafe.

It wasn't everyday that I had a limitless cash supply and so I meant to splurge as much as I could at Emile's today. And for the sake of my non-existent mental health, I decided to postpone thinking about Erex till I was armed with some food at least.

"Here's your order."

I grabbed my food and paid, flashing a full smile at the Barista. Her name tag read 'Eve', so I threw in a pleasant, "Thank you, Eve."

She leaned her head on her fist, elbow on the counter and grinned at me. "You're really pretty."

I amusedly rose a brow before chuckling and turning on my heels. "Right back at you.."

Once I was settled on a table in the far left of the Cafe with a view of the entire place, I finally took a sip of my drink.

Sitting strategically at this spot, I could see everyone who entered and everything happening. My eyes flitted outside and I spotted a young college couple bickering, a woman dropping off some trash. Two bikes sped past.

My camera usually hung from my neck, so I took it off now and let it rest, set to record.

It might have been the first time I had been given a cover as a forensic photographer but I'd indeed worked with a camera many times and knew just how much incriminating evidence could be captured in these devices.

I took a bite out of my muffin and glanced at the big grandfather clock opposite the counter.

He should be here soon.

My eyes connected with Eve's and I saw her wave at me. I smiled back.

I'd done a background check on Eve Miller and Boyce Truce, the two baristas who usually handled the counter. There were a few regular and part-time workers, waitresses and bakers that I'd asked Marcello to look into. Because I had no resources of my own.

All of them were clean.

Before I could think more, the door opened and in strode a tall man. My morphe red painted lips curled up slightly.

I'd like to believe that it was satisfaction I felt but I couldn't be sure.

Erex Castillo walked up to the counter, his features calm and non-threatening and yet there seemed a barrier he'd created between himself and the outside world.

He had a pleasant conversation with Eve as he waited to take his cup of milk tea. I sipped on my coffee, noting how he and Eve seemed on good terms.

I was nowhere close to hearing what they spoke of but I knew his routinely stop at Emile's consisted of the same order almost everyday.

He hadn't spotted me but I already had my opportunity.

Sunday should have been a free day for me but look where I was, following a man like a puppy. Most people would hate that.

I think I might have too if I had enough time to process the actions and their subsequent reactions in me.

When Erex was halfway on the route to the Cafe's exit, I made my move. Finishing up with my food, I grabbed my camera and then walked out on steady feet.

A few heads turned but I paid them no mind.

I hadn't even taken four steps out of Emile's when the commotion reached my ears.

With a fake frown, I walked ahead and to the side of the Cafe where there was a crowd gathered at the entrance of the side alleyway.

The feminine sobbing reached me first and after nudging my way through the people gathered around, I had a front row seat to the spectacle.

I saw Erex in my peripheral vision as he stepped forward.

"He..he tried to force me...." The girl hiccupped and whispers went around. She looked about 21. Glossy lips, perfect liner and mascara, high end clothes and shiny blonde hair. She'd make for a good target, no lies. "Just...please...I.." She trembled and an elderly woman went to her, hugging and pulled her away from the guy who looked to be fuming.

"I did no such thing!" He hissed and looked around in indignation. "I didn't even touch her!"

The girl whimpered and the woman holding her glared at the guy. "You are despicable! I saw you holding her wrist in that bruisingly tight grip myself!"

I tilted my head and watched as the guy scoffed, pushing back his glasses. "She's lying and I'm not some dumbass you can pin a rape case on." It seemed like he was ready to leave. Some people from the initial crowd had left but a few still stayed.

"No! You're not going to walk away free." The blonde glared back with sudden fire in her eyes and the guy's jaw tightened. Words of affirmation rang out from the crowd.

Erex stepped forward. "Listen, please calm down. I'm an FBI officer." He flashed his badge before pocketing it. "I think we can work this out without threats and violence."

I folded my arms over my chest, silent as the sea as someone scoffed.

"Alright, let's hear what exactly happened, hm?"

In response to Erex's question, the female started to tremble, eyes lowered while the male stepped forward. But before the guy could say anything, a feminine voice interrupted.

"Why? So you can let him walk free? Sexual predators don't just grow a conscience. He should be put behind bars, Officer!"

"But not without evidence. I can't just take him to the nearest station without proper cause, Miss."

"This system is so fucked up...." Muttering that, the woman turned on her heel and left.

"Listen, I did not do anything untoward with her. Or try to. She's the one who tried to touch me inappropriately and–"

"Classic behavior. Your entire mindset is messed up so of course you'll hold her responsible and try turning the tables." A classily dressed man spoke from the corner before shaking his head and leaving too.

"Listen here, Bianca, you better come clean because I'm done being blamed for all your dirty work." He glared at her. "There's an officer here, you wouldn't want things to escalate, would you?"

"Are you...are you really threatening an assault victim?" The woman holding her scoffed in outrage and the guy closed his eyes.

"She's not an assault victim, if anything, I am."

"Lies-"

"How are you so sure?" I decided to finally make my presence known. Unfolding my hands, I stepped forward and into the middle of the circle. "How are you all so sure that this guy here is the assailant and the cowering girl a victim?"

Nobody said anything, watching me in confusion with frowns marring their faces.

I rose a brow, skipping over Erex as I looked around. "No one? Nothing?" My words were tinged with twisted amusement.

"If you're someone he knows, ready to defend his wrong actions then-"

I fluidly turned to the right and spotted the woman who spoke, cutting her off mid-sentence. "I'm sorry but he's a stranger. My only question to all the people showing their sympathy to the girl and ignoring the boy's words is why they're so sure he's lying and she's not?"

People shifted on their feet in discomfort and I snickered. "Did anyone witness anything themselves?"

"You realize that the boy could be lying, right?" A woman with a toddler spoke with such indignation that I had to put on a soft smile.

"And you realize that so could the girl?"

Everyone's eyes turned to the girl who was now trembling, her eyes flashing to me. And I could see it there. Her hatred for me and the genuine fear.

Or well, I assume that's what it was.

"I'm glad to see that so many people stopped by and are willing to care for the girl and take her side. It's not a common sight." I smiled diplomatically before dropping it. "But are you all taking her side because she's crying? Shaking? Because yes, woman indeed have a higher rate of being sexually assaulted and raped?"

"Well, that's not a lie...." Someone added and I nodded in agreement.

"Not at all." I glanced at everyone, "But that doesn't mean men don't get sexually assaulted. Unless you have eye witnesses or incriminating evidence-" I tilted my head towards Erex before continuing, "I believe everyone should refrain from throwing around baseless accusations."

Murmurs rose up but the guy in question looked at me in a somewhat grateful way. I shot him a fake smile while the girl, Bianca, scoffed in indignation.

"It's women like you who're responsible for dooming other women." The old hag holding onto the girl frowned. I think she had some bad personal experience considering how she was so on the extreme regarding this altercation.

I sighed, fiddling with the camera's neck strap.

"Alright, you all. That's enough." Erex stepped in. "If it's such a serious matter, we can head down to the police station and file a report."

The girl sniffled, slightly trembling and the guy pushed his glasses up, shaking his head in a hopeless way. "Of course." he scoffed.

"Or maybe you won't need to make that trip after all." I extended the memory card from my camera to Erex, confidently looking into those blue hued eyes of his as he raised a brow.

I offer the memory card with a reassuring nod, "It doesn't have much. I just bought it. I hadn't realized that my camera was on record but when I checked, aside from some nonsense in the cafeteria, I'd apparently recorded their altercation in the blind spot."

I gave everyone a droll look, "And this evidence clearly shows that she was coming on to an unwilling man and threatening him using something. I came out to check on them myself when I noticed but alas it seemed to have gotten out of control before I got here."

Erex's shapely dark brows rose up as he looked up from the memory card and the people in the surrounding started to leave.

Yes, entertainment's over so you can all leave now.

I didn't bother turning to look at Bianca or the woman holding onto her that was actually now not holding her since it seemed that Bianca was after all in the wrong.

As Erex rose a brow at the two young adults, silently asking them what they wanted to do now, the curly haired guy in question spoke. "No, no I believe we should go to the police station. I think we could reach a conclusion there." He shot Bianca a dirty look and she frantically widened her eyes.

"O-officier, I think you're mistaken." Her eyes dropped to the memory card and I tilted my head when she glared at me. "We don't have to go anywhere, I'm sure this can be resolved–"

"-Would you mind coming over? Yeah, seems like an attempted sexual assault case." Erex paused. "Thanks." He ended the call and slid the phone into his back pocket with practiced ease.

"Wha-What?" Bianca stepped forth and the curly haired guy had a look of satisfaction on his face. "What did you just do?" She screeched.

"Called a Police officer friend of mine. He should be here to deal with this in around...." He glanced at his simple silver cuff watch, "5 minutes." Erex gave a cordial smile. "I'm sure it'll be fine for the young lady who was almost assaulted by the young man here."

"Trey, you can't-" Bianca's wide pleading eyes flew towards the guy in question.

It was clear she hadn't thought this all through. Or maybe she had. She just hadn't expected that me and my camera would also get involved or an FBI officer would conveniently be in the vicinity.

Huh, so Trey was his name.

We all knew that Erex's pleasant words were just an ironic jab at Bianca. With the crowd non-existent and the elderly lady who'd held onto Bianca now frowning in disapproval at her, she must've felt cornered after the tides changed.

Well, my part was done.

To get the attention I needed after this altercation, I had to quickly remove myself from the situation. I was sure everything would be taken care of and now it was time to do what I came here for.

With a swift turn on my short kitty heels, I started the walk back to our apartment building. Weaving between the people on the crowded sidewalk and ignoring the call from Erex.

"Miss!"

Ignored.

I hadn't orchestrated the event of attempted sexual assault between Trey and Bianca, as much as I'd benefited from it. But it was no coincidence that I had that footage. I chose a blind spot of the café myself and that was to grant me access to the entire place with a bird's view. I always kept my camera on and that hadn't been a case of accidental forgetfulness.

"Miss with the camera!"

I still walked on but slowed my pace. After all, it wouldn't do well to have him chase me so much that we wouldn't be able to talk before reaching our apartments and I needed to make a different lasting impression.

"There you are." A huff of breath left Erex as he fell into step with me.

I only glanced at him from my peripheral and he ran a hand through his raven air as the sun rose higher in the sky. Despite my noncommittal shrug, Erex continued on normally.

"Thank you for what you did here. Coincidence or not, it was helpful and you handled it quite professionally." It might not have sounded like an accusation and rather like high praise with an air of respect but there was a smidgen of curiosity in the underlying tone of his words.

I couldn't feel it but I could tell after my many rodeos of mind fuckery with my targets and Marcello.

If I could feel happiness or a smidge of satisfaction then after helping out Trey I probably would've felt them. Because even if I had nothing to gain from it and no worries of a guilty conscience, having been useful and on the right side of the law to help someone on the rare occasions that I abided by society's definition of right and wrong, there was this feeling inside me that reminded me of when my mother liked to stack my pockets with candy.

Kids often love them. I'm not sure if it was happiness but I believe it might come close to something akin to soothing.

"Mmm." Despite my unfeeling response to his comment he was bound to perceive differently, it was how I genuinely would've reacted.

I was just lucky that my truly shiny personality's 0.1% was needed here.

We walked closer to our building and I could feel his eyes on me but I refused to give him my attention.

"I'd like to apologise for yesterday."

And there it was.

Silence is often unnerving and people like Erex who strive to ease unflattering and violence causing situations would always be the ones to break it first.

I stopped on he sidewalk, people walking past us as Erex did the same. I turned to look at him, "Oh, what for? Slamming the door on your nice new neighbour's face when she came to greet you with a box of cake?" I blinked up in faux innocence with wide eyes. "No need."

After giving him a piece of my mind and carrying on with the offended ruse, I again began to walk.

And of course, he followed.

"Alright, I understand where you're coming from but really, I had my reasons."

I rose an inquisitive brow at him, his sheepishly attractive look doing nothing for me." Pray tell, what reasons brought on such inadequacy and inhospitality?"

Pushing on the elevator button to take us to the 8th floor, I waited for both the closed box of metal and Erex's response.

"Well?"

Caribbean blue eyes met mine and a red hue seemed to crawl up his corded neck as he murmured, "Too pretty." He broke eye contact, "You were too pretty."

The elevator binged and I snorted while stepping into it.

He followed, inquisitive eyes still trained on me.

"Do those types of excuses actually work for you?" I gave him a slow once over as if I couldn't understand why.

"That wasn't an excuse. I was truly blinded by your beauty." He was now deliberately exaggerating but I wasn't about to flirt back. He paused before adding, "And I also had a meeting going on." Perhaps that had a bit of truth to it but still not enough.

"If you expect me to believe that nonsense then I'm insulted and you're delusional." Nonchalantly, I looked at the metal doors as they closed and the short ride began.

"But calling you pretty is a compliment not an insult." Amusement tinged his voice.

"Beauty is subjective. And brains matter too." I smiled hollowly, looking at his sharp cut face momentarily.

The elevator doors opened and I walked out with him hot on my heels.

"Well, I sincerely apologize." He spoke from behind me as our shoes clicked against the tiled floor. "Truly, Miss Skeats. It was unprecedented and a mistake on my part."

I stopped in front of my door, feeling the heat of his body right behind me as I jammed in the lock code and opened my door.

"I see you're at least self-aware of your actions." I stepped in, turning on my heel to face him as he coolly looked at me, his shirt sleeves folded till his elbow and showcasing thick, veined forearms and hands that were tucked into his straight denim jeans. "Even if you're not prepared to bear their consequences."

"I am." The deep timbre of his voice echoed in the otherwise empty hallway ominously. "I wouldn't want a strained relationship with my lovely neighbour and there's absolutely no shame in accepting my mistakes and asking for forgiveness."

"Well you offended me yesterday with your actions and not your words, Mr Castillo." I took a step back into my apartment, holding the door handle, a pleasantly cordial smile painted on my face. "Then it's only fair if you ask for forgiveness and apologize using your actions and not charmingly empty words, no?"

His lips twitched and he opened his mouth to speak, "Miss Skeats–"

But I closed the door on his face mid-sentence just like he had on me yesterday. Poetic justice as many would call it. Or karma. I don't really care for the terminology but it was petty and after that back and forth of words it was rather....appropriate.

"–Challenge accepted." A low throaty chuckle and the slightly muffled declaration reached me through the door, audible enough as he probably intended but I didn't deign him a response as the fake smile slipped from my lips.

Erex Castillo didn't realize it, but his actions had landed him right into my carefully laid out trap and instead of having to pursue the prey.....

The prey was going to seek out the predator now.

A/N

What do you think about our characters NOW?

Is Kaya to your liking heh? What do you think will ensue? Do you think Erex is dealing with it nicely?

What do you think about the instance outside the cafe? The reactions of the passerby and the instant jumping to conclusions. Do you think Kaya dealt with it properly?

I think it's a real issue where girls misuse their power in these cases and that needs to be brought up. Not always, but men can be victims too. I wanted to convey that and I hope it reached the right audience. This is not to say hat men don't pull the victim card and deny when the women really has been violated but the fact tha it van be the other way round seems to go unseen by people.

What about the banter between our character though, the tension slowly created?

I hope you enjoyed! Don't forget to vote and comment, till next time then!

~Skyler