Chapter 2: Parallel Lives
671 Words
Ruby woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring in her ear. She groggily got out of bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her small apartment was quiet, her mother and brother still asleep. She quickly got dressed in the dark, trying not to disturb them.
In the kitchen, she started breakfast – scrambled eggs and toast. Her mother, Femi, joined her a few minutes later, yawning.
"Good morning, baby," Femi said, kissing Ruby's forehead. "How's the new job?"
Ruby smiled. "It's okay, Mom. I like it."
Her brother, Jaden, stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. Ruby handed him a piece of toast, and he grinned.
As they ate, Ruby listened to her mother's instructions – pick up Jaden from school, do laundry, and cook dinner. Ruby nodded, familiar with the routine.
After breakfast, Ruby helped her mother get Jaden ready for school. Femi left for her shift at the hospital, and Ruby walked Jaden to the bus stop.
Once he was gone, Ruby headed to the laundry room to start their weekly wash. She spent the morning folding clothes and listening to music.
Later that day at work during her free time, she worked on her application for a scholarship, determined to get back into college.
Kaleb woke up in his penthouse apartment, the city skyline stretching out before him. He got out of bed and headed to the gym, his personal trainer waiting for him.
After a grueling workout, Kaleb showered and dressed in his tailored suit. He had a meeting with his business partners, discussing new investments and strategies.
Downstairs, his driver, Joe, waited with the car. Kaleb slid into the backseat, checking his phone for messages.
At the meeting, Kaleb listened to his partners discuss their plans. He didn't speak much, but his presence commanded attention.
After the meeting, Kaleb headed to his nightclub, checking on the staff and making sure everything ran smoothly.
As the night wore on, Kaleb sat in his office, sipping whiskey and going over financial reports. His mind wandered to the new barista from De Morning Coffee, he wondered on her innocence and on how she trembled before him. He remembered being slightly aroused when she stuttered. f**k.
He pushed the thought away, focusing on work. Kaleb had no room for distractions, not in his life, not with his enemies closing in.
As the night drew to a close, Kaleb left the club, Joe waiting with the car. He drove home, the city lights blurring past him. All he could think of was his Rival, the Don of the Butchers and how to eliminate him. Of course, a Don cannot eliminate another Don without causing and uproar among the affected groups, so he sits back to strategize on how to overcome this ever rising opponent of his.
Ruby and Kaleb lived parallel lives, unaware of the paths they'd soon cross again.
After work that day, Ruby finished her laundry and started cooking dinner, Jaden's favorite dish – chicken and rice. She set the table, waiting for her mother to come home as Jaden sat on the couch doing his Math assignments.
As they ate, they talked about their day. Femi smiled, happy to see her children thriving. Ruby smiled too, it's been a while she had seen a smile on her mother's face, that gave a tiniest feeling of satisfaction.
After dinner, Ruby did the dishes, her mind wandering to the mysterious man from the coffee shop. She pushed the thought away, focusing on her family. She couldn't risk getting distracted, her family needs her right now and that's all she could care about even if it meant sacrificing her dreams for that to happen.
In his penthouse, Kaleb stood at the window, looking out at the city. His thoughts lingered on the girl with the piercing brown eyes. He wouldn't forget her, not anytime soon.
The night drew to a close, Ruby's sleeping, Kaleb's awake with a glass of Whiskey, unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon.
- Writer
