Chapter 3

At First Sight

August 1998

The Dish Restaurant

"Sally, you have done a fine job getting this building ready to open. It looks nothing like the dump it was when I bought it six months ago. Cyrus will be pleased to see that his money isn't going down the drain. But we can't show him until you get the restaurant fully staffed," Fitz said. He and Sally toured the kitchen and back loading dock area.

"It's been a labor of love, Fitz. I know I can fully realize the vision you have for this concept as well as bring it to profitability. This area is on the rebound as more working professionals and families return to buy homes," Sally said.

Fitz noticed his brother, Patrick walk out of the back office. Fitz narrowed his eyes at his shenanigans. Patrick bent his hand into a puppet to mimic Sally while silently mouthing, "blah, blah, blah."

"Patrick Joseph, I may not see you, but I can feel you mocking me," Sally said.

Fitz smiled in admiration at Sally's quip. He appreciated the way she managed his restaurant and kept his little brother in check. Unfortunately, he suffered from the privileged rich boy syndrome. At 26 years old, Patrick acted as if he were 18. About 8 months ago, he totaled his sports car speed racing down I-10 with friends. Instead of rescuing him yet again, Fitz convinced his parents to let him handle PJ. He offered to move him from Dallas to Atlanta where he'd be opening a new restaurant. PJ would have to work in the restaurant to support himself and make recompense for squandering his car that incidentally was fully paid for by his parents. PJ had vehemently protested until he discovered that the alternative would be moving out of his parents' house and getting a job. Since moving to Atlanta, PJ had made great strides in maturity, especially at his job where Sally kept a close eye on him. Fitz kept an apartment in Atlanta, but spent most of his time in Dallas.

"Uh oh, Sally is using both your names, PJ. Hopefully she won't get to add 'Grant' to that before I head back to Dallas. You will really be in trouble," Fitz said.

"Big brother, are you going to help us with the interviews for all these eager beaver college students?" said PJ.

"Absolutely not. Fitz has more important things to do than interview potential front of the house and back of the house staff," said Sally. "I'm heading out now to begin the first round. From the looks of the long lines, it's going to be a long day. Hopefully we can weed out many of them." Sally walked out into the main dining room.

Fitz strolled into the office with his brother following behind him.

"Shouldn't you be out there nose deep in interviews, PJ?" Fitz asked, sitting down at the computer to review the financials.

"That's just it little brother. I want to hear about who you have been nose deep in," he said. "Helping Attila the Hun get the restaurant up and running has cramped my style considerably. All I do is work, day in, day out. I need to hear about your latest bed buddy to get me over the hump."

Fitz looked at him disapprovingly but then smiled wickedly. "PJ…you know I don't kiss and tell...but since you are twisting my arm I'll give you a little bite," he said. "Brunette, legs for days, and all the T and A you can shake a stick at."

They shared a laugh. "Mom and Dad think I am the spoiled brat, but all the while you're the one who is pulling one over on them. You're never going to get married are you? They are not up in your ass because you have the perfect cover: opening more Dish restaurants. You can have anyone you want, Fitz. What about Melody or-"

"Why fix what isn't broken? I'm not ready to be tied down. Kids are cute, but the whole family gig will prevent me from having the flexibility to do what I need to do for my work and play for that matter. Melody...hmm she's just too eager. I think she should marry my parents."

"You are something else, big brother. Leave some stuff out that for me," PJ said.

"There's enough to go around," Fitz said.

"Well, anyway," he said, "Call me tonight and we'll have a drink. Now if you decide to help with the interviews that'd be even better.

"Not likely." He had zero interest and intention of interviewing anyone.

"Wow, there are just too many people interviewing today. Huck, why did you advertise this on your MySpace page? Everyone uses your page for the latest news which makes no damn sense. You don't talk to anyone but us," said Harrison.

"Leave Huck alone, Harrison. You're just jealous. Let's focus so we can do what we came to do: get a job. We're smarter than all these students put together. We have to make the powers that be here realize that we are the best ones for the job," Olivia said.

"Liv, thanks for your speech, but look at that damn sign," Abby said, pointing in front of them. A woman placed a sign on an easel just in front of them that read, Thank you for your interest in The Dish Restaurant. We have filled all the positions we have available at this time. We will keep your resumes and applications on file should we have any future openings. -The Dish Management

"Shit. Shit. Shit," said Olivia through clinched teeth, "I really needed this job."

"I still don't understand why you need a job Liv. You have a full scholarship," said Abby.

Olivia and Huck exchanged glances.

"Okay. Spill it. Whenever you two get those googely eyes, you're hiding something," said Harrison.

"My dad refuses to pay his portion of my expenses unless I declare my major as pre-med again," Olivia said. They pulled out their resumes and walked to the table where all those left behind were setting them.

"That's not cool," said Abby.

Fitz grabbed his briefcase and suit jacket. He was eager to leave the restaurant since he had a date with Kelly later that night. Instead of leaving out the back door, he decided to walk through the main dining room and out the front door. He wanted to see how the new tile looked in the foyer.

When he entered the dining room, his eyes scanned over the crowd. When his eyes passed over a young African American woman in a khaki skirt and white blouse, he doubled back to look at her again.

"Hmm." Fitz was instantly intrigued. He couldn't help but smile. There was something about her. He noticed the look of disappointment on her face. She and three other people were standing beside the job rejection sign.

Olivia placed her completed job application and resume one the table. A large hand appeared out of nowhere and pulled the documents from her hand. Olivia looked around confused.

"Miss, my name is Fitzgerald Grant, and I'd like to interview you for a job," he said, extending his hand to her. Olivia's brow held a little wrinkle of confusion.

"But the sign that lady put out said that the interviews were closed."

"They are closed, but a new position just came open. I'd like to consider you for it if you're interested," Fitz explained.

"Okay, but what about my friends," she asked, pointing to Abby, Huck, and Harrison who now stood by the door.

"I'll check into that. Let's have a seat in that booth so we can talk."

Olivia was ecstatic about the possibility of securing a job. She was eager to show her father that she didn't need his money to continue on the academic path she'd chosen, social work.

She took his outstretched hand and pumped it once, falling into her most professional posture.

"Okay, Mr. Grant."

She looked back at her friends whose faces each held a question. Olivia raised her shoulders in an, "I don't know."

"So, what's your name?" he asked.

"Olivia," she answered. "Olivia Pope."

"Olivia Pope, you've got the job. Have dinner with me tonight. I'll explain the details then," he said.

"Are you serious?" she asked.

"I'm game if you are," he said leaning forward.

Olivia laughed out loud. "I'm sure the owner would like to know that you are flirting with me."

"I have a feeling he would be okay in this instance," Fitz said matter-of-factly.