Chapter 29: How Soon is Now?

I am the son
and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way
I am Human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

When you say it's gonna happen now,
When exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long

"How Soon is Now?" – The Smiths


"Bob, thank you for coming on such short notice," Fitz said, warmly greeting the distinguished older gentleman. The founding partner of one California's top law firms, Robert J. Pearson had been the Grant family's personal attorney for over 30 years. In many ways, he was like an old school version of Olivia because Pearson made problems go away for powerful people.

"Mr. President, it's good to see you. It's been too long," Pearson said, giving Fitz a firm handshake. The two men hadn't seen each other in over a year. "I must say, Mr. President, that I was extremely surprised to get the call from your chief of staff, Cyrus Beene, summoning me to Washington. He wouldn't say what you wanted to speak to me about."

"Yes, Cyrus doesn't know because this is a very personal matter. Please, sit down," Fitz said, motioning to the Oval Office sofa. "Would you like something to drink? On his last visit to the U.S., the British prime minister gave me a bottle of Macallan Scotch which I haven't opened it yet. Would you care to join me with a glass?"

"That does sound very tempting, but I think I'll pass. But thank you very much for offering," Pearson said, sitting down.

"Well, Bob, I hope you don't mind if I enjoy a glass," Fitz said, cracking open the seal and pouring the dark amber liquid into the tumbler.

"Of course not, please, go right ahead," Pearson replied.

"Look, Bob, I'm just going to get right to the point," Fitz said, walking over to the couch facing Pearson and sitting down. "I can't go into the details but the last few weeks have put me under a huge emotional strain. As a result, I've been forced to confront what's really important in life and what really matters to me," Fitz said. He took a sip of the Scotch. Pearson looked at him intently.

"Someone I care very deeply about was trapped in an extremely precarious situation and I felt powerless to help her. She almost died. I know it's a cliché, but life is too damn short. It's only when you're separated from the woman that you love that you realize how much she really matters to you, and how life as you know it wouldn't be worth living if she were violently taken away from you forever."

Pearson had a slightly perplexed look on his face. Where was the President going with this? he thought.

"Bob, you have been a trusted advisor and friend to the Grant family for decades. You understand the importance of discretion. What I'm about to ask you to do for me is of the utmost importance but it needs to remain private," Fitz said, putting his glass of scotch down on the coffee table. "No one can know, at least not yet."

"Mr. President, of course, you can count on me for anything," Pearson said, his curiosity piqued.

"Thank you, Bob," Fitz said, looking the older man squarely in the eye. "I want a divorce and I need you to draft a proposed divorce settlement."

Pearson's mouth dropped open. When the White House had summoned him from California, he anticipated that the POTUS had been hit with some sort of sexual harassment suit and the White House wanted him to arrange an out-of-court settlement to pay off whoever the girl was. But a divorce? He wasn't expecting this.

"Mr. President, sir, I must say that I'm shocked. Does the First Lady know that we're having this conversation? Has she agreed to this?"

"No, but my wanting a divorce won't come as a surprise to her. We've both been very unhappy for several years. This divorce has been a long time coming," Fitz remarked sadly.

"Does your father know?" Pearson asked.

"This doesn't concern my father. I'm a grown man and President of the United States. I certainly don't need my father's permission to divorce my wife," Fitz said, irritated.

"Sir, I didn't mean to suggest that. It's just that you and Mellie have been together for a long time and I know how proud your father is of you. It's unheard of for a sitting president to divorce the First Lady. The ramifications of this, of getting a divorce while still in office, will be huge. Have you considered how this will impact your presidency? Your legacy? Being divorced will ruin your chances for a second term."

Fitz was irritated by Pearson's condescending commentary but he decided not to show his annoyance.

"Bob, do you remember your first legal secretary Juliet Clark?" Fitz asked, nonchalantly. "Of course, you do. When she died in a car accident you were devastated."

"Wh-wh-what?" Pearson stammered. The hairs went up on the back of his neck. "What are you talking about?"

"I must've been 14 or 15 years old but I still remember the day you told my father the news that Juliet was dead. I was walking by my father's study. The door was cracked open and I heard you and my father talking. You sounded very upset. In fact, you were openly weeping and my father was comforting you. That's what stopped me dead in my tracks. My bear of a father, a man who hardly ever has a kind or compassionate word for anyone, was comforting you."

Pearson stared at Fitz, slack-jawed and stunned by what he was hearing.

Fitz continued: "I overheard you telling my father that Juliet Clark, your secretary, was the love of your life. She was very intelligent and beautiful. But because you were married and because she was black, you kept your relationship a secret. That was 30 years ago. Society back then was too rigid and prejudiced to have accepted such a relationship, you thought, even if you had been willing to leave your wife for Juliet. But I'll never forget what I heard you say to my father - that you had been a fool and a coward for not trying to make a life with her."

Pearson's mouth had gone dry and his palms felt clammy. The memory of Juliet and the pain he felt when she died came rushing back to him. He wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole.

"Bob, you know what it's like to lose someone who means everything to you. Someone who you let live in the shadows. Someone who you never publicly acknowledged as your beloved," Fitz said slowly, giving careful emphasis to each word. "Because of this, I know that you will help me with what I'm asking you to do. And you'll do so willingly, without hesitation and without questions."

Fitz picked up his drink and slowly swished the ice in the glass before taking another sip.

Pearson stared blankly at the POTUS. He was in a state of shock. All these years, Fitz had known this very private and intimate story about him and had kept it a secret. Pearson quickly blinked away the tears that were forming in his eyes and cleared his throat before speaking:

"Mr. President, I think I'll have that glass of scotch now."


A/N: What did you think of Fitz starting to do his "homework"? LOL. He's making decisions independently and doing some personal housekeeping so that he will truly be available to be with Olivia when the time comes. Actions speak louder than words and Fitz is going to let his actions do the talking for him. No more excuses! Livvie better get ready!

To: Vita T. who made the comment that Chap. 24's depiction of Mellie felt out of character, your point is well taken. I guess i thought that even a person with an ego like Mellie's might feel a little hurt to see her husband go to such lengths to rescue another woman.

Re: Billy and Davi...boy, you guys are out for blood with Billy! LOL! Let's hang him in the town square! But seriously, I'm not sure how I'm going to handle those two devils. Still on the fence about it, that's why you haven't seen them mentioned since the Navy Seal rescue. But I know I'm going to have to mention them soon as this story enters its final stage.

As always, thanks for reading and reviewing! Love the feedback and comments.

Later, gladiators!

Neo