The Courage To Love Him

Chapter 6

A/N: Just had to get this out of my head so you guys get two chapters today.

Happy Reading!

The party is in full swing and the energy is high. Liv spots her parents standing in the back doorway and her mother has a certain look on her face. "Oh Fitz sweetie my parents are here." They stop dancing and walk over to her parents. Liv air kisses her mom and hugs her dad and then introduces Fitz. "I was beginning to think you guys weren't coming." Liv says as Fitz introduces himself shaking Eli's hand "Hi I'm Fitzgerald, Fitz for short." Maya does her Maya thing and says "Oh the landscaper." As she looks Fitz up and down as if he's not bothering her when Liv catches on immediately and says "Actually mom Fitz is my friend…my boyfriend to be clear." Maya is stunned and stunted all at once as she stares at Fitz that same expression. Eli smiles and rocks on his heals removing his hand from his pocket he extends his arm "Fitz nice to meet you."

Maya decides its best to keep her opinion to herself and turns back to Liv. "Livvie…why did you cut your hair? It was your shining glory."

Liv rolls her eyes with irritation because her mother is doing the most right now "It was a weave mother."

"Well it suited you, come on take me in the house so I can freshen up." Liv looks back at Fitz as her mother tugs her away not sure if leaving him with her father alone right now is the best idea. He smiles that crooked confident smile putting her at ease. Eli simply complemented the yard and asked Fitz to show him his work while Maya is being her judgmental self and starts in on Liv as soon as they are inside. "Olivia look at this place you have gone all bohemian my dear…" Looking at Liv's attire from her head to toe as her eyes roam around the living space "What on earth has gotten into you…" She pauses and realizes the loaded question she just presented to Liv and states "Do not answer that." Liv just looks at her mother emotionless "Where the ladies room dear?"

Liv points down the hall deciding not to play her mother's games "Down the hall second door on the left. I will be out back." With that Liv turns and leaves rejoining the party as she watches her dad and Fitz interact. Her nerves are on edge and she needed a drink. She makes her way over to the punch table and fills her small tea like glass with spiked punch drinking it straight down when she hears her Harrison's voice. "Yep I'm telling momma your drinking alcohol." She turns "I see you finally decided to say something to me, still childish I see." She says while looking at the woman standing next to him cheesing the biggest smile ever. He chooses to ignore her statement and instead introduces her to the new girl on his arm "I love you too, Hanna this is my sister Olivia, Livvie this is Hanna." "Hi." Liv says shaking her hand "Nice to meet you." She replies smiling while hugging Harrison like he was the love of her life.

Harrison hugs Hanna tightly towards him as he excitedly says to Liv "Livvie I think I found the one." Liv thinking he's talking about Hanna leans back on one leg "Oh, well that's great, congratulations." Harrison catches on to her meaning "Oh...no no not for me for you. I found your future husband see my intern in law school just moved into town and…" Liv interrupts him stopping him from continuing his not so great news. "Harry, why can't you just stay out of my business and mind your own? I don't need you setting me up with anyone I am very capable of doing that myself."

"Can you just do me a favor and just…just check him out first? I promise you Liv you are going to thank me." She huffs closing her eyes shaking her head "Really Liv you're going to thank me…and also I told him to come her tonight."

"What!" Liv yells a bit top loud "Harrison I'm going to strangle you. I'm seeing Fitz you asshole."

"Too late because he's here." Harrison and his date step to the side of Olivia as a man approaches with a single plant in his hand.

Liv is feeling slightly nervous because she's not sure what her brother told this man about her. He stops right in front of her handing her the single plant "This is for allowing me to crash your party." He pauses and lustfully looks her over "Hi, I'm Edison Davis." Liv is not sure what to do or say so she says what she's thinking "Oh." Edison being a very smart man takes this a sign of nervousness so he quickly turns his attention to Harrison and his date. "Hey Harry." They shake hands "How are you sir. Edison gave me my first job when I was an intern Liv." Liv nervously looks from Edison to her brother "Oh." She says again with the same nervous energy and fake smile. "Thanks…for the plant…ah...nice to meet you."

"Same here… finally, Harrison has been telling me about you for years now." She looks at Harrison then back at Edison "So I hear you just bought this place."

"Ah yeah…yeah." Liv stutters out

"It's nice." He looks around "I just relocated from Washington myself and I'm looking for a place sooo…maybe you can help me out." Edison says dropping his voice in hopes Liv catches the double meaning. "You know show me somethings." He adds after a slight pause when he notices Liv did not give him the reaction he was hoping for so he tries to clean his statement up "I mean…you know…ah your probably and expert on the area by now.

"Well…I…I wouldn't say that I'm an expert…"

Harrison hears this and jumps in "What!? My sister is just playing it down. She knows her stuff; she can give you the numerical break down of anything."

"That's perfect cause that's just what I NEED. How bout next week?' Edison says with a cocky persona

"Ahhh can I let you know?" Liv answers unsure why she's unable to just say no Mr. I know what you're doing I'm not interested in seeing someone.

"No…I'm just kidding next week is fine."

Suddenly Harrison sees Fitz approaching as Edison is smiling licking his lip staring at Liv not caring that he's making her very uncomfortable so he pulls Edison away from Liv and forces him to come with him and check out the rest of the yard including the bar as they both past Fitz he walks up to Liv. "Hey baby." He kisses her on the cheek instead of the mouth seeing that she a bit nervous and she immediately relaxes "Who was that guy?"

"Some friend of Harrison's, he gave me this ugly plant." Fitz laughs and takes the plant sitting it on the table as they rejoin the party. Edison notices Fitz with Liv right away and decides to keep her parent company sharing with them that Liv is going to show him around.

As the party whines down and Liv and Fitz are saying goodbye to the guest when Liv mom calls to her. "Livvie." So Liv walks over as Fitz and the rest of the men are cleaning the yard as others are leaving for the night "So you've met Harrison's mentor Edison. Is that man handsome or what…and well spoken." She grins at Liv as if she see a love connection of some sort "He says you are going to show him around?" Liv rolls her eyes once again at her mother's attempt to read something more into her conversation with Edison. Eli notices Fitz is approaching "Say goodnight Maya." He says shutting her conversation down as Fitz comes up behind Liv. "We have to go now Livvie, and young man you did an ahhh…interesting job on the garden." "Fitz you did amazing work on the landscaping." Eli adds rushing Maya inside the home when Fitz reaches out his hand "Thank you sir I really appreciate that." Eli nods excepting Fitz hand still pushing Maya towards the house when she turns back "Oh Livvie did you get your Black Ball Invite?"

"Yes mother."

"You must come, Dr. and Mrs. Johnson niece will be matched up with Dr. and Mrs…."

Liv cuts her off "We'll talk about it later mother." Maya snaps her head back then blow Liv a kiss and they leave.

Liv and Fitz say their final goodbyes after the crew of friend help put the house back in order. Liv and Fitz decide to have a seat on the sofa and watch television. "Livvie, what's the Black Ball, are not whites invited?"

"I've never witness any white people there but I don't think they are excluded." Liv says picking up the invitation and looking it over. Fitz takes it from her hand and looks at the date. "The 21st that's the same date as the garden party for the locals I could blow it off and go with you."

Liv gives a small smile "I think I'm going to skip it this year."

"Why, because of me? I have you know I'm a great ball room dancer."

"I just think we wouldn't be comfortable."

"We… or you?" Liv doesn't answer instead she kisses him "Let's go to bed we both have work tomorrow remember." She gets up taking Fitz hand leading him to the bedroom. "Yeah I do." Fitz answers thinking to himself dating Liv may be harder than he thought.

The following morning Liv goes to work and Fitz checks in with his office. Today she has another meeting with Hollis and she's not really looking forward to it. She hears Cyrus call her name and she sighs and turns to his voice. "Yes Cyrus." He stop in front of her "Listen I'm sorry about that business with Hollis the other day. I know he's being an ass but as you once told me where here to serve the client and sometimes that means putting egos aside." "Absolutely." Liv agrees "That's why James and I chose you we knew you could handle it, you're a pro." "Thanks." Liv says "Thank you." Cyrus says before simply walking away. Cyrus really believes in Olivia so much he had even given her a personal assistant named Ethan as a way to not overload Liv and still have someone to do the small work while she concentrated on the client. She was glad to have Ethan on her team because it allowed her to boss someone else around and it helped with her workload. She was glad to see that no matter the amount of work she threw on his plate he completed them all above her expectations in the least amount of time. So she decided to have him look over her proposal for Hollis and tell her his thoughts which he did and they mirrored hers. This brought a smile to her face and put her confidence back on track.

What no one knew was that Olivia came from a world of entitlement and pride but she didn't quit fit in. She always wanted to believe all people were equal no matter who they were. She understood that some had to work harder than others to prove themselves but her it was just a part of life. She never really cared about titles and accolades actually she hated it. Everyone she grew up around seemed fake and forced. They walked around with this personification that they were the most elite. It always felt competitive and unnecessary. Maybe this is why she felt fake and used her mother's belief as a justification for always comparing white verses black in everything around her. She had becomes what she hated most about her up bringing a person who equated everything wrong or challenging in her life as the white man(s) fault. In her mind this included Cyrus and Hollis. She couldn't see that Cyrus really believed in her abilities and trusted her for no other reason except than her being good at her job, but to make her look like a failure in front of his colleagues as a reason to justify not giving her a promotion and making her partner. She knew she was good at her job but due to her upbringing and mother's constant comparisons she couldn't see past the black vs white racial divides that has always plague many black people.

Two hours later her meeting began. "Looky here now all imma say is I really need this IPO to happen." Hollis starts making sure Liv understand his agenda "Mr. Doyle I don't see the benefit in the IPO. You would lose more than you gain in the end." Liv says "Ethan have you seen these number's and the receivables?" "Yes here they are right her." Ethan quickly hands them to Liv who professionally replies "Of course he has Mr. Doyle and he agrees with my assessment. I know you want this to happen but the deal has to make sense and this one doesn't. Hollis I know your anxious about this deal but I'm only protecting you and your assets." Just as Liv finishes her statement Cyrus peeks in the door. "How's it going, excuse my interruption but Liv…?" Hollis interrupts leaping from his seat with a sigh of relief. "Cyrus I'm glad you're here why don't you take a minutes here and sit with us?"

"I'd love too but I have meeting. You're in good hands Olivia knows what she's doing."

"Well after your meeting why don't you swing back around and take a look at this?"

Cyrus pauses and looks at Liv. "Ah sur…Olive do you mind?"

"No not at all. Hollis values your feedback and he should have it. We're all here to serve the client." Hollis lets out a sigh of relief and they end the meeting. Cyrus would not give Hollis a meeting. He avoided him over the next two weeks leaving him no choice but to listen to Liv present her finding to all the partners then and only then would a decision be made. Hollis would eventually be okay with this thinking to himself it better than meeting with Liv.

Over the next week Liv would come home every day and complain about the white man this and the white man that to Fitz and he would listen and try to always encourage her that she was good enough. She complained about her boss she complained about her coworkers. Fitz was beginning to wonder if it was time she sought new employment because even though he knew she loved what she did she was beginning to sound as if she hated where she worked. It became clear to Fitz that being with Liv was not just going to be challenging but very challenging.

He often wondered why she never asked where he lived or asked to go to his place. He knew she assumed she made more money than him. He needed to figure out a way to explain that one to her someday. Maybe she thought he lived in a shack or maybe his living standards were beneath her. He wasn't quite sure and decided for now he'd let it go. Their time together was bliss except for those moments when Liv was upset about work and today was the wrong day for Harrison to show it.

Harrison arrives at Liv's house and without knocking he walks right in and is met by Boom's bark. Liv looks up from the sofa as Fitz quiets Boom "Boom quiet." The dog immediately stops barking. "Harrison what do you want?"

He looks at Fitz and frowns "I wanted to talk to you for a minute…in private." Fitz takes Boom and excuses himself taking him for a walk. "I'll just go for a walks with Boom." He kisses Liv then leaves. "What's up Har?"

"Liv you seriously dating this guy? I thought you were going to show Edison around?"

"Harrison what does me dating Fitz has to do with showing Edison around? I'm still mad with you about that too. You ambushed me."

"I'm just saying Liv you can't be serious about this white dude."

"And you can't be seriously standing in my home being a racist ass right now? Let me make myself clear when I say this…stay out of my business and if you can't respect Fitz by referring to him by his name then I will not have you around. You are a grown ass man…act like one because until you learn to respect women and hold a real relationship you can't tell me shit about mines. When you grow up and get your own home pay your own bills and learn to be a responsible adult do not ever fix your mouth to say some stupid shit to me about Fitz or any other person in my life."

Harrison is so stunned that he forgot what he came over for. "My badd sorry Liv, umm I came to tell you mom wants us to come to Sunday dinner. She said you hadn't returned her call and told me to stop by." She knew Harrison felt bad when he called their mother mom otherwise he would say mommy, as a man child would. "Fine is that all?"

"Uhh yeah, really though Liv I'm sorry."

"Fine you can go now." Liv was still pissed off even more now that she had to go to Sunday dinner and since her mother didn't extend an invitation it also meant Fitz wasn't invited. Harrison leaves without another word. Fitz returns shortly after seeing Harrison leave. "Is everything alright Liv?"

"No my family is making me miserable. My job is making me miserable, and everybody is getting on my last nerve." Fitz just stands next to the sofa looking down at her "Should I take off and give you some alone time?"

"Do whatever you want Fitz I'm going to lay down." Liv gets up and storms into her bedroom slamming her door behind her leaving a confused Fitz still standing in the same spot.

A/N: I feel my head spinning I can only imagine how Fitz feels….Until next time….