Teach Me: Prologue

The fire could have destroyed his life. If not the fire, the investigation that commenced afterward certainly would have. Fortunately, for Zackary Davenport, people believed in him enough to invest in his projects to provide affordable quality homes for anyone that desired them. The pending meeting in New York was of the utmost importance for accomplishing the first phase of his goal. However, once he reached Richmond International Airport he found a stumbling block—a small one to his thinking, but a stumbling block all the same. And one he planned to move immediately.

The Department of Motor Vehicles was not as crowded as Zack expected. He smiled thinking, I should be in and out in no time, as he took a seat to wait for his number to be called. The receptionist at the information desk had given him an application to complete to renew his expired driver’s license. His driver’s license had to be renewed to board the plane to New York. It was a good thing his secretary JoEllen had allowed a few hours between his arrival at JFK and the meeting with his clients, he thought as he completed the application. He was really pissed when he was not allowed to obtain his boarding pass for the plane. The wonderful feeling he woke up with that morning almost deserted him. But then he took responsibility for the delay. He was the one who allowed his driver’s license to expire.

The automated system announced his number. Zack looked up to see his number on the monitor for window three. Checking his watch, he smiled knowing the next flight for New York was in two hours. That was plenty of time for him to renew his license and be back at the airport in no time. In a few minutes he would be on his way.

“Good morning.” The clerk said with a smile. “How may I help you?”

“Good morning,” Zack replied as he gave his application and license to the clerk. “I need to renew my driver’s license.”

“I’ll be happy to assist you with that.” The clerk took a moment to look at the license, then looked back up at Zack. “Mr. Davenport, your driver’s license has expired. Do you have proof of legal presence with you?”

A frown creased Zack’s face right above his eyes. “No. I don’t. I don’t think. What is it and why do I need it?”

“The law requires proof of legal presence in order to renew your driver’s license. A birth certificate or passport or…”

“Look,” Zack interrupted, “I’m not getting a new license. I just need to renew the one I have.”

“Yes sir, but you will be receiving a new license.”

“I don’t want a new license. Just give me this one back with a new date on it,” he said pointing to the license the clerk had in her hand, on the verge of losing the little control he promised himself he would keep when he left the airport.

The clerk smiled, “I’m sorry sir, it doesn’t work that way.”

For some reason the clerk’s smile pushed him closer to breaking his promise. “Do you find something funny about this situation, because I don’t?” Zack stated.

The clerk didn’t frown, but quickly removed the smile. “Not at all sir. I was just smiling.”

“I don’t need your smiles. I need my license renewed,” he replied in a near shout.

“Yes sir,” the clerk sobered, “and I will renew your license once you bring in proof of legal presence as required by law.” The clerk pulled out a list. “Here is a list of docu…”

“Look,” Zack cut the clerk off and looked at her nameplate, “Ms. Shabazz, I have a plane to catch and don’t have time for the red tape. I need this renewed and I need it renewed now!” He yelled.

“And we will comply with your request once you present a form of legal presence,” the clerk sternly replied. “Would you like for me to review the list with you?”

“No! I don’t want to review a damn list! I want my license renewed!” The look the clerk gave him let him know she was not going to budge. “Do you have a supervisor?”

“Several,” the clerk curtly replied.

Zack gave the clerk a look that would make most people run for cover. But the clerk stood there after responding to his question. It dawned on him she was not moving. “I want to speak with one of them, now!”

The clerk looked at Zack and smiled as if she knew something he didn’t. “Certainly”, she said and walked away.

Looking at his watch, Zack shook his head. “This is ridiculous,” he said to no one in particular. He did not have the time or patience to deal with DMV. There was an hour and a half before the plane would take off. The financial paperwork in his briefcase needed the clients in New York’s signatures. Those signatures would fund his next project for his construction company. There was a small window of opportunity to get it. The clients had a two-hour stopover in New York. If Zack did not get their signatures today, he would have to put off the closing on the property for sixty days until they returned from Paris. That meant his crew would not be available for the next project in the timeframe allocated in the contracts. The new project consisted of approximately fifty homes and a shopping mall. The acquisition would take the already successful construction company firmly into the land development area. The anger he felt earlier at the airport that he promised he would contain, was returning. “If I miss that plane someone is going to…”

“Mr. Davenport?” A voice called out from behind the teller counter before he could complete his thought.

Zack turned and saw the most delicate form of a human being he had ever seen. She was a vision in a red pantsuit that seemed to have been tailored just to fit her body. Her face was oval- shaped with the cutest little nose and smoothest brown skin he had ever seen. If that wasn’t enough, there were her lips. Sensuous and suck able were the words that came to his mind.

“Mr. Davenport,” the woman extended her hand to him. “My name is Ms. Lassiter. I understand we have a situation.”

Zack shook the hand she extended then immediately pulled away. The touch of her hand sent an unwanted desire throughout his body. The shock brought him out of his momentary stupor. He frowned at the woman as if she had caused him bodily harm. “We don’t have a situation.” He angrily stated, “You do.”

She smiled. “I’m sure it’s nothing we cannot work out. Tell me what you need Mr. Davenport.”

If that question were asked under different circumstances, he would have told her that was a loaded question. However, this could be a costly situation and he didn’t have time to act on his unexplainable physical reaction to the woman. “Simple. I need my license renewed and Ms. Shabazz is refusing to do that.”

“Unfortunately, the law will not permit her to renew your license without the proper documents. To renew your license, we will need proof of legal presence. There are a number of documents you could provide to accomplish that.”

Zack looked at the woman as though she had suddenly grown two heads right in front of him. “Ms. Lassiter you are apparently as inconsiderate as your clerk. I have wasted enough time on this. I am a citizen of the United States. I have been a citizen of the United States all my life and plan to continue for the rest of my life. Now, I don’t care what it will take, but you will renew my license within the next thirty minutes, or I will have your job.” He yelled with an air of authority.

“Mr. Davenport, would you join me in my office?”

“Will you renew my license in there?” His anger peaked as he asked the question.

“Please Mr. Davenport,” she slightly tilted her head to the side, “join me in my office.” She asked undaunted by his anger, then walked toward the office at the end of the counter.

Zack watched for a moment, realizing that was not a question but a steely spoken demand. He grabbed his application off the countertop and walked in the direction of the office. He was determined to complete what he considered a simple task and be on that plane in, he glanced at his watch, the next hour and fifteen minutes.

The door to the office opened allowing Zack to step inside. “Have a seat Mr. Davenport.”

“I don’t have time to take a seat Ms. Lassiter. I have a plane to catch. You and your clerk are interfering in my plans. And if I’m not mistaken, I believe you may be stepping on my constitutional rights. Now,” he stated as he placed his hands on her desk, bent over and stared directly into the woman’s eyes, “are you going to renew my license, or will I have to call the Governor’s office?”

“Well,” the woman exhaled, “you are mistaken. There is nothing in the constitution regarding driver’s licenses. I don’t believe motor vehicles were around at the time the constitution was framed. And if the Governor’s office can provide you with the document you need, then by all means make that call.” She sat back in her seat, “I however believe your call would be more beneficial if it was placed to Vital Statistics. They will be in a better position to get the document needed.”

If Zack could have snatched the woman up out of her chair he would have, that’s how angry he was at this point. Didn’t she know the scowl on his face was supposed to make her bend to his will?  “You are actually enjoying this aren’t you?  This menial job is the only place you have to assert your authority. I suppose that gives you some sense of importance,” he snarled.

“Mr. Davenport,” she sat up and smiled, “let me make a call on your behalf.” Zack straightened as she picked up the telephone. She was having a conversation on the telephone as Zack angrily paced the office. Looking at his watch, he saw the window of opportunity slipping away. That was an issue, but now there was a more profound one. The woman sitting on the telephone was raising his curiosity, and a few other things he did not have time to deal with. He needed to get out of this office and away from her as soon as possible.

“Mr. Davenport what time is your flight?” the woman asked.

Zack angrily answered, “Two-forty-five.”

“Vital Statistics is about twenty minutes away. My contact could have your birth certificate ready to pick up within that timeframe. In forty-five minutes, you could be on your way to the airport. Would you like for me to have her to prepare the document for you?”

“Where is the office located?” he lashed out.

“Willow Lawn Shopping Center on West Broad Street,” she calmly replied.

Zack looked at his watch. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. “Where are you man?”

“Good,” he exhaled. “Vital Statistics is across the street, could you run over and speak with a” he looked at Ms. Lassiter for the name.

“Ms. Lassiter,” she replied.

“I don’t need your name. I need the name of your contact.”

“Ruby Lassiter,” she smiled.

He looked at her then spoke into the cell phone, “Ruby Lassiter. Bring the document to the DMV on Laburnum Ave.” He listened then replied, “I’ll explain when you get here. Hey, hurry up the plane takes off in an hour.”  He hung up the telephone and looked at Ms. Lassiter. “I take it that was a family member. Does your entire family work as public servants who like to create delays for the poor citizens in the state?”

Ms. Lassiter smiled then stood up. “You are more than welcome to sit here in my office while you wait for your document to arrive. I need to check on my staff.”

“I don’t need to sit in your office. I will wait outside. The Governor will hear about this incident Ms. Lassiter,” he said as he slammed the office door behind him.

Twenty minutes later Zack walked into Ms. Lassiter’s office without knocking. He threw the document on her desk just as she was looking up. “May I please have my driver’s license now!” he demanded.

Ms. Lassiter stood and smiled, “Yes sir. I will have this processed right away.”

“Thank you for your kindness,” he snarled.

Ms. Lassiter walked past Zack into the lobby. She handed the document and the application across the counter to Ms. Shabazz and asked her to complete the transaction. She turned to Zack “Once we take your picture and process your transaction you can be on your way. I do apologize for the inconvenience Mr. Davenport.”

“Diamond?”

She looked over Zack’s shoulder and smiled brightly. Zack looked back; she was looking at his brother.

“Xavier?” she called out, briskly walked over and hugged him. “My goodness you look wonderful. What are you doing here?”

“I think I’m here to save you from my brother,” Xavier Davenport smiled back still holding her by the waist.

Zack looked at the two, and for some odd reason was bothered by the intimacy the two were sharing. “I take it you two know each other?” Zack growled as he posed for the camera.

“Yes, we went to college together.” Xavier beamed as he pointed to Diamond. “She was my savior whenever I got into trouble with classes.”  He turned back to her, “What are you doing here?” he asked as Zack took his picture.

“I’m the manager here,” she smiled proudly.

“That must be interesting,” he laughed, “especially dealing with people like Zack. Did he bite your head off?”

“My head and a couple of other places,” she whispered with a smile.

“His bark is worse than his bite. Don’t worry about it.”

Zack, with his renewed license in hand, was hurrying towards the door. “I would worry Ms. Lassiter if I were you. You will be hearing from me again regarding this incident. Let’s go X-man,” Zack stormed out of the door.

Xavier looked at Diamond, “I’ll take care of it.” He reached inside his suit jacket. “This is my card. Call me soon. We have a lot to catch up on. Right now, I need to get him on that plane.”

“Xavier!” Zack yelled back through the door.

“I’ll call you,” Diamond smiled as Xavier ran out the door. She looked at the card that read, Davenport Industries. Xavier started the company he wanted, she thought and smiled as she walked back to her office. Zackary must be the older brother he always talked about. He never mentioned how handsome his older brother was. “I don’t know how you put up with people like that,” LaFonde Shabazz said as Diamond walked behind the counter. “I was ready to give him a piece of my mind.”

“I was ready to give him a piece of something else,” Deidra, another clerk joked. “That brother was fine.”

Diamond gave Deidra a high five, “Hey,” they both laughed. “Indeed, he was.”

“His brother wasn’t bad either.” Deidra looked questioningly at Diamond, “How well do you know him?”

“Very well, but not in the way you are thinking.”

“The way he was holding you suggested something else,” Deidra smirked.

“No, just a friend.” Diamond turned to walk away, “Ladies I do believe we have more customers waiting.” Letting each of them know the excitement was over. It was time to get back to work. Sitting at her desk, Diamond stared at the card. The excitement may have been over in the office, but the buildup in the lower part of her body was still kicking strong. She put the card in her purse as she massaged the hand touched by Zackary Davenport, trying to rub away the sensation that lingered. Professionalism dictated that she not react the moment she saw him. But the urge to go to him and ease his fears was overwhelming. Diamond didn’t know who or what had hurt the man, but she was certain the scars ran deep. She could see it in his eyes. Then, for the brief moment his eyes held hers, she knew—down in the gut knew, those were the eyes of the man that would teach her how to love. “Mommy said it could happen like this,” she whispered. Shaking her head and smiling, the thought she kept at bay as she was dealing with Zackary Davenport burst forward. He was the man she was waiting for. She laughed out loud, “Finally.”