This is my second multi-chapter Scandal story. It is definitely different from the last one, and my first shot at an AU story. I hope you enjoy it, and I would truly appreciate reviews and constructive criticism.
Disclaimer: I do not own Scandal.
She felt sick to her stomach but couldn't quite decide if it was from nervous excitement or just fear. Maybe, she concluded, it was a little bit of both. Olivia Pope stepped off the train and out into the warm D.C. sunshine. The train station was busy on a Saturday afternoon, and she assumed most of the people were weekend tourists visiting the city. She was pulling a large suitcase and a smaller carry-on bag behind her in addition to the oversized bag she had slung over her shoulder. The sun was suddenly in her eyes and she squinted, trying to spot a cab she could jump into. The address of the apartment she would be living in was tucked into the back pocket of her jeans, but she knew she could recite it from memory. Finally, Olivia found a cab and allowed the driver to load her luggage into the trunk. He gave a quick nod when she told him where she needed to go and took off into the busy D.C. afternoon traffic.
Olivia relaxed slightly, watching the famous sights of the city fly by. She had never actually been to the nation's capital, but she could name every monument, statue, and building they passed. For years, her parents had promised her that they would take her to the famous city one day, but deep down Olivia had always known that it would never happen. So she had studied the sights in books she had taken home from the library and on posters she'd seen in stores. When she had begun her education at a prestigious university on a full scholarship, Olivia had become even more focused on her goal of making it to Washington D.C. Now she was finally here, and she didn't think she'd ever seen anything more overwhelming and stunning than this. Her thoughts were interrupted when the driver pulled up to a building and gestured for her to get out of the cab.
Standing in front of her apartment building, Olivia smiled. She had hoped it would look like this – old but attractive, and exactly like she'd always pictured D.C. When she finally reached the right apartment, Olivia inserted the key that had been mailed to her a few weeks ago. She pushed the door open and pulled her luggage into her new temporary home. It was a small apartment by normal standards, but much bigger than the dorm room she was used to. The furniture and décor were modern and very stylish. The living area connected to an open kitchen that she hoped to use soon. Off to the left right was her bedroom and the bathroom. There was a small walk-in closet that put an instant smile on Olivia's face, because she was a girl after all. She knew it was completely out of character, but Olivia squealed. This was her home for the next three months and she was completely in love with it.
At age 22, Olivia was beginning to make a name for herself. Born into a middle class family, she had to work hard to achieve her goals. Excellent grades and her involvement in community services and after school projects had resulted in a full scholarship to the university of her dreams, and she was now working tirelessly towards a law degree. After sending countless letters to high-profile law firms all across the nation to find one that would sponsor her summer internship, Olivia had eventually received six acceptance letters. She had decided to intern for Meyer & Associates based on their impressive client list and the fact that they were based in Washington D.C. So here she was, nearly bouncing in the apartment they provided to their summer interns, unable to control how excited she was to have been given this opportunity.
Always prepared, Olivia had read everything she was able to find on their successes, their clients, and the lawyers that worked for one of Washington's top law firms. She knew that George Meyer himself had retired from the business a few years ago, but continued to pull strings behind the scenes like any other influential man in this city. The law firm was his pride and joy, now run by a group of associates that included his nephew. Olivia didn't know how much – if at all – she would actually be able to interact with the important people. She was young, but not naïve, and she knew that she would most likely by working for one of their younger lawyers, rather than an influential partner. She didn't mind, because Olivia knew that every new opportunity was just one more step on the long latter to success. Hard work had gotten her this far, and she was not afraid to continue on this path until she got to where she wanted to be in her life.
According to the information material she had received from Meyer & Associates, their office was only fifteen minutes from the apartment, and although she did not start her internship until Monday morning, Olivia decided to take a walk and sneak a peek now. She checked her watch, making sure she would have enough time to get there and back before it would get dark. There were plenty of distractions on her way to the office building, but Olivia forced herself to save the sightseeing for the next day. She found the office easily, because she was a city girl that knew how to find her way around busy streets. For a moment she debated whether she should go in and take a closer look, or simply stay out here and be surprised when she returned for her first day at work on Monday. Straightening her blouse, Olivia stepped through the massive glass doors, because curiosity had simply gotten the better of her. Meyer & Associates shared the building with two additional law firms, but Olivia knew they were the by far the biggest firm out of the three. The lobby was a pompous mixture of modern furniture and classic architecture, and Olivia smirked at how much it screamed 'rich clients'. She was impressed, but had not expected anything less. A pretty blond front desk clerk greeted her with a smile that Olivia returned quickly. She had read that Meyer & Associates inhabited the entire third floor, but she wasn't planning on going up there today.
One of her professors had once told the class that it was important to appear enthusiastic and prepared, but never over-excited. She would save her first trip to the actual office for Monday morning, when she was dressed more professionally. Olivia let her eyes drift across the lobby one more time, then turned to leave. Almost immediately, she collided with a solid body. Her purse dropped off her shoulder in the process, and Olivia groaned inwardly.
"I am so sorry.", she apologized, her eyes landing on the suit-clad chest in front of her.
She lifted her head to meet the stranger's eyes. First, Olivia noticed that he was tall. Then, she realized that he was quite handsome. He was smiling at her, but it didn't reach his eyes. They were an absolutely striking color of blue-grey, but they looked distant, sad almost. Bringing herself out of her trance, Olivia smiled up at the man apologetically. She knew her own smile very rarely reached her own eyes either, but she had trained herself to make sure people would never notice that. Seconds passed before she realized that her hand was still firmly planted against his chest, and she quickly dropped it. He was holding a large go-cup of coffee, and Olivia gave him a quick once-over to make sure she hadn't spilled any of it on his expensive suit.
"No harm done.", he assured her, his voice deep and smooth.
Olivia watched him bent down in front of her to pick up the purse she had dropped. She wanted to stop him and do it herself, but she had a feeling that he was the kind of man who wouldn't allow that. He seemed to be a gentleman. When he handed her the black leather bag, Olivia took it wordlessly but thanked him with another smile. Their fingers touched only briefly, but she noticed how cold his felt against her own.
"Make sure you don't get yourself hurt.", he teased, before winking at the young woman that was staring up at him with the biggest, most expressive eyes he'd ever seen.
She blushed prettily and he found himself smiling again. He gathered himself and stepped away from her, before walking through the glass doors and into the open. It was warm and sunny and he was glad to be out of the office for the day, even if he had come in voluntarily that morning, despite it being a Saturday. Before he crossed the street to find his parked car, he turned and looked back into the lobby of the office building. The woman that had just run into him face first was still standing where he had left her, staring straight ahead and right at him. He wondered if her gaze had followed him all along. Their eyes met through the shiny glass of the door, and he watched in amazement as a storm of emotions played in hers. Shaking his head quickly, he finally turned and walked away.