Weekend Fiancee

by anonolitz

Fitzgerald Grant is the COO of an architectural firm and Olivia Ballard is his executive assistant. When Fitz's plans for an important weekend retreat go awry he asks for Olivia's help to save an important business deal. When Olivia agrees to join him, sparks fly between the couple. Will their pretend engagement lead to something real?

25. Chapter 25

A/N: Happy New Year! I hope 2020 is off to a great start for all of you. Enjoy!

Day 1

Olivia woke to feeling of her husband's body pressed against hers, his arm holding her tightly, and his warm breath tickling the hairs on her neck. He must have made his way to her during the night because they hadn't fallen asleep in this position. It was early, too early for her to be awake, but she didn't want to be in this position when Jake woke up. How did she find herself here, a stranger in her own bed? How could one weekend change her life so dramatically? The things that once brought her comfort, like her husband's warm embrace, now made her feel trapped and smothered. She wanted, needed, more. No, that wasn't true, she didn't want more, she wanted the same things she'd always wanted - a loving family, professional success, and personal fulfillment.

The change was she now believed she could have those things, just not with her husband. The scales had fallen from her eyes, allowing her to see that, despite his proclamations otherwise, Jake wasn't interested in helping her achieve her dreams. He was happy with their lives just the way they were. Why wouldn't he be? Every decision had been made on his terms and to his benefit. Every time she was faced with the decision to choose her or to choose him, he did something grand like propose when she was accepted in Harvard Law School or ask her to be his partner in his new company when she graduated from law school. And what was her reward for being his loving and devoted wife? She got someone to come home to at the end of a long day. Someone to love her and that, even now, she didn't doubt. Her husband loved her dearly. He would be blindsided by her decision and devastated by the details. Fitz's affair with his mother had damaged the family he'd been born into and, now, Fitz's affair with his wife would end his marriage.

The ironic thing was she wasn't convinced Fitz, the man who showed her this possibility, would be the man she spent the rest of her life with. Oh how she wanted him to be, but she knew Fitz didn't fully realize the effort it would take to deliver on his promises. He was on the precipice of having his own dreams realized. Doing so would require all of his attention. Now wasn't the time for him to divide his efforts by taking on the new commitment of a relationship. Eventually he will realize this and she will have to decide if she was willing to once again take on a supportive role in her relationship or let him go. She was determined to be the author of this next chapter of her life, even if that meant being alone again.

Moving slowly so as not to disturb Jake, she tried to wriggle out of his grasp. She groaned silently when she felt his arm tighten around her body and his lips pressing against the nape of her neck. "Where are you going?" he mumbled sleepily, pulling her back into the cradle of his body. "The alarm didn't go off. I missed you. Stay in bed with me."

"I have to use the bathroom," she explained, prying his arm from around her.

"Hurry back," he instructed, giving her a sleepy smile.

Olivia trudged slowly toward the bathroom. What was she going to do? She couldn't hide in the bathroom for an hour. Eventually, he would come in and check on her. But, she also couldn't go back to bed with Jake. The thought of being with him hours before Fitz picked her up made her queasy.

After spending ten minutes in the bathroom freshening up, she returned to the bedroom. She was shocked to find Jake seated on the side of the bed talking on the phone. Crawling back into bed, she listened to his side of the conversation. "No, I understand...We have to keep the client happy...I appreciate you calling me...I'll be there in an hour, less if I can beat the traffic...It's fine, really. I should be there...Okay, bye."

"What's going on?" Olivia asked. "Why is the office calling you so early?"

"My client, Nick, just texted my boss and demanded a meeting at nine this morning. I have to get to the office so I have time to catch up with my team before the meeting. I checked in with Nick Friday evening and everything was fine. I don't know what could have gone to shit over the weekend." Olivia remained quiet, but she strongly suspected Fitz was the reason for the early morning meeting. It wouldn't be the first time he used his friend to distract Jake.

"I'm sorry to start something I can't finish. We'll pick up where we left off tonight," he said, stretching across the bed to kiss Olivia. "I love you." Without waiting for a response, he walked into the bathroom.

"I know," she called after him.

XXXXX

At precisely eight o'clock, Brian opened the rear passenger door of Fitz's Maybach and helped Olivia into the back seat. She looked stunning in a semi-sheer black blouse and a red, high-waisted pencil skirt with a pair of Manolo-Blahnik pointy-toe leopard pumps. Fitz set aside what he working on and just stared at her.

"Hi," she said, giving him a smoldering from look under her elongated lashes.

Fitz leaned forward. "Hi." Olivia watched him with lust dancing in her eyes. After their weekend together, she had a new appreciation for the muscles that rippled and bunched beneath his shirt as he moved toward her. Yet, she remained still, smiling coyly.

Fitz moved closer still, fascinated by the game she was playing. He knew that Olivia wanted him as badly as he wanted her. Her microexpressions had given her away, but still she didn't move. When their bodies were almost touching, he grazed the back of his fingers down the side of her cheek, breathing in her scent. Cupping her face in his hands, he tilted her head back. Her lips, soft and inviting, parted slightly, just begging for him to kiss them, but he forced himself not to. He would play her game.

Olivia's smile widened and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, letting it slip out slowly. Fitz's gaze was riveted to her lips as he bent his head and worshiped her with his mouth and tongue, whispering soft declarations of affection between kisses. Feathering his fingers through her hair, he held her close and thoroughly plundered her mouth in a hot, wet kiss that set every nerve ending in her body on fire.

"Fitz," she exhaled, breaking the kiss and pushing him away softly. "We have to stop or else we'll be late to work."

"I'm okay with that," he said, burying his face in the hollow of her neck, nipping at the sensitive skin there. "I can clear my morning and spend it with you. My place or a hotel?"

Olivia giggled, slowly prying his face away from her neck. "You've been away from the office for two and half days and have a full schedule today. You can't play hooky to be with me."

"I can do whatever I want. I'm the boss."

"You're not the boss yet," she teased. "And you won't be if you allow yourself to be distracted in this last stretch.

"You don't distract me," he said, running his hand under her skirt and along her thigh. "You inspire me."

Olivia squirmed away from him. "If you don't stop, I'm going to need another shower when we get to the office."

Fitz removed his hand from under her skirt, but left it resting on her knee. "How was your night?" he asked, trying not to sound jealous, but needing reassurance her rejection wasn't because of Jake.

"It was fine," she said with a shrug. "After you left, I showered and straightened my hair. Picked Jake up from the airport. Came home and went to bed with a migraine."

Fitz frowned with concern. "I didn't know you suffered from migraines."

"I don't," Olivia said, laughing.

Brian couldn't help but guffaw at her response. Fitz glared at him in the rearview mirror. "I'm sorry sir," the driver replied, still smiling.

He turned his attention back to Olivia. "You know...now that you've told me your secret, you'll never be able to use that excuse on me."

Olivia moved close to Fitz, her lips mere inches from his. "I can't imagine a time when I'd ever need to." He moaned, leaned forward, and kissed her softly, his warmth seeping into her slowly.

Brian softly cleared his throat as he drove the car into the Grant Enterprises parking deck. Olivia frowned and looked at Fitz. "Are you keeping the car?"

Fitz shook his head. "He's dropping us off down here so everyone won't see us get out of the car together." Brian pulled to a stop as close as possible to the elevators. Fitz opened his door, stepped out of the car, and looked around. Satisfied that no one was around, he reached his hand back into the car and helped Olivia out.

Brian lowered his window. "Call me when your car is ready at the dealership," he instructed Olivia. "I'll pick it up and leave it in your space."

"Thanks. You're the best." Olivia looked up when she heard the elevator ding and watched as several members of the third shift janitorial crew entered the garage. Fitz greeted each of them by name, taking the time to ask about their spouses and kids before bidding them all goodnight. He held the elevator doors with his arm and turned, looking for her. "I've got to go. Bye, Brian," she said, rushing to take her place at Fitz's side.

Fitz and Olivia quietly walked into the elevator, keeping a respectable distance from each other, only allowing their fingers to brush together. When the doors closed, Fitz started toward her, but Olivia shook her head. "Morris is watching," she explained.

Fitz sighed. "Is it going to be like this all day?"

Olivia inched toward him. "Not all day," she said, flashing him a flirty smile, "but we have to be careful. You're so close to being CEO, the last thing you need is to be accused of having a sexual relationship with a subordinate."

"I'm not harassing you, am I?"

"No, but if the other assistants knew the truth, they would allege every raise and bonus I've received is because we were sleeping together. It might not be true or illegal, but it's not the kind of attention you need right now."

"Fine," he said, subtly moving closer to her. "We'll be careful."

The couple jumped further apart when the elevator came to a stop on the tenth floor and Lauren joined them. "Happy Monday! You look all tanned, relaxed, and glowing. How did you spend your weekend?" she questioned with a wink at Olivia.

Fitz's eyes darted to Olivia, questioning if she'd confided in Lauren. Ignoring him, Olivia answered her question. "I spent the weekend in the Keys with a friend."

"You were with Abby," she faux pouted. "Why didn't you invite me? You know she's my spirit animal." Olivia laughed. "Tell the truth. You won't introduce us because you're worried we'll be instant besties. I'm right, aren't I?"

Olivia laughed again. "The world isn't ready for the two of you to be in the same place at the same time. Trust me, I did the men down there a favor."

"Hater. Just because you're boo'ed up doesn't mean we don't get to have a little fun. Speaking of your boo, when did Jake get home?"

Olivia forced a smile as she felt Fitz subtly drift away from her. "He got back last night."

"I'm sure that was a happy reunion. I'm surprised you didn't take the morning off, Ms. I Only Miss You When I'm Breathing."

"Jake was called into the office early for a meeting with his new client," Olivia offered, shaking her head when she saw a grin flash across Fitz's face. "Plus, I couldn't have Charlotte cover my desk again. She's a little too friendly with my boss. He doesn't need the temptation," she said looking at Fitz.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Fitz said, feigning innocence. "I would never let my assistant seduce me," he said with a naughty grin.

Olivia was grateful her skin color covered the blush rising in her cheeks as she remember exactly how open Fitz was to her attempt to seduce him. She was rescued from her thoughts when the elevator chimed announcing their arrival on the sixteenth floor. "I know you haven't even gotten to your desk, but do you have a minute to think through the annual report? Cyrus is all over me to produce a layout."

"Sure, come with me and we'll mock something up." Olivia paused for the briefest of moments studying Fitz. She thought she saw him tense when she said she'd help Lauren, but whatever she observed was fleeting as Fitz held the door open, allowing the women to exit the elevator first.

Fitz lagged behind Olivia and Lauren, listening with mild interest as they chatted about the goings on in the office. He swelled with pride watching Olivia freeze in her tracks when she turned the corner and could see her cubicle and the stunning bouquet of pink peonies and pink roses sitting in the middle of her desk.

"Oh my god," Lauren gushed. "Are these real?" she asked, gently touching one of the blooms. "Apparently Jake missed you as much as you missed him."

Olivia stood there in stunned silence. When she could react, she turned to face Fitz, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "They're beautiful."

He smiled lovingly at her. "Not nearly as beautiful as you," he said in a whisper only she could hear, before winking at her and walking in his office.

"There's a card," Lauren said, plucking it from its holder in the arrangement.

Olivia rushed to her side, snatching the card from her friend before she could open it. "I believe that's for me." Lauren's voice turned to white noise as she read the card.

Livvie,

Harry said it best, "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." You are the most incredible woman I've ever met and I can't wait for us to start the rest of our lives together.

Love,

FTG III

Olivia lifted her eyes from the note to find Lauren staring at her dreamily. "You're so lucky."

She wiped away the tears that managed to escape. "You have no idea. I really am. I know I said I'd help you with the annual report, but I need a minute to respond to this and get settled in. Can I come find you in an hour?"

"Of course. You know where I'll be," Lauren said before walking away in the direction of her cubicle.

After Olivia put away her things, she bent over one of the peony blooms and inhaled deeply. The fresh, sweet scent flooded her mind with happy childhood memories. For the first time in Miami, she felt her mother's presence, a warmth surrounding her like a hug. "He's a good man, mom. I should have waited for him instead of marrying Jake. I'm going to fix it. I'm going to make you proud," she whispered into the air, her eyes getting watery again.

Leaving her desk, Olivia walked into Fitz's office, closing and locking the door behind her. She smiled nervously when he looked up at her. "Can I help you with something Ms. Pope?"

"I'm sorry about earlier," she began, walking toward him slowly. "Sorry that I couldn't respond the way I wanted to, the way you deserved. If I had known, I wouldn't have walked her to my desk. The flowers are the most beautiful bouquet I've ever seen. I don't how you found pink peonies, which I know you know are my favorite, in late September and on a weekend no less. They are amazing, you are amazing," she said before leaning forward and kissing him deeply.

"You don't have to apologize," he said, pulling her into his lap. "I knew when she stepped into the elevator that things weren't going to go according to plan. I'm just glad I got to see your reaction."

"You're never going to stop surprising me, are you?"

"Not as long as they keep making you happy."

"Thank you very much for the flowers." She leaned forward and kissed him again. "You signed the card," she whispered against his lips. "That was risky."

"Did she see it?"

"No."

Olivia leapt out of Fitz's lap when she heard the doorknob rattle as someone tried to enter the office. "Fitz, are you in there?" Big Gerry called, knocking on the door.

"It's your father," Olivia whispered, her pretty brown eyes wide with fear.

"I know," Fitz said, laughing. "Open the door before he makes a scene."

"We can't open the door. He'll know I was in here with the door locked."

"Trust me. He already knows you're in here. The longer you take to open the door, the further into the gutter his mind will go."

Reluctantly, she walked to the door and opened it. "Hello, Olivia," Big Gerry greeted her as he walked into the office. "How was the Keys? If the flowers are any indication, I'd guess the two of you enjoyed yourselves."

"How do you..."

"It's his plane," Fitz explained. "Your name is on the flight manifest from last night." Diverting his attention to his father, he asked, "Is that all or did you want something else?"

"I came to take you to breakfast. Are you free?" Looking at Olivia, he asked, "When is his first meeting?"

"Olivia is my girlfriend, not my keeper. "

"The rings on her finger -

"Are coming off soon."

"I guess what they say is true -

"Please tell me you weren't about to repeat some racist sexual stereotype," Fitz exclaimed in frustration. "Why are you here?"

"We need to talk about the upcoming Board vote."

"Is there a problem?" Olivia asked.

Fitz rose from his chair and walked toward Olivia. "It's nothing for you to worry about," he said, bending down and kissing her softly. "I'll fill you in over lunch."

"You can't. You have a lunch meeting with the Patterson Place developers."

"Dinner then?"

"I can't."

"You two figure out your schedules later. I only have an hour," Big Gerry barked. "I can't believe this shit convinced Stephen you are ready to lead," he muttered on his way out the door.

Olivia looked at Fitz apologetically. "Don't," he advised. "My dad's an ass. Nothing I've ever done has pleased him. I don't need his approval or his vote, but I do need to go. He may have something useful. I'll see you later," Fitz kissed her one last time before jogging out the door in search of his father.

XXXXX

Olivia looked down at the envelope in her hand and sighed. She knew she was making the right decision, but she doubted Fitz would agree. He would want her with him through the transition, but this morning had proven to her that they couldn't be both lovers and colleagues. Despite their agreement to be careful at work, it had taken less than an hour for someone to catch them in a compromised position. This time it had been his father, but they wouldn't always be so lucky. She wanted to discuss it with Fitz, but he had been in back-to-back meetings all day. Rather than prolong the inevitable, she decided to leave her resignation letter on his desk and call him later to explain.

Olivia was standing over his desk with the letter in hand when Fitz unexpectedly walked into his office. "What's that?" he asked.

"You're supposed to be meeting with Cyrus."

"I forgot the contract," he said, stepping around her and picking up a folder from his desk. "What's in your hand?"

"Oh, this," she said, looking at the plain envelope. "It's nothing. We can talk about it later," she said, moving her hand behind her back.

"We can talk about it now," he said, reaching for the envelope. Fitz torn open the envelope and unfolded the letter, growing angry as he read. "What the fuck, Liv? Is this about the stunt my father pulled this morning? It was just his way of reminding me that it's still his company. You don't need to quit. I'll be more professional at work. I won't put you in that position again."

"It not just about what happened with your father this morning. I can't take orders from you in the office and in the bedroom. Where would rather have me?"

Fitz's nostrils flared and his eyes darkened with lust as he pictured her obediently following his commands. "I haven't given you an order today."

"You know what I mean," she dismissed.

"You were supposed to leave him in eleven days, not me. I need you beside me."

"And that's exactly where I'll be, just not as your assistant."

"Is this part of you figuring out what's next?"

Olivia nodded, smiling. "It's not that I don't want to be your assistant. I don't want to be anyone's assistant."

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to take the Bar."

"I was hoping you would say that," Fitz said, beaming as he walked to the other side of his desk, opened the drawer, and handed her a business card. "He's expecting your call."

Olivia looked at the card in her hand. It was the contact information for the dean of the law school at the University of Miami. Olivia studied Fitz through squinted eyes. "What did you offer him?"

"The details aren't important. What's important is that you have all the support you need to prepare for the Bar."

"Fitz," she warned. "What did you do?"

"I pledged a five million endowment, payable in full when you receive notification that you passed."

Olivia sighed. "It would have been cheaper for me to go back to law school."

"True, but not as fast," he said with a laugh. "I assumed you didn't want to spend the next three years of your life relearning something you already know. You need a refresher course tailored to you. Now, you'll get that."

"You can't keep spending money like this."

"It's a charitable contribution. I need the tax deduction. Plus, what's more important than the woman I l-

"What's taking you so long?" Cyrus exclaimed, barging into Fitz's office. "Did you find the contract?"

"It's right here," Fitz responded, holding up the folder.

"Then let's go. The entire team is waiting on you. No one is going home until we close this deal."

Fitz looked at Olivia. "Go," she encouraged him. "We'll finish this later."

"Make the call."

"I will. Go."

Day 2

Olivia parked where Fitz instructed her to and took the elevator to the lobby. When the doors opened, she stepped out into the opulent space with floor to ceiling windows showcasing the terrace gardens, elongated crystal chandeliers dripping from the ceiling, chrome columns, and clusters of seating areas decorated in creams with hints of pink and turquoise. Everything about the designer inspired space was a reminder of Fitz's life of luxury. Nervous energy coursing through her body, she approached the attendant practically hidden behind a four foot chrome wall.

"Hello. How may I help you?" a cheerful, sharply dressed young man asked.

"Hi," she replied, anxiously smoothing her dress. "I'm Olivia Ballard and I'm here to visit Fitzgerald Grant."

"Is he expecting you?"

"Yes."

"One moment, please," he said, his fingers flying over a small, wireless keyboard. "Did you say you name is Olivia Ballard."

"I did."

"You're on his list. You can go straight up. Do you have your keycard?"

"I do, but I'd like you to call up and announce me."

The young man looked at her with a confused expression. "It's okay. You don't have to be announced, just wave your keycard over the sensor and select penthouse five. A doorbell-like chime will sound inside the condo alerting him to your arrival."

"If it's not too much trouble, I really prefer to be announced," Olivia insisted.

"No trouble at all, ma'am," he said, picking up the phone and quickly dialing Fitz. "Good evening, Mr. Grant. Ms. Olivia Ballard is here. She said you're expecting her." There was a short pause while Fitz responded. "Yes, sir. You have a good evening." Looking up at Olivia, he said, "He's waiting for you upstairs. Enjoy your evening."

Olivia walked toward the elevators, taking deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. Although she and Fitz were well past the awkward, get-to-know-you phase, the butterflies were swarming in her stomach. This would be the first time they'd been together in his space. She wondered what he was like at home. Would he have a routine that he transitioned her through or would he be spontaneous, allowing things to go where they naturally flowed? As the elevator ascended, she tried not to think about how many other women had made this same elevator ride. Things were different with her, she knew that. She wouldn't be here if they weren't.

When the elevator doors opened, Fitz was there with his trademark lopsided grin waiting for her. "Hi," he said, opening his arms to her.

"Hi," she replied, walking into his embrace and greeting him with a kiss.

"I'm glad you're here," he said, still holding her and kissing her on the top of her head. "I'm sorry the guy at the desk harassed you. You're on the list, you shouldn't have been stopped and he definitely shouldn't have called me."

"I asked him to call you." Fitz looked down at her waiting for her to explain. "I know the elevators open directly into your space and I didn't want to interrupt you without warning."

"You're never an interruption. I want you to be comfortable in my space and come and go as you please. Plus, these doors lock," he said, gesturing to the huge wooden doors open in front of them. "But, I would never do that unless you're already here."

Needing a distraction from Fitz, Olivia looked around the foyer, noticing a boutique of pink peonies on a heavy wooden table in the middle of the space. "Nice flowers."

Fitz beamed. "They smell amazing, but of course you knew that already. Come on in," he said, leading her into the great room.

"Wow," she whispered as the floor to ceiling glass walls on both sides of the room revealed a breathtaking view of miles and miles of beautiful, blue ocean.

Fitz turned around a looked at her, his face frowned in confusion. "You've been here before."

Olivia looked away shyly. "I've never been past the elevator foyer. Marisol, I think that's what Brian said her name is, always meets me there and hands me whatever I'm here to pick up.

"Well then, I'll have to give you the grand tour, but, first, come with me. You're right on time for the best part." Olivia watched as he did something on his phone. The next thing she knew, the huge glass panels that formed his walls were rotating to a forty-five degree angle. The sound of the crashing ocean waves and the smell of brine immediately filled the space. Olivia inhaled deeply, the anxiety from earlier easing away. Fitz watched her and smiled proudly. He had used the imposing view countless time to impress women, but everything about Olivia's visit was different. When the evening was over, he wanted nothing more than for her to never want to leave.

He took her left hand, noticing she wasn't wearing her wedding rings, and led her through the great room, pausing briefly to grab the open bottle of wine, an empty wine glass, and hand her what she assumed was his glass of scotch, before leading her out on the terrace. Olivia took a moment to take in her surroundings, to her right was a rectangular-shaped, glass front swimming pool with a bar and a sitting area; to her left was a squared-shaped spa also with a glass front with a nearby sun bed; and in the middle were two chaise loungers with a small table between them.

He led her over to one of the chaise loungers. "We can share or you can have your own, if you prefer."

"We can share," Olivia replied with a soft smile. While she got settled on the lounger, he poured and handed her a glass of wine. Looking at his watch, he said, "It should only be about ten minutes." He walked to the edge of the lounger and gently removed her shoes, encouraging her to relax. He continued to the other side of the chair, removing his own shoes before sliding in beside Olivia, pulling her into his arms. "Comfortable?"

"Very." She took a sip of wine and made a soft purring sound of approval. "That's delicious."

"I'm glad you like it."

They settled into a peaceful silence, both sipping their drinks, staring out at the horizon, and enjoying just being close to each other. After a few minutes, the sky turned the most amazing shades of blue, purple, and orange. "Here it goes," Fitz announced, as the sun began to set, taking only a few moments to appear to fall from the sky and disappear into the ocean.

Miami wasn't known for its sunsets, but, as if orchestrated by Fitz, that one was perfect. "That was incredible," Olivia whispered, when the sun had fully transitioned.

"We could do this every evening if you moved in with me. I can't think of a better way to end each day."

"Fitz," she exhaled with a slight shiver.

Feeling no need to respond, Fitz ran his hands up and down her arms. "Come with me. Dinner will be ready soon and I want to show you the rest of the place. Although, I have to admit it's all downhill from here." Leaving their shoes behind, they walked back into the condo carrying their drinks.

Olivia looked around. It was a completely open floor plan, with large art installations forming the only barriers between spaces. She was very impressed. She expected a modern, minimalist bachelor pad. Instead, Fitz's condo was a home. It was still very modern, with crisp, fresh colors and clean lines, but there was something warm and inviting about it that she hadn't expected. He led her through the great room with two separate seating areas and into the dining area where there was a large table with seats for eight. "It's supposed to be a nice evening, do you want to eat in here or outside? The terrace wraps around this entire side of the condo. The outdoor dining space has a view of the city, instead of the ocean, but the lights make a nice backdrop."

"Your dinner, your choice."

"We'll eat outside. I can always get you a sweatshirt if you get chilly. I do love how you look in my clothes," he said with a wink.

Taking her hand, he walked her around a high countertop and into the kitchen where a middle-aged, but very attractive woman was checking on something in the oven. Olivia paused, waiting for Fitz to say "yes", indicating he had a past with his chef. When he didn't say anything, she looked up at him, holding eye contact for longer than necessary. He remained silent, only smiling back at her. Approaching the woman, he said, "Krista, I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Olivia."

"Hello," Krista said, wiping her hands on her apron as she approached Olivia. "It's very nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand.

Olivia took her hand warmly in hers. "The pleasure is all mine. Dinner smells delicious."

"Thanks. Fitz gave me a very specific menu. I hope you enjoy." Nodding at Olivia's glass, she asked, "Did you like the wine?"

"It's delicious."

"I'm pleased. Wine, especially red wine, is much more fun to shop for than scotch. There are a few more bottles from that case in the wine refrigerator."

"You have a wine fridge?"

"I'm not a complete heathen," he replied. "Just because I don't like wine doesn't mean it's banned from the condo. As you can see, I have a fully outfitted kitchen with everything Krista needs," he said with a chuckle. "It's stocked with all of your favorites too." Turning back to the chef, he said, "We're going to eat outside."

"Great. I'll get you all set-up out there. Dinner should be ready in fifteen minutes. I'll leave after the main course is served and give the two of you a little privacy to enjoy the beautiful night."

Fitz led Olivia back the way they'd come, headed toward the other side of the condo. They passed a Steinway grand piano with two cozy chairs positioned nearby. "Do you play or do you listen?" she asked.

"I play. You?"

Olivia nodded. "But not in a very long time," she said, tinkling the keys.

He walked her into a family room with a huge corner fireplace. "I don't usually use this side of the condo." Gesturing past the game area with huge television and pool table, he said, "Brian's and Marisol's bedrooms are back there."

"They live with you?" Olivia asked with surprise.

"Brian lives in Coral Gables, but he crashes here when I have late nights and early mornings. I haven't had any of those lately," he said with a chuckle. "Marisol lives here."

"Is she here?"

"No, she's staying with her sister tonight. It can be awkward at first knowing we're not alone. I wanted you to be comfortable."

"Fitz, you didn't have to kick her out of her home to make me comfortable."

"I didn't kick her out. She offered to stay with her sister when I told her I had a dinner date. It will give her a night to spoil her niece and nephews. They are great kids. Come on, I want to show you upstairs quickly." Olivia smiled seductively at him. Fitz shook his head. "You heard Krista. Dinner will ready in fifteen minutes. All we have time for us a quick tour."

He guided her up the stairs. Pointing to the right side and looking at her with a devilish grin, he said, "That whole side is the master suite. Do you want to see it now or later?"

"I'll expect a thorough tour later," she purred.

"Good, because I really want to show you this side," he said, excitedly pulling her away from his bedroom. He walked down a long hall. Opening a door on the left, he said, "Guest bedroom." He continued down the hall and into the opening. On one side was a full bar with an old-fashioned movie theater style popcorn popper and on the other was a one hundred and twenty inch projection screen. In between was a row of four oversized movie theater loveseats and two rows of four recliners facing the screen "This is my theater room," he said proudly.

"Does the popcorn popper work?" Olivia asked excitedly.

Fitz laughed. "Yes and I have real movie theater candy too."

"Wine and popcorn are two of my major food groups."

"There's so much to learn about you Ms. Pope," he said, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his body, making her giggle softly.

"If I can get away one day this weekend, will you make me popcorn and show me a movie in your fancy theater room?"

"You know I'd do anything for you. Do you prefer a new release or a classic?"

"Surprise me."

Fitz's eyes widened in shock. Had Olivia Pope, one of the most controlled individuals he knew, really suggested he surprise her? "It would be my pleasure. Come on, I have something for you in my office." Olivia's eyes danced with delight. "Don't get so excited," he said, laughing, "It's just a piece of paper. However, I do have your gift from DC in my bedroom. I rushed out so quickly on Saturday to get to you that I forgot to bring it with me."

He led her into his office, a rectangular shaped room with his u-shaped executive wooden desk in the middle of the space and a drafting table positioned so that he could look out at the city while he worked. She assumed the glass panels in this room moved like the ones downstairs because outside was another terrace with an outdoor living space. She could envision Fitz sitting out there with a glass of scotch, working on his laptop as he wrapped up the work day from home. On the wall opposite of the desk was a cluster of four monitors and the wall opposite the view had a small bar. Closest to the door was a small sitting area with a couch and two side chairs. Behind his desk was a wall of bookcases, filled with architecture books, awards, building models, and photos of his friends and family. Olivia smiled when she spotted a photo of the two of them from the Merkle's black-tie gala.

Fitz walked over to the desk, retrieved an envelope, and handed it to Olivia. She quickly opened it and scanned the document, the results of his full panel of STI tests. It came as no surprise to her that all of the test results were negative. She flipped the last page over looking for additional results, but it was blank. "Where's the rest?" she asked.

"That's everything you can test for. Are you worried about something particular?"

"Yes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes just to name a few. Where are the rest of your results?"

Fitz chuckled. "I didn't print those, but I'll pull them up on the computer for you now."

"Why didn't you print them? You're not exactly an example of clean living. I'm as concerned about the things that may silently kill you as I am about the infections you may pass along to me."

Fitz felt his insides grow warm and tingly. This wasn't his first trip to the STI disclosure rodeo, but it was the first time his partner had expressed interest in anything other than the results he had provided Olivia. "Here," he said, gesturing to the computer screen displaying his electronic health record. "Have a seat. I'm an open book. Click around and read anything you want." He smiled watching Olivia peruse the note from his last visit before moving to the lab section, taking time to review the results of each test. "Satisfied?"

"It appears you're in excellent health."

"Surprised?" he asked, amused by the disbelieving expression on her face.

"Kind of," she admitted. "I was worried about your liver chemistries. There's a bar in almost every room in your condo."

Fitz laughed aloud. "That's more for convenience than access."

"Does this mean we're done with the condoms?"

Fitz shook his head. "I'll get rid of my barrier when you get rid of yours?"

Perplexed, she spun around in the chair so she was facing him. "You want me to take out my IUD?"

"No. Well, yes, eventually, but that's not what I was talking about."

"What are you talking about then?"

"Jake. He's the barrier you keep between us."

"Fitz."

"Have you noticed when you don't want to talk about something you say my name?"

"What?"

"It's your tell. When I ask you a question or bring up a topic you want to avoid, you say 'Fitz'. But you don't have to avoid this topic. I'm just explaining that as long as you're married to Jake, I'm going to use condoms."

"I'm the one that's cheating. If anyone should be concerned it's him," Olivia retorted with a hint of hurt in her tone.

"I'm not worried about STIs," Fitz dismissed. "Condoms have two purposes. The day you tell me you're pregnant will be one of the happiest days of my life. I don't want to risk diminishing that joy with worry that I'm not the baby's father. As long as that's a possibility, I'm going to use extra precaution," he said, leaning over and kissing her softly. Without giving her a chance to respond, he added, "Let's go. I'm sure our dinner is ready."

Olivia walked out of the office and turned left to the only room in the condo he hadn't addressed. "What's in this room?" she asked, as she turned the knob, finding it locked.

"It's another bedroom," he answered quickly,

"Why is the door locked?" she asked with a confused frown.

"It's being remodeled," he answered truthfully.

"I'd love to get a peek at Ethan's work."

"I would show it to you, but I don't have the key," he lied. The key was in his pants pocket, where it always was. He just wasn't ready to share that space with Olivia. Not yet, not until he knew how she would respond. "Are you ready for dinner?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, let's go," she said taking his hand and allowing him to lead her back downstairs and to the outdoor dining area.

When they stepped out onto the terrace, Olivia gasped audibly at the site before her. Although the table sat eight, it was elegantly set for two. The table was decorated with more pink peonies and a multitude of lit candles, bathing the table in a romantic light. The formal place settings and linens were a soft cream with silver accents. Fitz watched Olivia take in the picture-perfect scene, her wordless response all the confirmation he needed that she was pleased. He walked over to the table and pulled out her chair. "My lady," he said, inviting her to sit before pushing her closer to the table, draping her napkin in her lap, and taking his own seat.

Olivia looked at him, the candle flames reflected in her eyes. "This is too much. You didn't have to go through all this for dinner with me."

"If not you, who else could possibly be worth the effort? This is just the beginning, beautiful. Our life together is going to be amazing. I'm going to make you happier than you've ever imagined possible."

"I'm starting to believe that's true."

They spent the next hour enjoying a delicious, Boston-themed, four course meal and getting to know each other better. The conversation was light and flirty, avoiding all topics that would tarnish the mood. After Fitz served dessert, Olivia asked him, "Are we going to talk about your breakfast with your father yesterday?"

"You want to talk about work?"

"I want to talk about your future, not about work. What did he have to say?"

"Last Friday, the Board called an unscheduled meeting and voted five to three to hire a search firm to give them two names to consider for the CEO position."

"Oh, Fitz," she responded. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know about the meeting. If I had, I would have warned you."

"It's okay. My mother called me on Friday and gave me a head's up about the meeting and then filled me in about the vote after the meeting. I only had breakfast with my father to hear his side of the story. He's the one that will present both candidates to the Board?"

"What does this mean for you?"

"There's still some work left to do, but there's eight weeks before the vote. We'll get it done."

"Fitz -

"It's not a bad as it sounds. My mom thinks I have three votes, three undecided votes, and one against me."

"That's only seven votes. There are nine people on the Board. I know you will abstain. Who's left?"

"My dad."

"Really? He's had a front row seat for your biggest accomplishments. He's challenged you in every way possible and never once did you suffer the failures common in your industry. You haven't been perfect, but no one is. Not even him. What more will it take to convince him you're ready?

Fitz shrugged. "Who knows what to expect from him. I'm fully prepared for him to vote against me or to abstain." He wouldn't admit it to Olivia, but he suspected his father was holding their new relationship against him. Whereas Stephen thought Olivia grounded him, his father viewed their relationship as an ill-timed distraction. That's why, more now than before, he needed everything to go perfectly in New York. If his father could see Olivia as an asset for Grant Enterprises, it may help flip him to his side.

"Well then, we need to get busy converting those maybe votes to yes votes." Olivia paused for a long time considering the best next move. "We should have a party."

Fitz's ears immediately alerted to her use of the word 'we', but he didn't address it. "A party? How would that convince the Board I should be CEO?"

"The same way it convinced Stephen. Grant Enterprises is, at its heart, a family company led by two generations of Fitzgerald Grants with a third, who has proven himself more than capable, waiting in the wings. The Board has never opposed anything you or your father brought before them. This isn't about your technical and leadership skills or the maybes would be nos. The maybe voters have to be worried that your personal life will reflect poorly on the company. We just need to show them there's no reason to be concerned."

"Won't that be seen as a transparent and desperate act?"

"Not if we disguise it appropriately."

"How do you suggest we do that?"

Olivia took a thoughtful pause. "It should be a retirement party for your father."

"The company's already planning some huge black-tie event for his retirement celebration."

"You're going to host a smaller, more intimate party. A son honoring his father and mentor." Fitz made a gagging sound. "Think about it. We could do it here. There's plenty of space and the condo would only need a little staging."

"You want me to host the party here?"

"Yes, it should have the personal touch of you welcoming your guests into your home. It will be a modest celebration. Just the company's executives, the Board, your mom, a few of your father's collaborators, and a couple of special guests, like Stephen that can spend night chatting up the Board members on your behalf. The Board needs to see you as the unquestioned future of Grant Enterprises, devoted son, and committed fiancé."

"Committed fiancé?"

Olivia smiled. "In for a penny, in for a pound. By the time of the party I won't work at Grant Enterprises. There may be a few whispers, but you won't be the first CEO to marry his secretary. Stephen never asked what I did so we won't have a problem there, but you should tell him I was your assistant before I was your fiancée."

"You know...we could stop pretending, if you would just agree to marry me."

Olivia laughed. "I can't agree to something I haven't been asked and you can't ask me to marry you while I'm still married to someone else.

Fitz chuckled. "Fair enough. Pretending it is. Do you really think this will work?"

"It definitely won't hurt. The Board is questioning if you are mature enough to lead. Let's eliminate the head hunters as middle men and give them the answer directly. We'll need your mother's help to pull it off."

"You should call her tomorrow."

"Me?"

"It's your idea. You should pitch it to her."

"Fine," she huffed. "But you're telling your father."

Fitz went to protest when his phone starting vibrating in his pocket. He took a quick look at the screen and groaned. Standing up from the table, he bent over and kissed Olivia softly. "I'm sorry, but I have to take this. Make yourself comfortable anywhere and I'll come find you. Hopefully this won't be long."

"It's fine. Go," she said with a sigh.

Fifteen minutes later, Fitz quickly descended the stairs looking for Olivia. The call had taken longer than expected and he hoped she was still there. He heard music coming from the back of the condo and followed the sound. He found her in the kitchen, putting away the leftovers, dancing with her back to him as Saweetie's My Type played loudly on her phone. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her move around the kitchen, obviously comfortable in his space. He wanted his condo to be her home whether it was her permanent residence or not.

He padded toward her quietly in his socked feet. He stepped up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and pressing the full length of his body against hers. She leaned backwards into him, and his head dropped to her exposed neck and rained butterfly kisses along the column toward her ear.

"I'm worth nine figures," Fitz whispered to her, his breath warm against her ear as he flexed his hips against her.

She cupped him through his jeans and he groaned. "And?" she purred.

He took her earlobe between his teeth, biting just hard enough to get a reaction. "Do you want a ruler or would you rather I find that spot that makes you squirt. You remember, the one so deep you didn't know it was there until I hit it."

A shiver stole through Olivia as she recalled their last round of lovemaking on the flight back from the Keys. He was a man possessed, leaving her a sobbing, boneless, shuddering mess, unable to tolerate his touch because her entire body was too sensitive. She stepped away from him and pushed herself up onto the counter, lifting her dress enough to allow her to invitingly spread her legs.

Fitz stepped between her soft thighs and kissed her hungrily. Her lips were soft and vulnerable, offering no resistance as he pushed his tongue into her mouth and tasted her sweetness. She cradled him in her arms, holding him in place as she pressed her body against his, slowly grinding against the proof of his arousal. Breaking their kiss, her moaned into her neck, "God, you drive me crazy." He ran his hands down her legs and then up under her raised dress. Her pulse quickened as his hand traveled closer to where she ached for him. When his fingertips brushed over her panty covered slit, a soft moan slipped from her lips as her head fell back and her body arched against his.

"Do we have time?" he whispered against her mouth, kissing her lightly.

"How long do you need?" she asked, her teeth nipping at his lower lip.

His fingers slip beneath her panties exploring her arousal dampened folds, moving his fingers over her clit before drawing them back and pushing two fingers inside her, causing a moan of lusty pleasure to escape her lips. "The rest of our lives, but I'll settle for an hour."

Biting her lower lip, she smiled and said, "I think it's time for the rest of the tour."

Fitz effortlessly scooped her up into his arms and instructed his smart system to turn off the lights. Instead of heading toward the stairs that led to his bedroom, he carried her outside and stretched her out on the sun bed. Olivia propped herself on her elbows and looked around nervously.

"We're fifty-stories up, the lights are off, and I gave the staff the night off. I'm the only one that can see you." Olivia looked at him hesitantly. "If you're not comfortable we can move to the bedroom, but I've been thinking about how beautiful you would look spread out naked on this thing in the moonlight since it was delivered."

"It's new?"

Fitz smiled softly at her. "Almost everything is. I wanted us to have a fresh start. I thought about selling the condo, but I couldn't part with the view. The second best option was a complete remodel. I even replaced the first row of my theater seats with loveseats so we could watch movies together."

"You did that for me?"

"I did it for us." Olivia rolled over to him and grabbed his face between her two hands. Her lips easily found his in the darkness and she kissed him hungrily. His lips parted and she slipped her tongue within, savoring the intense, smoky taste of his mouth. His hips involuntarily jerked toward her as her tongue became bolder, needier for him.

Fitz wrapped his arm around her and unzipped her dressed. Pulling the shoulders down and peeling away her dress, he bared her body to him inch by inch. Olivia held his heated gaze, her lips swollen and stinging from their kisses, her whole body taut with need. Moving tortuously slow, she reached behind her and unclasped her bra leaning forward and letting the garment fall from her body. She lay back on the bed, raised her hips, and shimmied down her black lace thong, kicking them in his direction with her left foot.

"My God, you are beautiful."

Olivia giggled shyly. "You're pretty beautiful yourself when you're not hiding under all of those clothes."

Fitz laughed as he shoved himself off the bed, quickly ridding himself of his clothes. After rolling on a condom, he crawled back on the bed, moving over top of Olivia, pinning her arms above her head back against the bed. Fitz felt the heat rise between their bodies as the last of her inhibitions fell away. She accepted the weight of him, moaning softly as he pressed their lips together and rotated his hips, his hard sex pressing against her opening. Holding her in place, he kissed her neck and then moved his lips down to her breasts as she writhed helplessly beneath him, desperately seeking friction.

When her frustration was ready to boil over, he flexed his hips forward and eased himself slowly into her. Olivia wasn't having it, not tonight. Tonight, she didn't want restraint, he wanted Fitz unleashed. She wanted his strokes raw, hard, and deep. Wrapping her legs around his waist and locking her ankles behind his back, she thrust her hips upwards and drew him deep inside her. Holding onto him tightly, she swiveled her hips, trying to take what she needed.

Fitz loved the feeling of her muscles stretching and pulsing around his shaft, adjusting once again to the length and width of him. He gripped her hips and took control, Olivia relented immediately, giving herself more freely than she had to any man. He flung his head back, growling lowly, and gave her exactly what she wanted. He took long, deep strokes inside her, punishing her for trying to take control. Her moans and cries of pleasure urged him to go harder and faster, slamming into her over and over again.

She was close. Fitz could feel it in the way her inner walls erratically tightened around him and how she struggled to maintain her grip with her thighs. He lowered his head to her breast, capturing her nipple in his mouth, sucking and nipping. The final piece of her orgasm puzzle in place, Olivia arched her back violently as her release ripped through her, her tight muscles clamping around him, drawing him in deeper. It only took another couple of strokes for him to follow her, collapsing, mindless of his weight, on her as he filled the condom with his seed.

They laid like that, their sweaty, sticky bodies entwined with each other, the smell of sweat and sex hovering around them. Olivia felt his mouth, damp and warm, against her neck as he murmured her praises against her skin. He was still hard inside her, but she'd come to learn that wasn't a sign of his dissatisfaction. It was just one of his gifts. She held his head to her chest, kissing his temple, comforted by the feel of his weight on her.

Fitz rolled off of her and pulled her into his arms, cradling her with his body, breathing in her scent. "You need a shower."

"Are you implying that I stink?"

"You smell like me," he said, kissing the soft skin of her shoulder. "I personally love it, but I doubt your husband will." Olivia groaned. "You could always stay. Spend the night with me. My bedroom has the same view. We can wake up early and watch the sunrise."

Olivia reached behind her and stroked his cheek. "I want to, but I can't. Just a few more days."

"This feels like more than just figuring out what's next. Is there something else going on? Something I should know?"

"Fi -" she caught herself, thinking back on their earlier conversation.

"It's okay. We don't have to talk about it tonight. Come on. You still haven't seen my bedroom."

"I don't have the energy to see your bedroom," she whined.

Fitz pushed himself up off the bed and surprised Olivia by picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder fireman style. "You promised me an hour. I still have thirty minutes left," he said, carrying her to his bedroom.

Day 4

Olivia quickly exited and rounded the car, handing her keys to the valet as she scampered into the restaurant. She was running very late to her dinner with Abby. Fitz had convinced her to come home with him after work instead of going to the gym. Truthfully, it hadn't taken much to convince her being with him was a far more enjoyable workout than her treadmill routine. She should have resisted more when he slipped into the shower behind her, but the feel of his wet, naked body pressing her against the tile wall was her undoing.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Olivia apologized, quickly kissing Abby on both cheeks before settling into the seat across from her.

"No worries. I just got here myself. We had a late conference call about the Bowers case. These junior associates need so much hand holding," Abby complained, lightheartedly. "You look great." Olivia looked down at her outfit. Rushing, she had settled for an oversized white button down with a pair distressed Mother jeans and a pair of Louboutin graffiti pumps from her closet at Fitz's condo. When he'd given her a tour of the master suite, she'd been surprised to find a complete wardrobe in the 'hers' closet and the bathroom stocked with her products. "Channeling your inner Meghan Markle I see."

"I believe she wore flats."

"The Olivia Ballard I know wouldn't be caught dead in public in flats."

"I own flats," Olivia protested.

"Jordans aren't flats. I've never understood how you are both a sneakerhead and Carrie Bradshaw"

"What?" Olivia asked with a shrug. "I like cute shoes." The two friends shared a good laugh. "So how is the quest for senior partnership?"

"Killing me," Abby whined. "I thought things would get easier after I made partner, but they haven't. I feel my firm's two-tiered partnership is designed to keep us on the hamster wheel for as long as possible before having to pay us."

Olivia chuckled. "Have you ever thought about going out on your own?"

Abby shook her head. "I chose law school over business school for a reason. I'm a brilliant lawyer, but I don't want the added pressure of trying to manage a firm. I'm a grunt, always will be."

The waitress appeared placing two glasses of wine on the table and took their dinner orders. Abby smiled. "I took the liberty of ordering for you." Olivia nodded and took a sip of her wine, frowning a bit when the liquid hit her tongue. While acceptable, it didn't compare to the wine Fitz selected for her earlier that day. Seeing Olivia's reaction, her observant friend asked, "Is the wine okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Olivia quickly dismissed the question.

"How are things for you at work?"

"They're good. We're busy preparing for the transition."

"Does Fitz have the Board votes to be the next CEO?"

"We're working on it. We have a business trip next month that, if all goes according to plan, should give him the votes he needs just in case his father flips on him at the last moment."

"We? Any chance he'll give you an elevated position after the transition? He has to know your skills are being wasted as his executive assistant. You would be a very capable chief of staff. Has he officially asked you to move with him to the CEO suite?"

"He has," Olivia paused, wondering if Abby could be trusted. Deciding to test the waters, she continued, "But I'm not going to make the transition with him. It's time for me to find a new challenge."

"You're thinking about quitting your job?" Abby asked enthusiastically. "Jake will be thrilled. I know your relationship with Fitz takes a toll on your marriage."

"My relationship with Fitz?" Olivia asked, fiddling with her wine glass, avoiding eye contact with Abby.

Abby shrugged. "It's not like he has the best boundaries. I assume he was the reason you were late tonight." Heat flushed Olivia's cheeks. "You work crazy hours trying to keep up with him. When you're not working, he calls or texts you, without any regard for what you may be doing. Hell, he kissed you at Utopia."

"I kissed him," Olivia mumbled under her breath.

Leaning forward, Abby asked "What?"

"Nothing," Olivia said shaking her head.

"Do you have any idea what's next for you?"

"I'm thinking about taking the Bar."

Abby frowned. "Don't you think it's too late for that kind of career change?"

"You're forgetting I graduated first in our class. That means in front of everyone, including you," Olivia said smugly. "They didn't just hand it to me. I worked hard for it then. If I apply the same amount of effort and energy now, I think I can do it."

"It's been more than a decade since you graduated from law school. Where would you start?"

"I'm not sure. That's why I'm meeting with the dean of the Miami law school next week."

Abby scoffed. "What do you expect from him? I'm surprised he even took the meeting."

Her friend's superior tone was starting to grate on her. "I'm hoping we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement."

"Are you going to sleep with him?"

"What! Why would you even ask that?"

"It's been my experience that men are only motivated by three things - money, sex, and power. Since you can't offer him money or power, I assumed you were working with what you had. Unless..." Abby paused, looking at Olivia closely. Her outfit and shoes, while casual, were designer brands. Her jewelry, while simple, was custom and of higher quality than her bridal set. Even her hair was different, the precision cut and color was perfection. Yes, her friend had a polish to her that hadn't been there before. A polish that only came from money, more money than she knew her friend had.

"Of course, that has to be it. I can't believe I didn't notice it sooner." Olivia looked at the redhead expectantly. "Look at your hair, your clothes, and your jewelry. Someone is clearly spoiling you and we both know it's not Jake. Fitz is using his money to leverage the dean. Isn't he? It's an extreme gesture for your secretary, but for the woman you're sleeping with, maybe not so much." Abby gave Olivia a pointed look. "How much did he offer the dean?"

Olivia dismissed Abby's question. "He has a different relationship with money than we do. For him money is not an obstacle that needs to be cleared, it's the solution to the problem. He sees something he wants, he buys it."

"Including you?"

"I'm going to pretend you just didn't accuse me of whoring myself out to Fitz."

"Why? Isn't that what this is, your opportunity to get as much as you can for as long as it lasts? I'm not judging, he's rich, powerful, sexy as hell, and apparently knows how to use all of his God given talents. Everyone else has had their turn, why not you?"

"I'm not using Fitz," Olivia snarled. "I would never do that him."

"You're married," Abby said incredulously. "You're letting him take care of you. Now, I'm sure things aren't one sided. He may be generous, but he's not an idiot. He's getting something out of this too. I am curious though. You resisted him for years, what changed now?"

"He let me see him." Abby's eyes danced with mischief. "Not like that, you pervert. He let me see who is underneath his facade of indifference. We want a lot of the same things."

"You want the same things?" Abby asked, looking at her friend suspiciously. "You say that like the two of you are in a relationship. You want to have your back blown out every now and then and he is more than happy to oblige. You have to be careful not to catch feelings for him. Fitz most assuredly does not want that. You have a loving husband at home and him at work to scratch the itch. Don't be stupid here and lose your husband and your job."

"You don't understand."

"You're having an affair with your boss. What is there to understand?"

"I'm not having an affair," Olivia said harshly as their server approached the table with their entrees. A tense hush fell over the table as the friends quietly waited for the server to leave so they could resume their conversation.

"Fuck, Liv, I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it," Abby said sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with her friend. "It's just that you look so different. I assumed - Why didn't you say something sooner? You just let me blab on and on about you sleeping with Fitz."

"I am with Fitz," Olivia stated matter-of-factly, immediately drawing Abby's attention, "but we're not having an affair. My marriage is over. It has been for a while. I was just so busy trying to convince myself I was happy that I didn't notice." For emphasis, Olivia stabbed a fork into her baked potato, the conversation robbing her of her appetite.

"What are you talking about? You and Jake are happy. No marriage is perfect and I'm not going to pretend to understand all of what happens in your house when it's just the two of you, but you both have been ridiculously happy since I've met you. You're partners and you've built a life together. You've been through the fire and come out together. You're trying to have a baby."

"Who told you we were trying to have a baby?" Olivia asked suspiciously.

Abby frowned in confusion. "You did."

"No, I didn't."

"Of course you did," Abby insisted.

"I only told one person, Fitz."

"Why would you tell Fitz that you and Jake were trying to have a baby?"

"Because the night Jake asked me to have his baby is the night I told Fitz I wanted to be with him, although it happened in the opposite order. I needed to be sure I was making the right decision. I'm thirty-four years old and I want to be a mom. I needed to be sure that Fitz and I wanted the same things."

"Fitz is a forty year old bachelor. I think it's safe to say you don't want the same things. Unless, of course, you want to spend the next decade drinking, partying, and sleeping around."

"That's not what Fitz wants," Olivia snarled. "You spent a couple of hours with him at a club. Don't pretend to know him when you don't."

"And you think you know him?" Abby asked sassily. "I love you Liv, but you can't be naive enough to believe what he's selling. You're a beautiful woman and there's no doubt Fitz wants you, but do you really think the two of you will ever be more than a good time? Jake is the only family you have. Do you really want to throw that away for a man with Fitz's track record?"

"So, what? I should stay with Jake and live an unfulfilled life to avoid being alone. Yeah, that's clearly the better option," she spat, sarcastically.

"No, you should divorce your husband of twelve years and run away with a man that's never had a relationship that lasted longer than a weekend. That's obviously the right choice," Abby countered in an equally snarky tone.

"I get it. You hate men, but for some reason you trust Jake. That doesn't mean I should stay. I've sacrificed so much - my career, my roots, my trust fund, my dreams of a family - for my marriage and, more specifically, for Jake.

"You make it sound like Jake forced you into those decisions. You chose to postpone your career to support his dreams. We all thought you were crazy to work so hard in law school only to go work with him in an upstart architectural firm, but you insisted it was want you wanted. We begged you to take the Bar so you could pick up your law career in a couple years, but you argued that you would just as happy using your MBA and supporting your family. The funny thing is you've never wavered from that decision - not when times were hard, not even when you guys lost the business - until now, when Fitz is whispering foolishness in your ear."

"I made those decisions thinking in a couple of years it would be my turn. That once Jake's career was established, his dreams would take a back burner to my ambitions. I would take the Bar, make partner, and get pregnant, but my turn never came. Somehow I got relegated to a supporting role in my own life."

"Did you talk to Jake, tell him how you were feeling, or did you decide it was just easier to fuck your boss?"

"Fuck you, Abby. I don't have to defend myself to you," Olivia said, shoving her plate away.

"No, you're right, you don't. But if you can't handle this conversation with me, your friend, are you sure you're ready to make this decision?"

Olivia closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath. Opening her eyes, she said, "I love him, Abby. I didn't plan this and I tried to fight it, but I'm in love with him and I want to be with him."

Abby's posture softened at her friend's admission. "Is he in love with you?" she asked quietly.

Olivia nodded. "He's more certain than I am. I've tortured him with my back and forth these last two months, but he's never wavered. He's ready to settle down. He wants me to be his partner for the rest of his journey."

"And this is what you want? What's right for you?"

Olivia nodded as Abby stared at her quietly. "I like who I am with him." Abby raised an eyebrow. "Not the sneaking around and cheating part," Olivia said solemnly. "The way he looks at me - I wish I could explain it. He sees me, all of me, especially the parts I'm trying to hide. For our first date he took me home to Boston because he wanted to get to know the real me. I was an emotional mess that day and he was amazing, giving me space when I needed it and supporting me when I would allow it. He pays attention to everything I say or do and prioritizes the things that are important to me, even if they're not important to him. He wants to leave legacy both at work and with his family - a wife, three kids, and a dog. I still haven't agreed to the third kid or the dog," Olivia chuckled.

"He pushes me to be the person I want to be. He's not invested in who that person is, but once I declare what I want or need he's all in trying to help me get there. I told him on Wednesday that I wanted to practice law and by Monday afternoon he was ready to make the introductions to move things forward. I still have to do the work, as it should be, but he's beside me every step of the way. He understands we're two people with two separate careers and he won't let his ambitions overshadow mine. Right now, what he needs is for me to be by his side helping him through the transition, but what he wants is for me to be happy so he accepted my resignation on Monday. That's the man he is."

"You quit your job?" Abby asked with surprise. "What are you going to do?"

"Don't worry mom," Olivia teased. "I have enough saved to float me for a while. I'm going to meet with Michaela while we're in New York to determine how long I can afford to be out of work, Knowing exactly when I have to get a job will help motivate me to be disciplined about preparing for the Bar. I don't want to be in a position where I'm dependent on Fitz."

Resigned, Abby continued, "You're going to need a divorce lawyer. Do you want me recommend someone from my firm?"

"I already have one."

"Who? Which firm?"

"Tyler Avery."

"Tyler Avery? Lawyer for the rich and famous? Don't you think that's overkill? You're not trying to break some ironclad prenup. His retainer will be more than your divorce settlement."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "It was Fitz's mother's idea."

"His mother? The two of you are friends?"

"I wouldn't call us friends, but we've found common ground in Fitz. We both love him and want what's best for him. He wants a quick, painless divorce so she gave him the name of the best lawyer money can buy. It's a bit overbearing, but she means well. Fitz knows the divorce has to be on my terms."

Abby made a show of leaning forward and studying her friend. "I guess that only leaves one question." Olivia looked at her expectantly. "How's the sex?"

Olivia threw her head back in laughter. "Two words...blackout orgasm."

"What the fuck? Is that even a real thing?" Olivia nodded, smiling. "I'm going to need details."

Olivia raised her empty glass. "We're going to need more wine and some chocolate for that conversation."

Day 5

Fitz exited the elevator on his floor, walking to his office and smiling to himself as he processed where things were with Olivia. They were almost halfway through the two weeks she needed and, thus far, Olivia hadn't shown any signs of doubt or second guessing. Although he promised to let her handle things independently, he had instructed the members of his team to keep him updated. That's how he knew she had an appointment with his real estate agent tomorrow and had already met with his designer. Things were quickly falling into place and he couldn't be happier. The sooner he could get her away from Jake, the sooner they could start their lives together.

He rounded the corner, a smile spreading across his face when he saw Olivia was already at her desk. That smile quickly turned into a scowl when he noticed a dozen long stemmed roses in a vase on her desk. He quickly closed the distance between them. "I didn't send those," he snarled.

"Good morning. The rest of my evening was great, thanks for asking. Abby told me to tell you hello. How was your night?" she said sarcastically.

"Why did Jake send you flowers?" he asked, his anger unabated.

Olivia released a deep sigh. "It's our wedding anniversary. He sends me roses every year on our anniversary. One rose for each year. I finally reached a dozen," she explained sadly.

"Is this why you needed two weeks?" he spat, his tone causing those nearby to turn in their direction. "You wanted to make one last memory with your husband?"

"Stop it," she hissed. "We're not having this conversation now. Not here, not like this. You're a professional. Act like it. They're just flowers, flowers you know aren't particularly meaningful to me. Now, go in your office and calm down so we can have this conversation. I'll be there in a minute."

Before Fitz could walk away from her desk, a young bicycle messenger approached her desk carrying three boxes ranging from small to large in size, stacked on top of each other in ascending order with a large red bow tying them together. "I have a delivery for Olivia Ballard," he stated, looking hopefully at Olivia.

"That's me," she said cautiously, signing the receipt and accepting the packages.

"Thanks," he said, walking away as quickly as he appeared.

"Does he dress you up every year too? Since you hate surprises, I'll go ahead and ruin this one. That top box is lingerie. Why don't you open it now and let me see. Is Jake into kink? Maybe the panties vibrate," he said in a biting tone.

Olivia was uncertain what to do. She expected the flowers, Jake sent them every year, but the second delivery was different. She needed a minute to gather herself and figure out what the hell Jake was up to. There was a card on top of the boxes, but she didn't dare read it with Fitz glowering at her.

"Fitz, please," she pleaded. "Just go in your office. I'll be there in a couple of minutes to explain. I promise."

Without a word, Fitz turned on his heels and stormed into his office, slamming his door behind him. As soon as he was out of sight, Olivia dropped her face into her hands, her fingers massaging her temples. She knew when she woke up to a love note on her pillow that it would be a challenging day, but she wasn't prepared for this. Jake was a creature of habit. Every year they did the same thing - he sent roses to her office; they had a seven o'clock reservation at Il Gabbiano, his favorite restaurant; they went home; and they had creative, well...creative for Jake, sex. It had been the same thing for eleven years. Why now, on their twelfth and last anniversary, did he decide to change things up?

Olivia looked at the three boxes sitting on her desk. If Fitz was right and the top box was lingerie, the middle box was shoes, and the largest box was a dress. She shuddered at the thought of the contents. Whereas her style pushed the limits of appropriate, Jake's was definitely across the line. He got off on knowing other men desired her and encouraged her to dress provocatively so he could watch as strangers react to her.

Olivia moved the boxes under her desk, well hidden from Fitz's or anyone else's view. She quickly retrieved the envelope and extracted the card. It read:

Liv,

Happy Anniversary. Twelve years ago we promised ourselves to each other forever. I love you more today than I thought possible when we exchanged our vows and I can't wait for us to start this next chapter of our lives. I thought we'd try something new this year. I'll see you tonight at Le Sirenuse Miami at 7. I know I'll be the envy of every man there.

I love you.

Jake

Olivia exhaled deeply, crumpling the card in her hand before tossing it in the trash. She would deal with Jake later, first she had to face Fitz. She stared at his closed door and wondered what he was doing in his office. He was upset, she knew that. She didn't blame him. He was entitled to an explanation, but she didn't know how to make him understand. Nothing for her had changed, she just needed him to keep the faith for seven more days.

After giving Fitz time to cool off, Olivia rose from her desk, crossed the hall that separated them, and knocked on his door.

"Go away," Fitz barked.

Olivia grimaced. It sounded like he was angrier now than he was when he was at her desk. Ignoring him, she twisted the doorknob, pleased to find it unlocked. Taking a moment, she steeled herself for his response before walking into his office and quickly closing the door behind her.

Olivia was surprised to find he wasn't seated at his desk or staring out the window as he was want to do when he was stressed. "I said go away," he called coolly from the opposite side of the room. "Lock yourself out and cancel my next meeting when you leave. I don't want to be interrupted."

Fitz had removed his suit jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves, and was seated at his drafting table with his back to her, feverishly sketching something. In the four years she'd worked for him, she'd never seen him work at the table. She always thought he kept it in his office as a reminder of how far he'd come.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't want to talk to you."

"Good, because I need you to listen," she said walking closer to him, trying to see what he was working on.

Fitz released the clip at the top of the table, allowing a set of old plans to cover his sketch. "I don't want to listen to you either. Get out. In fact, take the rest of day off. You and your husband can start the celebration early."

"Fitz...please," she pleaded, continuing to walk towards him.

"It's not going to work Olivia. I'm not interested in your explanation. There's nothing you can say or do to make this better."

When she reached him, she could see the tension in his upper body. Desperate to soothe him, she began massaging his tense shoulders. He flinched when she first made contact, but didn't move away from her. "When I was younger," she started. "I spent a lot of time at the cemetery."

He abruptly turned to look at her, his face red with anger. "Are you really going to play the orphan card now? Your dead parents aren't the reason you neglected to mention you were planning to celebrate one last anniversary before leaving him."

Determined to remain calm despite his provocation, she continued. "As I was saying, I spent a lot of time at the cemetery. It's actually a really boring place, nothing to do but read people's headstones and wonder about their stories."

"I don't see what this has to do with you and Jake."

"The saddest stories were always the ones where the birth date and the death date were the same date. Thanks to you, Jake is working on the biggest project he's had at his new firm. It wouldn't be fair drop this on him in the middle of the week and expect him to go work the next day like nothing's happen. He deserves a few days to himself to process things. But, I also can't end my marriage on the day it started. That can't be our story. So, I'm going to put on the dress, smile pretty, and spend one last night with my husband. Next Friday, I'll break his heart."

"So you're going to -

"I'm going to pretend."

"The last time you tried that, it didn't work out so well."

"It didn't work out so well for Jake. It worked out great for me," she said, hoping to get a small smile. Ignoring her attempt to lighten the mood, Fitz stood up and walked over to stare out the window. "But, you're right, I'm not good at pretending. Just like I couldn't pretend I wasn't married that first night with you, I won't be able to pretend I'm love with him tonight. I can't fake intimacy. It's either there or it's not."

Fitz turned toward her, studying her face. "Are you forgetting I was there with you that night? Lack of intimacy wasn't what stopped you. I had you right where you wanted to be. You stopped because you were overwhelmed by guilt for wanting me. That same guilt will surround you tonight. Will it push you into his bed?"

"Is that why you're upset, because you think I'm going to sleep with him?"

Fitz palmed his face in frustration. "Fuck, Liv. You really can be dense sometimes." Olivia, never one to quietly accept someone questioning her intelligence, defensively crossed her arms and charged toward him. Before she could say anything, he continued, "Why didn't you just tell me? Did you think I wouldn't notice the roses on your desk? I wouldn't have liked it, but at least I would been prepared."

"I go home to Jake every night. I didn't think it would matter." Olivia winced as she watched Fitz flinch in response to her words.

"Bullshit! I specifically asked why you needed twelve days. You intentionally kept this from me. Why?"

Olivia hesitated, not sure how to answer his question. "I didn't want to you to doubt my feelings for you. I don't want you wondering if I am going to change my mind."

"Well, that plan was a colossal failure," he said collapsing into his office chair. "What now?"

"Fitz," she exhaled, moving to one of the chairs across from his desk. Hesitantly, she continued, "I -

"Don't you dare," he snarled.

Olivia threw her hands up in surrender. "I wasn't going to say it. I want to make this right."

"God, I'm so sick of this conversation. How many times do I have to tell you the same thing? If you want to make this right, leave him. Until you can do that, stay away from me. I look at you and everything I've always wanted is right there, close enough to touch, yet not close enough to hold. I can't keep living on hope."

"Fitz -

"Are you leaving tonight?"

"No," she said, refusing to let him guilt her into making this decision on his terms.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you in seven days," he said, rising from his chair and leaving the office.

Olivia stood up and walked over to Fitz's drafting table. Rifling through the pages her breath caught in her throat when she found what she was looking for. The sketch was rough and incomplete, but it was obviously her - head thrown back, eyes closed, mouth wide open with laughter. It was what he saw when he thought of her. It was stunningly beautiful. She allowed her fingers to lightly glide across the page before covering the sketch and leaving his office.

XXXXX

Olivia exited the elevator, cautiously looking around to check her surroundings. She was startled to find Fitz leaning against the driver's side of her car, intently focused on his phone. Walking as quickly as she could in her heels, she approached him. "How long have you been standing here?"

Fitz shrugged. "I don't know. How long did it take you to get dressed? You look amazing by the way." That was an understatement. She was wearing a calf length black cocktail dress with thin straps, a scoop neckline and an exposed back with simple black sandals. The dress was loose fitting, but the fabric clung to her curves in the most tantalizing way. His fingers twitched as he fought against the urge to touch her. Jealous bile rose up in his throat as pictured Jake undressing her later tonight. She said otherwise, but, looking at her now, he knew there was no way she would be able to avoid having sex with her husband. Hell, they may not make it to dessert.

"Thank you," she said, dropping her head to avoid his heated gaze. Without looking up, she asked, "Are we okay?"

"No," he answered honestly, drawing her attention back to him. "We are most definitely not okay. I don't like anything about this, but my feelings don't matter. I guess I know how Jake felt when you walked out of his house to go to the Hamptons with me. You know what's going to happen. You know you're going to get hurt, but there's nothing you can do about it."

"Fitz -

"Don't. Please."

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you," he said, getting choked up. "I wanted to see my Livvie one last time."

Olivia reached up and stroked his cheek softly. "Fitz, tonight is about saying good-bye, but not to you."

"That may be your plan, but your husband has other ideas. He's gotten in your head before, made you doubt me, doubt us. All he has to do is find the right combination of memories from your past and promises for your future and this, us, will start to feel like a horrible mistake."

"Do you really believe that?" she asked quietly, her heart silently breaking. She hated hurting him like this, but she knew it was temporary. Tonight was about closure. It was about writing the final chapter of her story with Jake so she could start fresh and unencumbered with Fitz. As difficult as this moment was, it was necessary if they were going to move forward together.

Fitz nodded. "Do me a favor?" he asked sadly.

"Anything," she replied immediately.

"Dance with me?" He hadn't planned to ask her for that, but he needed an excuse to touch her, to hold her one last time.

"What? Here?" she asked, looking around the parking garage. "What if someone sees us?"

"Fuck them," he said with a shrug. "You've already given me your notice. You won't work here in a week. What are they going to complain about? Dance with me Livvie," he pleaded.

"There's no music," she responded, uncertain what to do.

"I can fix that," he said with a sad smile. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through it until he found the perfect song. Olivia gasped aloud when the opening chords of Meghan Trainor's Like I'm Gonna to Lose You started to play. He opened his arms and stepped toward her. "Dance with me. Just one minute." Tears glistening in her eyes, Olivia walked into his arms. Fitz exhaled deeply, kissing the top of her head and holding her close as he began to sway to beat.

They remained like that, moving in a small circle, each holding the other tightly as if afraid the other would run away if they let go, both absorbing the emotional body blows from the song lyrics. When the final chord played, Olivia looked up at Fitz, surprised to find that he too had tears running down his cheeks. She gently brushed away his tears before saying, "I'll see you in seven days."

Forcing a smile, he returned the gesture, allowing himself to cradle her face for a moment. He slowly lowered his face to hers and captured her lips with his. It was a simple kiss, one that conveyed both hope and hopelessness. If she left him tonight it wouldn't be because he didn't lay absolutely everything on the line. He was willing to give her everything, but ultimately she had to want what he was offering. In this moment, he wasn't sure she did. "Goodbye, Livvie," he said, releasing her and walking away briskly.

Olivia opened her car door and dropped into the driver's seat, openly weeping.

XXXXX

Jake opened the garage door and ushered Olivia in. The scene before her was straight out of a romance novel. Red rose petals were strewn on the floor to make a path, undoubtedly leading to the bedroom, their sweet fragrance hanging in the air. Dozens of votive candles lit the pathway and were distributed on seemingly every flat surface, filling the room with their gentle warmth. Smooth R&B played softly through their whole-house Sonos system. It was the perfect romantic ambiance. Never, in the entire time that she'd known Jake, had he made such effort. Olivia felt nauseous.

She fought the urge to move away when he walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Dropping his head to nuzzle his face in the crook between her shoulder and neck, he peppered the area with sloppy open mouthed kisses. "Why don't you go change into something a little more comfortable? I'll open a bottle of wine and meet you upstairs."

Olivia forced a smile on her face and turned in his arms to kiss him. She allowed her lips to linger on his, waiting to feel something, anything, but the emptiness she currently felt. Her husband was trying, earnestly trying, to find his way back to her, but the wall she'd allowed to develop between them was proving insurmountable.

She quietly moved away from him, the only emotion she'd managed to muster was guilt. He'd given her safety, love, and stability, all the things she craved, and the only thing he'd asked from her in return was that she remain faithful. She had betrayed him in the worst possible way with the worst possible person.

Olivia followed the trail of rose petals around the corner and into the living room. Instead of continuing along the path, she sat on the couch, dropping her head in her hands and quietly weeping. She was a horrible person for what she was about to do, but she didn't see any other way. It was time for her to make things right.

Moments later, Jake walked into the living room and found her. Rushing to her side, he asked, "Liv, honey, what's wrong?" Olivia's reply was unintelligible, muffled by her hands and her sobs. Jake gently pulled her hands away from her face. "Baby, I can't understand you. Talk to me. What's wrong?" he asked pulling her into his arms.

Tears still flowing freely, she slowly pulled away from him. Unable to make eye contact, she stared at the floor and said, "I can't do this. I thought I could, but I can't."

Jake's face twisted in confusion. He placed his finger under her chin and turned her to look at him. "Is this about the baby? I thought you were ready to start trying. If you're not, we can wait. We don't have to do anything until you're ready. I love you, Liv," he said, placing a kiss upon her temple. "You are all the family I need. We're supposed to be celebrating. Please stop crying."

Wiping away her tears and sniffling quietly, she explained, "This isn't about the baby."

"Then what is it? Why are you so upset?"

Olivia wanted to run; to stand up, walk out the front door, and never come back. Instead, she steeled herself and turned to face her husband. She searched for the right words, ones that would soften the blow of what she had to say. Finding none, she allowed the truth to tumble softly from her lips. "I can't pretend we're happy and in love when I'm not."

The blood drained from Jake's face as the weight of her words settled over him. He sat there in stunned silence, his brain scrambling to catch up with his ears. With tears glistening in his eyes, he asked, "You're not what? You're not happy or you're not in love?"

Olivia felt sick. She knew what he wanted her to say, but she wouldn't say the words, couldn't be so cruel. "Jake..."

Olivia watched as the cold realization of the truth hit him. "This is about him, isn't it? You're screwing Grant, aren't you? That's why you won't let me touch you, because you're taking your clothes off for him. All this time I thought it was me, that I had failed you somehow. I even changed, tried to fix what was broken between us. I asked Abby to help me plan this evening for you because I wanted to show you that I know how lucky I am that you chose me." He paused, laughing coldly. "I'm such an idiot. I didn't ask questions when you started dressing sexier for work, when you started coming home late or going to bed early. You got so defensive every time I mentioned him that I ignored my instinct and decided to trust you. Hell, I even asked you to have my baby. Did you even go to the doctor or were you afraid that you'd get pregnant and not know who the father was? How long have you been fucking your boss?"

"Jake..."

"Don't Jake me. How long? Were you sleeping with him when you agreed to pretend be his fiancée? Or did the affair start in New York?"

"This isn't about him. It's about me. How I feel. What I need."

"Answer me," he roared, lunging toward her.

Olivia flinched, moving out of Jake's reach. "After."

He laughed humorlessly. "Does he make you happy? Does knowing you're one of the hundreds of women he's bedded make you feel loved?"

"No -

"You stupid whore." Olivia's head whipped away from him, his words every bit as impactful as a slap to the face. "You should have known he was only interested in one thing. He's completely transparent. He's a spoiled, rich, manipulative, manchild who's been living in a period of extended adolescence for the last twenty years."

"You've been back for weeks," Jake continued. "Why come clean now, on our anniversary for Christ's sake? Did he get bored with you already and toss you aside like the rest of his whores? Did you really think you were different, that you were special? I warned you if you left with him this would only end one way, with you sitting in that very spot asking for my forgiveness."

Olivia stared him down, her eyes hard and glassy, her jaw tensed. "I don't want your forgiveness," she snarled. "I want a divorce."

A/N: Three years and 25 chapters later, Olivia finally asked for a divorce. Thanks for sticking with this story and taking this journey with me. As always, I love to hear your thoughts – good, bad, and otherwise.