A/N: Hello readers, I have a question for you. Would you rather have more frequent, but shorter chapters or wait longer for lengthier, more detailed chapters? For example, I could have broken this chapter in two or three smaller chapters and posted every couple of weeks, but I waited and combined the mini-chapters until they created a more substantive chapter. What are your thoughts?
Fitz woke slowly, trying to make sense of the tickling sensation in his nose and the heavy weight on his chest. He blinked himself awake, moving his head slowly, taking in the beautiful sight before him. Waking up to Olivia was better than any dream he'd ever had. Sometime during the night, they must have shifted positions such that she was now curled around his body, her head on his chest, her hair mussed wildly around her face, her arm around his waist, and her legs tangled with his. Fitz wasn't usually one to cuddle, especially not throughout the night, he thought it created a false sense of intimacy and made the it unnecessarily awkward for everyone when he left in the morning. However, here, in this moment with Olivia, he had no desire to flee, no urge to sneak out of bed before she woke up. This morning, he was exactly where he wanted to be, in the arms of an angel that had deigned to share her bed with him.
Olivia was subsumed in the merciful forgetfulness of sleep, her brain protecting itself by dulling the memories of what happened the previous night. He released a contented sigh as he watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she slept, eventually, his breathing matching hers. The sight of her in his shirt, his arms, his bed, stirred feelings within him that he knew he could never admit aloud. Not sure when he would next get this opportunity, he lay there memorizing the features of her face, the swell of her breast, the flat plane of her abdomen, and the rounded curves of her buttocks. Afraid that he would forget a detail, he used his free hand to retrieve his phone from the nightstand and took several pictures of her peaceful form.
Needing a distraction from the way Olivia was making him feel, Fitz started reading emails on his phone. Late last night, after Olivia fell asleep, he sent a very detailed email to Charlotte asking her to arrange a daytrip for him and Olivia. He needed to check in with her to see if she received his email and if she was working on the items he needed. He also needed to check in with Neil and Patrick to make sure they were on track with their projects. If they needed something from him, they had to get it in the next two hours. After that, he would be unavailable. He planned to spend the whole day with Olivia, no cell phones, no distractions, and no interruptions.
After a while, he felt Olivia start to stir in his arms. "Good morning, beautiful," he said softly. She startled awake, her body going rigid in his arms, deciding whether to fight or flee. "Calm down, tiger," he said, kissing her on the top of her head, "it's just me. You asked me to stay with you last night."
Olivia stretched beside him, encouraging the blood to flow into her extremities, before resuming her position and relaxing on top of him, "How long have you been awake?"
"About an hour."
She tilted her head up so she could see his face, "Why didn't you wake me?"
"You were sleeping so peacefully. It's been a busy few days, I figured you needed the rest. How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"
Olivia looked at the now prominent bruises on her arm and touched them gingerly, wincing in pain upon contact. "I'm fine. It looks much worse than it feels. It only hurts if you touch them."
"How are you doing otherwise? You can still change your mind about leaving."
"I haven't changed my mind. We are both leaving together on Monday, as scheduled," she said, waiving him off. "Are you always this protective?"
"I promised you that you would be my priority this weekend and that we wouldn't stay one second longer than you wanted. I'm just trying to keep my word."
"You have," she said rolling off him. "You've been wonderful. Seth is the asshole."
"Speaking of him, have you changed your mind about pressing charges?"
"Fitz," she said softly, "I can't."
Fitz looked at her, with his brow furrowed in confusion. "Is this about the Merkles or the Patterson Place project? I told you I'm not worried about what they think and I am definitely not concerned about the subcontract. I've worked with Lucas before, I can approach him about the subcontract. Your happiness and safety are my only concern. He assaulted you. You should press charges."
"I can't," she said flatly.
"Why not?" he asked, frustrated by her stubborn refusal to consider his position.
"What's the first thing the police are going to ask me?"
Fitz was perplexed by her question. "I don't know. What? To tell them what happened?"
"No, my name, which, for the record, is not Olivia Pope. You have to know that the Merkles aren't just going to stand by and let me accuse their son of assault. They are going to use their power and privilege to protect him, like any parent would. What's the first thing your father would do?"
"Hire the best criminal attorney in the state."
"Exactly. And, do you know what the attorney would do? Hire an investigator to look into my background. With my name, it would only take a mediocre investigator thirty seconds to discover I'm married. It won't take much longer for him to figure out I'm your assistant. That information alone is enough to discredit both of us. How much longer would it take the investigator to find out you paid me to join you this weekend? This only supports Seth's claim that I came onto him when he offered me money."
"I understand it doesn't look good, but you're injured, you have evidence of the assault and a witness."
"That won't be enough. Seth will claim he paid for rough sex and that the bruises are a byproduct of our consensual activities. Think about it, the only people that will pay if I press charges are the two of us."
"I'm not worried about me. I'll be fine. I'm worried about you."
"You're probably right, you'll be fine, but you'll never be CEO. The Merkles will paint me as the opportunistic whore who is trying to shake down their son and you will be blamed for introducing us. This will only confirm your father's belief that you're not ready to be CEO. You'll be forced out of the company, I will be fired, and Seth will go free. The worse that will happen to him is that the Merkle's will pay a settlement to make the ugliness go away. A settlement that I'll be forced to take, no matter how disgusted I am by the thought of them buying my silence, because I'll be unemployed and Jake and I will need the money. Does any of that sound like justice to you?"
Fitz bristled when she introduced her husband into the conversation. The idea of Jake helping Olivia through this process made him crazy. She was with him when the incident occurred. He would be the one to protect her and deal with Seth. "Liv," he said, exhaling deeply, tracing the contours of her face with his fingers. "I'm so sorry. What can I do?"
"You've already done what you can. I'm sure he feels much worse this morning than I do," she said with a chuckle, recalling Fitz rushing to her defense. "Just make me one promise."
"Anything," he replied.
Olivia laughed. "What did I tell you about being so eager? You have no idea what I'm going to ask you."
"Can I do it?" Olivia nodded her head, smiling at him. "Well, tell me how I make this better for you?"
"Promise me we will never work with him. I understand Stephen is one of your father's preferred business partners, but promise me you will never work with Seth directly. After this weekend, I never want to see him again."
Fitz looked deeply into her eyes. "I promise I will never work with Seth. I would never ask you to interact with him, not after what he did to you last night. Do you want me to find another company for the subcontract?"
"No, the deal is practically done and you will be working with Stephen on that project. He's not responsible for his son's actions. You said Patrick's project design was brilliant and deserved to be shared. We came here to close a deal with Merkle Industries and we're not leaving until you do so."
"You're being far more reasonable than I would be if I were in your position," Fitz said, his mind already thinking of ways to retaliate against Seth. There was no way he was letting this go. Olivia was right, Seth's privilege and their charade likely made him untouchable by the justice system, but it left him wide open to an attack from Fitz. He didn't know how, but he would figure out a way to punish Seth for the way he treated Olivia.
Olivia tapped the tip of his nose, smiling brightly. "Then it's a good thing that you're not in my position." Moving closer to him, she changed topics, "We left so abruptly last night that I didn't hear what Jean has planned for today. Do you know what we are supposed to be doing?"
Fitz shrugged. "I don't and whatever Jean has planned, she will have to do without you. I made other plans for us today."
"Fitz," she warned, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "What are you up to?"
"I'm working on a surprise for you." No sooner than the words left his mouth, his cellphone chimed, alerting him to an incoming text. Olivia watched Fitz as he read the text, judging from his body language that he'd received good news. Fitz locked his phone and turned his attention back to Olivia. "That was the first piece of my plan falling into place. As much I would love to spend the rest of the morning in bed with you," he said with a wink, "I have to shower and get dressed. I need to meet with Stephen before we leave."
"Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise, but don't worry, we'll be back well before the ball."
"You know how I feel about surprises."
"And you know how ridiculous I think that is. Surprises are supposed to be fun. Trust me, we are going to have lots of fun today. Now, beautiful," he said pecking her lips softly, "stop distracting me. We're on a tight schedule."
"A tight schedule of fun?" she asked, amused by how adorable he was in this moment. "Sounds thrilling," she teased.
"Have I disappointed you thus far?"
"Not even close," she said, smiling brightly.
"Good, now scoot in the bathroom while I wrap up things out here." Olivia reluctantly rolled away from him and out of bed, adjusting his shirt to make sure it covered her butt as she headed for the bathroom. Not wanting to linger in the bed without her, he got out of the bed and headed toward the closet. "And Liv…"
"Yes?"
"You only get ten minutes and then I'm coming in, whether you are finished or not."
"What happened to locking the door to avoid temptation?"
Looking at the bed they just shared, he replied, "I think we've proven that we can handle a little temptation."
Once Olivia disappeared into the bathroom, Fitz pressed the intercom button that connected him to Esmeralda. "Good morning. How can I help you?" asked an accented voice.
"Good morning. I was hoping to meet with Mr. Merkle this morning. Will you ask him to meet me in his study in thirty minutes?"
"Mr. Merkle is at breakfast. Would you like to join him?"
"No, I don't want to interrupt. Please just ask him to meet me in his study when he's finished."
"Will do, sir. Is there anything else I can do?"
"No, thank you."
As he was disconnecting from Esmeralda, Olivia emerged from the bathroom still wearing his shirt. "It's all yours," she said, gesturing in the direction of the bathroom.
"Thanks."
Hoping for a clue about what he had planned for the day, she asked, "How will I know what to wear if you won't tell me where we are going?"
"Nice try, Liv. I'm not telling you anything. It's a surprise. All you need to know is you should dress casually."
Olivia laughed, remembering how she'd misinterpreted the same directive only a few days ago. "What if I get it wrong again?"
"There is no wrong. If you are under- or over-dressed it will give me an excuse to take you shopping."
"You don't have to do this."
"Do what?"
"Take me away to distract me. I told you I'm fine."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"Isn't it?"
"Maybe, just a little." She shot him a smug, victorious smile. "But, that's not the only reason. It's not even the main reason. I'm taking you away because I want to spend the day with you uninterrupted."
"Are you taking your phone?"
He laughed. "You've only been my fiancée for two days and you've already learned to despise my phone."
"You're never unplugged. It makes you a good boss, but...," her voice trailed off.
"As my fiancée, you don't find it quite as endearing."
"It's a business trip. I expected you to be called away."
"But?"
"Today is different," she said shyly.
He nodded his head, understanding what she wasn't saying. "You don't want to risk being left alone in a strange place where you may not be comfortable." She looked up at him cautiously and nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. "You shouldn't do that," he warned, fighting against his body's response to her slight provocation. "Not dressed like that. Not if you want to leave this room today," he said, his eyes wandering wantonly across her body.
How did the air between them get so thick so fast? One minute they were having a friendly conversation about their day and the next he was looking at her like a predator stalking his prey. Olivia licked her lips nervously, making Fitz growl lowly. She knew she needed to put some distance between them before she lost her resolve. "You should shower. You said we are on a tight schedule," she said with a shaky voice.
He sighed and stepped away from her. "You're right," he said, tearing his eyes away from her before gathering his clothes from the dresser and walking toward the bathroom.
Fitz walked out the bathroom fifteen minutes later dressed in a slim navy polo, slim dark denim, and navy pair of Jordan 1 shoes. Olivia looked at him, from her position on the bed, her eyes wide with shock at seeing him in jeans and tennis shoes. "Is that what you're wearing?"
"This is completely appropriate for where we are going. I told you to dress casually," he said, sitting at the edge of the bed.
Olivia's eyes narrowed as she looked at him more closely, appreciating how his perfectly tailored clothes accentuated his muscular frame. Damn, she thought to herself, Stacey is worth every penny you pay her. "I didn't pack anything that casual," she offered. "Stacey wouldn't allow it."
Fitz chuckled. "Sounds like Stacey. In her defense, I didn't tell her what we were doing today because I didn't know until last night. Wear whatever makes you comfortable," he said, kissing her softly on the cheek and, when she made no attempt to move away from him, briefly on the lips. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go meet with Stephen. Lock the door behind me and don't open it for anyone except me. I'll call you when I am headed back to the room."
"I appreciate your concern, but don't you think you're being a little overprotective?" She made a gesture, using her thumb and index finger, keeping them close together, to illustrate her point. "Just a tad?" she teased, crinkling her nose and laughing.
"You can never be too protective," he said with a wink. Turning serious, he continued, "Both times I left you in the care of someone I trusted, they found a way to hurt you. I'm not taking any more chances."
Not wanting to reopen that particular wound, Olivia changed the topic, "You're wasting time fussing over me. Isn't Stephen waiting for you?"
"Oh, beautiful, you have no idea, I've only just begun to fuss," he said, rising from the bed and headed for the door. "Seriously, please lock the door. If for no other reason than my peace of mind."
"Go," she ordered, following him and playfully pushing him out the door, locking it behind him.
Less than an hour later, Olivia's phone rang, she checked the screen and smiled brightly at his professional headshot smiling back at her. "Your timing is perfect. I just finished getting ready. Where are you? I'll come to you."
"We've had a small change in plans." Olivia rolled her eyes and groaned loudly, preparing herself for disappointment. "I'll have none of that. Not all change is bad. Meet me on the patio. One quick question before you hang up, are you afraid of heights or small enclosed spaces?"
"Fitzgerald," she growled in a low voice, "what are you planning?"
"Just answer the question."
Olivia released an exaggerated sigh, signaling her reluctant cooperation. "No, I'm not afraid of heights or small spaces."
"Excellent! I'll see you in a few minutes." With that, Fitz abruptly disconnected the call, depriving Olivia of an opportunity to ask additional questions.
Moments later Fitz heard the unmistakable clatter of Olivia's high heels on the stone patio. He turned to greet her, opening his arms to welcome her into his embrace. She was wearing a white lace Lily Pulitzer open shoulder swing dress. A pair of adobe Stuart Weitzman Nudist sandals, simple diamond studs, a trio of stackable bracelets, and a light blue Prada small bag accessorized her dress. He didn't know what he was expecting or why he was still surprised by it, but she was a vision to behold in white. His eyes fell to her feet seconds before he wrapped her in his strong arms. "You call those casual?" he asked, referring to her four and half inch heels.
"I'm almost a foot shorter than you are, if I don't wear heels, I can't do this," she said, reaching up and cupping his face, bringing his lips to hers and kissing him softly.
"Mmmm," he moaned, gently pushing his tongue into the sweetness of her mouth. Breaking the kiss, he added, "I think I'm going to miss these moments the most."
Olivia rested her forehead against his chest. "Shhh. Let's not talk about that, not today. Today is supposed to you and me having uninterrupted fun." No sooner than the words left her mouth, a middle-aged man in a navy blue flight suit and dark aviator sunglasses approached them. "So much for uninterrupted," she pouted, gathering herself and stepping away from him.
"Mr. Grant, Ms. Pope," the man said, extending his hand, which both of them shook. "I'm Max. I will be your pilot today. Mr. Merkle explained you have a day trip planned."
"Exactly where are you taking us, Max? And why are we meeting here instead of the airport?" Olivia asked.
Max looked at Olivia and gave her a wry smile. "Mr. Merkle also explained that the destination is a surprise for Ms. Pope." Turning to Fitz, he added, "I'll try to disguise it from her as long as possible, but I'm certain she will figure it out before we land."
Fitz nodded. "Most people would. Anything you can do to increase the torture of not knowing is greatly appreciated."
"I'll do my best. If you're ready, please follow me," Max directed, leading the couple across the property away from the pool and the path to the beach toward a line of tall hedges.
Tiptoeing across the grass so that her heels did not dig in, Olivia asked, "Where are we going?"
Fitz laughed at the way she was forced to alter her signature walk to avoid sinking in the soft earth. "I told you to dress casually. You refused to listen. Do you want a piggyback ride?"
"No," she snapped at him, refusing to be a victim on his teasing, "I'll manage." As they approached the hedges, Olivia saw a small, paved opening wide enough to drive a SUV through, but impossible to see from the main house. Curious about what awaited them on the other side and eager to be on solid ground again, she hastened her stride. Following Max through the opening, she was surprised to find a clearing that had been paved to a form a landing pad, upon which, a large black helicopter waited.
Olivia froze in her tracks, her eyes wide with surprise, her mouth agape, but silent. She reached for Fitz, pulling him close when his warm hand clasped around her own. "A helicopter ride?" she asked, the awe evident in her voice. "It's too much. You shouldn't have."
She was so cute in that moment, a bundle of nervous excitement; he couldn't resist kissing her, slowly leaning down to claim her mouth. Their kiss was interrupted when Max cleared his throat, a gentle reminder that he was still there. Fitz shot him a quick, embarrassed glance, before addressing Olivia. "I didn't. It was Stephen's idea and his helicopter."
Max turned to Olivia and spoke. "I take it this is your first ride." Olivia nodded eagerly. "I'm honored to be the pilot on your maiden voyage. I just need a few minutes to review some basic safety information and we will be on our way."
When Max was finished speaking with Olivia, he opened the door to the passenger cabin and helped the couple inside. Olivia was awestruck by the luxurious interior; it was like a mini version of the Grant Enterprises jet. The passenger's cabin had two large cream leather captain's seats facing the rear of the cabin. Across from these was a bench seat that held three addition passengers. Between the two seating areas was a large cream rug with a black border. Both sides of the cabin had a large center window flanked by two smaller window, ensuring each passenger had an excellent view.
"Which seat do you prefer?" Fitz asked, gesturing between the captain's seats and the bench seat.
"I want a window seat," she said excitedly. "And, I prefer to be facing forward, but that means you'll either be stuck in the middle with the worst view or way over there," gesturing to the opposite side of the cabin.
"I'll take the middle seat. This isn't my first helicopter ride and nothing out the window will compare to the view in here."
Max rounded the helicopter, entered the pilot's cabin, and completed his pre-flight routine. When he received clearance from the FAA, he used the intercom system to alert the couple they would be taking off shortly. Olivia heard a low rumble as the helicopter blades whirred to life, lifting them into the air. Although the inside of the cabin was relatively quiet, she could observe the force of the helicopter's wind from the way the hedges bowed to the ground, the flattened grass, and the swirl of sand from the nearby beach. She was certain the commotion from their departure had drawn the attention of all in the house and was self-conscious about the extravagance.
As they lifter higher and higher into the air, Olivia's stomach began to tingle, making her giggle nervously. Fitz reached over and squeezed her hand, reassuring her that the sensation was normal. The view from the helicopter was incredible and Olivia sat in stunned silence trying to absorb and remember every second of the experience. Riding in the helicopter was like magic and the aquamarine water, light brown sandy beaches and luscious green perfectly manicured landscaping of the oceanfront mansions enchanted her. Fitz sat beside her stoically, clearly in his element, watching her react as the privileges of his world were extended to her.
"This is incredible," she gushed, keeping her eyes fixed out the window. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."
"It most certainly is," Fitz replied, keeping his eyes fixed on her. Olivia didn't have to look at him to know he was talking about her, she could feel his heated gaze on her skin. This was their fourth day together and being the object of his desire still made her weak. Damn him, she thought, feeling a rush of heat rise up from her center.
Oliva remained transfixed, staring out the window, until they were over the Long Island Sound and all that there was to see was water in every direction. Shifting in her seat so that she was facing Fitz, she whispered, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. This was all Stephen."
"It may be his helicopter, but this moment, this experience, is one hundred percent Fitzgerald Grant."
"What can I say? You inspire me."
"Since you're feeling inspired, how about a little clue about where we are going." Olivia looked out the window and saw they were once again over land, but there was nothing distinguishing about the landscape. "I think we are heading west, but maybe we're heading north. It's hard to tell and I'm not convinced Max is taking the most direct route to our mystery destination."
"I admire your doggedness. It makes not telling you that much more enjoyable."
Olivia threw her head back and groaned in frustration. "You may be the most stubborn man I know."
Fitz laughed heartily. "That's rich coming from you. You're just not used to men telling you no. It's one of the curses of being a beautiful woman."
Something about Fitz's phrasing made her flashback to her encounter with Seth the previous night. "Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did," he replied, cheekily.
Olivia shook her head at the absurdity of her initial question and his response. She was normally more careful with her words, but she was nervous about broaching this next topic with him. "Who is Elizabeth?" she asked softly.
Olivia watched as Fitz transformed in front of her. His face shifted to a stony, cold expression and his body went rigid as he retreated inside himself. Instead of looking at her, he looked around her and out the window, seeing, but not seeing. After ten seconds of awkward and uncomfortable silence, he finally spoke. "I don't talk about her."
"Oh," she said and looked away, unsure exactly how best to proceed now that she'd accidentally touched the third rail. The tension between the pair was palpable as they both processed what was said and left unsaid.
When he could bear it, he turned to her and searched her face, trying to gauge her response to his reaction. His steely façade cracked as he observed her momentarily chastened and made small. It pained him to know he was the one that stole her joy. "Liv…," he said, touching her arm, to get her attention. Olivia flinched slightly when he made contact. Fitz sighed audibly and raked his hand through his hair in frustration. "I deserved that. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize," she said coldly. "I should be the one apologizing. I didn't mean to overstep."
"You didn't overstep, you couldn't. How do you know her name?"
"Seth mentioned her twice last night, at least I think he did. He didn't use her name the first time."
"What do you want to know?"
"I respect your boundaries. You don't have to talk about her."
"I want to. Well, I don't want to, but I want to be open with you."
Olivia looked up at him, her eyes revealing her uncertainty. Proceeding cautiously, she asked, "Did you love her?"
"Yes, very much."
Encouraged, by his direct response, she continued. "Why did you break-up?"
"We didn't." Olivia looked at him, her confusion evident by her expression. He took his index finger and ran it along the furrow in her brow, smoothing it gently. "She died," he said in a hushed, cracking voice.
Her look of soul-deep sorrow crushed him, threatening to make him lose his fragile grasp on composure. "Don't, please, I can't hold it together through this conversation when you're looking at me like a broken puppy."
Olivia understood what he was asking. Masking her emotions, she asked, "Have you loved anyone since?"
He looked at her, his eyes softening. "No, but I haven't given up on that possibility." Fitz smiled with relief when, in his peripheral vision, he saw the outskirts of a city beneath them. Nodding in the direction of the window, he said, "I think the clue you've been waiting for is finally here."
Olivia turned her body to the window and studied the city intently. As they traveled further into the city, Olivia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she started to recognize some of her hometown's landmarks. "Boston," she said, more of a question than a statement.
Fitz was perplexed by her statement. He expected her to be more excited, but her body language was all over the place. "Are you asking me? Boston is your city. Are we there or not?"
Olivia flashed him a weak smile. "It's definitely Boston."
"Are you disappointed? You don't look happy."
"I'm not disappointed," she explained. "It's just not what I expected. I was convinced you were taking me to New York to see Hamilton."
"Would you rather go to New York?" he asked too quickly. "I can talk to the pilot and change our plans."
She rested a hand on his knee. "No, don't be silly, I'm happy to be in Boston," she said, her body language starting to match her words. "I was just shocked to recognize the cityscape. I haven't been home in eight years. I'm sorry to seem disappointed or ungrateful. This is why I hate surprises," she explained, her frustration with her response evident in her tone. "Come here," she said warmly, inviting Fitz to move closer to her so they could share a view, "let me give you a tour of my city."
Pleased that the tension from earlier had dissipated, Fitz wrapped his arms around Olivia and pulled her close to him. "You know I lived here for three years, right?"
"A trust fund kid spending three years in grad school at Harvard hardly qualifies as living in Boston."
Fitz watched as Olivia pointed out her highlights of the city, regaling him with funny tales from her childhood and misspent adolescence. She lit up as they flew over the baseball stadium, "I've never seen this view of Fenway. It's more impressive from the air than it is from the ground level." Olivia leaned closer to the window, taking in the activity on the ground around the stadium. "Fitz," she squealed loudly, turning to face him, "your surprise is Red Sox game!" She looked at her watch and noted the date. Beaming brightly, she continued, the excitement growing in her voice, "Not just any Sox game. It's a home game against the Yankees. With all that was going on I totally forgot today is game day."
Fitz couldn't suppress his smile as he watched a giddy Olivia absorb the first part of his surprise. "Now, that's the reaction I was hoping for," he said placing a kiss against her forehead. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather see Hamilton?"
She swatted him playfully. "Don't be cute. You know your surprise is better than the one I thought you planned. I warned you I am terrible at receiving surprises."
"What you are is a control freak. You need to learn to let someone else take charge every once in a while. You'd be surprised how good it feels to be take care of."
"I let you take care of me," she retorted.
"Only because I don't give you another option. If you had it your way you'd be consulted on every decision I make."
"Not every decision, just the important ones," she replied cheekily. Olivia felt the helicopter bank left and start to descend into the heart of the city. She looked around for clear ground where they could land, but didn't see any open spaces nearby. "Where are we landing?"
"At Merkle Industries' Boston headquarters. My guess is it's one of those buildings over there," Fitz replied, pointing to a group of buildings with landing pads on the roofs.
Olivia looked at her watch. "We have three hours until the game starts. What's first on your tightly packed schedule of fun?"
Right on cue, Fitz's stomach growled. "Food. I'm starving."
"Do we have a reservation?"
"Are you trying to hijack my day of surprises?"
"Surprises? Plural?"
"Do you really think I'd bring you to Boston and the only thing we would do is go to a baseball game? I have a full day planned."
"So you do have a reservation?"
"Actually, no," he said sheepishly. "There's a driver waiting for us once we land -"
"Do you ever drive yourself?"
Fitz considered her question. "Sometimes, if I need to get away and clear my head. I've found navigating cities is much easier when you don't have to worry about traffic or parking. Why? Do you want to drive? We can rent a car."
"Are you always this agreeable?" she asked, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"Only with you," he responded glibly, but honestly. "I want you to be happy. You deserve to have whatever it is your little heart desires, assuming it's within my power to give. Do you want to rent a car?"
"The driver is fine. It's just your lifestyle – private jets, helicopters, and drivers – a girl could get used to living like this."
Fitz leaned forward and looked at her intently. "Would that be so bad?"
Uncomfortable under the intensity of his gaze, Olivia moved away from him. Did he just ask if she could live in his world? With him? He knew she was married, although, admittedly, she hadn't been acting like it lately. At the beginning of the trip, she thought faking their intimacy would be the most challenging part of their time together. She was not in any way prepared for how right it felt to be touched, kissed, and held by him.
She remembered how anxious she was on the first day of the trip to share a room with him. At that time, it seemed unfathomable that she would ask him to share her bed a little over twenty-four hours later. What, if anything, did it mean that when her safety was threatened she sought solace in Fitz's arms and not with her husband?
Had things between them really escalated to the point where his statement warranted consideration? Was he really floating the possibility that they could be more, that this, what was happening between them, could be real? That couldn't be what he meant. Fitz was a confirmed bachelor and proud of his Casanova lifestyle. She must have misunderstood what he said.
Fitz could practically see the wheels spinning in her head. He hadn't intended to put himself out there like that, but now that he had, he refused to walk back the comment. He had been struggling for the past couple of days with the question. Could Olivia be the woman he was waiting for, the one with whom he would share the rest of his life? He didn't know, but each moment he spent with her made him long for another, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
These positive thoughts were countered by the nagging question if his attraction to her was fueled by the knowledge he couldn't have her, not really. If she were single would he feel the same way or would he grow bored with her as he did all the others? All he knew was that in three days she'd endeared herself to him in a way no other woman had and his desire for her had become everything, consuming his every thought. However, whatever was happening between them was more than just physical. She was special and, as much as he wanted to possess her, his desire to care for her, protect her, and make her happy was stronger.
Deciding to interrupt Olivia's thoughts, he said, "Boston is your city, you should select the restaurant, unless you want to eat in Cambridge."
Olivia crinkled her face in mock disgust. "Why would a local girl want to hang out in Cambridge? We're going to Mike's City Diner. I just hope we don't have to wait too long."
"You let me worry about that. I can be fairly persuasive."
"I don't know," she teased. "You couldn't convince Rebecca to give you my number."
"That was fifteen years ago. I've honed my skills considerably since then. Wouldn't you agree?" he asked, winking at her.
Olivia and Fitz grew silent as they made their final descent to their destination. They watched with admiration as the pilot skillfully settled the helicopter in the center of the pad. Max put the chopper blades on idle, opened the door to his cabin, hopped out to the roof, and went over to the passenger cabin door. He reached up and offered Olivia a hand, helping her step out of the helicopter onto the roof of the forty-story building. She stood there confidently, taking in the view, her hair blowing in the brisk wind. Fitz slowly walked up behind her, careful not to startle her, and wrapped his masculine arms around her small waist, kissing her along her neck. She leaned her head back against his chest, sighing contently.
"It's incredible," she said with awe in her voice, looking out at the cityscape.
"Now you how I feel every time you walk into a room." Olivia shivered in his arms. They both knew she was reacting to his words and not the chill from the steady breeze, but he held her tighter, rubbing his hands up and down her arms anyway.
Max gave the couple a few moments before intruding. "Mr. Grant, Ms. Pope," he called. The pair turned their attention to him, waiting for the next instruction. "So, how was your first helicopter ride?" he asked Olivia.
"I'm not sure there are words. The juxtaposition of nature's beauty and man's creation is astonishing from that vantage point. It made me feel small by comparison."
Fitz chuckled, "You are small compared to most things. You are a tiny, tiny person."
"I'm told good things come in small package," she retorted in a sultry voice that captured both Fitz and Max's attention.
Max cleared his throat and shifted from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable with the couple's public affection for each other. Turning his eyes to Fitz, he asked, "When did she figure out where we were going?"
"Not until we were directly over the city."
"Very good," he said, beaming with pride. "That's what I was hoping for. Now I'm satisfied I met your expectations for the journey, I have just a few small updates for you and then you'll be on your way. I called the driver on our approach and alerted him to your arrival. He should be downstairs waiting for you. When we're done, I'll badge you into the building. You should take the elevators to the ground floor and exit through the front of the building. My plan is to spend the day in the city. I understand you have a full day planned, but should be ready to return around six o'clock. Is that correct?"
"That's correct." Olivia looked at Fitz through curious slanted eyes. She knew the game started a little after one o'clock. It shouldn't last more than three hours. What did he have planned for the remaining time? "Don't look at me like that," he playfully chided her. "You will know what I have planned when I'm ready for you to know and not a second sooner."
Max laughed at their exchange. It was obvious from their banter, and the fact they couldn't keep their hands off each other, the couple was deeply in love. Being with them was a welcome change from the humorless senior executives he usually transported for Merkle Industries. "I just sent you a text message with my contact information. When you are ready to return to the Merkles' just call or send me a text. I won't stray far, but it takes me about 30 minutes to run through my pre-flight safety checks. It would be best if you could give me an hour's notice, but I understand projecting your ETA will be a little tricky given traffic and other intangibles. Unless there is anything else I can do for you, I will show you to the elevators."
"We have everything we need. Thanks, Max," Fitz said, extending his hand to the pilot.
Max shook Fitz's hand firmly "It was my pleasure, sir." He pivoted to Olivia and smiled warmly. "Welcome home. I hope you enjoy your day of surprises."
"Thanks! I'm looking forward to the game. It's been too long since I've been to Fenway."
The trio entered the building and walked toward the elevators. Max pressed the button calling the elevator to the roof and the group waited in silence. When the elevator arrived, Fitz and Olivia entered, but Max remained outside. "You're not joining us?" Olivia asked.
He shook his head. "No, I have some things to wrap up here before I can leave."
Olivia nodded, "I hope you are not here too long. You should get out and enjoy the city."
"It should be rather routine. I won't be far behind you. Enjoy the game!"
With that statement, the elevator doors closed and the pair was whisked away. When the elevators doors opened, Fitz and Olivia made their way to the front of the building. Waiting at the curb was a young man in a black suit standing in front of a black Cadillac Escalade.
The couple exited the building and the driver greeted them warmly, his eyes lingering on Olivia a little longer than necessary. "Mr. Grant, ma'am, welcome to Boston. My name is John and I'll be your driver for the day," he said opening the rear passenger door for Olivia to enter the vehicle. Fitz and John circled the automobile and entered from their respective doors. When all were settled, John asked, "What's first on your agenda?"
Olivia spoke up, "Mike's Diner please."
"On Washington Street?"
"That's the one."
"Interesting choice," the driver mused.
Fitz made eye contact with the driver in the rearview mirror. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, sir," John replied quickly. "I just expected you to select a different restaurant. Mike's is a traditional greasy diner. I don't take a lot of businessmen there."
"We're not in Boston for business. Our trip is purely pleasure and, as you will soon learn, I am powerless to resist my beautiful fiancée. If it is greasy diner food she craves, it is greasy diner food she shall have." Olivia looked at him curiously, asking with her eyes why he was continuing with the engagement ruse. Fitz locked eyes with Olivia and then diverted his eyes to the large engagement ring on her left hand before returning his gaze to her face. Olivia smiled in silent response, signaling her understanding.
Less than 15 minutes later, John stopped the SUV in front of a brick building with black awnings where a small crowd had gathered and was milling about. He turned to look at the couple and announced, "We have arrived at your destination."
"This is it?" Fitz asked with a frown.
"This is it," Olivia replied, smiling brightly. "It may not be much to look at, but good local food rarely comes from a place that does. Do you see those people waiting outside? We can't all be wrong. Do you trust me?"
He laughed at the irony of her turning his words back on him. All week he had been pleading with her to trust him and she had. Now, it was his turn to take a small leap of faith. He looked at how excited Olivia was to share a slice of her history. He planned this day for her and he wouldn't disappoint her now by refusing to cooperate. Before he could answer, John was opening her door and reaching for her hand to help her out of vehicle. She accepted his hand and moved to step out of the SUV. At the last minute, she turned her head and flashed him a beguiling smile. "Are you coming?"
"I'm right behind you," he said sliding across the bench seat to follow her.
John closed the door behind Fitz. "I'm going to find somewhere, hopefully close, to park. Text me when you are wrapping up and I will meet you out front. I hope you enjoy your meal," he said with a soft chuckle.
Fitz reached for Olivia's hand and she instinctively intertwined her fingers with his and leaned against him. He kissed her on the top of her head and said, "Wait here. I'll go inside and put our name on the list."
"Be sure to ask how long the wait is. We should have plenty of time to get to Fenway, but game day traffic is always terrible. Even with John, we should allow for plenty of time to get there."
Fitz nodded his head and headed into the restaurant. He swaggered up to the hostess and flashed her his trademark lopsided grin. "Hey, how are you today?
"I'm good. You want to put your name on the list?" she replied, apparently unaffected by his presence.
"Yes, I'm Fitz, and you are?" he said, allowing the pause to linger until she offered her name.
"Rachel."
"That's a beautiful name."
"Thank you," she said, a blush creeping into her cheeks. "How can I help you?"
"I surprised my fiancée with a day trip to Boston for the baseball game and as soon as we landed the first thing she wanted to do is eat here."
"She's obviously a woman with excellent taste."
Fitz laughed. She was flirting with him maybe his plan would work. He reached into his front jean pocket and palmed a folded bill. "I'm flattered. I was hoping you could do me a huge favor and seat us at the next available table with your best waitress." She raised her eyebrows questioningly when he discretely handed her the palmed bill. "For your trouble," he explained.
"I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks." As Fitz turned to leave the restaurant, he caught Rachel eyeing him appreciatively. He smirked with satisfaction as he pushed open the door and joined Olivia.
"Someone's proud of himself," she said as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Is that grin for me or the hostess?"
Aware of the people surrounding them on the sidewalk, he settled for pecking her lips softly. "You're the only woman I care about today. I couldn't even tell you her hair color."
Shortly later, the restaurant door opened and a young woman poked her head out of the door and called Fitz's name. Olivia leaned around Fitz, so she could see the person speaking. "She's a brunette," she whispered.
"I couldn't care less." With that, Fitz placed his hand on the small of Olivia's back and guided her into the restaurant following the hostess.
Rachel led them to a window table where they were seated. "Lily, your waitress, will be with you in a moment. Can I get you something to drink while you wait?" she asked Fitz, leaning over him and turning to the beverage section of the menu, giving him a good view of her cleavage.
Fitz watched Olivia stew quietly. She had no reason to be jealous, but he liked the way it looked on her. "I'll take a coffee, black, and a water please. Livvie, darling," he called, "what do you want?"
Olivia knew Fitz was goading her and chewed the inside of her cheek to avoid giving into him. She wasn't jealous. She was pissed. She didn't appreciate the hostess' brazen act of disrespect nor the way Fitz responded to it. When she was calm, she cleared her throat, getting Rachel's attention. She picked up her menu, holding it so her massive, but elegant engagement ring was on full display. "I'll take a small orange juice and a water. Have the waitress bring them. Thanks," she said coldly while smiling sweetly at the young woman, her message clear.
Rachel flushed with embarrassment. "I'll send Lily over right away with your drinks," she said, before scurrying away.
"She's cute," Olivia said bitingly, not looking at Fitz.
"Down tiger!" he said laughing. "You didn't have to crush her spirit. I told her I'm engaged. She is harmless. I didn't say anything to John when he let his eyes linger in the places I'm not allowed to touch."
Olivia glared at him. "I didn't do anything to encourage John. Can you say the same about her?"
"I'm not interested in the hostess," he said, placing extra emphasis on his last word.
"I was a waitress once, you were interested in me."
"That's different. Even then I could tell you were special and she…well…she isn't you. I could live a hundred lives and I'm certain I would find you and want you in each of them. I just hope that in one I find you before you marry someone else."
Olivia gasped audibly. He didn't know why he said that. Maybe it was because he knew their time together was coming to an end and he was desperate to hold onto her for longer. Whatever the reason, it was the second time today his loose language had put them in an uncomfortable position. Fitz looked at her, his eyes searching her face for signs to what part of his statement had prompted such a response. Without preamble he asked, "The desire? You have to know that's real. You've felt it once."
"Twice," she said, again not making eye contact with him.
"Twice? I was careful when we were on the sun lounger."
"Not then. When you were sleep. You surprised me, I didn't think you were a cuddler."
"I'm not. I guess I'm just drawn to you," he said sheepishly. "I hope I didn't make things worse for you.
"You didn't." She wanted to say something else to cut through the uncomfortable tension. To tell him he wasn't alone. That she was drawn to him too. That he wasn't alone in his desire. That instead of recoiling from his arousal, she leaned into it, her core moist and throbbing with yearning to be filled by him.
But, she didn't, she couldn't. If she admitted those things, he would break through the final wall between them. Once he did that, she didn't know if she would be able to stop herself. She would fall over the precipice with him and ruin both of them in the process. She had to be the strong one, the disciplined one; she had to save them both from themselves. So, instead of saying any of the things she was feeling, she said, "You should stop talking and look at the menu. The waitress will be here to take our order soon. This is a diner. You don't want to anger her by not being ready when it's our turn. Time is money to her."
Fitz's shoulders slumped and he didn't bother to hide the disappointment in his eyes. He was certain she was holding back, that there was more that she wanted to say, but instead she retreated inside herself, using the waitress as a distraction. Whatever she was thinking or feeling she was determined to keep it to herself and he wasn't about to ruin their day by forcing her to go somewhere she wasn't ready to be. Instead, he opened his menu. "Should I be alarmed that the second and third things on the menu are called Emergency Room and Intensive Care?"
"Not at all," she said, laughing at him. "Boston University Hospital is nearby. It's just a shout out to some of their best customers."
"Everything on this menu must be at least a thousand calories. I can't believe you've ever eaten here."
"Stop your whining. I'm the one that has to pour herself into an unforgiving gown tonight. You'll still be a sexy beast in the morning. That whole thing you have going on under those clothes," she said, gesturing toward his chest and abdomen, "can't be undone by one meal. If it makes you feel better we can run ten miles in the morning. You can sweat out all the greasy food toxins."
"You like what I have going on under these clothes?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her.
Olivia giggled nervously, "Shut up and decide what you want to eat. Our waitress is coming."
After the waitress took their order, the pair moved into safer territory, having a lively conversation about sports, movies, and their other passions. Olivia learned Fitz played lacrosse in high school and he learned she played Sandy in her high school's production of Grease. She was shocked to find that, despite living in Cambridge for three years, he'd never attended a live Boston sporting event and he was horrified to learn she'd never seen Pulp Fiction. She laughed until she cried when he admitted his guilty pleasure in graduate school was singing karaoke at Hong Kong Boston, a local dive bar, and that his go to song was Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky Heart. His bruised ego was soothed some when she revealed she too sang karaoke, her go to song the far more respectable Killing Me Softly with His Song by the Fugees.
When their food arrived, Olivia watched quietly as Fitz sampled his meal. He ordered the Emergency Room - eggs, pancakes, bacon, home fries, and toast. Fitz took his time tasting each item on his plate, intentionally prolonging Olivia's suffering as she waited for his verdict regarding the food. When she could take no more, she asked, "Well?"
"It's good, very good. Better than I expected and exactly what you promised. Excellent choice Ms. Pope."
Olivia visibly relaxed. "I was afraid you were going to hate it. I realized while we were sitting here that I haven't lived in Boston as an adult. I was twenty-one when I moved to Miami. All of my memories are from childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. I was panicked that something I thought was great when I was nineteen wouldn't be edible to a man used to dining in five star restaurants," she said cutting her pancakes in a crisscross pattern and placing a bite sized stack into her mouth.
"I could never hate something that is important to you. The smile on your face right now is worth the calories alone."
Olivia felt a sudden heat rushing to her cheeks and shifted uncomfortably in her chair. He had this disarming way with words that always turned her insides to goo. How could any woman be expected to resist his relentless charm? She looked at him curiously. "What?" he asked between forkfuls of food.
"I'm trying to figure out why you're single."
"That's easy. I am not afraid to be single. I travel too much. I party too hard. I get bored easily, making monogamy a challenge. I'm an only child and a senior executive, so I'm not used to compromising. I'm a little entitled and a lot spoiled. I'm a mama's boy and I steal the covers. That's a lot for any woman to handle." Olivia sat there is stunned silence. She expected him to say something witty, not give her a list of his flaws. "You look surprised."
"I wasn't expecting such candor and insight."
"I told you, I don't lie to you. You know exactly who I am. Was anything on that list new information for you?"
"I didn't know you steal the covers," she said cheekily.
"That's because your little body was wrapped up in mine all night. You were never far enough away to get cold. Usually it's an issue."
Olivia laughed. He always had a comeback. Always had to have the last word. It was at times endearing and at others, it was infuriating. Today, she found him endearing. Today, he was Lewis Carroll's White Rabbit innocently leading her down a rabbit-hole for which there is no obvious escape. Was Olivia curious enough about him and bored enough with her marriage to play the role of Alice and take the plunge into Fitz's Wonderland?
Olivia stopped fantasizing about Fitz and focused on the real version sitting in front of her. While she was asleep, Fitz had thoughtfully planned and executed a daytrip to Boston so they wouldn't have to spend the day at the Merkles' avoiding Seth. That was enough, more than enough, she shouldn't be lusting about what else she could take from him. She looked up and noticed he was staring at her, grinning broadly. "What?" she asked.
"Nothing. Just watching you disappear inside your head. Whatever you were thinking about made you smile, which made me smile watching you. Care to share?"
"No."
"Not even a little hint?" Fitz was fairly certain Olivia had been thinking about him, but she had been so guarded during their conversation it was impossible to know for sure.
"All you need to know is being here, in Boston, with you today has made me very happy."
"It's the least I could do to thank you for all you've done for me this weekend."
"I think you overstate my role. We still don't know last night didn't draw unwelcome attention to our relationship nor do we know what's going on with the Merkles."
"I'm not worrying about that today and neither should you. Today, we are seeing the best Boston has to offer in eight hours."
Before he could say anything more, the waitress approached the table, refilling Fitz's coffee and placing the bill on his side of the table. Fitz pulled his phone out of his pocket and texted John to let him know they were ready. Taking advantage of Fitz's distraction, Olivia surprised him by reaching across the table and snatching up the bill. "What are you doing?"
Olivia looked at him innocently. "I'm paying for breakfast."
Fitz couldn't remember the last time a woman offered to pay for a meal, hell to pay for anything, when they were out. It was always assumed, because of his wealth and gender, he would pay for everything. When he was younger, that assumption irked him greatly, but, as he aged, he grew so accustomed to his role that he habitually reached for his wallet whenever payment was required. "Give it to me Liv. I'm not letting you pay for our meal."
"Not letting me?" she scoffed cynically, opening her purse and pulling out her wallet.
"You know I didn't mean it that way."
"How did you mean it?" she asked, retrieving two twenty-dollar bills from her wallet.
"I'm supposed to be treating you today."
"You've been treating me all week. Let me do this small thing for you," she pleaded.
"Thank you," Fitz said sincerely, indicating he was giving in to her request. "But, after this, promise me you will put your wallet away. You won't need it again until we get back to Miami."
Olivia nodded her head in agreement, placing the cash and bill on the table. Fitz rose from his seat and moved toward Olivia, helping her from her seat. When they were both standing, she held out her right hand to him and he accepted, engulfing her much smaller hand in his as he led her out of the restaurant and into car waiting for them at the curb to take them to their next destination.
A/N: Well, Fitz is getting bolder, letting his truth spill out to Olivia. What is his motivation? Is he wrong to put Olivia, his married assistant, in this position? If Olivia gives in to him and cheats, does that change the way he sees her? Does she stop being his Madonna and become a whore? As always, I'm eager to read your thoughts about what you liked and disliked.