They were on the way out the door when he stopped. She turned around to see what the problem was.
"The deal was that I had to run for Governor again in four years, but if we make it then what happens to us."
"I think that would make me the First Lady of the State."
"The job is beneath you Livvie."
"Not with you beside me. You would never make me ornamental. If we make it, we can show them what a true power couple looks like."
"Deal"
"Give me a couple of days. We need to do some research, my dad and I need to come up with a plan for the divorce, and a plan I want you to use for the last two months you are campaigning. I want them to see the man in front of me. It is never too early to give them a preview."
"I can do that."
"Also until the campaign is over I want you to keep me a secret. I know we have done nothing wrong. Nor is there is there anything to be ashamed of, but I want to return the favor to your wife. I want the element of surprise to be on your side. I want the state to wonder how you survived. Then we will give them answers over time."
"I trust you."
Olivia took a deep breath, "One more thing. Are you still sleeping with your wife?"
"Full disclosure?"
She nodded
"We haven't slept together in almost three years. She got pregnant. I was over the moon. She lost the baby. We were both heartbroken for different reasons. I lost a baby. She lost her guaranteed meal ticket, and I later found out after looking at the slide show and confronting her the baby wasn't mine."
"I'm sorry Fitz. I really am. I don't want this to come across the wrong way. You are still married. I don't want you to feel pressured to not sleep with your wife."
"You aren't so out with it Liv."
"If you don't want this marriage. More specifically a child then I would suggest until you get away from her that you don't accept any food or drinks from her."
"Why?"
"Easy to drug you, have sex with you, put a condom on, and get your sperm. I imagine because you are a Grant then the pre-nup is not going to leave her with much. Right now she needs that baby more than ever. So be careful."
He threw up right there. Olivia stepped back in shock then she went over to help him. She pulled him into a spare room in her office.
"I'm really sorry Olivia"
"No need"
"No, you don't understand. I got sick because I realized she already tried."
Olivia jumped up, "Do you think she was successful?"
"No I heard her talking to her friend Amanda the other day. I found her being nice and loving suspicious. On two occasions I accepted things went south. One time I threw up the drink. The other my mom showed up without calling first. She later told me she had this weird feeling."
"Okay. Don't call me until after you receive a package I'll send to you in the next week or so. I promise it will have all of my contact information. Personal and work."
The two hugged and left.
Mellie Grant was waiting at home. Her father had been friends with Fitz's father for years. At one point they were quite wealthy, but her dad had lost quite a bit of their money on bad investments and gambling. She had always had a respectable but strained relationship with her family. She had two sisters. Unlike her they didn't depend on others to take care of them. Both of them were successful. One was a graphics artist and the other owned her own company. She was cordial with them until the affairs broke out.
Her family had abandoned her. They took Fitz's side. Honestly they always did. She had her heard her youngest sister tell Fitz he could do better. While she loved her sister she told Fitz Mellie wasn't the one for him. Seeing their brother-in-law humiliated on his birthday no less was the final straw.
They had reamed her. To this day her parents had not returned her calls. Truthfully she had most of the affairs for the thrill of it. She wanted to be the First Lady more than Fitz wanted to be Governor so she wasn't doing to it to sabotage him.
Truthfully she fell for his best friend. There were a couple of things she had done during the marriage she could truly say she regretted. At the top was her affair with Andrew. It had destroyed their 25-year friendship. He tried to stay away, but she seduced him. She got him good and drunk one night. She knew once they slept together he couldn't walk away. She was right.
The pregnancy was not planned. Andrew knew it was his, because Fitz told him all the time that Mellie wasn't sleeping with him. He never forced her to admit to their affair, because he knew the damage it would inflict. When she lost the baby it hurt.
She hated that her affairs were leaked the way they were and when they were. She couldn't say she was humiliated like him. She should feel that way, but she didn't. No one deserves to be embarrassed on their birthday for something they didn't do.
What had her on pins and needles was what was her husband's plans? Since the night of the party he had said very little to her, and only in the presence of others. She got nothing. She didn't know whether he was sad, glad, happy, or mad. He had not dropped out the race, filed for divorce, or left the home. There was still two months left in the race. Before her mind could go any further she heard him walk in the door.
Before he made it down to the basement where he moved she went to catch up to him. She was determined to talk.
"Where have you been Fitz?"
"Out Fucking"
"We know that is a lie"
"Then don't ask a stupid question. I never asked you about your coming and goings. Look what it got me."
"I'm sorry."
"That I know"
"That is low"
"Mellie, I'm tired. I'm not about to play 50 questions with you."
"Talk to me then. Tell me what is going on with us. What are you going to do?"
Fitz was officially pissed. He stopped and looked at her. She had never seen her husband look at anyone this way before.
He looked her in the eyes, "I'm going to live my life Mellie. I'm going to finish this campaign and try to forget about the worst mistake I ever made in my life which is marrying you. I wasn't in love with you, but I loved you. I honored, respected, and cherished you and our vows while you fucked all over them. So now I'm going to live my life. Finish my campaign. What you really want to know is what my plans are? Do I plan on destroying you? Well the answer to that is yes Mellie. I'm going to make you pay, but since you like playing games and with people so I'm doing to you what you've done to me for the last twelve years. You won't know when it's coming, how it's coming, or where. Just know it is coming. You slept with my best friend, and tried to pass his child off as mine."
"Fitz, I know I was wrong. Dead wrong. I am really sorry."
"I know. Sorry you got caught. Mellie from the moment we met the one thing I quickly learned about you is that you like to have your cake and eat it too. You wanted me for the power, and the men for the thrill. Just know you messed with the wrong one. You can run to my dad all you want. He can't fix this. I also know you think if you can find a way to get pregnant with my baby it will save us. It won't happen, and if by chance you do think of something I'll completely ruin you. I'll also try my hardest to put you in jail, and those colors are not you."
He walked away leaving Mellie to take in what he said. She knew she was in trouble, but now she was in danger. Not physically. Fitz was like his father in some ways, but more like his mother. He was a man but he had no problem being vulnerable. A woman's dream. She knew. She used that to her advantage where most women would use it, but not to bring him down. She tried to tell herself that he was weak, but she knew he was anything but. She had to try and stop him. She just had to figure out how.
A week later a package arrived that only he could sign for. He went into his office and asked not to be disturbed.
As promised there was a phone. Her number was programmed in it. He looked over the papers she sent in the package and he immediately called her.
She answered, "Hi"
He smiled, "Hi"
"Thank you for this."
"It is nothing."
"Yes it is Liv. You have detailed a plan for me to finish out my run."
"You don't have to use it."
"Don't do that..."
"Do what?"
"Diminish yourself. I'm not him. You are one of the best, and never let any man tell you otherwise. If they do then they are punks."
Olivia had to look at her phone for a moment. No man ever took the time to really know her. Most felt threaten by her yet he wasn't. It felt good.
"You are right. Thank you Fitz."
"No need to thank me. It is the truth."
Nothing was said for a moment
"I like the plan. This is me. This is how I want to be seen."
"I figured. I did some research. Watched your speeches. I could tell when you were passionate about something, or when it was being forced on you."
"It feels nice to know that someone other than my mom is in my corner. My dad says he is, but only when it suits him."
"I can relate."
"At least yours figured it out."
"True, but if he did then I promise you there is hope for you."
"I'll take it."
"On the last page I drafted you a concession speech. You'll gain ground over the next two months. It won't be enough but it will have the people intrigued. Especially if the Governor doesn't do a good job. They will remember how you finished your run. It will put you ahead of the curve ball."
"I want you involved."
"Okay"
"What about the divorce?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Yes, then we have it handled. My dad & I have a plan. I just want you to focus on you. I have eyes on your wife. I promise."
"I believe you. I just want to move on. I've been embarrassed enough for a lifetime."
"You are getting out with minimal damage trust me."
"I Do"
Neither of them said anything. They began to breath in sync. They were both scared and excited about what they felt, but they had time. Right now Fitz needed to get ahead of the train wreck that Mellie caused.
After a few minutes they ended their call. Abby walked in her office.
She smiled, "You got it bad"
"No I don't"
Abby sat down, "Why do you act like it is a bad thing?"
Olivia looked at her with tears in her eyes.
Abby sighed and made her come over to the couch where she held her best friend. Olivia was smart and motivated. There was nothing that she couldn't do, and while she hated to admit it she wanted love. She wanted to be in love.
Abby had been seeing David for some time. Harrison & Quinn were a couple. Huck was married to Kim, and they had a little boy Javier.
She finally thought she had someone. Jake was supposed to be her happily ever after, but it was clear to them he wasn't. He didn't care for her team and friends. They all knew the relationship wouldn't last, but she stuck it out. They all knew why and decided to let her figure it out on her own.
Olivia had calmed down, "Liv, I can't tell you how to live your life. What I will say is that we all know that you knew Jake wasn't the one long before the incident. I helped you put that plan together for Fitz, and I can tell you that from reading and watching him I can see you two together. Every time you mention him you light up. I overhead you two talking. He respects you. Don't let what Jake did possible ruin the best thing that could ever happen to you."
Olivia leaned back onto her shoulder, "I'm scared Abby. You are right he is just everything any girl would want, but it is something I can't explain. Yes, I can. I can be me. I don't have to dummy down. I feel like I'm enough, and he won't make me do anything that I don't want to. What happens when the times comes it doesn't work?"
"What happens if when the time comes he is everything you dream of and more?"
Olivia sat up and looked at her best friend. "Thank you."
"Anytime. You were there for me all the times I got it wrong. You saved my life. I'm glad I feel like I'm finally doing something for you."
For the next two months Fitz followed Olivia's plan to a tee. He didn't fire his campaign manager Leo Bergen, but he had no use for him. When he was stuck he would call Olivia. Sometimes she would resolve it. Other times her team helped out.
Fitz finally met them in person a month ago. He quickly realized they were all friends, and he liked them immediately. They knew that this was personal for Olivia, and that feelings were involved.
They grilled him and unlike Jake he answered every one of their questions. By the end of the night everyone including Olivia knew he was the one, and they all became personally invested in him leaving on a good note.
Rowan & Olivia had come up with a plan of action for Fitz's divorce. To most people's surprise Fitz's had made a large dent in the numbers. He wasn't going to lose by a landslide.
One of the reasons was that he cut Mellie out. He was able to show the state that despite his failing marriage he was up to the task of being a leader. He finally had an identity that he could relate to. He was his own man. Spending time at the hospital visiting sick children in jeans and a t-shirt instead of a three-piece suit resonated with people.
He would bring his mom along as Abby suggested. It showed a softer side of him, and people didn't look at the Grants as these rich unreachable people.
Mellie & Big Jerry weren't happy but Fitz had shut them down. Mellie tried to attend an event as part of the campaign. What Mellie didn't know was that her husband had friends that she didn't.
Mellie was embarrassed when a reporter asked her about the statement that was just released by her husband that she was here on her own, and that this event is not supported by his campaign.
She had no come back. Later on that night she stormed in the house ready for war. She went into his office.
"How dare you?"
Fitz stood up and walked over to her. Mellie found herself backing up. This was the same pushover she was used to, "No how dare you. I told you that your services were no longer needed. Sit down. Go fuck whomever you want, but to stay away from my campaign. See the problem with you is that my father has made you believe that I am a dummy. That I need you. I'm not a child Millicent. I'm a grown ass man, and while you may not want me for anything other than my name doesn't mean I'm useless so if you want to play games let's play..."
He steps closer so now they are inches apart, "I promise you that you will lose. I already have video proof that you can't keep your legs closed. I don't think you want to test me. Oh, and before you call my dad be very careful. My mom is sick of you, and if you think I'm dangerous well she is deadly."
He walked away, and that was the last time she messed with him. He gave his concession speech. He didn't change a word of what Olivia wrote. In the speech he promised that he would be back, and better than ever.
He walked off the stage side by side with Mellie, but there were not holding hands. They made it to the town car, but Mellie noticed he wasn't beside her.
She turned around. He looked at her. "Did you really think I was going to stay married to you? The only reason I stay this long was on the advice of counsel."
Fitz's parents were behind them. It finally dawned on both Mellie & his dad that he had this planned all along. He looked at his wife. She didn't seem so surprised.
They were all brought out of their thoughts when a gentleman came over to Mellie, "Are you Mellie Grant?"
She nodded
He handed her some papers, "You've been served."
Fitz smiled. He saw Harrison out of the corner of his eye. He went over and kissed his mom's cheek.
She hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Go be happy."
He nodded and climbed in the car with Harrison.
