Grace laid awake, her head resting on his chest as it rose and fell with each breath. It was steady, though not steady enough to tell if he was asleep or not. She didn't care either way right now. Half an hour ago she'd seen the Oliver she knew early in their marriage. Her confusion ran rampant. He didn't give any implication to his intentions behind their lovemaking. As tempted as she was to ask, she decided against it not wanting to give up the strange peace she felt. This was how it was supposed to be. She was supposed to feel safe in the arms of her husband, not threatened. How could she feel safe now, though? He knew everything that happened with Victor. Why hadn't he been rough with her? Why hadn't he turned around and slapped her? Why hadn't he tricked her into this vulnerability and use it to embarrass her? All of it was deserved.

Idly, she ran her fingers up and down his side. He had one arm draped tightly around her and sometimes felt as though he slowly clung on more. Not in an aggressive way. Not in the slightest. She couldn't remember the last time they rested this way. Now and then he'd loosely have his arm around her for a couple of minutes without much thought, but soon he would roll on his side and not move until morning. Grace forgot what it was like to lay so close to him, that night in the hospital aside. It pained her to know in the back of her mind that this might very well be the last sleep with him. What made it worse was knowing it could have been avoided had she not messed around with Victor.

Victor. That was another thought troubling her. Now that Oliver knew, what would his response to the man be? No doubt there would be a confrontation, especially where Victor was an associate. Even worse, he was an associate that came after the affair and wanted to peruse it further after the realization of who she was. Given his ultimate response tonight, she almost feared for the man's life. Not that her thoughts were high of him these days.

Eventually, she drifted off to sleep. It wasn't sound yet it was deep given her exhaustion. Her dreams didn't provide much comfort. While the pictures weren't clear, the emotions were. She was terrified of what morning would bring. And what after? If he told her to leave, where would she go? He didn't pay her anymore. Some of her previous salary was tucked away but most she'd given to charities upon marrying Oliver. There was no need for her to be on a payroll. He'd made it clear from the beginning that what was his was hers as well. She worked as she had before, only now allowing herself to wander off when she needed to tend to Annie. Those days seemed fewer and fewer lately. She'd grown up fast. This was something every adult in the house anticipated from the start. And yet it took them all by surprise. Annie, of course, was another reason she didn't want to leave. Blood or not, she was her daughter. How could she have let her down? The child went through enough in her younger years. The fact she and Oliver were causing distress in her teen years pained her.

She woke briefly sometime around sunrise. At the time she couldn't make sense of her surroundings. Her eyes never opened beyond a flutter as she felt Oliver gently stroking her arm and shoulder, every so often running a finger over her cheek and eye.

"Stay here as long as you need. I have some business to attend to."

Amidst her doze, Grace nodded, content and oblivious of the night's stress for a moment. By the time she realized the business he was likely implying it was too late. He'd be nearly out the door by now. Down the driveway if his temper had come into play. Part of her wanted to leap out of bed and chase after him, tell him whatever revenge he aimed to get wasn't worth it. She got as far as swinging her feet to the ground when something inside her told her to stop. His caresses were not hostile. Whether it was a setup or not she didn't know. Either way, this matter was now to be dealt with between the men. Showing up to spare Victor would only make Oliver think she was still interested. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Deep down, she almost hoped Oliver would strike him as she so badly wanted to do back in the hallway together.

. . .

Oliver knocked on the door to Victor's apartment. The entire distance from the mansion to here was spent coming up with the words he'd say.

Victor answered, surprised but not fazed by Oliver's appearance. "Ah, Oliver. Didn't think the meeting was until next week."

"There isn't going to be a meeting. Not one you'll be attending."

It was no wonder by the deep and solemn tone of his voice why he was here.

"So…" Victor said, letting Oliver inside against his better judgment. "You found out."

"You're lucky I'm of sound mind or you'd be staring down the barrel of a revolver."

Victor laughed. "That I'd like to see."

"Push me and you will," Oliver snarled.

"Hey, don't get angry at me. I didn't know she was your wife."

"Likely story," Oliver said, "especially since she's told me you came to her after you found out."

Victor shook his head. "You're a foolish man, Warbucks, pushing a woman like Grace away. She told me everything that night. She was a temporary infatuation and you regret taking a wife in the first place. The whole city found it strange when we heard you married. You Republicans amaze me. You'd rather make a hasty marriage than have an affair."

With this, Oliver grabbed the man by his shirt, amazed by his willpower not to beat senseless. "Listen here. You'll not come anywhere near my property or my wife or I'll have you arrested. I don't care what she told you that damned night. It's nothing she hasn't told me herself. Consider this your warning."

Again, Victor laughed. "Whatever you say."

"You might benefit from taking me seriously."

"You'll play the doting husband for a little while then soon enough you'll remember why you cast her aside in the first place. I say six months from now she'll be the one knocking at my door. When that happens I promise she won't run back to you."

His limit met, he dropped Victor and swung his arm back. Then he stopped… and it certainly wasn't because he pitied the other man who stood across from him looking more than pleased. He stopped because he knew how easily Victor could destroy his marriage from a distance. Where he lacked in character he made up in connections. There wasn't a sting in the city he couldn't pull. Though not without power of his own, he knew Victor would always be one step ahead of him. It wouldn't surprise him to hear rumors of an ugly sort have been spread already. A bouquet of flowers would probably be arriving for Grace by afternoon. In the end, striking him would only lead to charges.

Oliver stepped back, keeping a cold stare of Victor until he was well in the doorway. "Play dirty all you want. You will not destroy my family."