Building Blocks- Deal with Daredevil

Chapter 4: Defense at-her-knee

About two weeks after Zoe's project had been accepted for implementation, she was called into a meeting with Mr. Sealy and Mr. Walcott. They discussed how they would get the men on the block to buy in to the project.

"So you think you can get through to this Daredevil?" "Yes. I've seen him around for the past fourteen years now..." "Ms. Martinez, with all due respect, just seeing someone around doesn't mean that you know them." "I understand that Mr. Sealy, but ... I'm not sure how to explain this. I just know he won't hurt me. I know that he'd listen to me." "And how do you know this?" "By the way he moves around me, h-he gestures..." "What kind of gestures are we talking about here Ms. Martinez?" "Well, the way h-he watches me..." "Okay stop right there," Mr. Sealy laughed. "So you're saying that you think you can get through to him because he's attracted to you?" Mr. Walcott interjected. Mr. Sealy and Mr. Walcott chuckled. Zoe stiffened her face, frowned lightly and sighed softly. Mr. Walcott continued "Ms. Martinez, you should know that we have trained people to do this kind of thing; people who are not connected in any way to these thugs, who can give them an objective ultimatum that they can decide to logically. So there is really no need to use this Devil or what's his name's desire for you to coax him to agree to the project." The two men chuckled again. "That's the jokiest thing I've heard all day." Mr. Walcott reinforced.

"Very well then." Zoe succumbed. "And just to clarify, Mr. Walcott, the fact that Daredevil, and not Devil rather, assuming h-he is attracted to me, which I do not attest to at all, does not make me connected to him in any way. I never spoke to the guy. Nothing." "Ms. Martinez, I hope you weren't offended by my explanation. I simply meant to say, that we have trained professionals to do the ground work for this project and you do not need to put yourself, nor do I expect Mr. Sealy to put any of his office staff in danger by interacting with these men," affirmed Mr. Walcott. Mr. Sealy nodded in agreement. Zoe smiled, sighed and shook her head as she leaned in to remark

"Mr. Walcott, with all due respect, Enterprise is my community. I have lived there for almost two decades of my life. I intend to be part of this Pilot project. Now it is not my long lost desire to work with these men, but to appease my personal sense of giving back, I plan to at least be part of getting it off of the ground and your trained professionals can implement the daily workings of the project." "You are indeed getting it off the ground. In fact you have planned a fine project and will get the due recognition, but we'll take it from here." Mr. Walcott advised. Zoe sighed aloud in bewilderment. Mr. Sealy was getting nervous now. "Recognition?" repeated Zoe. "You think I'm doing this for recognition?" "Well it seems so, given your adamant desire to interact with this dangerous devil dare under the ambit of this project..." "I beg your pardon..." "Ahem!" interrupted Mr. Sealy, as he stood and gestured to shake Mr. Walcott's hand "Thanks for coming Mr. Walcott. Uh, your insight has been valuable. We will continue to keep you updated with the development of the project." Mr. Walcott paused for a moment with his hand on his jaw as he stared at Mr. Sealy before standing and shaking his hand. "You do just that." He remarked and he turned and left the room without acknowledging Zoe.

Mr. Sealy looked at Zoe who was looking straight back at him with a straight face. He walked out from behind his desk and shut the door to his office. "Zoe, even though he is a sexist, egotistical jerk, he does have a point. It is too dangerous." Zoe sighed. "Mr. Sealy, I grew up among some of these men. Don't you think if they wanted to hurt me they would already?" With his both hands raised in front of him to indicate surrender, Mr. Sealy admonished, "Zoe, I am just simply suggesting that you reconsider..." Zoe continued to stare at him unmoved and folded her arms. "... which I already know you won't. I told you before that you remind me so much of my daughter-stubborn yet driven. You know what you want and won't stop until you get it. Sigh!" Mr. Sealy stopped to ponder. He sat on his chair with his hand on his mouth. He looked at the picture of his late daughter on his desk and then glanced up at Zoe who was still folding her arms looking at him. "And just like my daughter, you always seem to move me with your stare. Sigh. Okay Zoe. You'll be the point person. I'll put you on the ground." Zoe smiled, releasing her folded arms and instead clasped her hands. Raising his finger pointing, he warned "But only for the initial meetings." Zoe leaned on his desk "Aww." She protested, pouting her mouth and frowning. "I mean it." Mr. Sealy cautioned. Zoe laughed. "I'm just teasing you Mr. Sealy. I really only want to go so far. Thank you." Zoe smilingly reached out her hand. Mr. Sealy chuckled and shook it.

"You're most welcomed Zoe. Just be careful. In fact, you won't be alone. Those trained professionals referred to will be there with you." Mr. Sealy winked. "Now if you will excuse me, I have a lunch date with Ms. Carrington, thanks to your advice." "Yes. I take it things are going well with you two?" "Well, we're taking it slow," he replied as he attempted to straighten his tie in the mirror on the wall. "Here, let me help," Zoe offered. "Careful, you don't want people inside here to get the wrong idea about us." Mr. Sealy warned, especially as there was a transparent window to the rest of the office. "You're right. You know you're like a father I never had." "And likewise you are like a daughter. But just to reiterate, me knowing your father is not why I hired you." "I know, I know." Zoe related, unconsciously fixing Mr. Sealy's tie. "Anyway, you'd better not be late. You know how Ms. Carrington could be."

"Dat project ah yours ain't go wok eh," cautioned Shirlanta as soon as Mr. Sealy was out of the office. She was peeping over the cubicle. "Dem gangster an dem ain't go want notin to do wid Government workers. Yuh feel is stupid dey stupid?" Zoe glanced up at her and noted, "Thanks for de advice, but my proposal was already accepted. And it will come off the ground, by the grace of God." "Hmm. Everytin is grace ah God wid you. Yuh never hear yuh cyah mix fait wid foolishness? An besides, some people does want to play dey all holy when dey fraternising wid de boss behind closed doors." Zoe felt rage bubbling up inside her not only as a result of the judgemental remarks of Shirlanta, but also due to her false accusations. Attempting to not let things get out of hand, and to not allow an avenue for her good to be evil spoken of, she changed the topic "If yuh don't mind Shirlanta, ah have some work to finish." Zoe declared as she continued writing. "Hmm." Shirlanta turned up her nose and slipped back down into her seat, as she uttered loudly enough for Zoe to hear but softly enough to appear as though she was talking to herself, "Yuh cyah say ah never warn yuh. Is not yesterday ah workin in dis Ministry. Ah know how dem criminal does tink. Anyway, when yuh project fail, mine go just be implemented." Shirlanta hummed and danced in her chair. Zoe shook her head and rolled her eyes.

 Play  Mary Mary 'God In Me'