Things are moving right along. I hope everyone is still liking the direction this is going. Here we go...
"Your name still hasn't been leaked yet." Olivia turned around and saw Harrison standing in her doorway.
"I know."
"What are you going to do when it does?"
"I'll handle it."
"You'll handle it? Olivia if and when your name comes out there is not going to be an easy fix. You know that-"
"Harrison." Olivia voice took a tone that meant this needed to be the end of the conversation. Unfortunately for Harrison, he did not heed that warning.
"Let me help you. The White House isn't going to. They'll hang you out to dry. They always leave the mistress out to hang and dry."
"I can take care of myself."
"Liv-"
"Harrison. I can take care of myself. You have a job to do. So go work on this case." Harrison looked at Olivia for a moment. Finally giving up he turned around and walked out of her office. Olivia took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the papers on her desk.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
2 Weeks Later
Things had been considerably peaceful for Fitz. He and Karen were working on repairing the relationship that had been stained ever since his drinking began. While Jerry still wasn't having full length conversations with him, he wasn't completely ignoring him and didn't look at him with such hurt eyes. It was all progress. Mellie, surprisingly, had been easier to put up with as well. And it also helped that they weren't really speaking to one another.
Fitz faced another day in the Oval. With this new positive outlook, it didn't seem so bad. He greeted Lauren, walked through the door, and took his usual place behind his desk. It was quiet and calm and then..
"Hello Fitzgerald." Mellie walked into the Oval with a smile on her face.
"What can I do for you, Mellie?"
"Actually, this is about what I can do for you."
"Oh." Fitz was genuinely curious as to what Mellie could possible think she could do for him.
"Yes." Mellie walked toward Fitz's desk. "You're running for reelection and you need me to do it."
Wordlessly, Fitz reached into one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out a brown envelope. Before Mellie could any further into her speech, Fitz placed the envelope in front of her.
"Before you finish what I am sure is a very well thought out speech, you might want to open that."
Mellie picked up the envelope giving Fitz a confused look as she did so. She looked at the papers, then at Fitz, and back to the papers. When she didn't speak, Fitz took this as his chance to say what he had to say. "I was going to give you these tonight, but since you came in here I thought, 'why the hell not.'"
"When did...How did you?"
"A few days ago Tom brought my lawyer in here. We came up with a deal that I think is more than fair."
"And what exactly are you planning to do after this? What about your political future."
"I am glad you asked that question..I am going to run as a single man. I am going to win as a single man. Then in about 6 months time I am going to begin dating well-educated, powerful women. After a few months, a few dates, it will be leaked that I have become close to a former aid. That we realized that we have feelings for each other. That we fell in love. After a great courtship we are going to be married."
"What if I don't want to sign the papers?"
"That would be a very bad idea, Mellie, because all it takes is a whisper. One tiny whisper that you are a racist and your career will be over before it even begins. However, if you sign the papers and make this as easy as it should be, I will help you start the political career you crave."
Mellie looked at the papers in her hand. She was thinking. Fitz watched her carefully; he could the wheels turning. "Sign the papers Mellie. It's time. This charade has gone on for long enough and you deserve better. Our kids deserve better."
Not ready to make a decision and trying to buy time, Mellie finally lifted her eyes from the papers to meet Fitz's. "Let me have my lawyer look over them and then I will get them back to you."
Fitz nodded. "Thank you, Mellie."
Mellie shoved the papers back into the envelope and let the office closing the door softly behind her. Fitz let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Mellie sat and listened to her lawyer as he explained everything that was written out on the divorce papers. She was becoming more and more frustrated as the discussion continued.
"What it all boils down to Mrs. Grant, is that I think we can get you a better deal."
"He'll give me whatever I want. The deal is not the problem. The problem is..Fitz wants this done fast so let's just do it quickly and be done."
"With all due respect Mrs. Grant, you and the president at least need to discuss the terms of this divorce."
Mellie let out a breath and sat back in her seat. "Fine. Call him in here." Mellie waved a dismissive hand at her lawyer.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Fitz and Mellie were in the Oval Office facing each other, both with lawyers on either side of them. Fitz's lawyer, Gregory, cleared his throat, breaking the tension in the room.
"This is a solid deal and it is fair. I don't see any need for my client to change anything."
It was Benjamin's, Mellie's lawyer, turn to speak. "We are not talking about some quickie marriage. The president and Mrs. Grant have been married for over 20 years. She deserves more than what you are offering."
Fitz and Gregory glanced at one another and Fitz nodded, giving him permission to increase the offer on the table. "Fine. We'll thrown in another property. Her choice, anything but the ranch in Santa Barbara."
Mellie gave Fitz a looked as she took in a sharp breath. "Fitzgerald, do you think I'm stupid? We have been married for a long time and I know how much you are worth. You want me gone? Fine. But I will not let you throw a couple of dollars at me and tell me to move on with my life."
Fitz ran a hand down his face. "Okay. Mellie, what do you want? What will it take?"
"15 million. 3 properties."
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
"15 million. 3 properties. And I walk."
Fitz took a deep breath. "Fine, but I get full custody of the kids."
Mellie looked at Fitz as if he had grown two extra heads. "Fitz."
"Please, Mellie. You and I both know you'll just ship them off anyway. And Teddie won't even see you between all the nannies and nurses you have taking care of him. The kids stay with me and you can have what you want."
Mellie was quiet for a while. Thinking. Finally she looked at Fitz and nodded her head. "Fine."
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Fitz found himself pacing around his office, a habit he had picked up from Olivia. He had called her and insisted she come to the White House at this very moment because he had something to tell her that couldn't be said over the phone. After what felt like an eternity he heard the door open and knew instantly who was there.
"Fitz, what was so important that I had to come down here, right now?" she mocked the tone he had used on the phone.
"She signed them." Fitz had the stupidest of grins plastered on his face.
"Who is she and what did she sign?" Olivia sat her purse down on one of the sofas.
"Oh my God, Olivia. Mellie! She signed the divorce papers." Olivia's eyes which were already wide, enlarged to the size of saucers.
"You're not joking?"
"No. I wouldn't joke about this."
Olivia let out an excited laugh as she walked towards Fitz. "She signed the papers." She repeated.
"Yep. Now we just wait for them to be finalized and then I will be a free man." Fitz's hands came to rest on her hips as she closed the remaining distance between them.
"How are the kids?" she asked worriedly.
"Teddy is obviously too young to understand any of this. Karen is..okay. Were getting better and I think she understands that this won't make me love her any less. Jerry is still a little angry but I think he is trying to be ok. We're on speaking terms again which is good but I think he is still trying to process all the changes that are occurring so quickly."
"What happens next?"
"Well." FItz took a deep breath. "When the divorce is finalized, Mellie and I will do an interview. Part of the settlement was that I got full custody of the kids so they are going to stay here and Mellie is going to move out. After that, I work on repairing my relationship with my children, getting re-elected, and being your very loving partner."
Olivia smiled up at Fitz. "Hmmm. I like the sound of that."
"I thought you might." Fitz placed what was supposed to be a quick kiss on her lips. It was, however, anything but quick. When they separated, Olivia ran her fingers through the hair at the base of Fitz's neck. "So this isn't the only reason I called you here."
"Fitz."
"No. No It's nothing bad. I just need you to sit, right over here." Fitz guided Olivia to one of the couches in the room. He turned and walked through one of the doorways off the Oval. When he returned he was pushing a cart.
"What's this?" Olivia walked over to Fitz and the cart, looking at everything on it.
"This is me being a loving partner. I know you probably haven't eaten lunch yet and I want to keep you here for as long as possible, so we are going to sit down on this couch and we are going to enjoy this wonderful meal. Courtesy of the White House chef."
Olivia giggled. "Okay. So what are we having, Mr. President?"
An hour and a half later Olivia and Fitz sat cuddled against one another. Olivia glanced down at her watch. "I have to go."
"You don't have to go."
"Fitz, don't be funny. I have a job to do and more importantly you have a job to do."
"Okay. You're right. I'll go run the country or something. I guess." They both stood up. Olivia smiled at him and kissed him quickly.
"Thank you for lunch. It was wonderful." She picked up her bag and made her way to the door, looking back at him once before walking out of the Oval.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Olivia turned the corner at the same moment as Cyrus. "Hello, Cyrus."
"You're being messy."
"What?"
"You're being messy, sloppy, not covering your tracks. I don't care what you call it, but it needs to be fixed."
"Cyrus, I would suggest-"
"You can't come here and spend two hours in his office and it not raise a few eyebrows. Now is not the time to come to the White House under the guise of working to play tonsil hockey with your boyfriend." When Olivia was silent he continued. "Look, this isn't about me trying to keep you two apart. I know that's not going to work so I'm on his side with this." Olivia looked at him from the corners of her eyes. "Oh, don't give me that look..The point is, if this is going to work I need you two to be careful. You not coming here at all is not realistic, but I need you and Fitz to think about the risks before you decide to have a date night on the resolute desk."
"Okay, Cyrus. I get it." Olivia stopped walking to make eye contact with him.
"Good." Cyrus turned and walked toward his office, greeting his secretary on the way in the door.
And that my friends is chapter 4. Hopefully chapter 5 will be up by Sunday. That is unless something comes up. Okie Dokie! See ya later
