So I'm still tryna get my self together but this story won't be long. And I haven't forgotten the other two stories I had.

I was done. I meant it this time. I stared at the door that was just slammed in my face moments ago. My eyes moved to glance at Sasha's sympathetic expression. An expression that was all too familiar. It was true I made a mistake but it wasn't nearly as bad as he made it seem. It was a problem even Google could easily amend. I knew my lips were twisted downward. Because I was fucking pissed and for a good reason.

Walking over to my desk situated across from the only joy I get out of working at this dental clinic. Sasha. What would I do without her? I let Mr. Bigs's file drop to my grey oak desk.

"What did he say to you now?" Sasha questioned. It's been two years and I'm honestly convinced Dr. Grimes only promoted me to his personal assistant to torture me. And it was no secret to Sasha that I hated that man with all my heart. But this week. Oh, he was being exceptionally difficult.

I cleared my throat and straightened my back as I took a seat. With a little effort, it won't sound like I'll burst into tears. "Remember those addresses that the shipping company got mixed up?" She nodded looking away from the computer screen.

"Yeah, I remember. He gave you shit for someone else's mistake?" The thing is, I never told him about that mistake. So Mr. Bigs's replacement teeth were shipped somewhere other than his address. With all the shit going on in my life, that 'little mistake' slipped my mind. With the added amount of bullshit Doc throws my way. As time passed, a new stress line always seems to appear when a frown graced my face.

"I was close to bitch slapping that beard off his ass." My purple stress ball wheezed at the abuse. My fist was wrapped tightly around its now protruding face. It's dotted eyes stared into mine almost pleadingly. I was tense. I didn't even realize I grabbed it. I sucked in a quick calming breath. "He will never let me live down that one time he caught me arguing with Mike. He had the audacity and balls to call me incompetent to my face." I bussed my ass making sure everything was organized, made sure all his patients' files were in order, nothing was damaged or misplaced. I even made personal runs for him. Ungrateful asshole.

I could accurately recall that infuriating encounter. Him calling me into his office. Him pushing the paper in my face. Me idiotically entertaining his bullshit by acknowledging the mistake. Him telling me to keep my personal drama with Mike at home. But not in so little words. Rick was the kind of man to tell you exactly what was on his mind. So one could only imagine the bullshit he tooted off in that office. I knew it was a god damn reason he invested in those soundproof blocks.

Sasha chuckled at my misery. "Sounds like he needs some dick in his life. He looked miserable this whole week." She ended still laughing. All I could do was shake my head. Good dick can change a life. And it wasn't a secret Dr. Grimes liked to ride and suck the rainbow. Literally.

Surprise. Surprise. Dr. Grimes is very much gay. As far as I've concluded. In all of my five years working with him and my two years as his assistant, I've never seen the man with a woman. Never. And I have access to his personal emails. And at required times even his phone and his house. Besides what straight man dresses nice, has a beautifully decorated home and owns a cat? Zero, nada, none.

"Maybe I should set him up with Jesus, maybe even Aaron would take him," I mentioned idly still squeezing my stress ball.

"I heard that!" Aaron's voice would've startled me if I wasn't already immersed in my thoughts of ways to kill my boss. Aaron perched his blue covered thighs on my desk. His hair was slicked down today.

"You know if Rick was actually 'gay' I would've tried my hand a year ago." I scoffed at Aaron's words.

"You of all people know the stereotype for gay men has long been broken. There's no way of really knowing." And I was right. When Aaron came in as our new receptionist a year ago I didn't even know. Not that he had to announce it.

"Michonne, as a gay man I have a better idea as to who's homo and hetero." I shook my head mentally ending the conversation. I knew it was rude but if I had to say that man's name again... This was all too much for me. From the beginning of this month to the end of this week everything in my life turned upside down.

After a long depressing day on the job. I opened my apartment door foolishly overlooking the red heels beside my grassy welcome mat. My brain never registered that I didn't own red heels. My brain and my body just longed for rest, a break from the emotional stress I deal with during the day. Continuing my routine, I called out to Mike and like always he never responded. Kicking my shoes off I threw them to some unknown part of our apartment and dragged myself towards our bedroom. On that day something weighed heavy on my mind, causing me to pause momentarily before I opened the door only to see caramel thighs wrapped around Mike's dark naked hips. They were so immersed in their actives the only person who knew they were caught was me.

I was too tired to take the rage and hate I felt boiling inside me out on them. Instead, I just stared in disgust as Mike drove his hips deeper. Reaching into my bag my ears, as well as my phone, absorbed the girl's fake mewls of pleasure. I didn't breathe a word when hot fat tears slid down my face. Just as I opened the door I closed it. Ever since I've been crashing at my mother's house desperately saving money for an apartment. All that shit happened three weeks ago. Needless to say, I wasn't for Grimes's bullshit.

Honestly, I shouldn't have been least bit shocked. I hadn't slept with him in weeks and I saw the signs. Throwing away an eight-year relationship was difficult. I just think about all the time I've invested in our relationship, giving him the time he needed to get his life together only to have him shit all over mines. I gave Mike everything. When he didn't sell any of his art pieces I was there to help him. I was foolish to spend half my check on a man that didn't even want to marry me. I guess Rick had a point about leaving my personal drama at home. Although he gave me enough to shit at work.

Aaron peered at my face. "You don't need to stare Aaron, I know I look messy." He made an exaggerated show of rolling his eyes.

"You look beautiful, even when you look stressed. Actually, it's irritating." Before Aaron could say anything about my recent decision to cut off all my locs the phone started blaring. He held a finger up and slid off my desk back into the lobby.

Sasha shook her head, her eyes still focused on the screen before her. Undoubtedly playing solitaire. What I wouldn't give to be working under Lori.

"While Dr. Grimes was scolding you did he mention anything about dental classes he's required to attend?" Taking her eyes away from the screen for a split second, my guess was to gauge my reaction. I didn't fight the smile that attacked my lips. Just the thought of having a few days without him made my soul lift up and rejoice. Those dental conventions went on for a week. Last year Lori went and left Sasha here to her own devices. It wouldn't be a bad thing if Rick left and got lost somewhere In San Diego.

I just shook my head. Usually, I knew everything before him. Having access to his emails gave me that little advantage. How did Sasha even know he had a trip? Looking over at her she only raised her eyebrows at me in return.

"You didn't check his emails, did you?" Shit!

Quickly, I logged his data into the computer and searched for his recently opened emails. He always read his emails after I do. Without fail. He'd just comb through all of them with the expectation that I'd already taken note of anything important. And that convention sounded pretty important. It was also one more mistake on my behalf for him to bitch about.

There it was. He had a flight tomorrow morning. I never came across this message but it was already opened. I sighed. It's best for me to tell him about this mishap before he comes walking over to my desk just to tell me he needed to see me in his office. For goodness sake, my desk had a phone he bought himself with a working extension.

I printed out his flight details and got up to walk the path to his door. Sasha made the cross for me across her chest. I really hoped prayers from Anglicans worked on such short notice.

Steeling my back a let my fist rapt against the wooden door and waited for him to respond.

The door opened and I was met with furrowed eyebrows. As much as I hated him, I'd just be a nut to ignore how disgustingly attractive I found him. His hair was combed back, wild curls ending neatly at the nape of his neck. Well, I'm a nut because staring at his face just fills me with the urge to hit him.

"Do I have a patient coming in?" He had the door cracked open, enough for me to see his body that was wedged between it. I could care less if he was hiding something.

"No." I was still standing tall, I couldn't let the extra three inches he had on me bend the steel that erupted in my spine.

"Then why are you here?" His southern accent just washed over me.

I had to boost myself up before I handed him this paper also known as the death sentence to the damn that held back the tears I held in. Raising the paper between us I gave it to him. He frowned at the paper in his hands before looking at me with a blank stare. Opening his office door wider he ushered me inside. That only meant one thing.

"When were you going to tell me I had a flight tomorrow? When I came in this office and prepped my area for work?" He was a bit calmer than earlier. But his tone was still impatient and snappy.

Taking a deep breath I spoke. "It was overlooked. It was an honest mistake, Dr. Grimes." I kept my voice as steady as I could.

He scoffed at my pathetic excuse and scratched his grey and black peppered beard. "This is the second time today Michonne," Was it fair that he got to address me by my first name? "If you're having issues with Mike, whether it be him cheating or someone dying none of that should stop you from doing your job properly." He had no filter and honestly I was almost at my breaking point. It suddenly felt hot in his office. The pictures of smiling men and women behind him all seemed to morph into demons. They were all whispering, tell me to slap him.

I gave my head a small shake before responding to him. "My personal life has nothing to do with my ability to do my job."

He sighed deeply as his fingers reached up to loosen the first button of his blue denim shirt. Suddenly his face mirrored how I felt for the past month. Utterly exhausted. He busied himself with the computer. Because he didn't dismiss me I took the time to silently regard him. Those stark blue eyes peered intently at the monitor before him and his hands flew deftly over the keyboard. If I hadn't known any better I would've thought him to be in his mid-thirties instead of being forty-seven.

After pressing a little too hard on the enter key I averted my gaze before his eyes darted back to mine. He leaned back in his chair before looking over towards the printer.

"I think you should get that." He says. Hopefully, it was a letter terminating my employment or even better his resignation letter. Of course, I knew it was neither but one could only dream. I rubbed my sweaty palm down my black pencil skirt before getting up to 'fetch' the printed paper. The man treated Pearl better than his employees. He treats his cat better than his actual employee. I had nothing against Pearl, she's an adorable black Persian cat. Her owner was just a complete asshole.

I tugged the paper from the claws of the printer before dutifully carrying it back to his desk. He was still leaning back in his big leather chair his hands were clasped together in his lap. His eyes just watched my every move as I placed the sheet on his desk.

"Sit down." He ordered.

The urged to roll my eyes at his tone was intense but I managed to fight it and follow his instruction. He looked satisfied once I was perked up on the chair.

"Since I can't trust you to have things done properly without my supervision. I booked you a ticket as well." He turned the paper over, revealing flight details and it took a while for what he said to sink in. I couldn't stop my brows from rising as I read my name and birthdate. That fact that he just flat out insulted me didn't even register.

"Um, but the organizers don't cover the cost of that ticket." And it was true, they didn't cover any expenses for a dentist personal assistant which only left one thing.

"I paid for it myself, and while we're there I'll pay for any other expenses. Seeing as this is such short notice. This wouldn't have happened if I knew about this trip earlier." He finishes. I looked at the small print that spelled nonrefundable on the sheet of paper. Mike had already done his damage but I couldn't handle any more of Dr. Grimes bullshit. After this convention, I was quitting.

After ensuring that I called and rescheduled all of his patients for the week I headed home. As always my mother's home remained spotless and cozy. I kicked off my shoe and headed to the kitchen where the aroma of lamb stew invaded my senses. As a thirty-year-old woman, I wasn't eager to tell people I lived with my mother. For so long I've been on my own and with Mike. Regardless of everything I knew she would do anything for me.

"Michonne you look miserable. You'll never find a man if you look miserable you know." I found my mother over the stove stirring the contents in the pot. She looked up at me, her experienced eyes assessed my demeanor. She knew all about Mike's escapades if I didn't tell her she would've figured everything out from a number of suite cases piled in her living room and Mike's daily soap opera calls.

I tried to return her warm smile with a tired one of my own but I couldn't even manage that. She stopped her pot stirring when I leaned against the counter.

"What did that man stress you with now?" She questioned sternly. My mother's opinion of Dr. Rick Grimes is not a pretty one. That's only because I made him seem like Satan's spawn. To me, he was more like Satan himself. Despite that, she had this weird like for him. My hand grazed over the tight coils of my hair.

"I made a mistake at work and you can imagine what that man had to say to me."

"I do not understand that man. Michonne I told you, you can call me anytime so I can put that man in his place." She then continued to mutter.

"Mom, I know but I can handle him." At least until I came back from the trip. Since I was quitting it only seemed right to fuck up his life during that week. I'll just treat him the way he treated me, it was only fair.

Mom nodded off. "You know Mike called again."

My hand paused above my head and I released an irritated groan. "There is nothing he can say to make me go back to him, mother. He can't dig up an excuse for sleeping with another woman." Did I mention I sent the video of his sex tape to him? It's stored on my phone for insurance of course.

"He's going to figure out that you're here at some point. I can only deflect him so much." When she was finished cooking the food I helped her set the table for the both of us. I grabbed two bowls and placed them opposite each other. She grabbed a pot along with a pitcher of water.

"No need to worry about him, next month I'll be out of your hairs." She huffed and waved me off.

"When your brother had his little fight with his wife he stayed here. You know I'll always be here for you two, as long as I'm breathing." When Morgan had that 'little' fight with his wife he stayed with mum for nearly six months. I was just happy they made up, their relationship gave me a glimmer of hope that it's never too late.

"And I will always be grateful for that." I watched as her steady hands set our meals down, I simply followed suit and poured us two glasses of water. When I attempted to help her get seated she shooed me away and ushered me into my own chair.

"Now tell me what's got my one daughter so stressed." I sighed wondering if I should tell her the whole story or just half of what happened at work.

"Well you know, same old Rick grimes being embracing his nature which is unfortunately for me, an asshole. I made some mistakes today and he nearly ripped me a new one." I was grateful for my mother. No matter what she was always someone I can talk to. I could've told her I murdered my boss and I was sure she'd help me hide the evidence.

Her shoulders shook at my explanation. Never having met Rick, she had this strange admiration for him. If he didn't make my life hell I was positive she would just adore him. It was something I couldn't agree with.

Her smile grew and she blew the steam off the bowl before her. "Nothing like a man that tells you how it is." I rolled my eyes at her response.

I followed suit and blew the steam away from my own meal. "Shouldn't you be on my side? Honestly, I don't think I can take another month of him. I don't understand, I do my job and more. But I make one mistake for the entire year and it's off with your head."

"You did say you made a few mistakes." She mentioned offhandedly.

"Mom!" I admonished.

She shrugged slipping food into her mouth. "You said it, I'm just reminding you. I don't agree with the way he goes about berating his employees, it sounds like he's taking out some of his own stress on you. Like I said Michonne it only takes a bus ride to deal with Mr. Rick." I suppose I should thank her because without a doubt I knew she was serious. But really all she needed was his number.

"Thanks, but I really don't want you taking a bus to take your shots at him. If he wants to continue being an ass I'll just return the favor." My mother's spoon stopped before her lips and she raised her brows at me.

"When did you decide you were going to grow a backbone?" Since I decided I was quitting but that's not the point.

"I always had a backbone," I defended, "how do you think I lasted this long." She resumed eating her meal.

"Honey, sitting back and taking blows is not having a backbone, it's called being a punching bag." You know, I didn't want to acknowledge it but my mother and Rick seemed to be more alike than I thought.

"You should know by now that he pay's me well and he wouldn't write me a reasonable recommendation letter if I curse him every second." He paid me a little too well. In fact, it's the only advantage I have working with him than with Lori.

My mother fumbled with her spoon before staring back at me looking disappointed. Of course, I was confused. "Michonne," she paused, "I can't believe you let that man insult you every second." And there it was. "If I were in your shoes I'd just snidely tell him about his crack-"

"Mom!'' I chided quickly. She shrugged, combing her grey bangs away from her eyes she gave me an angelic look.

"I was going to say 'crackpot ass', you need to let loose a little." I groaned, knowing her she was going to say something worse than crackpot.

"Okay, mom I'm done talking about work, about Rick and am definitely done remembering anything related to Mike. Can we just sit here and eat."

When her lips parted to say something else related to Mike or work I quickly added a please. Thankfully she conceited and moved onto another topic. She spoke about the friends she made on her short walk to the store. She also complained about those same friends she made on her short walk to the store. And eventually, the conversation went to Duane. Morgan's son who is also my handsome nephew. By the time we finished our meal she chided me for not giving her any grandchildren and also attempted to set me up with her best friend's son.

"I just don't understand he's a sweet young man." Every week her best friend spawned another damn eligible bachelor for me to date.

"I just moved on from an eight-year relationship. Shirley, you can understand?" Sadly she didn't grasp the fact that I needed time to myself. My mother was and still is a firm believer of a strong woman having an even stronger man by her side to lead her.

"Honey, you're not getting any younger. You'll be thirty one soon. When I was that age I was already married with two children."

"I'm not even sure I want kids." I muttered and a gasp from her told me she heard every word.

"You'll soon find a man that you'll jump a bridge for. Then that tone you're having will change." Well, I thought I had found a man to jump bridges for but unfortunately he didn't jump with me, just watched me plummet into the ocean beneath the bridge.

My mother stacked our used dished neatly beside the sink after having already cleaned them. I sipped the rest of my water as she dried her hands.

The house phone blared interrupting out silent serene surrounding. I would've walked for the phone but knowing Mike had been calling here sobbing to my mother I wasn't going to test my luck.

After looking at my motionless frame she rolled her eyes at me and answered the phone with a stern hello. I just continued sipping my water looking at her face for any indication that it was Mike on the phone.

"Yes, this is Miss Guston." She said loudly. I instantly perked up leaning into her direction. "May I ask whose speaking?" I glanced over at the kitchen clock that read 8:31 pm. The only person to call this late was Morgan and all of my mother's retired friends were asleep.

Suddenly, her face was stuck between being delightfully surprised and a scowl. "Mr. Grimes, you say," Oh my god, did this man not annoy me enough at work? Now he wanted to do the same with my mother, "Its Dr. Grimes? Please excuse me, my memory is terrible." Her memory was far from being terrible. "You want to speak with Michonne?" She questioned. I made a motion for her to cut the call but she ignored me.

"Oh, what gave you the impression she wasn't here?" Mother gave me a look and twirled her finger around the phone's cord. I, on the other hand, was utterly confused by her finger twirling and slightly flustered appearance.

"Well, Dr. Grimes while we're having dinner she never has her phone near the table. That's probably why she didn't return your emails." I squinted at her smiling face and she chuckled. Actually chuckled while on the phone with Satan himself. And where did the Dr. Grimes come from? I just kept my mouth tightly sealed.

"Oh heavens no, she's not with Mike anymore. Oh, you didn't know?" Okay, that was it. Lines were drawn and they were cross. Quickly, I snatched the phone from my mother's hand.

I gathered my composure and greeted him with a bland tone. "Dr. Grimes, I'm sorry about that."

"Huh?" He hummed out over the phone seemingly distracted.

"You called for me?"

"Ah, yes. I wanted to go over some things with you before our flight." I was about to ask why he didn't use the email but I remembered my mother's earlier words. "I tried calling your number but your boyfriend kept answering?" I didn't want to say anything about Mike to him. As far as I was concerned my 'mother' already said enough.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my number changed." Sensing I wasn't going to dish out any details about Mike and me not answering that number anymore he dropped it.

"Right, this year's seminar is a little different but from what I've heard we're going to be there a little over a week," I sighed inwardly. Just what I needed, spending more unnecessary time with Rick. "Also, I wanted to warn you in advance about the hotel arrangements. I tried to book a different room but I came up empty, if you want to stay elsewhere you should find something now." The last thing I needed was to be stuck in close quarters with the man. I might suffocate him in my sleep.

"Alright."

"Oh, and find something within the same block radius as my hotel." With those last curt words, he hung up. Why is it that almost everything he said sounded like a damn demand? Suddenly feeling tired I hung up the phone and met my mother's silent eyes. I knew she had something to say.

"What is it, mother?" She pierced her lips satisfied that I acknowledge her brooding.

"First, it was very impolite for you to snatch that phone away from me Michonne. Now, that was your boss? Dr. Grimes?" She questioned. I don't know why she even asked when she already knew the answer.

I nodded already knowing she had something else to say. "Well I'll be damned, with a voice like his I'm surprised he's not married. He has such a commanding way with words. I like that." I was thoroughly embarrassed but glad no one else was here to hear what she just said.

"Well, he's single and it doesn't look like he'll marry anyone." Honestly, I'd feel sorry for anyone who ends up with him if that ever happens.

My mother touched her neck and brushed the bangs away from her face. "How old did you say he was again?" She cannot be serious! The last thing I need is for her to be lusting after my boss whose decades younger than her I might add.

I held back a choke and intentionally blurted, "He's gay!" Her head reared back as if someone slapped her. She shook her head furiously and looked at me like I was daft.

"Oh, honey I know a straight man when I see it. Or in this case, hear them." I didn't want to get into details about how wrong she was. I was tired and I had an early flight to catch. Ignoring her comment I kissed her goodnight after telling her I was turning in for the night. But I couldn't help but feel I had forgotten something.