"Sensitive people either love deeply or they regret deeply. There really is no middle ground because they live in passionate extremes."
― Shannon L. Alder
I had no idea who the man initially was standing in the elevator from the 6th floor with facial hair, dark skin like Michonne's. He towered over me in comparison. He carried a few in-office yellow folders. I sized him up and noticed his name tag, Tyrese Jones. Mailroom. I was on my way down and out of the building to go and locate Michonne who still wasn't answering her phone nor text.
"Hello, Mr. Grimes."
He knew who I was.
"My sons love your moves in that video. They can't believe that I work in the same building with the very man that has billions of dollars and is cool. My young boys are amazed, 'Like he doesn't have bodyguards when he is bodyguard rich?'. I told my boys the day you put guard needed for CEO Rick Grimes, I am applying so I can get out of the mailroom." Tyrese chuckled.
"You don't like the mailroom?" Mr. Grimes asked coolly.
The elevator was stopping on each floor and Mr. Grimes shook his head at anyone that thought they were riding with him and Tyrese down to the first floor. They would have to wait for another elevator.
"No, sir. I mean wait-yes sir. I've been down in the mailroom for the last five years, and this is the first time I am about to share an elevator with you. Random. What are the odds? I was just throwing it out there. I am a single father with three boys to support." Tyrese stated nervously wondering if this was firing move that he only heard rumors about. Things he considered myths. Fables. Fibs.
"Where's their mother?" Rick asked. Michonne had always told him employees loved for their bosses to make nosey connections. Appear to care. Garner information.
"Being a Ho. Umm, I mean, she wanted to be free, and she is out there doing things freely."
"Sounds like my ex-wife. Not the Ho part but wanting to be free to do things freely." Rick corrected quickly. He got a snippet of this man's life. He needed to know how Michonne was factored and halt any mathematical equation that involved her.
"What are the odds we have something in common!" Tyrese exclaims.
"What were the odds of you being on the eighth floor assisting Michonne earlier today? It was brought to my attention that you helped Michonne pack her things from her desk earlier. Why?"
"She asked me to carry the box down for her, sir. Is there a problem?"
"Yes." Rick stopped the elevator from making it to the 1st floor. "Is that part of your job duties in the mailroom?"
"Is this even appropriate, how this conversation is taking place?"
"Highly inappropriate, but I am highly out of my friggin mind. How long have you and Michonne been dating?"
"What did she say?"
"I am asking you, How long and when did this shit start?"
"We went on one date. The chemistry was off because she is hella weird. Hella funny in a good way though. My boys love her, but I have to admit I really don't get her sense of humor. It's kind of like New Girl. Have you watched that show?"
"Can't say I have." Rick made a mental note to ask Michonne about whether or not he would like that show.
"Well, it's cute coming from the white chick Zooey Deschanel, but it's odd from a very sexy attractive black woman, like Michonne. You expect, Michonne to be a particular character but you realize midway in a conversation that she made a reference to Blue Pill Red Pill from Matrix, that she ain't like no around the way chick from the block where I am from, you get me? I don't mean to be racist or stereotype you, white people."
"I am really trying to follow along." Rick realized he needed Michonne to decipher what was just spoken to him from this tall seemingly gentle giant of a man who was supporting three boys on mailroom pay.
"I spent that whole first date with Michonne, trying to follow along but it was fucking draining. I don't get her. I don't get her at all. She only came down to the mailroom today to make sure I was okay with not continuing, and I was all right. It's been several weeks since we had even gone on that date where she was busy texting you the whole time, to be honest."
"Where the hell was I?"
"I don't know, sir."
"A lot of texting indicates she was pissed off about something or-I was on a date too." Rick said more to himself.
"She wanted me to help her carry the brown box out. She said it was heavy with blur. Too heavy she claims, but it only had a few things based on the weight. Did she actually quit?"
"Just be glad I changed my mind from firing you." Rick pressed the button for the elevator to continue.
"Fired?"
When the elevator opened two security guards were waiting to escort Tyrese out of the building only stepping aside for Rick Grimes.
"I changed my mind, he's not fired. Michonne Benton is and will always be allowed back in this building regardless of policy."
...
Michonne: Aren't you suppose to be on a date, Grimes?
Mr. Grimes: I was checking up on you.
Michonne: Concentrate on your date.
Mr. Grimes: Dinner Theater. Patsy Cline. I have already done this with you.
Michonne: You need to speak up. You should had a different idea.
Mr. Grimes: You always have ideas.
Michonne: I am not giving you any to make your date with her a good date.
Mr. Grimes: I wasn't asking.
Michonne: Good.
Mr. Grimes: What are you doing?
Michonne: At the movies.
Mr. Grimes: Really where are you?
Michonne: In bed waiting for you. Which one are you most likely to believe?
Mr. Grimes: I believe you are waiting for me.
Michonne: Actually at the movies
Mr. Grimes: You don't go to the movies. You don't go alone. You told me that. You have a whole story about why you don't.
Michonne: I am at the movies.
Mr. Grimes: Who are you with?
Michonne: Rules on the screen says I must turn my phone off so not disturb anyone from their viewing pleasures. I bet your date doesn't even know you've already had a good time at Patsy Cline and you are bored out of your mind right about now wishing it was me you were with instead of her. :))
Mr. Grimes: I am not bored. She's just boring. I have no idea why I am doing this.
Mr. Grimes: She's complained about the food.
Mr. Grimes: She only ordered a salad and picked over everything.
Mr. Grimes: What did you say about women and salads?
...
"I have to tell my kids about us." Rick hung the picture back up in the foyer that Michonne had taken down earlier.
"Yeah?" Michonne stood back to make sure it wasn't crooked. She was dressed in Rick's Blue oversized Pajama top. She was helping place everything back to blur status. A few hours ago made everything different between them. Rick had officially asked Michonne to basically be in a relationship. He was fully committed to their blurring the lines from work to we are in an actual relationship.
"Yeah." He turned for Michonne's approval that the picture didn't need any additional adjusting. It didn't. He followed her throughout the house.
"I have them this weekend, and I think I will tell them at dinner."
"You want me there?" Michonne asked.
"Where else were you going to be Michonne?" Rick was curious.
"Nowhere else." Michonne beamed.
"I want you to move in."
"What?" Michonne was startled.
"I want you to share my bed every night." Rick put it all out there. He had known Michonne for three years, sexually a month and he never felt strongly about anyone in his life as he did his dreadlock beauty that made him complete putty in her hands.
"Okay." Michonne was in agreement.
"I want to ride to work together and leave together." He was hoping he wasn't coming off too clingy. He enjoyed Michonne. He wanted to overdose and then gradually come to his senses. Rick knew it was saying a lot about him by stating because to ask made him feel even more vulnerable if she didn't agree.
"Rick, I've quit. I quit my job at GO Stop earlier today."
"You need some time off or more, I'm okay with it. I'm willing to give you that, Michonne."
"I actually did quit. Did you not go down to HR and ask?
"Why would you quit? Please tell me."
"I was offered Operations and Finance in San Diego. It was an offer from you because you trust me that much with your company. But it confused me that you would want me to go to San Diego. I read that as I want to break up. Plus the way you were acting and remaining at level 10. I feel to deeply about you, Rick and it would have meant more if you were there asking me to take the position. Not some random person from the Board to break up with me. I quit. I quit you. I quit Personal Assisting you and it wore me out. I don't know how to play the angry black woman and all that to say, I didn't take the position because I am NOT going to San Diego."
"What position do you want, Michonne?"
"Operations and Finance where ever you are and I understand that it would be Highly Inappropriate for me to remain your Personal Assistant now that you are an Internet Sensation as we speak 5mil views."
"You will take Operations and Finance. It will be Virtual for you here in Georgia, okay. I will put my John Hancock on it."
"I really want Operations and Finance, Rick."
"That's what was offered to you, Michonne." Rick noticed that the inflection was different. Oddly different. It wasn't lost on him.
"I want the very personal level of Operations and Finance, Rick." Michonne clarified.
"I have no idea what Illuminati level you think I have at GO Stop, but you are weird, Michonne." Rick eyed her as he made way to the kitchen to make their dinner. He handed her the vegetables once she dried her hands to chop while he handled the boneless skinless chicken breast for their stir-fry.
"I want the very personal level of Operations and Finance, Rick." Michonne slowly enunciated. "What's weird?" She handed him the wok.
"I will let them know you have indeed accepted the position." Rick shook his head exasperated. "I am glad you know how to turn that thing that you do with me off when you are in the office with the other's. I really don't like people knowing how quirky you are and I am awaiting the details of what transpired when you turned down the offer. I will tell them it was a miscommunication. Only you and I need to know certain things have different meanings. I want them to focus on the fact you get things done and the shit is correct, Michonne." Rick watched Michonne concentrate cutting the onions and peppers while he rinsed the meat just the way Michonne wanted the meat washed before cooking.
"So you are aware there is a different meaning?"
"I just officially converted to blur-ism. Anything else could possibly kill me, Michonne."
"Ugh, you don't get me." Michonne chopped faster.
"Baby steps, Michonne. Baby steps."
...