Chapter 35: Lucky Charm
"Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic." ~F. Kahlo
The flight to St. Louis was longer than Olivia remembered and despite being incredibly tired, she was too wired to try and sleep. It was just after eight in the morning and according to the pilot they were arriving right on schedule. Once they finally landed, Olivia wasted little time exiting the plane and headed straight to the pick up area. To her relief, Marisa was exactly where they discussed and Olivia waved, slugging her overnight bag over her shoulder.
Fitz's sister hugged her hello and Olivia smiled, thanking Marisa for picking her up. The traffic was heavy so they saved the chit chatting until they were safety inside her mothers car. Olivia looked it over carefully trying to take the vehicle in. It was small and economically friendly and honestly reminded her of something Oprah once gave away during one of the episodes that centered around her "Favorite Things."
As soon as they were clear of the airport traffic, Marisa looked at Olivia and thanked her, making it clear her presence would mean a great deal to Fitz.
"He has no idea you're here...and I honestly can't wait for him to see you."
Olivia thought about her words and hoped she was doing the right thing. Part of her regretted not letting Fitz know she was flying in. She felt as if she was keeping a secret and it made her feel uneasy inside. Marisa kept talking, sharing some new information regarding her mother and she turned her head to stare at Fitz's sister trying to process all the information.
"The defense is calling my mother as a witness after Fitz testifies. Both he and my dad are not happy about it but it needed to happen. This should've never gone to trial and I'm honestly relieved she went behind everyone's back and called the lawyer herself.
"It was the right thing to do," Olivia quickly chimed in.
Although it truly wasn't any of her business she couldn't help but give her two cents. She remembered hearing the turmoil in Fitz's voice when he shared his mothers decision and it was honestly the driving force in her decision to formally request a day off.
Marisa didn't reply to Olivia's comment and an uncomfortable silence took over. Olivia once again felt uneasy but didn't say anything else about her mothers decision. They were halfway to the courthouse when she asked Olivia a question, her curiosity obviously getting the best of her.
"Is Fitz moving in with you once he returns to New York?"
Olivia shifted in her seat and adjusted her seatbelt, wondering where this was headed.
"Yes, he is," she eventually replied. "It just makes the most sense considering we're about to build a home together."
She glanced several times at Marisa while talking but wasn't able to read her reaction. The truth was she didn't know Fitz's family that well...and it was possible his sister did indeed have some reservations when it came to them taking such a huge step together.
"May I ask why you asked me that?"
Marisa grew quiet and Olivia tried her best to remain calm. This was the first time she had such a serious conversation with anyone from his family and it was important to her she understood where this was coming from. An eternity seem to pass until she finally replied, finally sharing what seemed to be weighing on her mind.
"My brother really loves you, Olivia. And as much as I look up to you...he will always be my first priority. And if things didn't work out between the two of you...I just know it would devastate him."
Olivia smiled and crossed her arms, leaning her head back. The underlying message of their conversation became clear and she more than anything respected not only her motive but her intentions. Marisa truly cared for her brother's well being and she respected her inquiry a great deal.
"I love your brother, Marisa. Very much. And I promise you, with my whole heart, I would never hurt him..."
The courthouse in downtown St. Louis was historical, resembling images of the south Olivia read about but never experienced up close and personal. She ignored a confederate flag that hung in the lobby and for the first time ever visiting the Midwest she felt out of place. The staircase was concrete and with each step her heels sounded louder and louder, the vibrations echoing throughout the building.
She was dressed conservatively, wearing a simple black tweed skirt with an ivory blouse. Her hair was free flowing and wavy, slightly untamed and very much the way Fitz seemed to like it. Even though she hadn't seen him, she felt his presence closing in and when they finally reached the second floor her heart began to race at the mere thought of finally coming face to face with him.
Olivia and Marisa walked silently towards the black double doors and a huge lump formed in her throat. A sheriff nodded his head in the ladies direction and she politely thanked him when he opened the doors for them. The room was fairly small, filled with rows equally divided in half. She spotted Fitz almost instantly. He standing near a rectangular table next to two men in suits who were obviously his lawyers. His hands were in his pockets and seemed to be in a serious discussion when something in the air transformed, breaking his concentration.
The moment he looked across the room everything inside of her warmed. His eyes grew wide and almost instantly softened and he looked at her as if she simply might be magical. His stare froze her in place and she smiled almost as if her spirit whispered to him, yes I am real. She vaguely caught glimpse of his mother sitting next to a man that must have been his father sitting close to the front of the room. They both turned simultaneously in Olivia's direction, following their sons stare.
The polite thing would have been to nod or even wave but she couldn't move, her insides now focused on the man who represented her future. Within seconds, he was darting towards her, his face completely taken over with strong emotion. His fingers cupped her chin, titling her face up in true Fitzgerald Grant fashion, his lips now inches from her. The pit of her stomach did a somersault at the realization Fitz was behaving this way in front of so many people.
"I think you just may be my lucky charm," he whispered against her lips.
They stood motionless for a short time, each of them grinning and giddy. Fitz was first to eventually move, caressing her hair before formally kissing her hello. Moments later, the judge entered and a nearby bailiff asked everyone to rise. Olivia whispered she loved him and kissed him once more before he quickly headed back to his designated area. She watched as he fell into place in between his two lawyers, standing until the judge took his seat.
Marisa escorted Olivia towards the front of the courtroom and they sat on the far end of the row opposite of his parents. It was an odd way to first meet his father and she couldn't help but avoid their continuous stares. When Marisa sat to her right, she was grateful for the distance and tried her best to focus on Fitz. She had a solid view of him from her seat and he glanced in her direction once again for a brief second. Her nerves were at an all time high and she crossed her arms in front of her chest, after setting her small clutch on top of her lap.
What occurred for the next hour was in all honesty a blur and Olivia tried her best to keep her emotions in check. She eyed the prosecution several times, looking the older gentlemen suing Fitz over and over again. He was quite older, possibly around sixty years of age and was overall surprised of his clean cut appearance. The case built against Fitz honestly seemed legitimate even though she didn't understand much of the terminology being used. Fitz's lawyers were quick to object throughout his entire testimony, repeatedly forcing the prosecution to restate their questions.
When the time came for Fitz to take the stand, Olivia felt nauseous and out of nowhere, Marisa grabbed her hand and squeezed. He looked as poised as ever, his demeanor commanding, looking everyone directly in the eyes. Once he was sworn in, he sat and simultaneously unfastened the top button of his sports coat. He wore a suit that was a deep charcoal gray with a matching tie and at that split moment he looked more like a politician than an architect.
It was hard for Olivia to concentrate, her entire body now reacting to the man sitting across from her. Fitz spoke eloquently and with finesse, truthfully answering each question asked. His lawyer had him explain what he did the moment he found out one of his employees had been injured on site and he recounted his time in New York, briefly looking at Olivia when he brought up their time in New York. Butterflies suddenly filled her stomach and she felt her fingers squeezing Marisa's hand harder than she intended. His explanation appeared to be satisfying to all in the room and for the first time that morning, she focused on the assembled jury to the right of the judge.
His testimony didn't take as long as Olivia expected and when he stood to return to his seat, Olivia could feel herself exhale, unaware she had been even holding her breath. He looked directly at her as he walked back to his chair and shot Olivia a subtle wink before finally sitting down. His lawyer was quick to call his mother next to the stand and Olivia froze unsure of what to do. Deep down it suddenly felt wrong to be there and witness something that felt so intimate.
There was a side door directly to her left and Olivia eyed it, trying to contemplate whether or not she should leave during his mothers testimony. Without thinking she decided to turn and slip out, making hardly a sound. The decision felt right and the moment she was back into the hallway, she stood against the wall and stared straight ahead out the large floor to ceiling window. The day was beautiful, filled with blue skies and as if on autopilot, her thoughts quickly centered around Fitz. His reaction to her presence filled her mind and she closed her eyes at the memory they had just created together.
His love for her was evident and she knew for as long as she lived, she would never forget the way Fitzgerald Grant looked at her that morning...
When the side door finally opened, Olivia looked up from her cell phone and saw Fitz walking towards her. His face was stoic and she couldn't determine exactly how he was feeling. She stood and reached for his hand and to her surprise he instantly fell into her arms, breathing every part of her in.
"They just finished the closing arguments. There's no telling how long the jury will take." He spoke adjacent to her neckline, his breath warm against her skin.
"How are you doing?" She asked softly.
He inhaled a huge sigh of relief and hugged her tighter, burying his face from the outside world.
"I need this to be over, Livvie. I want my life back to normal...And I want to get back to you."
"How's your mom?" She inquired, each of his words melting her heart. "That couldn't have been easy."
"She'll be okay. She's a strong woman," he breathed out in exhaustion. "I know deep down she was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt but I'm glad she decided to testify." Fitz paused and stood once again upright, taking both of her hands into his. "There's someone I really want you to meet...I know this isn't the most ideal place but you're both here."
Olivia smiled and nodded, touching his cheek with her hand. It was certainly an awkward location for this to happen, but she too couldn't wait to meet Gerald Grant II. Fitz let go of her hand for a moment and opened the door behind him, peaking his head inside. Seconds later, his father appeared and walked directly over to Olivia.
She extended her hand and Gerald took it, bending down to kiss her cheek. His mannerisms resembled so much of Fitz and she could instantly see where he got his charm from. She smiled and watched him look at her adoringly...the way a proud father looks when he's meeting the woman whose stolen his son's heart.
"It's a sincere pleasure to meet you," Olivia said, her petite hand still resting inside his.
Gerald was the first to finally let go and he stepped back a few steps as if he wanted to take her fully in. He placed his hands inside his pockets, his suit dark and handsomely tailored. Fitz stepped in and slipped his arm around Olivia, pulling her body closer to him.
"What a pleasant surprise to have you here, Olivia. And the pleasure is all mine! You've made my son a very happy man. I'm just sorry we're meeting under these circumstances."
Small talk was made and Gerald asked her about her flight before returning his attention back to Fitz. It was close to noon and he brought up lunch, asking both of them to join the rest of the family. He made it clear he wanted all of them together at some point today and Fitz looked at Olivia after he extended the invitation.
"We would love to join you," Olivia answered on behalf of both of them. Fitz nodded and also agreed, making Gerald very happy with their reply. The door opened again and Fitz's mother joined them, with Marisa two steps behind.
Helen looked visibly alright considering, but Olivia noticed parts of her mascara slightly smudged underneath her eyes. Gerald informed both his wife and daughter of their plans and Fitz suggested they pick a location within walking distance. It was clear everyone was hoping the jury wouldn't take long to deliberate and Helen was quick to suggest a nearby cafe that down the street from the courthouse. They were beginning to make their way downstairs when Fitz grabbed Olivia's hand.
"We'll meet you there," Fitz said to his family, leading Olivia to the elevator on the other side of the floor.
She could feel her cheeks flush and didn't make eye contact with anyone, instead focusing on the silver doors that remained a few feet ahead. Fitz pressed the up button and waited, not letting Olivia's hand go. When the doors finally opened they were greeted by several people inside and Fitz was quick to let them know they would be waiting for the next elevator. He pressed the button once again and Olivia inwardly smiled. She could feel his open agitation and even though she wanted to look his way, she kept her eyes ahead, her body now pulsating with the inevitable.
At last, the elevator doors opened and the space inside was empty. Fitz led Olivia inside, pushing the button to the top floor. Once it began to move Olivia waited, keeping her eyes on the flashing green number above the door. They were approaching the fifth floor when Fitz pressed the stop button bringing them abruptly to a complete halt.
The next thing she knew, her back was pinned against the wall of the elevator, her skirt pushed up and legs hoisted around his waist. The air between them grew thick and Fitz felt her body freely, moving his hands slowly from her breasts to underneath her skirt. Olivia closed her eyes and instantly felt light headed when his fingers slipped inside her panties, gripping her backside with his bare hands.
"Looks at me," he whispered against her skin. Olivia instantly obliged and made eye contact with him, her brown eyes meeting his blue.
His lips grazed her mouth and one of his hands shifted, moving closer to her inner thigh.
"I've never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life." Olivia strained to hear him, his words barely audible as if he could barely speak them aloud. She couldn't think- he was all too consuming so she spoke the first thing that came to her mind.
"Kiss me," she pleaded...almost begging, twisting her hands into his neatly combed hair.
Their impact was forceful and Fitz kissed her passionately, his tongue grazing the inside of her mouth over and over again. He tasted exactly as she remembered and Olivia felt his hands move yet again, one of them now caressing the outside of her breast. When Fitz eventually broke free, Olivia nearly whimpered as her bottom lip slowly released from his mouth. She was beyond turned on and wanted nothing more than to be fucked in the worst way imaginable.
"Jesus...I can't get enough of you."
His words were spoken more to himself than to Olivia and she closed her eyes again, rested her head against the back of the elevator. She remained hoisted high in the air while Fitz continued to kiss her exposed skin. His erection was highly prevalent and Olivia's body couldn't help but react. Liquid seeped through her panties and she didn't put it past him to make love to her right then and there. Luckily, her subconscious was quick to kick in and this time Olivia was first to try and break free.
"We should go, Fitz. I don't want to keep your family waiting."
After a few more torturous seconds, he let her down reluctantly, setting her feet onto the floor. He helped pull her skirt back into place, smoothing his own pants in the process. Both their garments were slightly wrinkled but Olivia didn't care, and it was evident neither did Fitz.
"I can't wait to get you naked tonight," he blurted into the air. His words made Olivia giggle and he smiled at the sound.
"Keep laughing all you want but I'm pacing myself," he teased, helping her smooth the rest of her wrinkles in her skirt out.
When Olivia was finally put back together, Fitz picked up her clutch off the ground and handed it to her. Eventually he hit the start button once again and returned his attention back to the doors ahead after giving Olivia one more kiss. She slipped one hand around his arm and leaned her head against him, waiting for the elevator to start back up. Within no time it grew alive and began to ascend up to the very top floor, only to make its way back down. Several people began to get on and as each floor passed, Olivia couldn't stop thinking about her morning with him. Her hand slipped down his arm and Fitz turned and kissed the top of her hairline, intertwining his fingers with hers.
Once they arrive at the main floor, they exited and headed out of the courthouse walking hand in hand. The fresh air felt good and there was something about being in the outdoors with him she simple couldn't get enough of. It felt good to be seen with him and she treasured the way he openly loved her.
Little was spoken, except the occasional mention of where exactly they were headed. Olivia had no idea what the outcome of the trial would be but for reasons she couldn't explain, it suddenly didn't seem to matter. Whether or not Fitz was found guilty almost seemed irrelevant, each of them choosing to focus on their bright future ahead.
Fitz called her his lucky charm, but the way she felt at this precise moment, she wasn't so sure if it was actually her that brought forth such good fortune. The truth was it was a combination of them both - each of them part of an intricate puzzle that simply didn't fit unless they were indeed together.
The universe seemed to be strategically plotting their coexistence and it was days like this, Olivia understood the very meaning of true love...