A/N: Part II / 1-900-Richonne

Rated PG-13

RICK POV

I gazed out of my office window without really seeing anything. My mind thinking about the girl I'd talked to on the phone at 2 AM. Last night, I was so drunk that I was past the point of sleeping.

When I randomly called the sex line because I'd seen the commercial for it on tv. I have never expected to get someone as funny and dirty as Michelle. Damn, she had the sexiest voice I'd heard in a time-if ever. I hadn't lied when I told her the greeting was a huge cliché, but that wasn't truly the reason I paused. When she'd answered, her voice reminded me of someone from my past. But I was sure there was no way it was her and I certainly didn't want to start thinking about my fucked-up past, especially while I'm drunk.

"Rick!" My best friend's voice caused me to wince at the resulting ringing in my ears and pounding in my head.

"Shit, do you have to be so fucking loud?"

"Only when you're not listing to a damn thing I saying. Are you okay man?"

"Yeah, just didn't get much sleep."

Shane and I had been friends for years, and he knows everything about me, but I didn't want to tell him what was on my mind…Michelle belongs to me.

"Yeah, well, you need to get it together, we need to get this proposal finished and faxed over in the next hour."

"I'm on it," I spun my chair so it faced my desk and logged onto my new Gateway computer. Now I'm fascinated by two things Michelle and the new creation called the World Wide Web- WWW- for short. I pull up our website to see what my computer guys came up with. I smiled appreciatively, the music, color, and the general theme was perfect. It also gave me other ideas that I'd implement later. After I was done collecting some more data, I saved everything on the CD ROM. I also printed out the ROI and future earnings data.

Shane was more than happy with being the voice of the company. He was much better with presenting and the general schmoozing with the 'big wigs'. I guess my aversion to bigwigs is having been raised by one.

It was a little after 2 PM when my stomach growled and I decided to go out for lunch. I didn't bother asking Shane, he was on a major workout regime and only ate salmon and broccoli for dinner, the rest of the day he drank nasty-ass protein shakes.

"I'll be back in about an hour," I said to Carol, as I walked past the front desk and out of the lobby.

I drove through downtown traffic to Abe's Bar, my favorite place to go when I'm working. His cozy bar opens promptly at noon and the man always has some funny limerick to tell you. Best of all, he makes the best sandwiches and his waffle cut fries are amazing. He tells anyone who will listen that he makes weekly trips to Scholz Farms for his potatoes, carrots, and of course apples.

"Hi, Rick, what'll ya have buddy…" Abe asked as I slid into an empty barstool.

"Hi Abe, just going to have my usual," I said, nodding a hello to the only other person sitting at the bar.

"Coming right up." Abe poured me some ice water and went back into the kitchen.

"The Seahawks are going to make the playoffs this season." The older man said, taking a bite out of his Reuben sandwich, nodding his head at the TV news anchor.

I nodded and smiled. I wasn't into football, I was more of a baseball guy. I was about to change the subject, ask him how he liked the sandwich, when something, or rather someone caught my eye.

She appeared in the room with the cool air billowing around her skirt. Umber skin never looked so beautiful on a woman. With long black braided hair and her head held high, she waltzed on with an effortless saunter. Her body was a work of art, so petite, yet curvaceous. Her dress hugged every single curve. The dress was appropriate, the neckline didn't show any cleavage. But on this beautiful woman, it merely covered her curves like gift wrapping. I had thoughts of ripping that dress off and see exactly what she's working with. I squinted, trying to get a closer look at her face. She was picking up an order, Sasha was ringing the order and before I could think of a reason to approach her, she had paid for her food and left.

That woman, her body, just what I pictured Michelle's body would look like. Just the type of body that has always driven me crazy with desire. But there was something else… I chuckled inwardly, as Abe handed me my roast beef sandwich and waffle fries. I thanked him double time, the amazing smell of food took over my raging libido.

MICHONNE POV

I was devastated when Milton said he'd have to cut my hours down to 10 hours a week at the coffee shop.

"That's half my hours," I protested in vain.

"Blame the competition opening up all around us." He shrugged while wiping down the counter. "Maggie left to work at the one in Belltown, everyone is raving about the trendy drinks. Now, they're opening one right down the road." He shook his head and literally threw in the towel. It landed in the sink. "I hope it's just a fad." He clicked on the TV and tuned out.

I had heard about the chain of coffee shops opening in Pike Place Market and Belltown, but I never thought Starports would become so popular.

One thing is for sure, there was no way I could pay rent next month if I continue to work there. So, I put in my two weeks, finished my shift, hung up my apron, and left. I had homework and tons of studying before class tomorrow. My sweet southern mother taught me, that the worst thing is studying on an empty stomach. So, I called in an order at one of my favorite places.

Abe's bar is never really busy, but a handful of regulars are always on deck. Abe the owner, cook, and his beautiful wife Sasha are always there with a smiling face, hot beef stew, and warm apple pie.

I walk in today and just as expected, only a handful of patrons peppered the old pub. Although there was one face I hadn't seen before. Even from this distance, there was no denying how handsome the man is. There is something familiar about him, I just couldn't place it.

"Hi Michonne," Sasha cheerfully greeted me with my bag of delicious smelling food. I instantly lost my thoughts about identifying the handsome man and paid for my food.

I paged Maggie, knowing she was at work. She's one of my closest friends, and I know she'll call me back on her break or after her shift. I wanted to know if Starports has any openings. I'd have to take the bus to Belltown, but it's only a twenty-minute ride from my apartment.

I was finishing up the calculus assignment and my food when my phone rang. I answered with a hum, just after I had taken my last bite of apple pie.

"Hi Michonne," Maggie's cheerful voice sang at me.

"Hi Maggie, how's it going."

"If the 'it' you speak of is the job at Starports, than it's going fantastic," She said, "I would have called you, but I figured you'd be calling soon."

"Reading my mind," I replied with a chuckle.

She let out an easy laugh, "So you want the good news or the bad first?"

"I'll take the bad I suppose."

"We're fully staffed here. The pay is amazing, $8.00 an hour, with a minimum 25-hour workweek, so no one's quitting anytime soon."

I was happy for Maggie, that's the perfect job for her, she lives in Belltown so no more riding the bus for her.

"Damn girl that's fantastic, so happy for you Mags, you know I am, now gimme some good news."

"Another Starports is opening on 1st avenue next to Safeco Field, my manager here will begin interviews for that location tomorrow."

"That's what I'm talking about," I said with obvious relief. "Will you put in a good word for me?" I asked.

"Done, although, you don't need it, you're the best…All you need to know is Mr. Monroe- aka Reg, has three must-haves in order to get the job. One, you must have formal barista training, you do, so pass. Two, he'll ask if you've worked as a barista for over a year at one location, check. Three, he'll ask you to make him something."

"Make him something?" I asked, making sure I heard her right.

"Yep, he'll ask you to make a cappuccino, macchiato, an Irish coffee, something... and then the cooking timer will begin. If the drink is awful or you don't make it in the time allowed, your out."

"Well, that's certainly different from the way Milton interviewed us."

"Yeppers," She agreed and we both chuckled.

Two years ago, Maggie and I met at Trinity, a nightclub in downtown Seattle. She was a waitress and I was a bartender. We both walked out one night after the owner snorted too much cocaine and decided it was okay to keep grabbing our asses while we tried to work. That was not the first time he had done that, hell, he allowed his patrons to harass us all the time. Needless to say, we had enough, we took our tips, a bottle of top-shelf vodka and never looked back. We were both so afraid. We stayed up half the night drinking and wondering if we'd have to move back home with our parents. Maggie did not want to live on her father's farm in Oregon. And going home was out of the question for me. The memories, that house was no longer a home, so there was no way I was going back to Georgia. The next day we ended up at Milton's Café. He was the only one who would hire us on the spot and all we had to do was take the barista course at the community college. Milton is a good guy and I wish him the best, but at $4.75 an hour with only a 10-hour week, my lights will get shut off in no time. So after class tomorrow, I'll try my luck with Starports.

As for tonight, I've got a few more hours of studying and then it'll be time to log on to Hot-Chat. I'm actually looking forward to working tonight...the possibility of Rick calling excited me.