Hey guys, I know you've been waiting for an update on The Tutor, but I'm in some weird Writer's Block. So till then, I hope you enjoy this story.
Olivia grabbed a small water bottle from the refrigerator. Her body was sweating from the workout she just finished. She slouched back onto the kitchen counter as she gulped the water , almost breathlessly.
She heard a few noises approaching her, alerting her ears. She recognised them instantly as they came closer. It was her dad and . She nervously shifted her posture as she realised they were headed towards the kitchen and she will have to face them. Well, him in particular.
Olivia was a law student, visiting her family during the holidays. Her mother passed when was 10, so she was pretty much raised by her father. Her father never remarried. Papa Pope was a renowned architect, counting on Olivia to carry forward his business but she decided to do Law and being the doting and understanding father that he was, he didn't complain.
She would spend most of the time with her father at his office helping him out with any minuscule work as she was heavily bored. That's how she met Fitzgerald Grant. The man currently driving her nuts.
It was exactly 8 days ago when her father enthusiastically introduced her to their new client, Fitzgerald Grant. She remembered how confidently he strode in, extending a hand out to her like he'd known her all her life. He was handsome, tall, older to her and all that. But what caught her attention, more specifically what made her feel jitters the minute she set her eyes on him was his aura. His charisma. The minute her eyes fell on him, she felt this feeling at the pit of her stomach rising upto her chest, warming it. His wise eyes, the few strands of grey on his head, that warm smile. She was smitten.
Ever since they took on his project, he became a frequent visitor. He was apparently the son of Eli's friend's sister, so Eli took extra care and interest in the project. It didn't help Olivia that she saw him almost everybody. Behind the formal greetings and the cordial demeanour, lay the Olivia that had developed a huge crush on him. It surprised her, even annoyed her. She just couldn't stop thinking about him. She wondered whether he thought the same too. She shouldn't be thinking all this! She was sure he was married and he was way older to her, so there was absolutely no hope of anything transpiring between them.
But like all crushes, it's hard to forget. She felt silly and ridiculous and at times creepy. She knew she would never act on any of these feelings and they'll disappear in a few days when she got tired of seeing him. Hopefully they do. Because right now, her breathing was rapid, she felt tingly, butterflies in her stomach as she heard them approach closer. Get a grip! Stop acting like some love sick teenager.
She put her bottle down and walked towards the kitchen island when she saw her father and him appear.
"Hey dad. Hey " she said looking only at her father.
Her father patted her in the back while Fitz said "Hey Olivia" causing her to look at him. That's when she noticed, his eyes grazing her body, making her all hot suddenly. The black crop top and the sweats that clung to her like second skin was probably not a good option. Did he actually do that? Nope. I'm imagining all this she mentally chided herself.
She excused herself nervously and left before more random thoughts flooded her already confused brain. He did not check you out. Stop imaging stuff. She repeatedly told herself.
Days passed and it was finally time for her to go back and start her internship. She was sad obviously, she and her dad had hectic schedules which meant none of them knew when they would see each other again. That made her sad. But she promised herself she would call him everyday. He was getting old and he was all she had. Once he gives up his stubborn ways she thought she would bring him to her city to stay with her. The thought of losing anybody in her life terrified her.
Brushing all those thoughts aside, she started packing. When she was about to put the last red dress, she stopped for a minute and smiled, thinking back to what happened 4 days ago.
Flashback
Olivia and her father attended a business party, that helped up and coming start ups to launch themselves successfully. Her father completely believed in the concept of giving back and also these opportunities gave him a good idea about the new technology, talent and ideas that were coming up in this rapidly evolving world.
Olivia was excited and was a bundle of nerves knowing that would be here too. Her eyes were constantly searching for him.
Almost an hour into the party and she gave up when she saw no sign of him. She was tired of all the fake smiling and conversations with people her father introduced. She needed a drink.
She went ahead to the bar and plopped onto the stool and ordered a whiskey on the rocks.
Taking a sip, she put her head up breathing in. Relief was what she felt. She went ahead to take another sip when she heard somebody clear their throat. She turned to her right to see a handsome gentleman sitting next to her, smiling at her.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, she chuckled and asked "Hi, do I know you?"
"No. But you might want to" he said cockily.
She internally rolled her eyes. Ugh.
She was in no mood to show any attention to any guy.
"I'm Jake Ballard"
"I'm Olivia Pope" she hesitantly shook his hand, slightly uncomfortable with the contact that lasted longer than expected. His hungry eyes skimming her from head to toe did not make it easier.
"Are you here with somebody?" He asked, coming a little closer.
"Ah. Just my father, Roman Pope"
" is your father?" He asked, almost shocked.
"Err. Yeah" she said, not knowing how to react. Did he not realise it when I told him my name Olivia-Pope? She thought, rolling her eyes.
"Uh. I got to go. It was nice meeting you Olivia" he said politely and rushed in a hurry.
"Poor guy"
Olivia felt herself stiffen when she heard those words. It was him.
She turned around to see him standing next to her, not close to her. It made her sad kinda.
"What?" She asked, trying to sound normal, while in reality her heart was exploding with happiness at having seen him.
"You scared him away" Fitz said as he sipped his drink and looked at her.
What's up with his eyes? Olivia could literally feel the air stop in her throat everytime he looked her deep into the eyes.
"I did not" she laughed, rolling her eyes.
"He ran away the minute I told him dad's name" she added looking back at her glass.
"No wonder. He works for your father. And given the lecture your dad gave them.."
"What lecture?"
Fitz looked at her a bit longer than usual and then laughed.
"My daughter will be here working with me. If any of guys approach her, I will fire your ass" he said mimicking her dad's voice.
Olivia laughed when he did that. God why was he being so cute? It was not going to help her!
And seriously, her dad threatened the guys in the office? Wtf
Her dad had always been super protective when it came to boys. Like protective was not even the word. She was irritated in the beginning, but let it go knowing that he meant only the best for her. After her mom's death, her father was borderline paranoid about Olivia.
"Oh god dad!" She said embarrassed as she put her head down on the counter. She felt his eyes on her.
She got up to see him look away. Was he really staring at me?
It means nothing. People stare, Olivia. They have eyes and eyes are for looking, staring, seeing. If anybody could read Olivia's thoughts right now, they would think she was a 14 year old trapped in a 25 year old's body.
End Flashback.
Next morning
Olivia hugged her father goodbye and headed to the airport.
After checking in, she walked towards the lounge. She had some time to kill, so she thought she would finish some minor work.
She did not in her wildest dreams expect to see him there, sitting on a sofa,wearing glasses(making him look extra hot, if that were possible), looking into his MacBook.
"Mr. Grant?"
He instantly smiled when his eyes met hers.
"Olivia!" He said, almost enthusiastically.
He moved slightly on the sofa, making place for her to sit. She did not expect him to do that, and now she was sitting barely inches away from the man who did the wildest things to her in her fantasies. Olivia was flustered.
"Are you okay?" He asked looking at her.
Those glasses were not helping her. He looked so attractive, she couldn't stop staring.
"Uh.. yes." She said adjusting her already neat hair. It was something she did when she as nervous, which was almost all the time around him.
They chatted for almost 40 minutes. Olivia was better than she thought she could be. Taking to him outside their usual surroundings really put her at ease. He spoke about the idea for the new house he was building, she spoke about law school, her plans for the future. She enjoyed talking to him. He patiently listened to her, not interrupting once, like he was actually interested. She genuinely respected the man.
"What does your wife think about the gaming room you have planned?" She asked, almost mocking him.
The look of surprise almost scared her if she crossed any boundaries. But she didn't care, she had to know.
"Oh. It's an absolute bachelor pad. I divorced my ex wife 7 years ago" he said, with a light smile, almost knowing that she had asked on purpose.
The amount of happiness Olivia felt at that moment was probably similar to when she found out that she was going to the best law school in the country. Yes, she just compared her crazy childish crush on a man way older to her, to probably the biggest achievement in her life till now.
She had to bite the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from smiling too much.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that" she said, almost with no concern.
"Meh. She was a bitch" he said looking back at his laptop.
Olivia laughed loudly at that comment. Listening to Fitz curse, almost humanised him in her eyes. Because honestly, she thought of him as this unattainable-forbidden-fruit-cum-sex-god. Yes, those were her exact thoughts.
Fitz joined her as she laughed. She saw him stare at her longer than usual. This time, she was sure she was staring. I did not imagine that! She congratulated herself.
They were interrupted by the news broadcast that suddenly seemed to have turned up to a volume of 100.
The room went silent as they all looked confused.
A storm was coming, all flights, roads etc were cancelled/closed.
A collective groan came out from everybody's mouth. They couldn't even get out of the airport!
The airport personnel calmed everybody down and told them that they might have to spend the night inside as the roads have all been blocked. It was apparently raining cats and dogs outside. Food, refunds were all going to be provided, and that seemed to calm few people down.
Olivia fell onto the sofa, exasperated.
"Fuck" she said, with her head in her hand.
"Looks like we're stuck" Fitz chuckled. Olivia looked up at him and sighed.
That was chapter 1.
Med school has really been sucking the life out of me, so the updates are going to be slow.
I hope you enjoy this story. It's a goofy tale on crushes. This is dedicated to all the impossible, crazy crushes I've had before! Let me know what you think of it in the comments below.