Chapter 7

Lauren had called to let him know Cyrus was on the way in. It had been a busy few days getting back up to speed on what he needed to know. He was the President and he was going to start acting like it. Cy had done a great job subbing for him while he was drowning his sorrows over Olivia leaving him yet again but it was time to dry out and come up with a strategy. He set at his desk looked around him and said, "I am the fucking President of the United States of America. I can do this and I can get my woman back. She loves me I know this. So why is she shacked up with that Senatorial loser? Don't know, but I intend to put an end to it."

"Good Morning Mr. President. How are you? I know you are eager to be caught up on everything. Let's start out with that legislation from the gentleman from Arizona. It is tripe Lord knows it is tripe. I don't think it worth talking about but he seems to think you owe him favors sir," Cy said shaking his head.

"What has gotten into him? This is ridiculous. This type of thing I am sure riles up that wacko base he is courting but it doesn't pass the smell test. He must know I would never consider something so outrageous for this great nation no matter what favor he believes is owed. In the future this type of thing should never make it pass pile one," he said as he put the entire folder in the trash.

"I knew that sir, but he is a supposed friend of yours. But I get the memo now, no problem. So Mr. President, are you excited about the Presidential Birthday Gala your wife is throwing on Friday. It sounds like it is going to be a doozy. The musical entertainment alone is over the top. Stevie Wonder, Santana, Mariah..

"Cyrus I have already told Mellie that I was not attending that mess she has rigged up. You two go ahead and party like it is 1999, but I will not be there. I specifically told Mellie no birthday party, definitely no Presidential Gala. I am not in the mood for anything like that. My entire life is in a bad place right now. What in the hell is wrong with her. I said no. You two figure out a way to cancel it." he shouted.

Cyrus had tried to lead into this shit slowly. He knew Fitz was going to be royally pissed. He had told Mellie not to do it. But that woman will listen to no one. The man has told you five ways to Sunday he does not want a birthday party and your ass goes out and organizes a gala. How dumb is that? Your husband doesn't love you; he loves another woman who has left him for someone else. He has been moping for more than a year and you try to organize happy time. Did not this bitch graduate top in her class at Harvard Law School? Shows you Harvard may be overrated.

"Mr. President I tried to stop her sir but she is headstrong. Insisted she wanted to do this for you to boost your morale. She considers herself trying to help you sir as misguided as it is. Plus she is pregnant sir and there is a hormonal thing going on. She just flits around doing and saying anything. But I do believe she felt she was trying to help you. Sir you have been in a funk for months and the nation knows this. This could be an opportunity to show them you are back and in rare form. You could go say for about an hour and plead jet lag, upset stomach, anything really; it would be a win-win for you sir. Let the nation know you are back and representing them well," he said slyly.

"There is only one thing Mellie can do to help me and that is to give me a divorce. I want to end this toxic marriage and move on with my life. Going to a Gala and pretending that we are a happy couple is just not in me right now. I have done it for more years than I care to remember. This entire farce including this pregnancy, it is too fucking much. I made a bargain with the devil to stay sitting in this chair, but I will be damned if I will play the game on her terms. I detest her Cy and seeing her pregnant makes it worst. We should be over, ended, not having a baby. That baby should be mine and Olivia's." He was so frustrated with this shit.

"Sir it is Wednesday, to call this off now would have some terrible optics. I know exactly how you feel. Believe me I tried everything to get her not to do this. But you know Mellie. She thrives on manipulation. She told me to my face she had dropped the idea, when in truth she was planning it as hard as she could. As I said she has all your favorites booked for this thing. There are actually some world leaders on tap to be here. She has left no stone unturned to lure you to the Kennedy center sir. She knows it will make us all look like fools if you do not show," he said knowingly.

"God I despise her manipulation so much. I swear it will never end. Again I have to ask myself why did I marry this woman? I get the picture Cy she has us by the balls. I have no choice do I," he asked exasperated to the core.

"No sir, you do not," he said flatly. Did you want to continue going over those files I gave you or do you just want to digest that Mellie has thwarted us both again. I am sorry sir. I know how much this thing with Liv has hurt you and you are not in the mood for a celebration but like I said I will get you in and out. Taking one for the team it is the Grant way."

He took a deep breath resigning himself to a shitty Friday night. He closed his eyes and imagined him and Liv dancing. She had taught him how to just go with the flow and surprisingly he got it. Damn he loved slow dancing with her. They fit together perfectly. God he missed her. Damn it just occurred to him that Livvie may be at the Gala. She was involved with Davis and he was the Senate Majority Leader. Would she be there? If she were there could he persuade her to see him? He had to persuade her he had to. He had to get her back. He was the POTUS. Somewhere in the Kennedy Center was a place he could meet with her and talk to her. He had to convince her they were meant to be together. He loves her and she loves him it is a no brainer.

"Cy do you know if Edison Davis is coming to this birthday party? Is Olivia coming with him? I need to see her Cyrus I need to talk to her. Could you find out for me," he pleaded.

"Sir I haven't exactly seen the guest list, but I think you know Olivia Pope is persona non grata as for as the First Lady is concerned. She would make sure she is not on the guest list. She would keep Edison Davis off the list just for that reason. She is very vindictive sir, you know that," he said smoothly.

In truth he had conspired with Mellie to keep Liv from this event. They were over and it needed to stay that way. Liv was destroying him with the back and forth. He knew they loved each other but Mellie was never going to give Fitz a divorce. And as much as Liv would deny it, she wanted Fitz as her own; she wanted to be his wife. So why keep torturing each other. He hated not to be on their side in this but the two of them did not understand how to have an affair. Affairs were clandestine. You do not love your mistress to distraction. You do not live, breathe, and sleep your married boyfriend. He or she is not the reason you rise in the morning. Those two they were hopelessly in love with a dream.

He has seen the hope and desperation in the eyes of the President when he thought he might see Olivia on Friday. How in the hell can you love someone so much nothing else matters? You are the most powerful man in the world, yet you are reduced to rubble without one little wisp of a woman? Olivia Pope was a mortal weakness for Fitzgerald Grant. It was his job to keep him from mortal weaknesses, it was his main job.

"Cyrus please try your best to get Liv into that party. I hate to beg but I need to see her. I have to fix this rift between us. I love her Cyrus. I miss her. I need her. Please? I need your help," he begged.

It was pathetic watching a grown man beg, especially the President of the United States. It was the worst. He loved Fitz himself as a friend, why he was almost like a son. When he first realized Fitz and Olivia were lovers he was floored. He knew the baggage Fitz brought to the table having had a serial adulterer as a father. It had a terrible toll on the young boy and it had molded the man into everything his father was not. Fitz had vowed to himself never to cheat no matter what. Cyrus was so impressed with Fitz and his vow because he knew it to be true. But then he met Liv and he fell so hard for her he could not help himself he had told him. He broke every rule he had ever made and began an affair with her. And now the man loved her so desperately he could not think straight.

As of last night Edison Davis had not responded to his plus one invitation. It could be oversight, he did not know. But he did know Olivia Pope's name was not on the guest list because Mellie had not come to him breathing fire. More than likely Edison would come and Liv had chosen not to come. He would not interfere in this one, not even for Fitz, he needed to move on.

"Of course sir I will check and do all I can from this end. I know how much you want to see her. I will call around and see. Did you want me to call Liv directly and let her know you want to see her," he asked smoothly. He knew she was running and so did Fitz, if someone contacted her, she would run faster.

"No Cy not that. Just keep an eye on that guest list okay? The last time I "summoned" her she took it all wrong. I need to see her but it has to be done right. She could go so far into herself I can't bring her back. No definitely not that," he pressed.

Fitz was not sure if Cyrus would really do anything to aid him in his quest to get Liv back. He had delved into some things and found out that Cyrus was not really the friend he thought he was when it came to him and Olivia. He had done things to purposely keep them apart. He had found that out from Tom, his most trusted agent. At the moment he was desperate enough to try anything including using Cyrus.

He heard her then, Olivia was asking him to forgive her. She had been wrong to leave him. She would except stolen moments. His mind had been so clouded with pain he had missed it. Liv had been talking to him, calling him. She wanted to see him. She wanted him back. He was sensing all this but in his heart of hearts, but now he knew it was true. He had to see her.

He was holding his phone in his hand poised to call her. Whatever she was thinking or feeling he could also tell it was tenuous at best. He could spook her if he pressed. He could not chance that at all especially with a phone call. He needed to see her face to face. He had to have her back. He could not live without her. She was coming and she was coming for him. All he had to do was show up there and claim her. So Mellie's Gala would be a blessing in disguise, he would see Olivia in two days. He smiled for the first time in weeks. Livvie I cannot wait to see you!