Chapter 10
"Why are you telling me this, Liv? Are you trying to prepare for when you can't do your job because you're too sick, or too preoccupied with your wedding plans?" Mellie and Olivia sat in the oval office going over the changes that Liv had made to Mellie's speech. Olivia had just revealed that she was expecting, and that she and Fitz were going to marry.
Rolling her eyes and taking a deep breath Olivia squinted her eyes and glared at Mellie. After a moment she said with a fake smile, "Mellie, as a woman. No as a mother I'm sure you know how illegal your statement about my pregnancy is. I'm telling you because we are a team, and as your teammate I wanted to be the one to let you know."
Feeling properly chastised Mellie said, "I'm sorry, Liv. I'm upset with Fitz so I took it out on you. I really am happy for you. I do worry about when you go on maternity leave. What will I do? Who will we get in the interim?"
Olivia uncrossed and then recrossed her legs. To Mellie she said, "I was thinking that I can work from home. I don't have to be in the office everyday in order to do my job. For the first eight weeks after the baby comes I want to be able to telecommute. I'll have a nanny of course so it won't really be a problem. Then I was thinking when it was time for me to come back to the office I could bring the baby with me. For like the first year or so. I just want to be able to nurse. The nanny would be here. Not in the west wing of course. I was thinking we could use one of the rooms in the residence."
Mellie smiled at Olivia, "You're really happy. I don't think I've ever seen you this genuinely happy. You're actually glowing."
Smiling back at Mellie, Olivia said, "I feel different. I haven't ever been this happy. I'm doing what Olivia wants. I didn't mean to distract us from our work. I just wanted you to know and to know that I'm just as committed to the team. I am just as committed to our work. These new personal developments in my life won't change any of that."
Walking over to her desk Mellie said, "I'm not worried about that."
Walking towards the door Olivia stopped and turned towards Mellie. Thinking about if she wanted to get involved she asked, "Are you upset with Fitz for asking about the kids spending time at my apartment?"
Looking up Mellie said, "What?"
"You said that your were upset with Fitz. I was asking if it was because he asked about the kids coming to my apartment?" Olivia repeated.
Sitting back in her chair Mellie said, "Oh no. I don't have problem with that. He's never asked me about that. I'm upset with him for his treatment of Marcus."
Running a hand down one of the legs of her tapered grey slacks, Olivia asked, "Treatment of Marcus?"
Mellie elaborated, "I'm sure you heard about their falling out the other night."
Taking a seat in the chair next to Mellie's desk Olivia said, "I don't know details. Fitz mentioned it a couple times. What happened."
Turning towards Olivia, Mellie said, "Well I don't really remember I was trying to talk Marcus of the ledge from quitting. Jim one of the donors made a comment about Fitz sending the help home, and then Fitz turned to Marcus to ask him to go and get more scotch for them."
Shaking her head Olivia said, "Wow! Fitz sure does know how to put his foot in his mouth at times."
Shaking her head Mellie, "That's only part of it. Seems that after Jim left Fitz called himself addressing the issue with Marcus and the argument got even more heated. Marcus ended up leaving. He called me and like I said I talked him down. He went back to the house, but he had already left to come back to DC."
"That explains why Marcus wasn't at my apartment when I left. If they are working he usually shows up rather early. He didn't show up this morning. You speak with Marcus often?"
Blushing, Mellie said, "We have sort of been seeing each other. I'm the President so it's been quietly."
Instantly annoyed Olivia asked, "Mellie, why didn't you tell me? I can do things ensure that your relationship with Marcus doesn't get out."
Taking on a girly tone Mellie said, "Liv, what does it matter if people know about me and Marcus. I'm not running for President anymore. This office is mine."
Standing Olivia looked down at Mellie and said, "Mellie you are the President, and this is just your first term. You're not even six months in and already you have a boyfriend? How Presidential do you think that is? Everything that you do should be with your re-election in mind."
Before Mellie could respond Olivia's phone rang with a text.
Jake: Waiting in your office when you have a moment. I have the information on the file Quinn brought over.
Olivia: On my way.
Looking at Mellie, Olivia said, "Jake is in my office. I need to go speak with him. Look, Mellie, I am not saying that you can't be with Marcus. I just need to make sure that everything is in place so that it isn't leaked until we're ready to leak it." With that Olivia picked up her cell phone and walked out.
Upon returning to her office Liv asked Lucy, "Is he in there?"
Looking up Lucy replied, "Yes, Ms. Pope."
Walking into her office Olivia got straight to business and asked, "What did you find out?"
Jake was sitting in the chair in front of her desk. Once Olivia took a seat behind her desk he replied, "He is ours. A spy. It's probably best we neutralize the asset as not to create a national security breach."
While Jake was speaking she had received a text. She read and replied to the text.
Fitz: What time is your appointment? Am I picking you up from the White House?"
Olivia: My appointment is at three thirty. You can swing by and get me if you want. Just let me know what you decide.
As Olivia texted on her phone Jake noticed the sparkle on her left ring finger. He said, "You have got to be fucking kidding me."
Hearing Jake's harsh words Olivia's head popped up. "What's the matter with you?"
Fitz: I'll be there at three.
Jake stood. "I understand that you're having his child, but an engagement ring? You can't seriously be considering getting married. Olivia, we have work to do. We don't have time for you to play this fantasy life."
This is why she was hesitant about giving him the file. She wasn't over being angry with him, and with the changes taking place in her personal life she knew working with him was going to be even more difficult.
Taking a deep breath to calm her rage Olivia said, "We're not neutralizing an American citizen. We need to figure out a plan for extraction. I will speak to Mellie about it. "
Jake was seeing red. Olivia being in love and having a kid and marrying Fitz was not apart of their plans for B613. "That's not the correct call, Olivia. Look Liv, what do you think you're doing? I don't mean to sound sexist, but how do you think that you are going to be married, bring a child into the world, and run B613. You have your hands in too many pots."
Standing and walking towards her office door Olivia said, "My call stands. Get me a plan for extraction. As for the many pots that my hands are in, I've never cooked a day in my life. However, I've been thinking about letting one of the pots go. Then the problem that you're so worried about won't even be an issue. Now if you'll excuse me."
Before Olivia could reach for the door handle Jake said, "I have never before thought of you as a stupid girl. I've always thought of you as independent and smart. However, your actions lately are not those of an independent woman. They are not the decisions of a smart woman."
Turning towards Jake Olivia said, "Nice Jake. It's obvious to me that you aren't smart. You can't be. So you come in here and tell me that I'm being a dumb woman who is letting a man dictate my life, and I'm supposed to try and prove you wrong. Grow up Jake because I am. Fitz can't make me have his child. He can't make me marry him. All he can do is ask on both accounts. I then decide what I want for my life."
Olivia walked back to the door and said, "You know what? Don't worry about finding me an extraction plan, I'll figure it out, and get it handled. B613 is dead and it'll remain dead. You only need to contact me on cases of national security, and I'll do the same. Now leave."
With that she opened her door and waited for him to walk through it.
Jake glared at her for a moment, and then he left with Olivia closing the door behind him. He took out his phone and made a call before walking into the hall. "We need to move now. Things are worse than we initially thought."
Little did Jake know he was always under surveillance.