Duplicity
A/N: This is my first FF so I welcome any and all comments you may have. I'm not sure where this story will ultimately go but I'm excited for the ride. There will be juicy Olitz scenes at some point I'm sure but I also just love their love story. Hope you enjoy it. I love Scandal but do not own it.
Chapter 1
"Shit…" Olivia was running late.
She rushed around her apartment quickly collecting her Prada purse and briefcase while shrugging into her coat and heading for the front door. Rushing into the elevator her phone began to vibrate.
"Olivia Pope" she answered in an exasperated tone.
"Where are you?" replied the person on the other end, "You're late"
"Cyrus, I'm on my way. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
Olivia ended the call and climbed into the back of her waiting town car, "Good morning Mark" she greeted her driver, "We're late"
"Good morning, Miss Pope" replied Mark as he closed her door and moved behind the wheel.
Olivia spent the ride to her meeting typing away on her iPhone answering emails and texts. Ten minutes later they pulled up outside Cyrus' Manhattan office building.
"You're the best," declared Olivia giving Mark's arm a friendly squeeze as she slid out of the car and hurried into the building's lobby. Smiling to the security guard, Olivia moved into the elevator and pressed the button for the 16th floor. When the doors opened she froze as she nearly crashed headlong into the most perfect pair of azure eyes.
"Pardon me," breathed the blue eyed, suit clad man.
"Excuse me," uttered Olivia when she finally regained the resolve to move. She felt his eyes follow her as she hurried into Cyrus' office bypassing his secretary, Mary.
"Here I am Cy, it only took me thirteen minutes" Olivia stated triumphantly, removing her elbow length gloves and situating herself in one of the plush armchairs in the office.
"And that's only 45 minutes late, Liv," smiled Cyrus giving his former star pupil a hug. It was impossible for Cy to be angry at Olivia. She was smart, funny….and he needed her help.
"I said I was sorry, old man," grinned Olivia, "Now what can I do for you?"
Cyrus handed Olivia a photo of the man that she had literally run into as she got off the elevator, "This is Fitzgerald Grant III, he wants to be President of the United States."
"So….you want me to vote for him?" Olivia asked with a perplexed glance.
"No, I want you to meet him, learn everything you can about him, and get him elected." Cyrus declared gleefully, "And there's no time like the present."
Cyrus moved to his desk and asked Mary to send in Fitzgerald Grant. Olivia felt her palms get slightly clammy as she self-consciously straightened her blouse and took a quick survey of her reflection. Am I nervous, why am I nervous to meet a client? Olivia asked herself as the door opened and she was again struck with those piercing blue eyes. This time she took the time to notice more of the man. He was at least 6 feet tall with a perfectly tailored Brooks Brothers suit and a crooked smile that instantly caused a flutter in Olivia's stomach when he set his eyes upon her.
"Hi" he stepped assertively towards Olivia with an outstretched hand, "nice to run into you again."
Olivia shook his hand, doing her best to cover her nervousness, "Nice to meet you Mr. Grant, I'm Olivia Pope."
"Nice to meet you Olivia" Fitz held on a beat longer than was probably appropriate but he found himself wanting to maintain contact with this petite, gorgeous beauty, "and please, call me Fitz."
"Fitz" Olivia heard herself utter, liking the way those four letters felt rolling off her tongue.
Hearing her say his name in her breathy, yet formidable voice sent a quiver down Fitz's spine as he realized that their hands were still clasped. He quickly pulled his hand away not wanting to seem too forward, the loss of contact almost sucking the breath from his lungs. They stood looking at one another as the rest of the world slid into oblivion around them. Fitz was acutely aware of his proximity to Olivia, smelling her subtle perfume and sensing a heat radiating from her smooth perfect skin. Likewise, Olivia inhaled the masculine scent of his cologne feeling her head begin to spin as she watched the rise and fall of his Adam's apple when he swallowed. This man is perfect….flawless. She felt herself take a half step toward Fitz as if drawn to him by some unseen force.
Cyrus cleared his throat breaking Olivia and Fitz out of their trance, "Fitz, Olivia was my best student at Harvard Law and has become one of the most sought-after attorneys in the city."
Olivia blushed at Cyrus' introduction breaking her gaze away from Fitz momentarily, "Oh, Cyrus. I think you're exaggerating a bit."
"Don't be modest, Olivia" Fitz couldn't help but notice the spectacular coffee color of her eyes. "If Cyrus says you're the best it must be true."
As Olivia returned her eyes to his she again felt her insides flutter and her cheeks warm. She had never reacted in such a way to anyone let alone a man she had just met. She did the best to regain her composure and focus upon the task at hand. This isn't a date Olivia, you are here on business, she scolded herself. Cyrus motioned towards his office couch as he continued to speak of Olivia's abilities, "I think that Liv's connections and smarts combined with your All-American charm will make us unstoppable."
Both men waited as Olivia took a seat then followed suit, Cyrus sitting in the armchair that Olivia had earlier vacated and Fitz sitting opposite Olivia on the couch. Fitz loosened his tie and crossed is right foot casually onto his left thigh stretching his right arm along the back of the couch in Olivia's direction. He smiled at her as he began to speak, "Well Cyrus, if you say we need Olivia on our team to win then that's what we need. That is, if you'll have me Olivia."
He was charming; she would give him that but this was a big decision. She would need to take a leave of absence from her position at Cohen, Sturges, & Blake and she wanted to be sure that this captivating man was more than just a handsome face. "Well I'd like some time to think about it." Olivia found herself looking between the two men intentionally avoiding eye contact.
"I know this is a big decision for you Liv, but we need to get our campaign organized" stated Cyrus leaning towards his protégé, "How much time do you think you need?"
"Well, I'd need to discuss it with the partners, transfer my cases to some of my colleagues…" her voice trailed off as she began to make a mental checklist of the pros and cons of taking on a presidential campaign, "And I'd need to know that this is for real, that you're in it to win. I don't like to lose."
Olivia turned her eyes to Fitz looking for some sort of sign as she finished her thought. In his blue eyes she saw a mixture of emotions she couldn't quite pinpoint. When he looked at her his eyes turned a darker shade of blue. Fitz reached over and took her tiny hand between his two strong palms, leaning closer so she wouldn't question his intent, "Livie, I want this. I want to be President of the United States. And I am used to getting what I want."
Livie…..Livie….she allowed the nickname to float in her head, felt it linger near the butterflies in her stomach and finally settle in a dark corner of her heart. Though she had made the decision as soon as she felt his powerful yet gentle hands on hers she didn't want to appear too eager. She couldn't let her attraction to him cloud her judgment or make her doubt her gut. She needed time and space to consider her options, clear her head, and fix her gut.
"I think I can give you my decision by the end of the week" Olivia spoke in Cyrus' direction, "Is that soon enough?"
"That should be fine Liv" Cyrus replied, feeling deep down that Olivia would agree to join Fitz's campaign, "But I suppose that's up to you Fitz."
Fitz looked from Olivia to Cyrus and back again, "Perfect" Although at that moment Fitz was more making a comment about the woman he was looking at than the plan she had proposed.
Again the room grew warmer and the world began to fade away as Fitz slipped closer to Olivia and again reached for her hand, "Livie, you take the week and we'll meet again on Friday to discuss a plan for getting me into the White House."
"Great!" Cyrus shouted reminding Olivia and Fitz that they were not alone, "This is so exciting. My good friend and my best student working together to change the world. I don't care who the democrats nominate, with the three of us together we can't lose!"
"I didn't say yes yet" stated Olivia smiling at Cyrus but remaining intensely aware of the hand that still held hers and the handsome, intoxicating man that hand belonged to.
"Oh but you will" Cyrus stood and moved towards his desk, "You know you always want to help an old man."
Olivia slowly removed her hand from Fitz's and rose from the couch picking up her gloves and putting on her coat. Fitz quickly moved to help her, sliding the wool over her shoulders allowing his fingers to lightly brush the sides of her neck. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck causing the tiny hairs there to stand at attention. Then he spoke in a low, alluring tone, "Livie, I would love it if you'd say yes."
There was that nickname again. No one had ever called her Livie; in fact Cyrus was the only person other than her mother who ever called her anything but Olivia. She thought of correcting him as she generally disliked nicknames but there was something about the way he said it. The curl of his lips as he said "Livie" and the idea that they shared an instant secret connection. It was theirs….his name for her, and nothing was ever so thrilling. Olivia turned to face Fitz and extended her hand to shake his.
"Nice to meet you Fitz," she said glad to get another look into his eyes, "And thank you for the generous offer. I appreciate being considered for the opportunity."
Fitz shook Olivia's hand, lightly running his thumb along her knuckles, "I look forward to seeing you on Friday. Should you decide before then please feel free to give me a call. Let me give you my number."
Olivia pulled her phone from her purse and entered Fitz's number thanking him one last time as she moved through the door from Cyrus' office. She fought the urge to take one last look at Fitzgerald Grant and quickly moved herself toward the elevator impatiently pushing the down button. When she found herself safely alone in the elevator she took a deep breath to clear her head and let out an audible sigh. She needed to make a plan but first she needed some wine. Olivia was glad to see Mark parked close to the building's exit and allowed herself to sink into the cushion of the seat closing her eyes. She spent the ride to her apartment taking in the hustle and bustle of people on the sidewalk and allowing her thoughts to drift, slightly unnerved that they drifted to the magnificent man she had just met.