Deception (Chapter 2)

A/N: Thank you for the reviews, the follows, and the faves.

The conversation over breakfast starts out light as Maggie starts relaying to Michonne the choice of costumes she has for the video shoot. Michonne is only half listening as she tries to peruse Rick Grimes on the sly.

He looks up from his plate which has her immediately looking down at hers. "Speaking of this video shoot, where is it, what time do we leave, and who has the layout of the building?"

"The location is actually a mansion in the hills. It's about a thirty minute drive from here. According to the schedule, we'll be there for at least 4 hours, maybe more. If time allows they'll move on to a studio with a closed set," Morgan informs.

"Has anyone made a location check? I need blueprints or something for each location. We need to notate all of the entrances and exits for escape route purposes." Rick looks to Bob and Martinez conversing jovially and wonders why they aren't being more diligent in watching their surroundings.

"Escape route purposes? Is all of that necessary?" Michonne asks.

"Yes. Yes it is," Rick informs. He looks to Morgan. "Do you think your guys can handle going ahead of us and casing the place?"

"Of course," Morgan relays before excusing himself from the table to instruct Bob and Martinez on what to do. He tells them to contact him via cellphone as soon as they arrive.

Thirty minutes later, they are departing ways with Deanna as she is returning to her office. Michonne, Morgan, Maggie, and Rick pile into a waiting limousine, traveling to the video shoot location.

Morgan is on the phone with Bob while Rick is seated next to him and listening intently. Maggie is busy texting so Michonne turns to Rick. Her mind races as she tries to think of something, anything she could ask him.

"So, you wanna tell me what qualifies you for this job?" She asks, looking directly at him.

He meets her gaze but lifts a finger as an indication for her to wait as he listens to Morgan. She tries her best not to huff about it, but the nerve of him putting her on hold so to speak. She grabs her purse and retrieves her cell in an effort to keep busy and just ignore his presence. She can hear him asking Morgan something then he clears his throat and turns his attention to her.

"What were you saying?"

She looks up from her phone. "Never mind."

"I believe you asked what qualifies me for this job. Is that right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I can provide you with a resume and a background check but to give you a quick answer….I was a former officer with the military, special forces. I've had temporary assignments for…."

She cuts him off with, "It's fine really. I don't need to know all of that."

"Oh but you do. You need to know exactly who you're dealing with from here on out. I'll deliver a copy of my credentials to you personally. As a matter of fact, I've got it downloaded on my phone. I'll pull it up for you." He notices her clear heels as he reaches for his phone, finally piecing her entire outfit to memory, the multi colored dress fitting her nicely.

She tries to decline once again but moments later he is handing his phone to her and she is too curious not to take a look. She swipes upward and peruses the entire file, Maggie curiously leaning over to look with her.

"Impressive," Maggie describes. "Did you really attend the Correspondent's dinner at the White House?"

"Not really. I was actually working," Rick returns.

"I didn't see where you've worked for any other celebrities. Am I your first?" Michonne asks.

He gives her a slight smile, almost shyly. "You're my first."

Maggie looks over at Michonne, wondering at her choice of words but is distracted as her phone starts to chime.

Michonne returns his phone. "Well, I'll take you up on that personal copy. That'll be my reading for tonight granted we make it through the day."

"Yes, ma'am," Rick concedes.

As soon as they arrive at the mansion, Michonne is whisked off to hair and make-up much to Rick's agitation. He follows, barging into the room and taking up a vigil close by.

"Sir, I'm sorry. You can't be in here." A short bald guy tries to wave Rick out of the room.

He turns toward Michonne and walks up behind her as she is seated in front of a lighted mirror. Their eyes connect in the reflective glass and she knows exactly what he expects of her.

She looks over to the bald guy. "He's fine. He's with me."

Rick gives her a slight nod before moving back to his previous stance.

She shudders just a bit after that exchange, checking him out as his back is turned. The navy blazer and jeans look good on him. She drops her eyes right as he turns around and makes a mental note to tell Maggie maybe she should be some sort of go between for her and the bodyguard. She is brought back to the matter at hand as the hair stylist returns and starts working on the first style for the shoot.

Rick is watching the area vigilantly as the music blasts loudly, thumping through his body. They are shooting by the pool, the director shouting directives as Michonne relaxes on a chaise lounger. She is wearing a white one piece bathing suit with a flowing chiffon coverlet that drapes the ground. The blaring red heels match her blaring red lipstick.

The popular male singer arrives and is put in place as the director soon yells, "Action!"

Only minutes later, she is yelling, "Cut!" as Michonne is deflecting the singer's hands from her derriere.

"Is there a problem people?" The director asks.

The slightly inebriated singer frowns as he addresses the director. "This…..is a love song. If she's playing my lady, I should be able to kiss on her, touch her….we're trying to make this video as appealing and realistic as possible."

"Tyreese, I understand your vision but you've got to understand mine. We're going the respectful route here, putting her on a pedestal. Save the groping and grabbing for the collab with Ludacris. Got it?" The director gives a fake smile before rolling her eyes, hoping they can all get through this shoot without any mishaps.

Two hours and three more outfits later, they are ready to call it quits for the day. The director has had enough of Tyreese's complaints and hopes tomorrow on the closed set will be a better day. She assigns her assistant with ensuring everyone knows the time and the place. She only shakes her head as she witnesses Tyreese following Michonne to her dressing area.

Rick is close behind as well as the pop singer's two guards. He walks into the room just as Tyreese steps to Michonne.

"I don't care what that director says. This is my video and if I want to touch you, I will," he demands.

"I wasn't hired for you to touch me. I'm not some video vixen you might get lucky with," Michonne returns heatedly. "Of course you're welcome to get just that. I'm only here as a favor or did you forget that little tidbit?"

Morgan and Maggie walk into the room just as Rick steps to Michonne's side.

"Who the fuck is this?" Tyreese demands.

Rick doesn't bother to address the singer at all. He looks to his bodyguards and one of them steps forward, attempting to talk to his boss.

Morgan immediately calls Bob and Martinez just in case.

A huge heavily muscled guy walks into the room smiling behind dark glasses. "Tyreese, my man! I heard the video is going well! This is going to be your best one yet!"

The singers' two bodyguards seem to be relieved as the large man steps to Tyreese and claps him on the back.

"Hey Tiny. Yeah I guess it is. Have you ever met Michonne?"

Tiny looks to the beauty in front of them and smiles even wider. "I've never had the pleasure. My oh my….you certainly are beautiful. Thank you so much for agreeing to do this video. I'm Tyreese's manager, Theo Crane but please call me Big Tiny. I used to work with Spencer Monroe."

"Nice to meet you," Michonne says. "We're done for the day so if you gentlemen don't mind, I'd like to get changed now."

"Of course, of course. How about we get some drinks afterwards? Get to know each other a little better?" Tiny offers.

"Thank you but no. We've got an early start tomorrow. Jacqui wants to get the video done then," Michonne informs.

Tiny looks her up and down, then says, "Too bad. Maybe some other time." The four men take their leave just as Bob and Martinez arrive. Morgan and Rick leave as well.

Minutes later, they are in the limousine again and traveling back to the hotel. Rick has been bothered by the exchange ever since it happened and has to ask.

"So is that the usual for you? Guys hitting on you all of the time?" Rick asks.

Michonne only gives a slight nod, still a bit annoyed by it.

"Pretty much. We're used to it by now, but it still gets quite bothersome," Maggie answers.

"So does your reputation precede you or something?" Rick wants to know.

"My reputation? What does that mean exactly?" Michonne returns.

"The movies, the shows….they've all depicted you as some sort of…I don't know….a modern woman, right? Maybe that helps in giving guys certain ideas about you."

"I don't think that's fair, Rick," Morgan interjects.

Michonne only gives a shake of her head. "It's fine, Morgan." She looks to Rick. "Have you ever seen any of my movies Mr. Grimes?"

"No, I haven't."

"Well, I'll be happy to deliver the DVDs to you personally. Maybe that will be your assignment for the night. You need to do a little more research if you decide to take the job."

Rick feels like he has just been indirectly chastised. He also feels a slight need to apologize but he knows what he saw in the file. How can a man's mind not be filled with impure thoughts seeing her like that? "You're right. I need to finish my research."

They all fall silent and for some reason Michonne's feelings are just a bit hurt. His assumption about her reputation brought to mind her parents and what they thought about her career choice. She hasn't spoken to them in almost four years but she continues to send cards on special occasions, her tithes are paid to the church each month, she communicates with her friend Mike as he still lives in their hometown and works for her dad at the church. He assures her they are doing fine. Plus, the cards and money she sends are never returned so that's an indication they are receiving them.

A preacher's daughter….that's what she was and now according to her parents, she's lost. She sighs heavily as they pull up to the hotel and are escorted inside. Maggie asks about dinner plans but Michonne tells her she will order room service and remain in her room for the night. She also informs her to handle the exchange of her DVDs and Rick's background information. She bids everyone a good night and requests Bob to escort her to her room.

Rick pulls Bob off to the side for just a moment before allowing him to escort her to her room. The latter was informed to get her order for room service and to handle it personally instead of allowing the hotel staff to bring it to her. Michonne can't help thinking that Rick does seem very proficient when it comes to his job or his would be job.

After Bob delivered her meal, he asked if she would need anything else and promptly left her alone after she told him she'd be fine. She put her phone on silent, then relaxed in the shower before dressing for bed and watching the local news while partaking of her dinner.

Her mind keeps wandering back to the conversation in the limo and she can't help thinking that maybe Rick Grimes isn't the right man for the job. His assumption about her reputation was all wrong. She was an actress, that's what she was paid to do…play a part. None of that meant that she actually lived the life of the characters she portrayed. For the hundredth time, she reflects over her career and asks if she made the right decision.

She was in college in New York when she was noticed by a modeling agent. That led to her first paying job as a model and she found that she liked it. Modeling led to an audition for a Super Bowl commercial and that commercial catapulted her into a TV series playing a detective. She was taking acting classes while working on the show each week. She was content but then another opportunity came. An opportunity that basically landed in her lap because she caught the eye of the author of the book the movie was based on. He asked for her personally and Deanna told her she'd be crazy to turn the audition down.

Needless to say, she auditioned and got the part. It was all about a female spy….a Bond girl without Bond so to speak and yes she had to dress sexy and wear bikinis but there was never any nudity and one of the biggest appeals of the character is that she was a flirt and a tease but she wasn't some slut hopping from bed to bed. The movie was a box office hit so when the offers poured in for magazine covers, shoots and interviews, Deanna thought it was best to give them what they wanted. People, fans wanted that character so that's what she gave them. The movie flourished into a series of sequels solidifying her as a Hollywood A lister.

She was young and successful so yes she hit the party circuit with Maggie and others but it was all for fun. She still remembered her upbringing so she never got into drinking and drugs even when it was offered over and over again. She also never got into any serious relationships. She didn't have time. She was harboring one secret that no one knew about her. She'd reveal it only when she felt the time was right and only to one person in particular.

Finally, the fallout with her parents and Mike although the latter had eventually forgiven her and they started communicating again. Her parents didn't like it when she started modeling and things only got progressively worse. She left college needing only 15 credits to graduate to her parents' fervent oppositions. She completed the credits online and has her degree. She sent them proof of that but it didn't seem to make a difference. She was supposed to go to law school and become a lawyer, not some provocative movie star. Most of all, she believes her parents were embarrassed that she chose this path in life. They were making the same assumptions as Rick Grimes.

Recalling him and his assumptions has her thinking on whether or not she should hire him for the job. She knows Deanna and Morgan are already sold. Maggie too from the awe on her face after looking over his resume. He probably is the best man for the job even if he does have the wrong idea. Maybe that's one of the reasons he didn't come on to her like other men have done. He seems different. She wouldn't have to worry about him being inappropriate with her.

She is startled by the knock at the door. She grabs her robe and puts it on, reaching for the doorknob. She stops herself as she assumed it was Maggie, remembering that she has to be more cautious now. She checks the peephole and is surprised to see Rick. She takes a deep breath and opens the door.

"Hi. I just wanted to check on you and say good night. I'm only a coupla doors down if you need me. Also, Maggie delivered the DVDs but I insisted on delivering my file to you. I hope you don't mind."

"It's fine, Rick. Well, have a good night." She moves to close the door but he stops her.

"Um…tomorrow. Would it be ok if I escort you to the fitness center?"

"Sure. 5:30 ok?" She asks. "I guess we can decide your fate over breakfast."

"My fate?"

She tilts her head. "The job. We still have to decide if we can work together. Remember?"

"Right. Well, I'll see you in the morning," he tells her. He hands the file to her and bids her good night, thinking he has basically messed himself out of what could've been a promising assignment.

She closes the door, locks it and curls up in bed to devour his file. Meanwhile, Rick is binge watching her movies, ensuring his research is thorough and complete.

The next morning, he is at her door at 5:25 and they make their way to the fitness center together. Their work out turns into a friendly competition which leaves them both breathless and laughing.

Much later, they are at the restaurant just as the day before with Maggie, Morgan, and Deanna. Bob and Martinez are close by.

Deanna cuts right to the chase with, "Alright. It's been twenty four hours. What's our decision?"

Rick reaches into his jacket pocket and retrieves some papers. He unfolds them and spreads them out on the table. He then looks to Michonne and says, "I signed the contract last night. I'm yours if you'll have me."

She wonders at his choice of words and concludes that he doesn't even realize how that could possibly sound to her. For some reason, that makes him even more endearing. "Welcome to the team Mr. Grimes." She extends her hand and he grasps it gently, sealing their deal.