6:35am: White House Breakfast Room
Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III scanned various world newspaper headlines on his I-Pad and zeroed in on a few editorial articles relating to continuing conflicts in the Middle East; others about ever-changing military regimes in underdeveloped countries; and others about monetary shifts among some of the G8 & G-20 nations.
Fitz knew that those issues would eventually have to be addressed by his Administration. He looked at his watch and was aggravated that Mary Smith, his Communications Director had not yet arrived for their daily briefing at 6:45am. She was always 15 minutes early and he hoped he wouldn't have to censure her on keeping the POTUS waiting.
While waiting for Mary, Fitz mentally prepared himself for Cyrus' morning visit which was really an irritating excuse to gauge Fitz's mood which varied between ballistic and pissed-off since being betrayed and ambushed by "Delilah". That was the name he had dubbed Ms. Olivia Pope after she conspired against the President with his very soon to be ex-wife.
"Come to think of it, conspiracy against the President has to be the same as against the United States which would make her a criminal." Fitz thought to himself.
He often thought of ways to have her arrested, imprisoned, placed in solitary confinement, exiled to an island in the middle of nowhere, or just locked away in his ivory tower. Anything to make her suffer and yearn to again have what she so carelessly gave up.
Delilah, the lover and betrayer of the great Samson. Oh the ways he wanted to torture Delilah for leaving him in a job he no longer wanted and trapped in a marriage to a woman he never gave his heart to; and worst of all indefinitely halting the happiness he could be living with his soulmate.
"Stop It." he chastised himself. No, you punish Delilah, you make her beg for your forgiveness and rue the day she trampled on your heart. You avenge all the betrayed Samsons of this world.
Fitz exhaled harshly and realized he had clenched his jaw so tightly that his mouth had gone dry. He found himself upset again and began deep breaths to calm his rapid heartbeat. Bottom line, he had a job to do and for the next two years he would do it effectively if not enthusiastically.
Since the 20/20 interview 3 months ago, Fitz's anger and outrage in the Mellie/Olivia ambush had turned him into a tyrant. He had begun a strict regimen of protocol and efficiency to keep his White House scandal free. He started with Mellie and what began as a civil discussion regarding her new restrictions as First Lady immediately escalated into a shouting match.
The shouting ended with Mellie frightened and in tears after Fitz got in her face, towering over her, and assuring her that she would follow his orders as both husband and head-of-household. To solidify his point even further Fitz leaned down and whispered in her ear that he hoped it would never become necessary for the President to use his pitbull to make her fall in line. Mellie turned to face him seeing his cold eyes and for the first time in her marriage she did not know what he was capable of; and she's walked on eggshells ever since.
"Good morning Mr. President. How are we today?" Cyrus said cautiously while walking into the room eyeing Fitz like he expected to see him foaming at the mouth or gnawing on raw meat.
Fitz thought to himself: "what the hell is this WE crap?"
"Morning" was all Cyrus received as Fitz didn't bother to look up from his I-Pad.
Cyrus recognized the President's mood as agitated and short-tempered so he got straight to his request.
"Mr. President I need to shuffle your morning appointments. The CIA Director & Secretary of Defense want a meeting asap to discuss the unrest in the Middle East to get a handle on your support for our allies." Cyrus explained.
"My schedule is full today, what can I shift around?" Fitz asked.
"Well, you have a photo shoot with the First Lady. Surely that can be rescheduled." Cyrus reasoned.
"No It Can't." Fitz said with too much force not to attract Cyrus' curiosity.
"I want to do one nice thing for Mellie after all she's done to save my job" He lied smoothly.
Truth was that Fitz was taking Mellie out to meet with his divorce attorney. He didn't want Cyrus or anyone else to know that he would be a free man in less than 30-days until he was ready to tell it. Mellie's feelings were less than unimportant since she conspired with Delilah to keep him under her thumb.
"Find another opening in my schedule. Get with my secretary to find out which appointment is flexible. That'll be all Cyrus." Fitz said dismissing him quickly.
"Yes Mr. President." Cyrus responded to Fitz; but internally, his spidey-senses were tingling and he knew there was more going on than POTUS was sharing. He would call Hal & Tom to find out the President's exact destination.
As Cyrus left he passed Mary approaching the breakfast room and he stopped to inform her that POTUS' mood was prickly & impatient so she had better be prepared for his worst. She thanked Cyrus and said she has already anticipated his mood swings and has covered all angles on the President's agenda.
They gave one another sympathetic smiles and went their separate ways.
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When Mellie learned of Fitz's true destination she was totally unprepared. He had been barely civil to say the least but he had not been cruel except when he outright refused to help her conceive; saying he wouldn't bring another child into this dead-end relationship.
Mellie tried to reason with him that a sitting President cannot be divorced. She threatened and blackmailed and screamed but Fitz's reaction was sincere and determined.
"Mel, the bullshit stops here. I never loved you, I can barely tolerate you and there is nothing I want out of life that involves you, especially this marriage. And if being President means that I have to keep you as my wife, I don't want it and I will resign immediately."
"I won't go through with this. I will not be the first Ex-First Lady of the US." Mellie desperately said.
"Do I have to spell this out for you Millicent Grant? You are dismissed. I understand that women your age are sensitive to being discarded but you WILL walk away like a lady should. You have a generous severance package and a promising political future armed with your law degree and my future endorsement IF you leave the White House quietly." Fitz explained with weary patience.
Mel looked at Fitz with total confusion on her face. "We saved your presidency Fitz and you act as though we condemned you to the guillotine. Why are you punishing me for saving your job? What did we do that was so wrong?" she asked through her tears. "You have the job of a lifetime."
"You are correct: I have the job of a lifetime, not you but me. Thank you for your services Miss Grant and Goodbye."
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9:00PM White House Residence: main bedroom
Fitz poured himself a small drink and downed it in one gulp. He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders releasing the tension from his daily schedule of overwhelming duty and obligation. As he began undressing he rolled his head in slow circles. He thought of the great neck and back massages Delilah would give him on the campaign trail. What began as a soothing, tension releasing massage began the fire and desire in him to make Olivia his own.
2-1/2 years ago on the Campaign Bus
Olivia noticed Fitz's irritation; he was short-tempered and impatient with everyone on the bus. He was constantly rotating his head and rubbing the back of his neck while trying to stretch his legs on the bus. Cyrus got out of the seat next to Fitz with his mouth in a tight line and Liv could tell they'd exchanged harsh words again. Cyrus moved to the side allowing Olivia to take the seat he vacated. Fitz cut his eyes at her in a warning not to chastise him now. She sat sideways on the seat allowing her to look directly at him. She smiled and softly said "What do you need Governor?"
Fitz did a harsh exhale & eye roll and turned to look out the bus window not wanting to tell her what his body wanted from her. Instead he responded with a stiff tone.
"To stretch my legs and get off this damn bus; to eat, shower, and sleep like a normal person. Does that answer your question? Can you make that happen Miss Campaign Fixer?"
Liv kept her tone even and said: "That can all be arranged Governor. We're about 90-minutes from Kansas City and if you can wait I will treat you to the best soul food & bbq dinner you've never tasted in your white-bread life."
Fitz didn't want to smile but the corners of his mouth gave him away: "Uh really Olivia, I have eaten soul food before."
Liv gave an unlady like snort and said "Hah, are you speaking of the California vegan-inspired version of what they think is soul food? I think not Governor"
Liv stood and walked down the aisle to Cyrus' seat. She bent over to speak in his ear and she gave him a number from her cellphone. Meanwhile Fitz had a great view of her well-fitted denim jeans. She & Cy spoke for a couple more minutes before she turned and smiled at him. She walked right past him to the back of the bus where she cleared off the clutter on the long seat then sat back down next to Fitz.
"Come lie down on the back seat of the bus and I will give you a neck massage, it will calm you" she said soothingly.
"Look Olivia, I don't need you talking to me like I'm a suicide jumper or something; and I am not going to lie down on that dirty seat" he complained.
Liv's eyebrows rose and she replied in the same soothing tone as before. "My apologies Governor; I am not being condescending only recognizing that you are hungry, tired, and feeling like a caged animal."
She continued speaking: "Cyrus is working out dinner and hotel arrangements for everyone. In the meantime I can relieve your stiffness."
Fitz turned his head so sharply in response to Liv's unintentional sexy comment that he felt a stab of pain in his neck.
Liv went to retrieve her blazer and walked back to Fitz reaching out her hand to him saying: "Come on King of the Jungle, let's get you to the lion's den. You can lie face down on my blazer"
He cut his eyes at her and saw her suppressing a giggle. She was making fun of him now but he did as she asked and stretched out on the back bus seat. He lay face down on the inside of her soft, fragrant jacket. She sat on the edge of the seat and began rubbing his neck and shoulders. Her touch felt so good he began to let his mind and body relax.
After a few moments he wondered if anyone would think Liv was acting improperly but easily dismissed the idea. Since Olivia's arrival, Fitz's campaign exposure and approval ratings improved significantly and Cyrus couldn't be happier. Plus everyone knew Liv frequently helped him pick out the correct shirt, tie, and jacket for all his interviews and town rallies. Olivia had such clout that if she asked a staffer to count dust specks on the moon, Cyrus would be on the phone to "Acme Rent A Rocket".
He came out of his slumber feeling Liv rub his back and whisper his name in his ear; both actions highly erotic. That was the moment he knew that Olivia Pope was going to be his…someday.
Fitz shook himself from the memories and took a deep breath but still grew agitated with himself. Why the hell was he always pleading, begging and convincing her of his true feelings? Once he'd even bought a ring and planned to propose at the first romantic evening he could get with her.
Yet again she denied his love throwing it back in his face trying to keep him married to Mellie and keeping his job. Fitz was glad that he never got the chance to propose now he knew that inside his Olivia beat the heart of a scheming Delilah.
Fitz wanted to stop reminiscing about her but whenever he was alone with his thoughts, usually at night, the image of his betrayer would invade his rational mind. Fitz didn't allow himself to dwell on the fact that Olivia sacrificed her own happiness to save his political skin. He only saw that she denied him what he wanted: Her.
He steeled himself to no longer fall for her tempting assets & virtues like her mind (which continually plots against him); or her lips & smile (calling him to his doom); and finally that curvy body (her weapon of mass destruction). He'd thought about how to get back at Delilah, how he would break her and make her beg for his forgiveness.
However, breaking down Delilah would take a lot more strategy than he used for his ex-wife. She is an accomplished young woman and, like himself, isn't intimidated by anyone no matter their status. That was well proven by her public chastising of him when they first met. Olivia was different but still a woman and luckily Fitz knew her weakness: her work, her reputation, and her respect. He intended to trample on all three.