Chapter 7
It has been one week since the explosive headlines in the dailies about Rick's secret love interest and his ex-girlfriend's ultimate humiliation. Grimes Snr have been introducing Rick to some influential people in his circle but told him that he himself have to strike out and make his own waves and make his own connection eventually.
Despite their mother's best efforts to keep Beth as far away from the political arena, Rick has kept his sister close to his side under the watchful eyes of Agent Atwell and Agent Rascolli.
Heeding his father's advice on wooing Michonne, Rick have had minimal private and personal conversations with her since but was secretly hoping that she would atleast talk to him or slip up into revealing something personal about herself.
It didn't happen so he remained content that Michonne was nearby. He watched her subtly as she watched their surroundings, making sure that he and his family was safe.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Andrea sat in the restaurant quietly observing a woman. It was someone that she has been wanting to meet for a long time but for her own personal gain. From all investigations, the woman was the manager of the eatery, had a live in boyfriend and mother to a two year old son.
She watched as the woman gave orders to other members of staff and also checks on other customers to ensure their satisfaction with their meals. Andrea had ordered a simple dinner of steak on a bed or vegetables and white wine.
After finishing her meal, she called over the waitress and spoke to her briefly. The waitress in turned walked over to the woman and whispered something in her ear. The woman looked over in Andrea's direction and nodded and Andrea reciprocated.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maggie was in her office but she couldn't concentrate. She was anxious for the information she had been waiting on since Rick's interview earlier in the week. Suddenly, her phone rang.
"Send him in."
Two seconds later, Mr Douglas walked in. He was Maggie's friend and a private investigator. He sat down.
"So?" Maggie asked anxiously. "Find anything?"
Trevor looked at his long-time friend from high school and sometimes employer.
"It wasn't easy but I did find a few things on this woman."
He took out the envelope and handed it to her. Maggie took it anxiously and ripped the envelope open. Her face registered disappointment on glancing at the first few pages.
"What is this? I already knew this information. It's in her CIA employment records!"
Maggie glared at him.
"Hold up Maggie. You know when I do an investigation I give the whole picture so I covered what you already know and what you don't know."
He took out another envelope but was hesitant in giving it to her.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
Maggie narrowed her eyes at him.
"What did you find Trevor? Is it something bad?"
"No…it just that…she paid a lot of money to have this sealed officially. I only got it because of a favour owed to me."
Maggie looked at Trevor worried.
"What are you going to do with this information?"
"Nothing. I just want to know who she is."
"Because Rick likes her?"
Maggie held her breath slightly…
"Is it that obvious?"
"No. It wouldn't be to most people but I am a trained investigator. My language is body movement. I saw the interview."
Maggie said nothing.
"Agent Atwell is a very private person."
"I figured that much. So does Rick. I just want to get to know her since Rick seems hell bent on making her my sister-in-law."
"Ok but promise me one thing."
Maggie nodded.
"I will only give you this if you promise to destroy it afterwards. Not shred it but burn it. You can't tell Rick any of this either. If she does decide to give Rick a chance, give her the courtesy of telling Rick about herself fair and square. Deal?"
"Deal."
He handed Maggie the envelope and left the office. Maggie stared at the package for a minute then opened it. Once she began reading, she began to slowly feel guilty. Agent Atwell's professional life may be spotless but her personal life is in shambles.
Anyone from the outside looking in would have never thought that she now has an ex-husband who cheated on her and had a whole other family on the side. Jeremy f*cked around and had two children that the agent clearly didn't know about.
Maggie looked at the pictures that Trevor had taken of Jeremy, his heavily pregnant girlfriend and their young daughter. In addition to being a cheating pig, Jeremy was also a leech who lived off of Michonne and her well earned money from her position as an agent while he was a failed writer.
Maggie read that they had married young and had acquired many properties which Michonne sometime renovated and sold for a pretty decent profit while others were turned into long term rental investments all thanks to Michonne's money.
Maggie's eyes bulged when she saw that Jeremy virtually got almost half of all the properties during the divorce. At first she wondered why Michonne didn't fight harder to keep what is rightfully hers. She had dirt on the scumbag and her attorney could have ripped Jeremy to shreds in open court but then realized that Jeremy also had the capability spill Michonne's personal life in public.
Instead Michonne chose the high road and settled the divorce, giving Jeremy almost everything that he wanted so that he could just go away. She was clearly a person who liked keeping her private life just like that...no matter how crazy it may be. Maggie could respect that.
Abruptly, a thought just dawned on her. Rick is interested in Michonne. Michonne and Lori are opposite sides on an equation. Rick is use to Lori's messiness and drama, whilst Michonne avoids it at all cost.
Maggie knows that Lori will still try to get in Rick's life and cause problems for whoever Rick's mystery lady is. Maggie laughed silently to herself. What irony it is that Lori has already met her supposed competitor. It is going to be difficult for Rick to get to know Michonne…that's for sure.~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Andrea watched as the woman walked the last customer out of the now closed restaurant. The woman took off her jacket and walked over to Andrea and took a seat.
"You said you wanted to speak to me in private."
"Yes."
"And you are?"
"I am Andrea Cooper, an attorney."
"Ok. Do I need an attorney for something?"
"Yes…you do Karen. For a divorce from your husband."~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Both ladies stared at each other for a couple of minutes.
"Tyrese sent you?"
"Yes" Andrea lied.
Well it wasn't a total lie. She and Tyrese had discussed him and Karen getting a divorce so that they could marry and have a baby but at this time Tyrese couldn't just take off to look for Karen. He was due for a long vacation in the next 6 months and decided that he would do it then. However, Andrea doesn't want to wait that long and decided to track down Karen herself.
"Ok." She paused. "Why would his lawyer come all the way out here this time of night to look for me?"
Before Andrea could answer Karen started laughing.
"Oh..my..God! You're his girlfriend. Aren't you?'
"Yes. So what? That doesn't change anything."
Karen shrugged her shoulders.
"How are my girls?"
"They are good. You should try to call them some time."
Karen heard the disdain in Andrea's voice.
"Don't come down here and try to shame or pass judgment on me when you're f*cking a married man."
"Look. I am not going to get into an argument with you. I am just here to let you know that divorce papers will be drawn up and sent to you. Just sign them so that everyone can move on."
"Who said I have moved on?"
"Well you have a live-in boyfriend and a son. If that's not moving on I don't know what is."
Andrea got up and left the restaurant.~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a meet and greet with potential investors in his campaign, it was time to go for lunch. Beth indicated to Michonne and Rascolli that they will be going to a restaurant at a small hotel three blocks from where they were and that they could just walk there.
"I don't like that idea. There could be people still out there trying to kill your brother."
Rick appeared at the exact moment when Michonne was expressing her concerns.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes…there is. Ms Grimes was just suggesting that we walk to the restaurant. Until we find out the person or persons behind the attack on you and your father we need to play it safe."
Rick readily agreed with Michonne.
"She's right. We will take the car."
Thirty seconds later, they walked into the restaurant and were immediately ushered into a private room. When they walked into the room, Michonne noticed that there was a table set for four persons.
"Are you expecting other persons to join you?"
"No."
Michonne glanced at the table.
"Agents have to eat too right?"
Rick and Beth walked over to the table and upon reaching it, he held out a chair for her. Rascolli looked over to Michonne who was his senior for their next move. Michonne walked over to the seat and sat down. Rascolli rushed over to pull out Beth's chair. She blushed slightly. When they were all seated, the waiters brought over their menus. They ordered and sat waiting for their meal.
"So what's it's like to be a CIA agent?" Beth asked.
Neither Rascolli or Michonne rushed to answer. They didn't know who wanted to go first. After a couple of seconds Rascolli did.
"It's intense sometimes."
"And dangerous." Beth added.
Rascolli laughed.
"Yes it is. But I have only been an agent for 6 years and haven't seen much action. The most action I've had so far is the assassination attempt on your father and brother."
"What about you Agent Atwell? How long have you been in the service?"
"Ten years."
Michonne chuckled when she saw the reaction on Beth's face.
"How old were you when you got in?!"
"I was young but that is a good thing."
"How?"
"Well…I get to make a career out of it."
"Are there many women in the CIA?"
"Not too many but there could be more."
Rick listened carefully as Beth converse with Michonne and Rascolli. He was only waiting for the opportune time to join in. So far, they were discussing the things that he already knew. He was hoping that the conversation would get alittle more in-depth and personal.
"Are you married Agent Atwell?"
"BETH!"
Beth flushed with embarrassment and so was Rick. Although he wanted to know if there was anyone in Michonne's life, he didn't want to know like this. Michonne herself was taken by surprise by the blunt question.
"I'm sorry." Beth apologized profusely. "I was thinking that being in the CIA it would be hard dating." She looked at Rick. "I will keep my mouth shut now."
Michonne smiled at Beth to ease her embarrassment. Rick apologized to Michonne as well.
"I'm sorry. Beth is naïve and blunt sometimes."
Michonne smiled at him and Rick's heart began to pound loudly in his chest.
"It's fine." She looked at Beth. "And yes…it very hard to date in this line of work. Most men tend to be intimidated by what I do."
"So you're not married?" Beth asked cautiously.
"No. I'm not married."
"But you do want to get married someday right? And have kids?"
Michonne paused and looked at Beth. Her innocence is so refreshing. Michonne hopes that she doesn't meet a "Jeremy" in her life…someone who would falsely offer the world of happiness to her while slowly pulling the rug from under her feet.
Suddenly she was filled with pain and anger from her divorce. She wanted a husband who loved her and a house full of kids. Instead Jeremy chose to deceive her, giving her dreams to someone else. Michonne glance briefly and saw Rick looking at her intensely, waiting for an answer.
"I'm afraid marriage is not for everyone Beth."
The waiter finally brought their food and they began their meal.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After reading the file Trevor brought her, Maggie tore it to pieces and set it on fire in the small metal trash bin in the ladies bathroom in the building. She watched it burned completely. Although she wanted to tell Rick what she found out, warn him of the upwards battle that he was going to face, she made a promise to Trevor and she intends to keep it. She walked back down the hall and into her office and Thia was there.
"Hey!" Thia hugged her. "I haven't heard from you since Rick's interview and Lori's public shaming."
She looked at her friend. How could she tell her that all the plans that they had is no longer workable. Rick already has eyes for someone else.
"Do you know who this mystery woman Rick was talking about in the interview?"
"That was the first time I was hearing about it."
Technically, Maggie wasn't lying about hearing Rick interest in another woman for the first time in the interview but she was lying about knowing who that person is. At this point she can't say anything to anyone but doing so would probably get Thia hurt in the process. She didn't know what to do.
"I was thinking about asking Rick out to dinner soon. What do you think?"
"I don't think that's a good idea Thia. Rick has pretty much set his sights on someone else."
"Yeah, but he also said that he doesn't even know if this woman will return his affections. There is still room for me to be in the race for his heart."
"I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Why would I? I am friends with you…you're his sister…so put in a good word for me. You should be on my side."
"Yeah but it's Rick's choice."
"I know I know!" Thai walked up and caught Maggie square at the shoulders. "All I am asking is that you help me get one foot through the door in Rick's heart and leave the rest up to me. It's only fair that this other woman get some friendly competition."
Maggie just merely nodded her head, just so she doesn't have to lie again to her friend. Besides, she does have a point. A little competition wouldn't hurt because at the end of the day Rick makes the choice not her.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Rascolli pulled up at the Grimes residence, he had to rush inside to use their bathroom as quickly as he can. Rick and Beth went inside, while Michonne reported her return to Agent Ford and Walsh. Rascolli also came and reported his return to Ford and Walsh. They then began going over the schedule for the next week.*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rick entered into his father's office.
"I'm back."
"Where were you?"
"I went to lunch with Beth."
"Ok. Go tell your mother. She was worried sick about you."
Rick let the office. On his way to the kitchen, he was pondering about the new information he learnt today about Michonne. She's not married. That's a good thing. Rick smiled to himself.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~