Chapter 4: Everybody Has Breakfast
Strong California sunlight peeks through the cracks in the curtains. Olivia opens her eyes slowly and immediately focuses on Fitz's sleeping form next to her. While she is laying on her side, he is laying on his stomach, one arm tucked beneath the pillow his head is resting on, the other rests on her hip. She takes in the beauty of him from his sleep tousled brown curls, to this regal nose, to his firm jaw and his kissable lips. Her heart flutters at the mere thought of his lips pressed hungrily against hers.
She watches him for a few more minutes before slipping out of bed. Quietly, she leaves the room and makes her way to the foyer where she retrieves her carryon bag leaving her heavier bag for Fitz to bring up later. She returns to the bedroom and heads directly to the bathroom. She pushes the door closed and turns on the light. She places her bag on the counter and opens it to retrieve her soap, shampoo and conditioner from the bag. She places her items on the ledge in the shower and turns the water on. She pulls Fitz's t-shirt over her head and steps into the already steaming shower. She stands under the steaming spray letting the water pour over her body.
As she grabs her shampoo and begins washing her hair, she recalls the events of last night. She has never before disclosed the depth of her loneliness to anyone and here she has poured her entire heart out to a complete stranger. Somehow she feels so comfortable and safe with Fitz, but she can't figure out why. Last night, he confessed he felt the same as she does, but it seems too incredible to be true. Now in the light of day, she wonders if she is doing the same thing with Fitz that she did with Edison. Clinging to someone in her time of loneliness. While things feel different with Fitz than they did with Edison all those years ago, she can't help but wonder if she is headed down the same path. The mere thought of that makes her blood run cold.
What am I doing? I left my husband and I am already in the arms and bed of another man! What is wrong with me?
Fitz wakes to an empty bed. He wonders where Olivia is until he hears the faint sound of the shower running in the bathroom. He sits up and swings his long legs out of bed. He walks to the bathroom and opens the door where he is immediately met with the warm fruity smells of Olivia's bath products. He walks further into the steamy bathroom, with the intent of joining Olivia in the shower, until he hears her quiet sobs. He wants to go to her, but somehow he knows she needs to be alone. He picks up his toothbrush and quietly leaves the bathroom. Grabbing fresh clothes from the closet, he heads off to one of the guest bedrooms to take a quick shower.
As he returns to the master bedroom, he is not surprised to find that he has finished his morning routine before Olivia does. Remembering that their luggage is still in the foyer, Fitz goes downstairs to retrieve it. He places his bags in the closet, but leaves Olivia's at the foot of the bed. Wanting to give her some privacy, he leaves the bedroom and heads off to the kitchen to make coffee.
As the coffee brews and he cleans the kitchen from last night's dinner, his mind replays the evening before. Hearing Olivia's account of her life with Edison and his family makes his heart ache for her and makes him want to beat Edison to a pulp. He pours a cup of coffee, adding just a dash of cream, and sips it slowly as he looks out the kitchen window. His thoughts on Olivia and how he can help her.
Fitz is so engrossed in his own thoughts that he doesn't hear Olivia enter the room.
"Good morning," she says quietly.
"Good morning," he says brightly as he turns to face her.
She stands at the threshold of the room, dressed in a soft yellow sundress. Her hair is swept to one-side into a braid that hangs just to the top of her breast. Her make-up is light, just mascara, eyeliner and a touch of lipstick. Her eyes are still a little red from crying, but her face looks relaxed and in Fitz's mind beautiful.
"Coffee?"
"Yes, thank you," she replies as she takes a seat at the island. "Oh and thank you for bringing my suitcase upstairs."
Fitz gets a cup and pours her coffee. He places it in front of her along with the cream and sugar dispensers. She declines both and takes the hot cup of coffee and takes a sip.
"It's good," she says, "Columbian?"
"I have no earthly idea. Miss Naomi buys it and I drink it."
They sit in silence, sipping their coffee lost in their own thoughts.
"He's probably looking for me by now," she says out of the blue breaking Fitz from his thoughts.
"I know, you said that last night. Are you afraid that he will find you?" his voice filled with concern.
"Afraid isn't the right word. It's not like he was ever violent towards me. I'm just not ready to see him."
"Well you don't have to do anything you don't want to," he states as he gently holds her hand.
"At any rate, it will be hard for him to track me. I left my cell phone and credit cards behind and I paid cash for my plane ticket. Which leads me to ask, would it be oaky if Daniel took me to pick up a rental car today?"
"You don't have to rent a car Livvie, you can borrow one of mine if you need to go somewhere, or I can take you."
"I don't want to inconvenience you."
"Livvie," he chastises, "it will not be an inconvenience. I want to spend time with you and help you. Just tell me what you need."
"Well, I need a new cell phone and laptop. I also have a large sum of money in my purse that really needs to be in the bank."
"Well see, I can help you out with all of those. Come with me," he says as he slides off the chair and walks out of the kitchen.
She follows him to his office. He walks behind the desk and opens up the center drawer. After fumbling around for a few moments, he retrieves an iPhone from the drawer. He hands it to her along with the power cord.
"Here, I bought this for Miss Naomi, but she refuses to use it. She says her phone is just fine and she didn't need this "new-fangled contraption". As for a laptop, you can use this one. I have one that I use for work and this one just sits here collecting dust. As for your money, you are more than welcome to put it in my office wall safe or my safety deposit box at the bank. That way you wouldn't have to open a bank account, making it harder for Edison to track you."
"Well just look at you," she smirks, "you are like Best Buy and Bank of America all rolled up in one."
"I just aim to please," he replies with a goofy grin as he sits down in his chair.
"Thank you," she says walking over to him and sitting in his lap, "you just . . . . ." she couldn't find the words to express her feelings. Tears fill her eyes as she leans forward and kisses him softly.
"Livvie, you don't have to thank me. I know this must be a confusing and difficult time. Just know, I am here for you however you need me to be," he states as he wipes her tears away. "I am not Edison. I won't take advantage of you. I won't disrespect you. I won't ask anything from you that you are not willing to give me. I won't try and change you."
He continues to stroke her cheek as he presses their foreheads together.
"Who are you?" she whispers.
"The man who loves you."
She doesn't reply, she just wraps her arms around his neck and fingers his curls as their lips meet in a gentle kiss. She pulls away and looks in directly in the eyes. He senses her hesitation to reply to his words and he doesn't push her
"How about we go grab some breakfast at one of my favorite spots," he suggests.
She relaxes a little when he doesn't push her to declare her love for him. "Perfect, but only on one condition."
"What's that?"
"Well you know all about me, I want to hear all about you over breakfast. Who is Fitz Grant?"
"Deal," he says with a huge smile.
She pecks his lips once more before she gets up from his lap. They walk hand in hand out of the office.
"I need to run upstairs and get my wallet. I'll be right back," he says breaking their contact.
"Fitz, wait."
He stops and turns to face her.
"I have to tell you something."
"Okay," he says hesitantly.
"This morning, while I was in the shower, I began to have doubts about what we were doing here. What I was doing here. I was afraid that I was repeating the same mistake that I made with Edison with you. I questioned whether what I felt was real or not. I want you to know that I don't think it is a mistake and I know what I feel for you is real. It shouldn't be possible, people will probably think we are crazy, but I love you too," she confesses.
His heart soars and his face breaks out into a huge smile. He walks back to her and picks her up by the waist and swings her around before placing her back on the ground and kissing her.
"It should be against the law to be this happy," he says when he pulls from her embrace. "I'll be right back." He hurries off to get his wallet.
When he returns, he grabs her hand and leads her through the house and out a side door. As they cross the backyard, she takes in the expanse of his property.
"It's really pretty here," she says.
He clicks a button on his key chain remote and a set of doors on the four car begins to open. Inside is a the car that Daniel picked them up in, a Black Range Rover, a bright red Porsche Cayenne and a sleek black and silver Ducati motorcycle.
"Do you really ride that thing," Olivia asks as she points to the motorcycle.
"Not much anymore. But I used to ride all the time. Maybe I'll take you for a ride sometime."
"Umm, I don't think so."
"Oh come on Livvie, don't you want to ride me . . . I mean my bike," he whispers in her ear as he helps her into the Range Rover.
His words make her shiver and make her core twitch. He chuckles as he notices her squirm in her seat. He shuts her door and walks around the car to the driver's side. He slides behind the wheel and sticks the key in the ignition. Before he backs out of the garage he turns to look at her.
"Wherever this goes, however long it takes, I'm with you," he emphatically states.
"So we are in this together?"
"We are in this together."
She leans over and kisses him. "Good to know. Now, feed me."
"Your wish is my command."
He backs the car out of the garage and clicks the remote to close the doors. In the bright light of day, Olivia takes in the beauty of landscaping and the sheer size of the house.
"Oh my god, you must be loaded," she declares before realizing how it sounded.
Fitz on chuckles and replies, "You could say that. Don't worry I will tell you everything over breakfast."
They make the winding drive through his neighborhood out to the main street.
Edison slept very little the night before. He wakes with a sore neck and a pounding headache. The clock reads 8:30am. He groans as he lifts himself into a sitting position on the couch. He couldn't bear to sleep in their bed last night. He still could not believe that Olivia had left him.
His cell phone begins to ring as he walks to the bathroom.
"What," he growls into the phone.
"Hey boss, it's Charlie. I just wanted to update you on my progress so far."
"Go ahead," Edison says as he begins to pee.
"Okay, are you . . . " Charlie can't believe that this guy is pissing while on the phone, "never mind. Mrs. Davis boarded a flight to Los Angeles yesterday at 4:00pm. She paid cash for the ticket. There have been no charges to any of her credit cards and no withdrawals from your joint banking or savings accounts."
"So where is she?" Edison asks as he flushes the toilet.
Charlie grimaces at the mental picture of Edison pissing. He shakes his head to erase the image and continues, "Don't know yet boss. I can't track her if she is paying cash. She doesn't have her cell phone and or any of the jewelry you had GPS trackers put into, so it's like she vanished."
"That's not what I want to hear Charlie! You find my wife! Find her now goddammit!" Edison bellows.
"Sure boss. It's just going to take a little more time. I have a buddy at LAX airport. He is working on sending me the security camera footage from that day. I will keep you posted."
"See that you do," Edison commands before he disconnects the call.
He tosses the phone on the counter and turns toward the shower. He opens the door and turns the faucet to the hottest setting. He steps out of his boxers and enters the shower.
"Damn you Olivia," he mutters. "Why did you have to do this?"
"Because she is no good Edison. Mother tried to tell you," Pearl says from the bathroom door.
"Mother, what the hell are you doing in my bathroom?!" yells as he quickly shuts the shower door.
"Watch your tongue," she snaps. "I came over this morning to discuss your wayward wife and what we are going to do to get her ass back here."
"Sorry mother," he sighs heavily.
"That's better. Now you hurry up with your shower and I will fix you some breakfast."
"Yes mother," he replies dutifully.
Pearl leaves the bedroom and heads downstairs to the immaculately clean kitchen. She clucks her tongue at the selection of items in the refrigerator.
"Greek yogurt? Almond milk? How can anyone make a decent breakfast with this?" Pearl grumbles.
She closes the door and begins to pull items out of the bag she placed on the counter earlier. Within a few minutes the kitchen is filled with the aromas of bacon, eggs, grits and buttermilk biscuits. As she pulls the fluffy biscuits from the oven, Edison enters the kitchen.
"Mother, all of his wasn't necessary. I usually have smoothie for breakfast."
"Edison, just sit down and eat. You need your strength," Pearl directs.
Edison sighs and takes a seat at the kitchen table. Pearl walks over and places a plate filled to the brim with food in front of him. He must admit it smells and looks good. He can't remember the last time his mother actually cooked for him. He digs into the food.
Pearl sits down across from him and watches as he begins to eat.
"Now, have you heard from Charlie," she questions. Edison recounts his earlier conversation with Charlie.
"Who does that girl know in LA?" Pearl asks.
"No one that I know of. The closest person would be Abby, but last I heard she was in Washington or Oregon. I guess she could be making her way up there to see her."
"I'll have Charlie pull her cell phone records to see who she has been talking to."
"No need Mother, she left her phone here. I checked her phone and there were no calls out of the ordinary in her call log for the last two months."
"I bet she confided in that Sherry Miles about her plans to leave," Pearls says.
"Maybe. I'll call her later. Right now, I need to get to the office. I have work to do to stop the takeover."
"Did you revoke her access to your bank and savings accounts?"
"Yes, I did that last night."
"Good, so whatever little money she managed to squirrel away won't last long. I wouldn't be surprised if she came crawling back by the end of the week, LA is expensive."
"I guess Mother." Edison says tiredly.
"What's wrong?"
"Maybe I don't want her back. Maybe her leaving was the best thing."
"Don't be silly son. You need her back here and as soon as possible. In case you forgot, she didn't sign a prenup. If she files for divorce, she gets half! That is NOT acceptable."
"Mother, she wouldn't ask for half. I know her."
"Ha! That's funny. You know her? If you knew her, explain to me how she was able to leave you without a trace. Tell me how you didn't even get a hint that it was on her mind? Never mind, I know the answer. She got away from you because you were too busy spending time with another woman."
Edison drops his fork and stares wide eyed at his mother.
"You thought you were so careful. Only meeting at out of the way places. I know all about you and Miss Chelsea Morgan. One thing I can say for you son, you definitely have a type. She could be Olivia's sister."
"You are having me followed?!" Edison asks incredulously.
"No son and watch your tone. My good friend Martha Wardlaw saw you two coming out of the W Hotel a couple of months ago looking quite close. I just had Charlie follow you until you met up with Miss Morgan again and then he began to follow her. What is it with you and school teachers? Must you aim so low? I guess I should be happy she isn't white."
"I think you should go now Mother," Edison seethes.
"Edison, I am only looking out for you and your well-being. I tried to tell you that Olivia was wrong for you, but you didn't listen. Now she is gone and she has the potential to take half of what you are worth. So listen to me and listen well. You will find Olivia and bring her back here so we can control her and what happens IF there is going to be a divorce. And you will stop seeing Chelsea Morgan immediately. Am I clear?"
"Yes Mother," concedes.
"Good. Now, I must run. I have a lot of things to do today." Pearl stands up and smoothes out her skirt. "Have a good day son." She kisses his temple and leaves him sitting at the table.
Once he hears the front door close Edison throws his plate across the room. How can everything be falling apart at one time? First the takeover bid, then Olivia leaving and now his mother knows about Chelsea.
"Damn!" he shouts. He gets up from the table and walks to the foyer to get this briefcase. He enters the combination and pops open the locks. He pulls a bottle and takes the top off. He shakes two white pills into the palm of his hand and then dry swallows them. He puts the top back on the bottle and returns it to his briefcase. He walks slowly up the stairs to his bedroom where he gets dressed for the day. By the time he slides behind the driver's seat of the car, he feels relaxed and calm, thanks to his little white pills.
He connects his Bluetooth, "Call Marta," he commands. When she answers, he instructs her to come by the house to clean up the mess he made in the kitchen and the bedroom. He also tells her make dinner for him and leave it in the refrigerator. After he disconnects the call he contemplates calling Chelsea, but decides to wait until later. No sense in spoiling her morning he thinks to himself.
By the time Edison reaches the offices of Davis Corporation, he exudes a sense of power and control on the outside that he doesn't feel on the inside.
The café is crowded for a Friday morning, but they manage to find a table for two in a far corner. Fitz doesn't bother looking at the menu, this is one of his favorite haunts and he knows exactly what they are going to have.
A twenty-something red head comes over to their table, "May I take your order?" she says in a childlike voice not really looking at them.
"We'll have an order of Sourdough French Toast with the warm Blueberry compote, two orders of thick sliced bacon, one Inside Out Western Omelet and two large glasses of orange juice" Fitz says.
"Coming right . . . ." the waitress says as she looks up at Fitz. "Oh my God, you are Fitzgerald Grant, the producer. I am honored to wait on you," she gushes. She looks around quickly and then says in a hushed voice, "I would love to read for you someday. Here," she reaches into her apron pocket and retrieves a business card, "this is my website resume. Please take a look at it when you have a moment. Hopefully my work will impress you. I'll put your order in right away."
As the waitress rushes off to place their order, Olivia sits there too stunned to be offended by the waitress ignoring her completely. Fitz is a famous producer?
"You are a producer? Like Hollywood Movie Producer?" she asks with a hint of awe in her voice.
"Yeah. I mainly produce now, but I still like to direct at times," Fitz answers nonchalantly.
"Would I know any of your movies? I have to admit that I don't pay much attention to who produces or directs a movie."
"You aren't alone. I mainly produce Independent Films, so they don't get much mainstream attention. Have you seen "Alone on the Beach" or "Tears of Our Sisters"?"
"That was your work? Wow, I loved both of those. Especially "Tears of Our Sisters". Wasn't that a fictionalized story of the life of Amelia Grant?"
"Yes it was."
Suddenly a light goes off in her head, "Wait, are you related to Amelia Grant?" she excitedly asks.
"Yep, she was my grandmother."
"I love her movies! " Maisie in the Spring" is my all-time favorite. My mom and I would watch all of the Maisie movies while we were out for winter break. I can't believe you are her grandson."
"Well, I am," he says. Secretly he wonders if Olivia's view of him will change now that she knows he is famous. It wouldn't be the first time that a woman got close to him for a chance at money and fame. He pushes that thought from his mind as he looks at her across the table. He doesn't see the glint of dollar signs in her eyes, only a curiosity to know more about him.
"Okay, so tell me the rest of the Fitz Grant story."
"Well, I am 37, the son of Big Jerry Grant, also a producer, and Margaret Timmons-Grant, Broadway actress. My parents died in a plane crash when I was nine so I moved to California to live with my Grandmother Amelia and her housekeeper/caregiver Miss Naomi. She was no longer acting, so we spent lots of time together. So instilled in me my love of movies.
Anyway, I went to private school and eventually went to USC as a film major. My grandmother died when I was 28. She willed the house and the majority of her fortune to me. Miss Naomi refused to leave me. I tried several times to get her to retire, but she refuses. So she cooks for me when I am home, she makes sure the household bills are in order and she oversees the cleaning crew that comes in once a week to do the major cleaning."
"Sounds like she loves you a lot."
The waitress returns with their food. Everything looks wonderful. They split the omelet and French Toast between them and dig in.
"Fitz, this is fabulous. I am going to have to spend an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill to work off this French Toast."
They eat quietly for a few moments. Then Olivia asks, "Have you ever been married?"
"Yes, five years ago to Mellie Wilcox. She was pretty and fun. I had just finished my first successful movie, "Guns for Our Children", and some mutual friends introduced us at a party. We hit it off and started dating a few weeks later."
"So what happened?"
"Well after dating for about a year, she came to me and told me she was pregnant. I was ecstatic. I always wanted a family of my own and now here was my chance. I immediately asked her to marry me and she accepted. We literally got married at City Hall the next day. I remember when I told Miss Naomi we were married, she clucked her tongue and told me I was a fool, then she kissed my cheek and congratulated me.
Anyway, about two weeks into our new life, Mellie tells me she had a miscarriage. I was devastated. The loss was overwhelming, but I figured we were both young and maybe in time we could try again. Mellie confessed at that point that she never wanted to try again because she was afraid of losing another baby. Though I was crushed, I fully supported her and just accepted the fact that I would never be a father.
Things between us began to unravel after that. Mellie spent her time spending money, traveling, and shopping with her friends. She was rarely home and when she was she was distant. I threw myself into my work and spent as much time away from home as I could. It was too lonely there without her and equally as lonely with her.
One night, I came home early from a shoot and found her having sex with another man in the pool. She laughed at me and told me she was glad that I knew the truth. She confessed that she only married me for my name and money. She told me she wanted a divorce."
Olivia's heart aches for Fitz. His marriage had not been much better than hers. She reaches out across the table and holds his hand.
"Oh my God Fitz that sounds terrible. I am so sorry you had to endure that," she says softly.
"It was terrible, but I got the last laugh. Mellie assumed since we were in California she would get half of my wealth, since it is a community property state and we had no prenup. But what she didn't know was that the bulk of my wealth was left in a trust for me. I could not access it until I turned 35. Our divorce became final just two weeks prior to my 35th birthday. So the only money should would ever get from me was based on whatever I had earned on my own. She still made out pretty well with a one-time settlement 20 million dollars, but I don't have to pay her alimony or child support. So for me it was a pretty clean break."
"I wouldn't call a 20 million dollar settlement getting off easy," Olivia quips.
"Well let's just say that that was a drop in the bucket compared to the value of the Grant fortune. My Great Grandfather was in the oil business and made a hefty fortune. He left his entire estate to my Grandmother Amelia, who in turn left her entire estate to me."
"Wow. So what happened after your divorce?"
"Work, work and more work. I needed something to fill the loneliness and void that Mellie left. I was gun shy about dating again, so I just work."
"Is that why you were in Atlanta?"
"Yes. We finished up my latest film a few weeks ago, but we had to reshoot a couple of exterior scenes. We were scheduled to be there for a week, but we finished in four days. So I was able to catch an earlier flight home and well you know the rest."
Olivia sits back for a moment and sifts through the story that Fitz just told her. Given everything he had experienced with Mellie, she has to ask him the question that is burning in her mind.
"Fitz, if you were so gun shy about dating because of what happened with Mellie, how did you EVER wind up here with me? How do you know I wouldn't do the same thing to you? I mean, I wouldn't, but how do you know?"
"Livvie," he says as he stands and pulls his chair around the table so that he can sit next to her, "the minute, no the second I laid eyes on you I knew you had my heart. I can't explain it, but I was drawn to you. It was like I suddenly felt whole just being in your presence. I trusted you completely before you ever even uttered a word to me. You had my heart, mind and soul and I didn't even know your name."
"Oh Fitz," she gushes as he leans over and kisses her gently.
She pulls back from their kiss and looks him in the eyes, "Just know that you have my heart too. I will NEVER hurt you like Mellie did. I don't care about your fame or your wealth. All I want, all I ever will need is your love."
"You have it Livvie," he says before he kisses her again.
Before the kiss gets too heated they are interrupted by their waitress with their check. Fitz pulls out his wallet and leaves money on the table. They exit the restaurant hand in hand.
"So now what do you want to do Mr. Grant?" she asks playfully.
"Whatever you want to do is fine with me. I just want to enjoy this beautiful day with my beautiful girl."
Olivia blushes at his words. "I'm your girl?" she asks.
"Yes you are," he drops her hand and grabs her around the waist pulling her body flush to his, "and when the time is right, you will be my wife."
He leans down and draws her lips to his. Olivia's head is spinning from the ravenous kiss and from Fitz's declaration. She pushes him away gently so that she can catch her breath.
"So," she says trying to calm down, "what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"
"I do need to get some new swim trunks for the barbeque tomorrow," he states.
"What barbeque?" she asks.
"My friend Bobby invited us to his place for a barbeque with his family and a few friends. I am sorry I forgot to tell you."
"Ugh, I don't have anything to wear to a barbeque Fitz," she groans.
"Well, I guess I know what we are going to do today. Come on, Rodeo Drive is the next block over." He grabs her hand and they head off down the sidewalk.
A/N: Sorry it took so long. The kids are out for winter break and it is nearly impossible to write when they are around.
Anyway, so I decided that Liv and Fitz would just take the leap and be together. This is no rebound relationship, this is pure love. There will be some angst, but for the most part they will experience the perfect, fairy tale love we all secretly dream about. We got a brief glimpse of Fitz's background. Don't worry, there are no plans to bring Mellie into this story.
Edison and his mother are a trip! I would love to hear your comments about them.
Anyway, next chapter will be shopping on Rodeo Drive and the barbeque and maybe Livvie meeting Miss Naomi. Wonder how that is going to go over?
Leave your comments/rants/suggestions. You know I love them all.
And as always, I do not own Scandal or its characters. If I did, it would be all Olitz all the time!