A/N: Thanks all for continuing to review, follow, and favorite this story. skidd, Fitz has an MBA in Finance and Operations. Reader575, so you want Olivia to throw up on Jon. Too funny. Allaboutpassion, glad the story is meeting your criteria. Unable to tolerate the smell of your own skin, never heard of that before. Wow. Amanda J, don't worry. Now back to our regularly scheduled story. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 14
It's October and Olivia is still in her first trimester of pregnancy and her libido is nonexistent. Between being tired all the time, the nausea, and vomiting, she could care less about sex. It's the furthest thing from her mind. On the other hand, sex is always top of mind for her husband. While Fitz is empathetic to his wife's symptoms he also has needs he wants fulfilled - like yesterday. They have gone from having sex almost every day to nothing - zilch. He's horny as hell and is always angry about something lately. She has tried to satisfy him with her hands once or twice but she says her hands now get tired from pumping him. When he asks for her mouth she frowns, saying it's nasty and makes her gag.
And nothing seems to get her excited sexually any more, not even the famous Grant mouth. He can lick and suck her all night, which he has, and she won't get aroused. She just asks when he's going to be finished. It's as if she's dead from the waist down. Needless to say he's frustrated. Taking cold showers and working out at the gym aren't working, they're a poor substitute for what he needs.
Fitz arrives at GranPo at 7:45 AM in a huff and slams his office door with such force the entire office quakes, causing the photo on his desk of him and Olivia on their wedding day to topple over. He's been arriving at the office earlier and earlier, and in a bad mood, for the past few weeks. Everyone at the office has been walking on eggshells around him. They have no idea what has him in such a foul mood lately. Amy thinks he just misses his wife being at the office with him every day.
At their afternoon meeting Fitz leans back in his chair with a foot propped on the edge of the desk, viciously squeezing a red stress ball in his left hand. He's ticking.
"Where the hell do we find a website designer?" Fitz bellows to Amy and Jon.
Looking nervously at Mr. Grant, Amy raises her hand midair.
"Um ... Mr. ... Mr. Grant." Amy says timidly.
Fitz grimaces at Amy wondering why the heck she's raising her hand like she's in the third grade.
"Mr. Grant", she says again, a little more apprehensive. "I know a guy."
"You know a guy?" Looking at Amy with raised brows.
"Yes. Webster. His name is Webster. He's a computer geek. He designs websites", she says quickly.
"His name is Webster and he designs websites. Is that supposed to be some kind of joke, Amy?" Fitz asks incredulously.
With eyes and mouth wide open Amy looks at Mr. Grant blankly, unsure if he is expecting her to respond.
"Does he do it professionally, Amy? Has he designed websites for any businesses – small businesses?"
Nodding her head up and down like a bobble-head doll with bulging eyes, Amy responds quickly.
"Yes he has, sir. He's really smart. And he likes working with small businesses because he hates dealing with all the bullsh – bureaucracy - that goes on with the big corporations."
"Do you think he would be willing to come in to meet with us?" Fitz asks, leaning forward across the desk, no longer squeezing the stress ball.
"That won't be a problem, Mr. Grant – he'll come in. He likes me", Amy says with a slight smile as she and Jon stand to leave the office.
XXX
A week later Webster enters the GranPo offices dressed in a Goth tee shirt, black faded jeans, and black boots. His tee shirt reveals tattoos on his arms and around his neck. He stands just inside the doorway looking around the small outer office where he sees a young man about his age sitting in a corner looking at something on his computer screen. Webster waits patiently for someone to acknowledge his presence when Amy looks up from her tablet.
"Hey, Webster", Amy says, walking toward her friend. How are you? Thanks for coming", she says all in one breath.
"Hey, Amy", Webster smiles slightly, looking down at his boots.
"Follow me. Mr. Grant sits back there", pointing to the small office. "Mr. Grant is the owner of GranPo. Actually he and his wife own GranPo but she's out sick right now. They're really good people to work for."
"I see", says Webster, following behind Amy at a safe distance.
Amy knocks on the office door.
"Come in", Fitz calls out as he looks at his laptop screen, reviewing the latest GranPo financial reports.
Amy enters the tiny office with Webster in tow.
"Mr. Grant, this is Webster, the website designer I told you about. Webster, this is Mr. Grant."
Fitz closes his laptop, walks from behind his desk, and extends a hand to the young man who seems somewhat uncomfortable. Amy clears her throat and shakes her head 'no', letting Fitz know Webster doesn't do handshakes. Fitz nods his head slightly, withdraws his hand slowly, and pushes both hands into his pants pockets.
"Good to meet you, Webster. Amy has told me a lot a good things about you. She says you're an excellent website designer."
Webster says hello and looks everywhere around the little office except at Fitz. Fitz gives Amy a questioningly look and Amy nods, indicating he should dispense with the pleasantries and just start the meeting.
"Why don't you both have a seat", Fitz points to the two small chairs in front of his desk. Fitz invited Amy to the meeting so she could translate his requirements into Webster speak.
"So you want a website that allows people to personalize their musical preferences. You want the site to suggest artists and music, based on their preferences, every time they return. You want to track the number of people visiting the site daily. You want to know the number of visits that translate into actual sales. And you want paying online to be easy and secure. Did I get that right?" Webster hadn't taken any notes.
"Wow, you got all of that from what I just said? Impressive." Fitz is clearly astonished by Webster's mental faculties.
Webster nods and Amy smiles proudly.
"So Webster, can you show me some examples of the kinds of websites you've designed?"
Webster nods, reaches into his backpack that's leaning against the little chair, and pulls out his laptop. He walks around the desk and places the laptop on the desk, angling it so Fitz can see the screen. Amy walks around the other side of the desk and peers over Fitz' shoulder. Webster logs into his computer and displays a webpage. Fitz recognizes the company immediately because he has purchased many products through their website. Webster navigates around the site showing Fitz some of the features he wants for the GranPo site.
"Nice. This is quite nice", Fitz says, nodding his head as he looks intently at the screen.
Webster shows Fitz six more examples of websites he's designed for well-known companies. Fitz nods his head again then reclines in his chair, indicating he's seen enough. Webster logs out and closes his computer.
"So Webster, how much is all this going to cost me?" Fitz asks, scrutinizing Webster closely.
Webster reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a business card, and hands it to Fitz. Fitz reaches for the wrinkled card and turns it over. Needless to say he's floored by the fee Webster has scrawled on the back of the card. While Fitz didn't know the market rate for web designers with Webster's skills, he still thinks it's an insane amount of money to pay.
"And what does this number buy me?" Eyeing Webster even more closely.
"You get a prototype that we will test before going live. I will monitor the testing, fix all bugs, and make any reasonable enhancements. You get implementation of the final site, which will run redundant with your current site for one month - this is a failsafe measure. Just in case the new site crashes, which it won't, customers will still be able to access the content and make purchases. You get support for six months where I answer all questions 24 – 7 and fix any problems. I'll throw in ongoing support and maintenance because you're Amy's friend", he looks shyly over at a beaming Amy. "You're getting a real deal. I usually charge much more, but Amy is a friend."
Fitz looks between Webster and Amy as he ponders the terms Webster outlined.
"Okay, so when can you start? When can we have our new website?"
"Two weeks – October 26. I need all of your people to be available to test on that day. Then I'll need a few more days to fix any bugs they find and make the enhancements you want. Everything should be up and running by November first."
Fitz nods. "And when do you want payment?"
"When the job is done", Webster says while stuffing the laptop into his backpack.
XXX
Cyrus Beene reflects on his life as he sits at his desk in his massive office on the 47th floor of The Beene Entertainment Group. His office is three times the size of the entire GranPo space. By most measures Cyrus should be a happy man, but he isn't. He's sad and bitter about a lot these days and he believes his feelings are justified. He shakes the thoughts from his mind, unlocks his desk drawer, and pulls out the latest photos of the GrantPo documents Jon sent earlier in the day. Cyrus reviews the financial reports closely. It doesn't appear their financials have changed at all since the last documents he received from Jon. Cyrus finds this to be a bit odd because he knows financial data usually vary from month to month. He retrieves the first set of GranPo financial documents from the drawer and spreads them onto his desk, comparing both sets side by side. His eyes bulge and his thin lips twitch; he's furious.
"Idiots. I'm surrounded by idiots!" He growls out loud, glaring at the photos. The damn fool sent him photos of the same documents from two months ago. Cyrus swings his hand and swipes the photos from his desk, sending them flying around the room. He stands from his desk, walks over to his well-stocked bar, and pours himself a healthy tumbler of vodka on the rocks. He takes a long swig, nods his head a few times, and then swaggers over to the huge windows. Staring into the night with the cold, sweating glass in his hand, Cyrus knows he has to get the most current GranPo financial information, and soon.
Time is running out.
October 25
Webster uses the key Mr. Grant gave him to enter GranPo after hours so he could set up the equipment to test the new website tomorrow. The outer office is dark so he turns on the lights and sets his equipment down on Amy's little table desk. He goes to make coffee but stops when sees light coming from under Mr. Grant's office door. Webster walks to the office to let Mr. Grant know he's getting ready to set up the equipment for tomorrow. As he approaches the office he sees the door is slightly ajar, so he knocks softly. After a few moments pass and no one answers, Webster pushes open the door and sees Jon sitting in Mr. Grant's chair with his phone in one hand and trying to conceal papers on the desk with his other hand.
"What the hell are you doing in here, Jon?"
"What are you doing here at this time of night, Webster?" Jon counters nervously.
"Answer my fuckin' question", looking at the phone in Jon's hand and all of the papers on the desk.
"It's not what you think, man. It's not what it looks like."
"I think it's exactly what it looks like. You're taking pictures of the Grants' business documents."
"Mr. Grant - uh, Fitz, asked -"
"Mr. Grant didn't ask you shit, but I'm sure he would love to hear about what you've been up to."
"Come on, Webs. Don' say anything, man."
"You better not move, Jon. If you do I'll break your fuckin' neck", Webster says while pulling his phone from his pocket.
"Webs, with your skills and my connections I can get you paid, too."
"I already get paid", Webster says, calling the number he has on speed dial. "And for the record, my name is Webster", he says, glaring at a frightened Jon.
XXX
Fitz tried to convince Olivia to stay home but she wasn't having it. She wanted to know what was going on at GranPo. When they get there all the lights are on and they hear voices coming from their office. Amy is in Jon's face, who is still sitting in Fitz' chair, looking quite frightened. Webster is standing off to the left, arms crossed, and grimacing at Jon.
"You're a snake, Jon. I believed in you. I even talked to the Grants about offering you a full-time position. And you do this shit?"
"Amy, you don't understand."
"You're right, I don't understand how you could betray the people who have only been nothing but nice to you. Why do you want those documents anyway? Are you working for someone?"
Fitz and Olivia enter their crowded office.
"What the hell is going on here?" Fitz shouts, looking around the room.
"Jon is a spy, Mr. Grant. Webster caught him taking pictures of all of those documents", pointing to the papers strewn across the desk.
"What?" Olivia gasps, raising a hand to her mouth.
"I came here to set up for the testing tomorrow and I saw him taking pictures of all those papers", Webster says, looking over to the desk. "That's when I called you, Mr. Grant."
Livid and red-faced Fitz walks over to Jon who is wide-eyed and shaking. Fitz grabs Jon in the collar, pulls him from the chair, and throws him against the thin wall. The pictures and knick-knacks hanging on the wall tremble, some crash to the floor.
"I bring you into our business and this is how you return the fucking favor? You better start talking before I rip off your fucking face, Jon."
"Fitz!" Olivia screams.
"I said talk. Who are you working for and what do they want?"
Jon is scared and can hardly breathe because Fitz' left forearm is pressed against his windpipe.
"OK. OK. But I can't breathe", he chokes out.
"I said talk!" Spit flying and spraying Jon's red face.
"Cyrus Beene. Cyrus Been hired me!"
Olivia gasps again. Her mouth hangs open and eyes now the size of saucers dart between her husband and Jon.
"Keep talking", Fitz snarls.
"Somehow he found out that I knew Davi and he tracked me down. He offered me a lot of money to get a job here and report back to him about everything that goes on at GranPo."
Fitz is so stunned by Jon's revelation he releases the young man, takes two steps back, and stares at him in disbelief. He can't believe what he's hearing.
"He wants to know what's happening with GranPo – financially", Jon continues. "I just take pictures - nothing else. I swear. This would have been the third set of pictures", looking over at the desk nervously.
"You fool!" Amy shouts. "Those -"
"That's enough, Amy!"
Not wanting Jon to know the financial information in those documents is months old, obsolete. Things have been so hectic around the office lately, and with Olivia being out sick, he hasn't had time to think about shredding his old financial reports.
"But, Mr. Grant -"
Olivia squeezes the young woman's arm, and shakes her head, signaling Amy should stop talking. Amy nods, then yells at the spy again.
"You're a fuckin' snake, Jon!"
Fitz grabs the young man in the collar again and flings him across the room.
"Get the hell out. I better not see your fucking face around here again!" Fitz growls.
Jon scrambles from the floor and scurries out of the office and down the stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator.
"Damn it!" Fitz yells and kicks the desk drawer closed. He turns and looks out the window into the night sky, shaking his head. He feels like he's having a bad dream.
Olivia walks over to her husband who is angrier than she's ever seen him. She touches his arm lightly. Trying to sound calm, Fitz asks Webster and Amy to take Mrs. Grant home.
"Fitz -", Olivia begins.
"Don't fight me on this, Olivia!" He turns around and gives her a pointed look.
Olivia looks at him briefly with wide eyes, then nods her head.
XXX
Cyrus Beene sits alone in his luxurious mansion enjoying a tumbler of vodka on the rocks while listening to Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1. Swirling the vodka in his tumbler, he looks over at the table that holds the various sizes of brown bottles of medicine he now has to take twice a day. He shakes his head wondering how he got to this place when the loud banging on his front door shakes him from his reverie.
Who the hell...? Cyrus walks to the front door and peers out the side windows and sees his old friend Fitzgerald Grant banging on his door. A startled Cyrus rushes to open the door to let in his friend. Fitz pushes past the old man and stands in the foyer seething with anger.
"You son-of-a-bitch. I cut you out of my life- had nothing to do with you for almost a year because you disrespected my choices. Now you do this shit?"
Fitz throws the financial documents across the expensive marble floor.
"Fitz, what are you -?" Cyrus tries to interject.
"Don't try to deny it, Cyrus. Your little spy got caught tonight trying to get you the latest GranPo financial data. Well there it is", pointing to the pages scattered across the floor.
Cyrus' eyes are bulging. "Fitz, you don't understand. Let me explain", the old man pleads, reaching out to touch Fitz' arm.
Fitz backs away from the man and glares at him with contempt.
"I don't want to hear a damn thing you have to say", stormy eyes staring into the old man's tired blue eyes.
"You're trying to destroy me and everything Olivia and I are trying to build. You've done some low shit, Cyrus. But this ... I can't believe ..."
Trying to calm his anger and collect his thoughts, Fitz clasps his hands behind his head and looks up at the ornately designed ceiling. He closes his eyes for a moment and shakes his head, still in disbelief about the night's events. He slides his hands down the sides of his face and turns to face the man he once knew.
"God … I can't … Just stay the fuck away from me and my family!"
Fitz walks out of the house leaving the old man standing in the middle of the foyer looking at the papers scattered across the floor.
XXX
Amy and Webster are still with Olivia when Fitz returns home. He is grateful to them for taking care of his wife and is even more grateful to Webster for discovering what Jon has been up to for the last few months. Amy and Webster say their good nights, leaving the Grants alone.
"Fitz, are you okay?" Olivia looks at Fitz sadly, knowing where he went.
"I'm fine, Liv." He sighs heavily and sits on the sofa. "I just don't understand what the hell Cyrus is thinking. Why would he do such a thing?"
Olivia sits next to her husband and strokes his arm gently.
"What did he say? Did he tell you anything?" She asks softly, trying to calm her angry husband.
"He didn't say shit, not that I gave him much of an opportunity. I told him I never wanted to see him again and to stay the fuck away from us."
Olivia nods, knowing tonight is not the time to push the matter further.
October 29
Webster, Fitz, and Amy spend all afternoon mapping out different scenarios that will enable them to meet the November first deadline. They discuss and prioritize the bug fixes and enhancements that need to be made before the new site is launched. They decide to defer the less important bug fixes and enhancements until after the launch. Webster will address the list of changes they deferred after November first. By 5:30 PM the trio is exhausted, but satisfied they have a solid plan.
It was a long day at GranPo and Fitz is feeling the stress in his body. He needs to get back into his yoga and meditation practice he thinks as he walks into the grocery store to pick up the items on Olivia's list. As soon as he walks into the store he smiles because he sees in the produce department the "evidence" that autumn is here. He grabs a cart and begins to load it with all the things he knows his wife will love. He picks up a huge autumn mum with the deepest and boldest oranges and reds and sets it in the cart. He sees a bin of pomegranates and puts a couple into a plastic bag. He gets a six pack of candy apples: two red, two caramel with nuts, and two chocolate; and he smiles, remembering the story Olivia told him of how the candy apple got stuck to her mouth when she was a little girl. Fitz digs into a large bin and scoops the assorted nuts into another plastic bag. Then he goes to the other aisles to get the items on Olivia's list.
Olivia is still napping when Fitz gets home from the grocery store so he puts all the foodstuff into the cabinets and refrigerator. He reaches on top of the tall cabinet and pulls out a silver tray and places all of the "evidence" on it. He wonders why Olivia stores the trays where she cannot reach them. Fitz carries the tray to the living room and sets it on the coffee table, hoping his wife will like the surprise. Satisfied with his presentation, Fitz walks over to the desk, opens his laptop, and begins to research baby furniture for the nursery.
Olivia walks down the hall from their bedroom, yawing and stretching from her nap. As she enters the living room she stops and covers her mouth when she sees the tray of "evidence" on the coffee table. Tears roll down her cheeks as she walks slowly over to the table.
"Autumn is here, Livvie", Fitz says, walking toward his wife who is staring at the items on the tray.
"Oh, Fitz. This is so wonderful. I have not … since I was … Thank you so much, baby. You're so sweet." She claps her hands and smiles brightly like a little girl.
He smiles broadly because he's happy that she's happy.
"Hold on", he says excitedly. I want to get my phone. I want to take a picture of you biting into one of those candy apples", he says, laughing out loud.
"Not funny, babe. Not funny at all."
October 31
Unable to sleep, Fitz looks over at his wife who sleeps like a rock now that she's pregnant. He shakes his head recalling when she used to be a light sleeper. Olivia lays on her stomach with her wild curls spread across her pillow and snores softly. Getting turned on at the sight of his wife sleeping peacefully with her full lips slightly parted, Fitz slides over and brushes hair from her face with the back of his hand. He kisses around her neck and down her back and his dick begs for some relief. He slides his hand inside her panties and massages her round ass. Then he turns her onto her back and kisses down her chest.
"Livvie", he whispers, needing to be inside of her. He pushes up her flimsy nightgown and licks her sensitive breasts while stroking her nub.
"Wake up, baby", he moans, kissing down her stomach, down the path leading to the object of his desire, He spreads her legs, thinking how much he misses being intimate with his wife.
"Wake up, baby", he whispers huskily.
Suddenly Olivia rolls onto her side and her knee connects with Fitz' eye.
"Ouch!" He screams out loud, waking her as he holds his right eye.
"Fitz …?" She says groggily, turning and looking at her husband who is now sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Why are you awake? What's the matter?"
"Nothing!" He says in frustration.
"Well go back to sleep, baby. You have a long day tomorrow." Olivia rolls back onto her side, cuddles her pillow, and falls back into a deep sleep.
"Damn it!" He yells through clenched teeth as he walks to the bathroom to take another cold shower.