Revelations: Part II
It was quickly becoming her favorite morning wake-up call. From their spooning position, she would feel his bulging manhood pressing against her and an uncontrollable secret smile would form on her face. Then she would feel his hand travel south in search of a wetness to assure him that she was ready to receive him – and she was always ready. Her morning purr would quickly fade into a gasp and then a breath "Fitz". She would arch, press her back against him, urging him to take her from behind and go deeper until her eyes rolled back and all thought escaped her. She could match his rhythm, thrust for thrust, encouraging him to move quickly, forcefully because there was never enough time in the morning. And she felt his mouth on her neck, searching, pretending he didn't know her spot, teasing her, stretching out the minutes and when he found it he would whisper "Let go for me Livvy." The vibrations from his voice would resonate through her entire body and they could both release together.
When she attempted to move out of his grasp, he groaned and said, "Where are you going?"
"Its 7:30 Fitz, we should have gotten up an hour ago. We're late, which means no showering together," she teased.
"Water conservation," he reasoned as he buried his head deeper in neck to inhale her scent. "You smell so good; how do you always smell so good?" He tightened his arms around her possessively.
She chuckled; it was becoming harder and harder to get him out of bed. She wondered what happened to the man who used to get up at the crack of dawn to run with Max. "I smell like sex….and you….Come on Fitz, we have got to go. Poor Max, he didn't even get to go for a walk this morning. You're ignoring him."
Fitz laughed, releasing her as he got out of bed to start the shower. Olivia sat up quickly, eager to watch his lithe nude form walking across the bedroom. She bit her lip, admiring his amazingly lean body, a sexual heat rising within her at the sight of him. She wasn't ashamed to admit that she had developed an insatiable desire for him, so much so that the mere thought of him began to excite her. She smiled as she jumped out the bed and quickly followed him into the bathroom; they might as well make the most of a morning shower.
It took another hour and half for them to get downstairs for a quick breakfast of bagels and fruit. They navigated through the kitchen effortlessly, as if they had been following the same routine for years. Fitz loved it; any type of domesticated routine with Olivia warmed him completely. He was counting down the days until their wedding. He was being high-handed in forcing the 2 month wedding date but he knew if he left it up to her; she would continue to put it off for months and months; waiting for the perfect moment that never came.
"I know you didn't want this interview but it is necessary Livvy. It's time, we've been putting it off and now we can give them the wedding date. I told Lauren to set something up for next week."
She sighed as she focused on her cup of coffee.
"Livvy, talk to me."
"I know Fitz. I know it's time and it has to be done. I'm just nervous. It's a lot of pressure putting on a wedding, especially when there are so many other things going on. My mother is getting out of the hospital and I need to arrange for an in-home nurse for her; there are meetings on top of meetings and more meetings and not to mention your State of the State address, which has already been delayed because of the shooting and is coming up in a couple of weeks. I'm already spending hours on re-writes with Marcus and Ashley and now I have therapy with Dr. Martin added to my schedule…It's just a lot."
"I agree it's a lot but that's why you have a staff and that's why you delegate; stop thinking you have to do everything yourself. Hire yourself a wedding planner, tell them what you want and sit back and watch everything unfold."
Olivia watched him through squinted eyes. Of course to him everything seemed so easy. He smiled charmingly and she wanted to throw her bagel at his head, but she was hungry and decided to eat it instead.
XXXXXX
Something was wrong, very wrong. She was being summoned and something was wrong. An unscheduled, impromptu meeting always meant an emergency; something unexpected but this time she feared that she would be the emergency. She had done something reckless, foolish, so unlike her and now she was going to pay for it. She continued to walk down the corridor, the hallway seemed much longer today; one foot in front of the other, straight back, head held high; regal, despite what happened, she would always be regal.
Taking one last deep breath, she knocked on the door one time before he called out permission for her to enter.
"Mellie, come in please, sit down," Fitz told her from his seated position, when he saw her momentarily frozen at the sight of the people already present in the room. She definitely had not expected to see John there.
"Of course," she said in a cheery voice as she took a seat on the couch between Olivia and Cyrus. "So, what's this meeting about?" She glanced at everyone, except John.
"We are all busy so I'll get straight to the point. Mellie I have asked you and John here to find out what your plan is?"
"Our plan?...In regards to what exactly?" she chuckled as if this was all a joke.
Fitz looked at John waiting for him to say something but in a cowardly move he deferred all responses to Mellie. Stupid, Fitz thought and turned his attention back to Mellie. "I would assume that two intelligent people like you and John here have a plan; some type of strategy worked out. I mean it would only be right that you do especially when you are screwing each other all over the capital building."
Mellie gasped in horror. John bowed his head in shame. The room stilled in silence. "How dare you!...I would never….John is a married man and I'm a widow….I would never," Mellie etched out, her voice modulating between a high pitch to her lowest depths.
"Mellie," John pleaded in an attempt to get her to calm down. Even he knew that for Fitz to expose them in this way, he must have some kind of proof.
"No!" she blazed at John to shut him up before turning her attention back to Fitz, "Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III you have just reduced me to some common whore and you didn't have the decency to do it in private….I'm sure all of you are having some type of laugh at my expense but you are wrong, dead wrong, and I expect a full apology right now!" She has been caught literally with her pants down but she would be damned if she would admit it.
Fitz laughed at her. It was unexpected and Olivia frowned at his insensitivity; even she was starting to feel sorry for Mellie. "You forget Mellie I have known you the longest of anyone in this room. I know your theatrics and I would applaud you but I'm too damn tired. So look, I wouldn't have called you in here if I didn't have evidence; irrefutable evidence." He leaned forward in his chair, looking her straight in the eye, "So you two need to figure out something because if we in this room know, pretty soon others will too because you are sloppy and messy. And then John's wife will know and she will raise a big stink; she will out both of you publicly for everyone to see and that will affect this administration. So I need an answer from both of you, what is your plan, where is this going. And I hate to put your love lives as part of the political agenda of this office but you left me no choice."
Both Mellie and John remained silent. For his part, John appeared contrite for his error; however Mellie was not humbled; she was more irritated; annoyed at being chastised like a child.
"Is that all?" she asked defiantly.
"Call Lauren to set up a meeting for us to discuss this further; make it sooner rather than later. And just so that we are clear, I have no problem forcing one or both of you to resign." Fitz watched Mellie closely; he knew her very well; she was humiliated and embarrassed which meant she would retaliate in kind. Only he, Olivia, Ron, the head of security and his staff knew about the cameras installed all over the building; complete with audio. Huck's feed was separate and he wouldn't interfere with it. He would certainly make sure Mellie was watched; her mind was already planning the method she would use to lash out at him but if he gave her enough rope, she would surely hang herself.
XXXXXX
"This is exactly what I knew would happen if you stayed in his life," Cyrus accused as he walked into Olivia's office after the meeting. He had no knowledge of the relationship between Mellie and John. He didn't even know what evidence Fitz had of the affair. Fitz had frozen him out.
"What's wrong Cy?" Olivia asked from behind her desk.
Cyrus closed her door and in his overly dramatized fashion dropped down into a seat. "I knew that you being in his life would turn him against me. I'm on the out's Olivia. He doesn't confide in me, I barely know what's going on. I'm the gotdammed Chief of Staff I should know everything, definitely more than you know!"
Olivia got up and walked around the desk so that she could stand in front of him. She could hear the anger in his voice but she also heard the fear. "Cyrus I'm not turning Fitz away from you; you're doing that all by yourself."
"What the hell are you talking about Olivia?"
"I'm talking about your secrets. You have them; no don't deny it because you do Cy. I know it and he knows it. And because of that he does not trust you. You want him to let you in; bring you into his confidence, his inner circle? That works both ways; you need to come clean."
"What does he think he knows about me?" Cyrus started suspiciously. He dealt information in small doses, rarely, if ever did he offer full disclosure.
"Listen to me, He-Does-Not-Trust-You. He knows you are lying about something and he knows that you keep secrets; secrets that could hurt him, his family and this administration. So unless you are ready to talk about that then stop blaming everyone else for your own indiscretions."
Cyrus looked away with a twinge of sadness. This was confirmation; Fitz knew he was holding back information. But he couldn't tell him the truth, not without endangering Fitz's life. He wished Fitz trusted him to always do what was best; he wished for the blind faith that he would always take care of Fitz to the end. But it was gone.
XXXXXX
"I'm sorry I'm late. I don't like being late for meetings, I apologize," Olivia said hurriedly as she sat down; removing her dark glasses and long gloves.
Miguel watched her with a great deal of admiration. The way she spoke; the way she carried herself; her mannerisms were enthralling. A smile played across his lips as he said, "It is no problem Olivia, I was happy to wait. I appreciate your willingness to join me for lunch." He re-seated after she had settled in her seat.
A waitress appeared with a water glass for Olivia. She provided her with a menu but Olivia declined it and ordered a shrimp salad.
"So Miguel, what can I do for you today?" Olivia asked as she opened her cloth napkin and laid it in her lap.
After several minutes of watching her he asked in mock innocence, "You really don't remember me do you?" Olivia tilted her head in confusion, waiting for him to jog whatever memory of him she was supposed to have.
He continued, a knowing smile brightening, "I previously worked on the east coast. It was about 3 years ago or more. I had a friend Jake Ballard. You remember him don't you?"
He waited for Olivia to nod her head in acknowledgement. Her expression gave him nothing. She was schooled in keeping her emotions in check.
"I believe you and him dated very briefly. He introduced us but it was a quick introduction and it was only one time but I remembered you. It's a shame you don't remember me."
"Miguel, as much as this stroll down memory lane is nostalgic and touching, I fail to see the point of this meeting."
"This meeting is a courtesy to you Olivia. The people I work for want that flash drive and they will not stop until they get it. I have tried to get you to willingly give it up but you have not. And please do not insult my intelligence by saying you do not know where it is; either you have it or you know who has it. You cannot win; you must give it to me for your own sake."
"Then this meeting is pointless and this conversation could have occurred over the phone. I could have saved you the lunch and the drive. This has been a waste of time – yours and mine."
"Oh no, any opportunity that I can see you will never be a waste."
"I don't feel the same."
"Well before you rush off hastily, please understand that, as I said, this is courtesy before some very damaging information about you is released. I would hate for you to be the subject of a scandal especially with your boyfriend being so new in office and the entire state singing your praises."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You dated Jake Ballard for about a month. You slept with him twice - once at your place and once at his. You were right to get rid of him; he's an asshole and may I say not at all what you deserve…I'm not a stalker, I know particularly about the time you stayed at his place because he recorded it. He taped your entire sexual….encounter and we have that tape. It is an invasion of your privacy, I know, and if it were up to me it would have never come up. No true gentleman would release such intimate moments for the world to see. But you see I have no choice; you have no choice. It's dirty and underhanded and I'm sorry but you have to know that these people are very serious."
Olivia's face went blank although inside she was seething. Her rage was building and she wanted nothing more than to reach over and choke him until he was blue in the face but he was not the true source of her anger. She took a deep breath and calmly said, "And what is your proposal?"
"It is simple – the flash drive for the sex tape." He noticed that she winced when he mentioned the sex tape. He had gotten to her, even if she dared not show it.
With a quiet indignation brimming close to the boiling point, Olivia expressed herself calmly, but it might as well had been a venomous sting. "I never liked you. Even at the inaugural ball…I did not trust you. I knew you wanted something from me and you were trying to gain my trust to get it. What did you want…to get into my home to search for it? Somehow find your way into my bed? You took my phone, cloned it, and snuck it back so you could spy on my calls…but none of it worked. Oh and that was you who ransacked my office right?" When he didn't respond, she continued spitefully, "You're a pitiful failure. What will they do to you if you fail this time, errand boy!"
"Enough!" Miguel said loudly and hit his hand on the table so loud that the silverware moved and several patrons in the restaurant jumped and gasped. He closed his eyes to regain control. He never lost it like that. She infuriated him and yet he wanted her with the same passion.
Olivia smirked at her ability to easily send him off the rails, even it was just briefly. She just wanted to take that smug look off of his face.
"Olivia, I don't want to cause a scene here…It will not look good for either you or me. So can we please get back to the business at hand?"
"Of course….So if this exchange is made, what guarantee do I have that you do not have other copies of the tape?"
"Well I am sure you have made copies of the flash drive. So you have your copies and we have ours; call it our insurance policy against each other."
"And how do I reach you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"A true gentleman would at least give me some time to think over your offer before I make a decision."
"Yes, of course. You can call this line; it is untraceable. Leave me a message to set up a meet at the place of your choosing. But I need a response by Monday." He wrote down a number and slid it across the table. When she reached for it, he placed his hand over hers, using his thumb to caress her skin. "Olivia you have to know that I hate this as much as you do and if there was another way, I would pursue it. But this cannot be helped. I am under orders and I have to fulfill my assignment. I am truly sorry."
Olivia looked in his eyes and could almost believe that he was sorry for the bargaining chip being played but he disgusted her at the moment, as did all the men he worked with and for. She slowly slid her hand from under his; placing the number in her purse. She stood to leave and said, "Of course you will understand if I don't stay for lunch; I have completely lost my appetite."
XXXXXX
When Ashley returned to her desk, she was surprised to find Marcus standing there. His arms were crossed and there was a deep frown on his face. He had already been watching her suspiciously all week and now the anger on his face told her that he was about to unleash whatever it was on her. She kept her gaze cast downward and mumbled, "Hey Marcus, what's up?"
Marcus looked at her and said, "Conference room now!" He walked away.
Ashley looked around to make sure no one observed their conversation. She quickly went to the conference room and closed the door behind her. She forced a smile on her face, hoping to ease the tension already present in the room.
"Marcus, what's the matter?" she asked innocently.
"Ashley, what the hell are you doing?" he accused. "We talked about this…we went over this and you assured me that everything was fine!"
"Marcus, what are you…."
"You're screwing him again! John Hadley, Press Secretary, you guys are hooking up again!"
She gasped – a mixture of anger and humiliation. There was no point in denying the truth though. "Are you following me? You have no right to be poking your nose into my personal life."
"Ashley, we don't have personal lives….don't you get it. Look where we work…look who we work for. Your life is not your own. And newsflash: everyone knows everyone else in this piss ass town."
He watched as Ashley slumped into a chair; a look of defeat and desperation on her face. "I didn't intend for it to happen. He asked me out for a drink and we just talked; it was nice and then he asked again and again until one night we ended up somewhere."
"Ashley, he's stringing you a long; he's got you, the Secretary of State and god knows who else dangling on a string while his wife and child sit at home and wait for him."
"I know all that Marcus, I do but it's just that I….I."
"Stop! Don't you dare say that you are in love with that bastard who doesn't have the decency to commit to one relationship? He's a fucking coward making women believe that he cares for them; getting them caught up so that they could be at his beck in call. What do you think will happen when Mellie finds out? You think she won't hesitate to ruin you…destroy you… you will never work in politics anywhere at any time. She will make sure you are degraded to the lowest form of life on this planet….So snap out of it! Pull yourself together! This is not a fucking game Ashley. These people do not care about you. I'm telling you one time and one time only, Shut-It-Down!"
XXXXXX
He stood right outside her office door; his hand was poised to knock but he stopped short when he heard her mention a name through the phone "Hollis". What was Mellie talking to Hollis about?
"I don't care I need something done now!"
"I'm done."
"Make it happen now!"
"OK fine…OK….I said, I heard you and OK!"
"I won't do anything….for now," were the last words she said before she slammed the phone receiver down.
Cyrus knocked on the door and poked his head in her office. "Mellie, are you OK?" He came in and closed the door behind him. He didn't sit; it was better to stand in her presence. It was always best to be on guard with her.
"No Cyrus I am not OK….You need to get your boy in line or I swear to god...!" she threatened through clenched teeth as she began to pace back and forth. Oh god, not another pacer, Cyrus thought as he rolled his eyes.
"What is going on…with you and John….with you and Fitz?"
Mellie stopped and looked at him. Through her wicked laugh she said, "Oh you don't know do you?...Are you out of the inner circle, Cy? Is your precious Fitz only confiding in Olivia these days? Leaving you all alone, in the dark? It's pathetic how he worships the ground that woman walks on…He's ridiculous and weak; he always has been. He doesn't deserve to be here; he's not Teddy."
"Mellie…."
"I will not be humiliated anymore!" she screamed. "Do you know what Olivia did to me last week? I was a laughing stock in the press. And don't tell me that it wasn't her…It was her…This is it Cy. I'm done. The question is: Are you? Are you finished being the whipping boy for this administration or do you want the real position of COS? That will only happen when Olivia is out of the way. You and I both know that without her, Fitz is easily controlled and manipulated. Tell me I'm wrong Cy?"
She dared him to disagree but he couldn't. Fitz was much more controllable when he didn't have this bold confidence that Olivia seemed to give him; a preposterous invincibility that Cyrus found nauseating.
"What do you propose Mellie?"
Mellie smiled and unlocked her desk drawer. She handed Cyrus a disc. "Use this."
"What is it?"
He was all in and she was happy to gloat at what she had. "It's Olivia's finest moment. You remember Jake Ballard don't you? Well did you know that he and Olivia had a brief fling on the east coast?...Jake filmed them together….having sex….and now you have the disc. You need to use it. Show it to Fitz. You and I both know once he sees it, he'll go into a jealous rage and won't know how to handle it. He'll make her leave for good this time…trust me."
Cyrus looked down at the disc wondering how Mellie came to have it; yet he didn't bother asking; she would just lie or evade the question all together. Could he throw his hand in with Mellie? Did he trust her that much? If this backfired, what would it mean for him?
"You know Mellie, as much dirt as you try to use against them, they have as much if not more on you. The exposure of your checkered past could ruin you."
"That's true Cy but don't forget if I go down, everyone comes with me. Exposing my past, exposes Fitz, Olivia and you for lying to the citizens of this state; allowing me to continue holding office as a fraud. So we are all tied together and we need to learn to play well in the sandbox."
XXXXXX
John timed it perfectly. He had been waiting for almost twenty minutes but now he knew it was all clear as he walked inside the women's bathroom. He locked the door behind him and waited for her. When she finally came out of one of the stalls, she jumped at the sight of him. She rolled her eyes in irritation; ignoring him, she went to the sink to wash her hands.
"You don't regret us do you?" John asked.
Ashley looked at him through the mirror, a harsh frown on her face. "What did you come in here for? Did you think I would let you take me in one of the stalls? Please don't tell me you're that stupid."
"Why are you being so mean? What happened to the Ashley from last night?"
"She's gone; she made a mistake and she's gone."
"Ashley baby," he pleaded as he took several steps toward her before she demanded that he stop approaching her. He obeyed.
"Listen it was fun and all but it's done, it's over. So stop asking me to drinks after work or to meet you on the weekend or anything because I don't want to see you in anything but a professional capacity."
"But I thought we…"
"There is no we John…there's you and Mellie or you and your wife or you and some other fool but not me. Not me."
"You're scared….are you scared of Mellie?...Ashley, I don't want you to be afraid of her….she's nothing…she can't touch us….I love…."
"Stop! Do not say those words to me…I don't believe you….I will never believe you John."
"Ashley, listen, my wife she knows…about Mellie; she put me out of the house and she's going to confront her and tell the tabloids. Mellie will be crucified in the press; the people will hate her. She'll be done."
"And what? You'll get away untouched?"
"Oh I'll suffer the consequences but they will be much less severe. I'll promise to go to counseling, work on my marriage, gain my wife's trust. You know the usual stuff. But Mellie will be out of our lives for good. It'll just be you and me."
"So I'll just continue to be your mistress," she concluded sarcastically.
"Don't call yourself that! You are not that! You are more, so much more….You don't have to give me an answer now. Just wait, you'll see, just a little while longer and you won't have to worry about Mellie at all."
XXXXXX
"How is our friend?"
"He's struggling; irritable, annoyed; more than usual," Fitz chuckled remembering the expression on Cyrus' face when he outted Mellie and John in the meeting. He was shocked that he didn't know about their affair and that Fitz didn't let him in on it beforehand.
"I did warn him….I told him to stop dividing his loyalties but he didn't listen."
Fitz shrugged. It no longer mattered to him what Cyrus thought or felt; all that mattered was knowledge. Fitz wouldn't tolerate being in the dark about anything; as long as he knew everything about what was happening he felt secure; like he could not only protect himself but everyone he loved.
"How is Olivia? And the wedding plans?" Nattie asked.
"Everything is fine; she's doing good; the therapy is helping. She's opening up more. I'm happy; we're happy. She's been a little testy with the wedding planner but hopefully that will all blow over," Fitz mused. Olivia was more than testy; she was antagonistic. She was convinced that the wedding planner had been trying to flirt with Fitz and for that she practically hated the woman. It took several persuasive conversations for Olivia to agree to give her one more chance.
"Good, well I'm sure Olivia will let me know if there is anything I can do…the reason I asked you to come today…." Nattie started delicately.
Fitz sat up straighter in his chair, bracing himself for whatever his mother needed to say. He shouldn't feel apprehensive or nervous but somehow his mother continued to amaze and shock him by her actions. For so long he thought of her as weak, frail, always in need of his help and support, especially since she had such a cruel husband, but in reality his mother was the strongest, deadliest woman he knew. The reality was both admirable and disturbing.
"All your father's properties and holdings have been separated from mine. Anything that could not be separated has been liquidated; so in short there is nothing tying us together except you, of course. I needed to make sure that all of our tangible connections were dissolved before I proceeded any further."
Nattie watched her beautiful son from across the table. She was so proud of him, who he was, what he was and what he could still become. She was so thankful to have him with her but she could not yet gage how he would react to what she needed to tell him.
"Under normal circumstances I would opt to protect your plausible deniability and refrain from revealing certain details to you but I can't…..not with this…Me and your father and Cyrus we are all the same; there isn't that great of difference between us all. We all want power. The difference is what we are willing to sacrifice and who we are willing to hurt to get what we want. I won't insult your intelligence by explaining how little power politicians really have. I'm sure you've seen it first hand by now; politicians are all chess pieces that get moved around the board by people who have real power; tangible power. I'll admit that I want that power….Your father and I are on opposite sides fighting for the same thing and in the end only one of us will remain standing….It's going to be me, Fitz."
She paused and let her words sink in. She could see the moment of clarity come upon his face. The moment when he truly realized that she was nothing like what he thought she was. Over the years she had tried to give him insight into her true nature in small doses; she kept chipping away at the façade she created until the full image of who she really was became visible to him. She figured he could digest it better this way but this revelation of her character was necessary as changes were coming that he needed to prepare for.
She continued, "Cyrus and I have come to an understanding so that we can peacefully co-exist. He accepted their assignment but he will continue to delay the order as long as he can." She saw the look of confusion on his face and clarified, "Cyrus was ordered to kill me Fitz."
"What the f…," he caught himself and exhaled sharply. He shook his head in disbelief, "That's not…he wouldn't do that…Cyrus may be many things; he may be a monster but he's your monster; he wouldn't betray you like that."
"No he wouldn't and that's why he hasn't done it. He couldn't do it. And it's angered him that they would ask such a sacrifice. But he recognized that it was all being orchestrated by your father. Your father wants me gone. Even if Cyrus doesn't do it for them, he will find another way so I have to act first…It's self-preservation. He has to go."
He was speechless. What kind of world did he live in when his mother was planning the death of his father? Sure he hated his father and was certain that he would not miss him if he was gone but murdering him was something entirely different. How could he live with that burden? How could she live with it? Was she truly that cold?
Fitz was silent; not trusting himself with words that would likely hurt her and him.
"You told Huck that you wanted all of this done…over…gone. This is the only way. Some people have to be eliminated if you and Olivia will ever have a chance at real happiness. Your father is cancer Fitz, you know it, even if you cut him off at one end; he will just grow on another."
When Fitz finally spoke his voice was calm but heavily laced with anger. "I always knew there were things that you didn't talk about; things you did that you couldn't tell me and I was OK with it…I never pressed the issue; I let it go. But this…this is different….You're telling me that you're no different from him; like you said it all comes down to who you are willing to sacrifice. You're sacrificing my father for your ambition…and please don't tell me this is for my happiness with Olivia, because it's not…it's about you winning. It's about your victory at all cost." He had never spoken to his mother like that and it pained him; deeper than he could have imagined.
"What did you think Fitz? What did you think was going to happen when you told Huck to make it all go away? Did you think everyone would magically fade into the background and leave you and Olivia alone forever? Don't be naïve" her voice was escalating and she needed to calm down. She took a deep breath before continuing, "I won't lie and say this is easy for me; it's not…I loved your father once and he is part of you; the best part of him is in you…his blood will forever be on my hands but there is no other way. You may never forgive me for what I have to do but I hope that in time you will understand that it wasn't just for me; it was for your future…your family's future and the life I always wanted you to have."
XXXXXX
Fitz called Lauren and told her to cancel all remaining meetings he had for the day. She asked what excuse she was to give to his appointments and especially to Cyrus, who would demand to know and he told her to make up something; he really didn't care what she said. He sent a brief text message to Olivia telling her that he would be gone for a couple of hours. She responded by asking if he was ok and he sent a brief message that he was fine.
He gave his driver an address and settled in for the ride. It would take at least an hour to get there. His security detail would wonder where they were going; it wasn't on the schedule for the day but he didn't care. Like clockwork, his phone started buzzing with phone calls from Cyrus but he ignored each one.
When they finally pulled up to the large stately home, Fitz waited to get out. He knew the drill; his security would have to do a walk through on the property before he could enter. After several minutes Matt, one of the guards, knocked on the window and announced the all clear.
"Sir, Mr. Beene has been calling requesting to speak to you. What should I tell him?" Matt asked as he walked with Fitz to the front of the residence.
"Tell Mr. Beene that I had an unscheduled appointment and I will return as soon as possible," Fitz responded.
Before Fitz could knock on the door, an older woman opened it and smiled in greeting. She never seemed to age; she was as beautiful as ever. She stepped back and allowed his security to enter; she knew the drill too. She knew they would need to search the house entirely before allowing Fitz to come in. She stood there staring at him; it had been several years since she had seen him although they communicated often through letters. But nothing was better than actually seeing him in person.
"Everything is good Sir," Matt said as he ushered out two of the guards; allowing only one more to remain with him inside.
When they were finally seated, she said, "It's been too long Fitz, why haven't you come before now?"
"I couldn't get away Celeste; the campaign was taking too much of my time."
"I went to your last debate. I was so proud of you…I want to meet her…one day. What is she like?"
Fitz groaned, wondering if that would ever be possible. He knew she was curious about Olivia but he didn't come here to talk about that. "Maybe one day you can meet her; that would be nice," he offered. Ever since he met Celeste all those years ago, she's always wanted to be a part of his life and no matter how much he would like that, it couldn't happen, not now; not without causing more trouble for his family and hers. "How are the boys?"
"They're great," Celeste beamed. Her sons were everything to her; her pride and joy. She raised them alone and she was proud of who they grew up to be. "Joshua will be graduating high school. He's the quarterback on the football team and co-captain on the debate team. His grades were slipping a little bit, called himself in love with some girl, but we're working on it. Caleb is doing well in college. It was a bit of an adjustment at first, living so far from home but he gets back when he can. He's majoring in Political Science. I have a recent picture of them around here somewhere." She went to another room, got a family picture and brought it for Fitz to see. "Aren't they handsome young men?"
"Yes they are," Fitz said as he stared at the picture of Celeste smiling proudly with her sons – Caleb Theodore and Joshua Fitzgerald - towering on either side of her. Looking at them was almost like looking at himself. They got their height and looks from their father. Fitz realized how hard it must have been for Celeste to raise two sons, care for them, molding them into fine young men – without them ever knowing who their father was. She was provided for materially but it was no replacement for an absent father.
"Stop looking like that Fitz…you did all you could and I'm grateful. We were happy. We are happy," Celeste said sincerely as she touched Fitz's shoulder.
She resumed her seat across from him. "It must be difficult, being a man in your position."
"It is…but, lately, life has become harder than I ever imagined. The decisions and choices are just….it's never as black and white as we want it to be; there are so many gray areas." Fitz put the picture down on the table but couldn't tear his eyes away from it. He wanted to meet Caleb and Joshua in person; he wanted to know them; he should know them; they were his family.
Celeste sighed. She knew when he called her that this was not a social call; it was business. "So what did you want to see me about?"
Fitz met her eyes and experienced an overwhelming sadness over what he had to say. It hurt him to do this to her but he didn't know another way. "Celeste I have always tried to make sure that you knew what was going on; I never wanted you to be in the dark about the family….Gerry has gone too far to pull him back now; the decision has been made that he has to go…for good. I wish there was another option but you know him; even if we stop him one time, he's relentless and he'll just keep pushing and pushing….He has to go."
It was like he was speaking about a stranger; an enemy but someone he barely knew; not the person whose blood ran through him; not the man who provided for him throughout his life. He watched as Celeste's eyes pooled with tears; her hand coming to her mouth to prevent her from sobbing loudly. "Fitz, no….there has to be another way."
"I've been racking my brain trying to find another way but the men he's entangled with ordered the murder of my mother; they won't stop until they break up my relationship with Olivia; they want to control me all the way to the White House. He's their point man; if we cut him off, cripple several other players then it changes everything. I've spent most of my life fighting that man and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of waiting to see what he'll do next to ruin my life."
"Listen to me," she pleaded as she reached and grasped his hand. "I don't care about Gerry; that stopped a long time ago but I care about you. You won't be able to live with yourself if you allow this. These reasons you give are not good enough….they are not enough to kill someone over. We are not animals; we are people, we can be reasoned with, talked to…You have to try Fitz…you have to try to reach him. I know that if you let this happen; if you let them do this to him; it will change you; it will haunt you for the rest of your life."
Fitz listened; soaking in the weight of her words. He was already feeling the burden of everything crashing in on him. He felt the burner phone in his pocket vibrating; it was time to go. He stood and said, "I have to be getting back…I just needed to tell you in person before…before something happened. I've heard everything you said and I'm trying Celeste, please believe I'm trying. I would never want Caleb and Joshua to know that I was the one who…." His throat constricted; he couldn't get the words out.
"Whatever happens Fitz…whatever choice is made…I will know that you did your best and you made the best decision possible. And when the time comes I will make sure they know it to. You are a good man; whatever it is, I know you will do the right thing."
"Thank you Celeste," Fitz said. Celeste hugged him tightly; wishing she could give him a measure of comfort in knowing that she believe in him, despite everything.
When she released him, Fitz looked back down at the family picture; trying but failing to prevent the tears from falling. He quickly said goodbye, kissed her on the cheek and walked out. He hoped one day his brothers would be as proud of him as he was of them; he hoped they never hated him for what he was about to do to their own father.
XXXXXX
Vengeful goddesses.
That's how he would describe them; the women in his life, seeking revenge for perceived wrongs; ready to go to any lengths to cast eternal judgment and condemnation. Mellie did it with her husband – arranged for a fake-suicide death because he was standing in the way of her ambition; he dared to double cross her with Hollis and she became his executioner. His mother had done it before, although she would never speak of it to him and now she gave the guilty verdict against her ex-husband; she determined that he deserved capital punishment for his many crimes, especially the ones he committed against his own family.
And Olivia. She, too, had cast the final judgment against her father's killer. As judge and jury, she determined that another person was no longer worthy and revoked the breath of life. And now she wanted to do it again.
"I want Jake Ballard gone…dead….today…tonight…right now!" Olivia yelled as she paced in circles.
"Olivia…" Huck warned. She was speaking out of anger; not reason; not rational thought.
"No!...Huck, get him now!…do what you do…I want him dead and I want him Becky-dead…I want his ass screaming for mercy…I don't care what it takes. I need it done."
"I warned you against him….I told you," Huck said. And he had warned her. Years ago, when she started dating Jake; he warned her not to get involved; he offered to do a full background on him but she refused. He knew she would be sorry but he also understood – she was lonely and in need of companionship.
"I know Huck. I know. It was a weak point in my life and I made a stupid, stupid mistake. I didn't think I would ever see Fitz again and I just….I made a mistake. I just didn't think the son of a bitch would burn me this bad."
"This is revenge Liv…you don't want to do revenge…you don't want this…." Huck pleaded.
"Don't tell me what I don't want. That asshole videotaped it and then he released it like I'm some damned porn star. Can you do it or not?...Will you do it or do I need to find someone else, because one way or another Jake Ballard will be dead inside of a month. I will be walking down the aisle at my wedding in full confidence that he is long gone and buried."
"Liv, just think about it…You know what happened last time we did this. It still affects you to this day…Your using murder as a means to solve a problem and you don't want to do that" Huck started.
"No!." Fitz's stern voice cut through.
"What?" Olivia and Huck said at the same time.
"We're not doing this….not now…I understand that this hurts you Livvy; it hurts me too. I don't want to sit here thinking about you having sex with Jake Ballard and it being recorded for the world to see but it is what it is. And before we make any decision about him, we need to know more. We have too much going on right now to be planning the murder of another person. It's too much…." he trailed off because he couldn't say anymore. This wasn't about sparing Jake's life; it was about saving their souls from more bloodguilt. Death was swirling around him like the funnel of a tornado; following wherever he went. All of them, including himself, were all murderers; they all killed people; they all did horrible things. They executed others for their crimes, but who would punish them for theirs? What consequence would they all have to pay?
"Can we change the subject now please?" Fitz asked; his irritation evident. Olivia gave him a look of deep concern. She was thankful that she disclosed her relationship with Jake to him a long time ago, but she had no idea that his concerns traveled much deeper.
Huck cleared his throat and said, "The flash drive has an encrypted file that's taking longer to get into. It was heavily locked down; they're not using the standard symmetric key; an asymmetric key cipher was used. If we can figure out the private key that was used for the EFS digital certificate then I think we can get in but Jason is still working on it; we need a few more hours."
Olivia and Fitz stared at him as if he spoke an alien language. "You do realize that we have no idea what you just said," Fitz told him.
"The file is called Assassination," Huck concluded.
Olivia and Fitz exchanged looks. "What! We looked at the files, why didn't we see it?"
Huck shrugged. "It was buried in the registry. In other words you needed to know what you were looking for in order to find it."
"So this drive is not just about the dirty laundry of powerful men; it's about an Assassination plot," Fitz thought out loud as he began to rub his temples. It had never been about the blackmail information on the drive; it had always been about this file. More death, he thought, would it ever stop?
"Then we definitely cannot give them back this information; we don't even know what they will use it for. We have to find another way," Olivia said.
"We can give it to them…we should give it to them, except before we do, I'll install a virus on the file, when someone opens it, I'll be in their computer and then we'll know what they know."
Olivia's eyes brightened at the idea. She looked at Fitz but found that he did not share her excitement; he looked listless, exhausted, run-down.
"We'll decrypt the file, make a copy and bring you the drive back. You can make the exchange with Miguel on Monday as promised….Before I go….um Fitz did you talk to your mother?" Huck shuffled his feet and looked down. He shouldn't care but he did.
"I did," Fitz said as stood, poised to leave. He and Huck shared knowing looks until Fitz finally nodded in understanding.
"What's going on? What's this all about Fitz? What does it have to do with Nattie?" Olivia asked as she looked from one to the other.
Fitz and Huck ignored her. "And you're okay with it?" Huck asked.
"Do I have a choice?" Fitz challenged with one eyebrow raised.
"We always have a choice," Huck said in a low tone.
"What are my options?" Fitz asked as Huck silently invited him to walk out with him to discuss the matter further.
Olivia did not follow; she was frustrated; she did not like being ignored and kept in the dark.
With arms crossed she yelled, "Stop walking!" They stopped and turned to look at her.
"No one leaves here without telling me what the hell is going on!"
XXXXXX
"Matt, thanks for coming. Can you please come inside? I'd like to talk to you," Olivia asked as she greeted him at the door.
Matt took in her appearance and hesitated to go inside the Governor's home. Olivia was in her bathrobe as if she was about to go to bed. "Ms. Pope, I don't think it would be appropriate if I came in."
"Matt, it's late; it's cold outside and I need to talk to you. I'd prefer not to do it with the door open; besides it's about Fitz."
It took Matt a few more minutes of contemplation before he conceded and came inside. He had been on guard standing post and about to end his shift when he received the message that she wanted to see him.
Olivia invited him to sit down but as expected he declined. He preferred to stand. "I can see you would like me to get straight to the point, which is no problem. Tomorrow is Saturday, Fitz has had a particularly hard week and I would like to take him out of the city as a surprise. The trouble is, I don't want an entourage of black SUV's tailing us. I want to take him out alone – just him and me – and maybe…" She stopped talking as Matt was already shaking his head; it was a firm no for him. Cyrus had already reported the unscheduled detour they took for Fitz to his superiors; he received a severe tongue lashing for it.
Olivia nodded her head to indicate that she was just as firm. This had to work. Fitz had been silent, despondent and withdrawn ever since they left from meeting with Huck. The only words he said on the ride home were, "Are you staying with me tonight?" He came home, worked out in his gym for over an hour, showered and went to bed. She couldn't get him to talk to her or eat. She wanted to do something to make him feel better.
"I'm sorry Ms. Pope but I would be breaking the law if we didn't give the Governor the proper security detail everywhere he went."
"Matt, you know I could sneak him out of here if I wanted to and none of you would know anything about it," she dared.
He raised an eyebrow at her challenge; he didn't believe her and she tried a different tactic, "OK can we at least minimize the number of vehicles to one?"
"I can do two vehicles and two guards in the car with you two," he offered. Olivia frowned because this was about the number of vehicles that regularly traveled with Fitz. He wasn't bending.
"One car tailing and one guard inside with us."
"No."
She sighed in frustration. "One car tailing and two guards inside with us."
Matt thought for a moment and finally said, "OK will do."
Olivia smiled brightly, hugged him briefly and said, "Thank you Matt, this is going to be great…You'll see, Fitz will have a great time. Thanks for being so accommodating, you won't regret it."
XXXXXX
"So this is my first time, I need you to be gentle and patient with me, can you handle that?" Olivia said as she looked up at Fitz; her brown orbs exuding playful sensuality.
Fitz smiled down at her. She looked so sexy in her tight jeans and riding boots; without her heels she barely reached his shoulders. "I can show you better than I can tell you; I just need 15 minutes."
"Only 15 minutes? You're getting weak Grant," she challenged and when he started to grab her hand and drag her back to the car, she laughed and pulled out of his grasp."I'm kidding..I'm kidding."
Fitz's mood immediately lifted when they pulled up to the stables. He loved horseback riding but he hadn't had been able to indulge himself in a long time. He was thankful for the diversion and thankful that Olivia had thought enough about him to arrange it.
Olivia was a little nervous but he assured her that he knew what he was doing and they didn't need the guide to escort them. They rode the trail in Monterey with Fitz leading the way. Olivia didn't expect the trail to include a ride through the forest but she tried not to freak out at every sound she heard. It was only when she saw a coyote on the ridge above them that she screamed.
Fitz laughed and called back. "Livvy, calm down. He's not going to do anything. Screaming is only going to scare your horse."
"I'm not used to this…I thought the trail was going to be on the beach or something; not through a forest."
It wasn't a forest but Fitz decided not to push the issue. They reached a clearing and Fitz wanted to go on a full gallop. He tried convincing Olivia to join him but she kept refusing. She had no experience on a horse and she was barely comfortable with the slow walk. She offered to wait for him until he got back but Fitz didn't want that either. He wanted her with him. "Will you get on with me?" he asked.
She smiled and said, "Are you serious? You want me to ride with you?"
"Yes Livvy, I want you to ride with me." He tied her horse to a tree and helped her get on in front of him; her petite frame allowed for them to share the saddle. She leaned back against his chest; it was the most relaxed she felt the entire time. "Ok I need you to relax, don't tense up, especially with your knees. Horses respond if you exert pressure with your knees. No matter how fast we go, I got you Livvy; nothing's going to happen to you. Do you trust me?" He was whispering in her ear; his voice warmed her and she felt the tension leaving her body.
"I do, I'm ready. Let's go." He smiled at her confidence in him and sent the horse off. He had already told the guards to give them a wide berth of space, so they could have some privacy. He was sure that they would be very far behind them after this run.
Olivia had no idea how far they rode or where they were; but she felt good, free and safe. It was exhilarating to send the horse in full stride. She was having so much fun that she didn't feel the first drops of rain, but she felt the downpour, threw her jacket hood up and cursed herself. The one thing she didn't check was the weather. "Don't panic, we'll wait it out over there," Fitz said. He guided the horse to small covered area that could give them shelter.
Fitz hoped off and then helped Olivia off. "Oh my god," she screamed.
"What? What's the matter?" Fitz asked in panic.
"My ass…my legs….they're sooo sore….I can barely walk; they feel like jello."
Fitz chuckled. "Come on…I'll rub your ass for you." He took a couple of blankets off the horse and led her to an area – a makeshift cave with enough protection for them to sit and wait. Olivia snuggled into his arms; they were wet, getting cold and in the middle of nowhere but she was never so happy as she was in that moment.
"I'm sorry that I didn't check the weather. I hope this didn't spoil it for you."
"Are you kidding? I love this. I love that I'm stuck here with you. I love that you thought to do this for me." He tightened his hold around her.
"You scared me yesterday. I was worried about you. I didn't like seeing you like that."
Fitz was quiet for several minutes. He didn't want to talk about that. There would plenty of time to talk about his father, Jake Ballard, his mother and the flash drive – but not now.
She picked up on his hesitance and changed the subject. "Do you ever wonder why?...I mean why we were so lucky to be here right now, together…after everything. I know I fell in love with you first and I've loved you for most of my life but so much has happened – we should've ended a long time ago. How are we still together?...I'm probably not making any sense but I think about it often. Dr. Martin says that I haven't forgiven myself for what I did to us all those years ago and maybe it's me thinking I don't deserve happiness with you or the fact that I'm just waiting for the bottom to fall out because we can't possibly end up happily ever after…this isn't a fairy tale…this is real life and it's ugly and cruel to people like us."
"We're still together because we want to be together. It sounds simple but it's not. It's always easier to give up and people do it every time. It's harder to work for what you want; it's harder to put aside pride and ambition and to sacrifice for what you love; to give for what you love and most people are not willing to do that. We deserve to be happy together because we are willing to work hard to get it; to do whatever needs to be done to take care of and love each other. We both felt it all those years ago and we feel it now; the connection between us has always been too strong to ignore. No matter what happened; no matter how long we were separated, that connection would always be there."
The rain was beautiful and the sound was melodic. She turned in his arms until their eyes met. "Have you ever made love in the rain?"
He smiled, "No but it's on my bucket list."
She watched his eyes searching for something that he couldn't quite discern. "You do know that I love you more than anything and I want, above anything else to make you happy," she whispered against his lips.
He removed his gloves, allowing his warmed hands to find their way under her clothing to her bare skin. "I do know that and I love you more and I'll die trying to make you the happiest woman on the e…."
He couldn't get his last word out; she nearly suffocated him with the intensity of her kiss. He tried to chuckle at her aggression but it ended in a moan when he felt her tongue circling his. He loved her sex drive; there was never any reticence with her; she was never shy or inhibited by being with him. She wanted to try everything; do everything with him and he loved her more for it.
"Take off your clothes," she demanded. He smiled at the harshness in her voice but eagerly complied. It was clumsy and awkward but it was exciting; something new for both of them. She shivered from the cold but he grabbed her quickly and shared his body heat with hers. She sighed in contentment and the passionate kiss was his thank you.
What was funny and experimental quickly escalated to something more intrinsic, animalistic and feverish. He let her ride him as she took him in deeper and deeper; her cries echoing through the rain. He grabbed her ass and plunged in deeper causing them both to cry out with loud groans of ecstasy. He was about to finish but it was too soon, so he flipped them over so he could be on top. He teased her; pulling out, rubbing her clit and her entry with his tip before plunging in for the briefest of seconds. "Fitz…don't…." He wouldn't let her protest; he captured her mouth again as he kept up the assault.
She reached down to stroke him into surrender but he captured both her arms and held them high above her head. She was trapped; she could do nothing but allow him to drive her insane. "You're not playing fair…I want to touch you….Let me go…."
He chuckled, "No." He kissed the side of her neck; sucking the skin, leaving marks, claiming her as his.
"Fitz," she whined and when he tried to hold back she lifted her hips and took him in more; it was both of their undoing. Their eyes locked as he thrust back and forth; she brought her quivering legs up, wrapping them around his body; plunging him deeper until she climaxed and clenched her muscles to drain every drop from him.
Fitz collapsed against her. "That was…that was beautiful," she whispered breathlessly as she stroked his back. She turned her head and watched the rain continue to fall. When he tried to pull out, she used the last strength she had to tighten her hold to force him to stay. "Don't….not yet."
"Livvy, I'm too heavy for you."
"I don't care," she said hoarsely, even as his weight began crushing her.
"Any minute and they'll come looking for us." Even as he said it, they heard the horse whinny to alert them to people approaching and then they heard Matt calling their names. Before Fitz could respond they were right upon them. He was thankful at least, that he shielded her body completely from everyone's view.
"Oh Sir, I'm sorry…I'm sorry," Matt said as his eyes bulged in embarrassment from seeing them in such a compromising position. He quickly turned his horse around and ordered the other men to do the same but not before two of them got an eye full.
Fitz and Olivia should have been embarrassed and remorseful but they weren't; instead their laughter echoed loudly causing Matt and the others to smile at each other in return. This was the best security detail they had in a long time.
(A/N: So please don't be too angry with me. I know this is super, super late and I tried to get it in earlier but it just didn't work out. I hope I didn't dissappoint with this chapter; I actually thought it was pretty good but I'm more concerned about what you think, of course. So I hope you will give comments on what you liked or disliked. And thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who encouraged me to get on my stories and update! I sincerely appreciate it. All of you are so special to me and I am grateful for your support.)