Author's note:

Sooo this was rattling around in my brain. I know...I know but it is something very small...


Business Trip

Chapter 1

...


It was late Monday afternoon at Kingdom Intel LTD. All senior employees were gathered around the long round table in the board room. They had been in the meeting for nearly an hour at this point. This was Rick's 5th and final meeting of the day. He couldn't wait for the summit to end so he could leave.

They had just finished discussing various topics related to the company's future strategy.

At the head of the table was his ever eccentric boss, Ezekiel King.

"Ok, so let's get onto our last and final topic of the day. I know you are all eager to get home." Ezekiel stated.

There was a small laugh around the grey and black decorated board room.

"Rick."

"Yes sir." Rick leaned forward in his seat to directly look at his boss.

"You will need to take the visit on behalf of the company to New York City. The city that never sleeps they say." He lightly chuckled.

"This will be a very important account to the company. But, I do not have to tell you this Rick."

They were looking to expand and set up a new office in New York. Rick was to be the lead developer on the project. He has the most knowledge of how it works, so it made sense for Rick to go. He'd be the best person to explain the application to potential new clients.

"Sure, sounds good." Rick nodded.

"We will need someone to accompany Rick on this great trip."Ezekiel said, scanning his eyes around the room.

Please, please just not Jessie, Rick thought. He looked at the eager woman on the opposite side of the table. Her eyes wide and her smile even wider.

"Ahh yes. Miss Daniels...Perfect choice."

Michonne.

"You will accompany Mr Rick here, to the Big Apple on Friday."

Michonne was an excellent pick. She was smart, strong, and articulate. Having Michonne there will be a huge asset for the company. Michonne was looking to work her way through the ranks. She had previous experience with property development too.

Rick risked a quick glance at Michonne to see her reaction. She looked up to Ezekiel and a small smile formed on her full lips.

She's happy to go? Rick thought. This is good.

Rick looked to the person sat next to Michonne, Shane, Rick's best friend and long-time work partner. He gave Rick a wink and had a shit eating grin criss-crossed his face. Rick rolled his eyes. Shane knew that Rick has secretly had a crush on Michonne since she joined the company three years ago.

There was just one reason why Rick never asked Michonne out on a date. She had a long term boyfriend. Michonne had always acted professional with Rick. She had never given him a reason to think she liked him more than as a friend.

Shane took every opportunity to tease Rick. So much that he would repeatedly wish he'd never told him anything.

Most days, Rick would take every given chance to talk to her. Rick would often visit Michonne's desk; she would visit his office as well. They would also have lunch a few times a week together, where they would share a few laughs and jokes. Michonne was so easy to get along with, which was why everyone at the company got along so well with her.

"Your both ok with going and representing our fine company?" Ezekiel's loud voice echoed around the room.

"Yes," they both said at the same time.

"Ok, you two stay behind so we can discuss more details about the trip."

Everyone else stood up from their seats and Michonne and Rick stayed behind. Rick once again caught Shane who had his thumbs up to him as he walked out of the room. Rick shook his head, watching his best friend leave the room.


Thirty minutes later, Rick walked out and headed towards his desk to grab his satchel and car keys to head home for the evening. There sat Shane, behind his desk, with his feet up. He got up and moved across the room.

"Buddy, this is your chance. Three days alone with Michonne? This is fantastic news!" He smirked.

"Yeah, Shane. It would be if she was single," Rick sighed, picking up his tan leather satchel off the cloak hanger and retrieving his keys from the top draw of his desk.

"I think Ezekiel is doing you a favour sending just the two of you away. He probably knows you fancy her." Shane wrapped his arm around Rick's shoulders.

Rick shrugged Shane off him.

"Do you think he knows?"

Shane chortled a deep laugh.

"Yeah, who doesn't? Now let's go."

They both made their way out of his office locking the door behind them.


Michonne caught them walking half way down the hallway.

"Hey, wait up let me walk out with you guys," she smiled.

They both nodded. All three of them made small chit chat on the way out of the tall glass building.

They came to a standstill at the top of the stairs outside of the office. They all heard a car honk and stared in the direction of where the noise was coming from. The window rolled down on a bright red GranTurismo Maserati sports car.

It was Michonne's boyfriend Negan.

"Hey Ricky," Negan held his hand up and flashed a charismatic grin.

Rick's jaw tightened. He nodded his head as he didn't want to acknowledge Michonne's boyfriend. But, he thought he would be polite. As he didn't want Michonne thinking he was rude.

"Come on Michonne, get in. We have dinner plans." He shouted, revving his engine a few times.

"Look, I gotta go. So, I will see you guys tomorrow," Michonne waved, to the pair.

"See ya Michonne."

"Bye Michonne." Rick said, watching the sway of her hips as she walked down the paving stone stairs.

Shane and Rick both watched as Michonne stepped into Negan's car. Until the tyres screeched away from the pavement with a loud noise. When the car was no longer in sight Rick spoke,

"I can't believe Michonne is with somebody like that. She's intelligent, smart, and funny. She's way too good for that guy!"

Rick didn't just have a crush on Michonne anymore. He was in love with her. He was certain of that fact.

"So she should be with a guy like you?"

Rick turned to look at his friend and let out a small huff. Yes, he thought to himself.

He couldn't believe that someone like Michonne was with a guy like Negan, of all the guys in the world. Negan was full of himself. A show off. He drove a flashy sports car and had a smile that you just wanted to constantly wipe off his face. Negan was the CEO of his own company. Rick never got the impression from Michonne it was just about the material things.

Shane placed his hand on one of Rick's shoulders and gently squeezed.

"Yeah, well we all know he's an asshole." He took his hand off his shoulder.

"You spoken to Lori?" Shane wondered.

"Nah," Rick shook his head. "Lori she...she just wanted a baby and the white picket fence. I am not that guy for her."

"But, you that guy for Michonne?" Shane questioned, raising his eyebrows. "What about Jessie?"

"I am not interested in Jessie eithier."

"Your right. She wreaks of desperation." Shane snorted.

They laughed together.

"See you tomorrow," Shane said, walking off in the opposite direction.

"Yeah."

Rick looked down the street to where Michonne had just left, looking up the sky as he headed towards his own parked vehicle.


"Can't you get out of it?"

"No." Michonne answered.

Negan and Michonne were sitting in an upscale French restaurant in downtown Atlanta.

"Rick the prick." He muttered underneath his breath.

"What did you say?" Michonne queried.

"Nothing. I see the way he looks at you."

"Like what? Me and Rick are just good, work friends."

"Yeah, Michonne and that's all Ricky wants to be huh..."

"By the way his name is Rick, Rick Grimes."

"Yeah whatever Michonne. How long are you two going to be gone for again?" Negan asked, taking a sip of his large glass of Chateau Margaux.

"We fly out on Thursday afternoon and come back on Saturday evening. We will be back home by eight."

Negan clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. He placed his wine glass back on the table.

"You better not be staying in the same hotel room together." he ground his teeth.

"No, of course we're not." Michonne pulled her face. "– I feel like I am under oath!"

Michonne snapped slightly shaking her head. Michonne now had enough of his questions. She stood up from her seat, grabbing her handbag. She looked down at her boyfriend.

"It's for my job. If you don't like it, well guess what? There is nothing you can do about it. So, drop it or I am going home and leaving you alone in this restaurant!" she warned.

Negan let out a deep sigh.

"Fine. Just sit back down...Please." He gestured to the empty seat across from him. She took a seat back in front of Negan and picked up her dinner menu.

Michonne had never given Negan a reason not to trust her. She didn't know why she was getting interrogated. But, then again, every man should be jealous if their girlfriend was travelling with a blue eyed southern gentleman.


45 minutes later Rick arrived home. He placed his satchel on the floor next to the door. He threw his car keys into the clear glass bowl on the handmade cabinet. Rick made his way into his kitchen, placing his takeaway Chinese for one on the side. He opened the double doors of the stainless steel fridge door, retrieving a beer from the pack of 6. Rick popped the cap open and took a long sip.

Rick rested his back against the grey granite worktop, looking around his quiet empty home. His mind drifted to this upcoming weekend.

Rick had to admit that this was strictly a business trip, even though he wished it would lead to be something more between him and Michonne.


Author's note:

Thank you as always for taking the time out to read. Reviews would be very much appreciated.