A/N: Happy New Year! I hope 2018 is treating you well. My goal was to have this chapter posted before Christmas, but I failed you miserably. I will try to do better this year. My thanks to all of you for reading and a special thanks to those that take the time to leave comments, even the one's asking where is the damn update. You guys are funny and you keep me motivated. I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Fitz and Olivia walked through the terminal holding hands, a skycap following a respectable distance behind them with their luggage. As they approached the automatic door, Fitz felt Olivia's hand slip from his grasp. Welcome home. Goodbye Olivia Pope. Hello Mrs. Jacob Ballard, he thought, groaning internally.
He looked down in wonder at the tiny dynamo standing beside him. He knew he had to let her go. Let her return to her life with her husband, but how was he supposed to find the strength to walk away. Every minute he spent with her made him long for another and the thought of being away from her, even for a night, threatened to destroy him. She was perfectly imperfect. Strong yet broken, principled yet messy, gorgeous yet grounded. Somehow, this amazing woman could look past all his flaws and see him. Despite everything she knew to be true, she still believed in him, still wanted him. How could he not fall for a woman like that?
The couple continued forward, bracing themselves for the Miami heat and humidity that waited for them on the other side of the glass. The automatic doors parted, revealing Brian polishing the hood of a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 parked, presumably, behind Fitz's Range Rover. "Did you scratch her?" Fitz asked, his voice full of concern, as he rushed from Olivia's side toward the car.
"No, sir. I was just making sure she was perfect for you. It's been a while since she's been out of the garage."
"Did you open her up on the highway?"
"No, sir. I'm a professional. I can't afford to lose my license over a reckless driving ticket. I held her to five over the entire drive. I trust you'll have more fun with her," he said with a wide grin, handing over the keys before moving to help the skycap load the luggage in the back of the Range Rover. Fitz's eyes danced as he thought about being on the open road in the fast car with good music blaring at him through the speakers. The only thing that would be better was Olivia in the passenger seat beside him, but he knew that wasn't an option. He also knew he couldn't handle a prolonged goodbye. It's why he asked Brian to meet him here with both vehicles. Their time together would end here, in a nice, safe public place. Afterward, Fitz would drive himself to the office while Brian took Olivia home.
"You boys and your toys," Olivia said, walking up to Fitz. "She's beautiful, but I get the feeling she's not here for me." She couldn't possibly tell him that the voice in her head was screaming for her to get in the car with him. Pleading for her to choose him and allow them to figure out what came next together. Despite her best efforts to convince herself otherwise, she believed him when he said she was different and described how special they could be together. Most importantly in this moment, she believed that if she asked him to drop everything right now and run away with her, he would do so without a moment's hesitation.
Olivia scolded herself. She was being irrational and irresponsible. How would she explain to Jake that she was leaving him for a man she'd only really known for a week? So what if they'd been the best seven days of her life. Didn't she felt the same way when she met Jake? Now, here she was fourteen years later, questioning her feelings for both men and wondering if she made the wrong decision that fateful night in Boston. It was all too confusing and she was already confused enough. The best thing for her, for both of them, would be for her to walk away before everyone got hurt.
Fitz watched Olivia closely, trying to decipher what she was feeling. She looked torn; like there was something she wanted to say but was hesitating. Or did she? Was he projecting his feelings onto her because he wanted this to be as hard for her as it was for him? He opened his arms and she moved into them, resting her head on his chest. Standing there, holding her, he felt at home, like they were both exactly where they belonged. He was digging himself in deep, way too deep, but he couldn't bring himself to care. "Not this time, beautiful," he explained, kissing her softly on the forehead. "You need to get home. I've kept you away long enough."
"I thought you only drove when you needed to get away and clear your head," she said, more a question than a statement.
He gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. "It's been an amazing few days, but now we're home. I think we both could use a little space to figure out where, if anywhere, we go from here."
"Are you having second thoughts?"
"No, but I'm the one with everything to gain and nothing to lose," he said, smiling warmly.
"I don't know what to do," she whispered, lowering her head.
"I know," he said, resting his chin on top of her head, holding her tightly. "I'm sorry. I've put you in an impossible position."
"Don't apologize. I'm not sorry about what happened between us this weekend and I don't want you to be."
"I'm not. I just wish...," he said, his voice trailing off.
"Me too," she whispered.
Fitz pulled away from her slightly and reached into the inside pocket of his blazer, producing the antique octagonal ring box. Olivia looked up at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Your wedding bands," he explained.
"Oh," she replied, reaching tentatively for the small box. She released the tiny brass hook closure and stared at the two rings inside, a reminder of a life she was no longer sure she wanted. Was the transition really as simple as swapping one man's ring for the other's? Was she supposed to slide on her wedding bands and forget everything she experienced as Fitz's fiancée? Would it be as easy for her to fall back into her routine with Jake as it had been for her to pretend with Fitz?
Slowly Olivia removed the six-carat engagement ring that had graced her finger for the last five days and palmed it in her right hand. Without releasing the ring she was holding, she removed her wedding bands from the box and placed them on her left ring finger. She looked down at the rings and thought of the vows she'd sworn. She must have believed she loved Jake when she made those promises. She wished she could feel those emotions now. Something, anything, to make it easier to walk away from Fitz. She stood there, searching her memories for the moment when she decided Jake was the one. Coming up empty, she wondered if she ever made that decision or if she'd just willingly gone along with his plans for their life together. Was their life together everything she'd dreamed of or had she given up on her dreams when she married him? Sighing deeply, she placed Fitz's ring back in the box and hooked the closure.
When she was finished, he folded her tiny hand in his much larger one, forcing her to grasp the box. "Keep it," he said. "I designed it for you. It's yours."
"I can't," she replied.
"Then sell it," he said, releasing her hand. "It will help build your baby nest egg."
Fitz instantly regretted his choice of words when surprise and hurt flashed in her eyes. "I couldn't bear it." She allowed herself to look up at him, his sad eyes breaking her heart. "Keep it for me?" she asked, placing the small box back in his breast pocket, allowing her hand to linger over his heart.
He placed his hand over hers, holding it in place. "Only if you promise to come back to me to reclaim it one day."
"Fitz," she exhaled, stepping away from him.
Fitz took a step in the opposite direction, widening the gap between them. "You should go."
"I should go," she repeated, making no effort to walk away.
"Just get in the Range and ride away. Just leave and we'll pretend this weekendnever happened. Get in the vehicle, Liv," he pleaded. When she refused to move, he turned his back to her and walked toward the Aston Martin."
"Fitz, wait," she cried out.
Fitz stopped walking and paused for a second, before losing his resolve and turning to face her. Olivia rushed into his arms, her hands burying themselves in his curls, lowering his face to hers. Fitz's first instinct was to resist her, but, when she crushed her body against his, he was powerless to deny her. She kissed him hungrily, as if she couldn't get enough, and he matched her fervor. Fitz held her close, his free hand running up and down her side, grazing her breast, and devoured her mouth with his. She kissed his lips, an open kiss filled with promise, as she ran her fingers down over his chest, his stomach and curled them around his back, drawing herself closer to him. She moaned wantonly when he slipped his tongue in her mouth, seeking out her tongue as the kiss grew needier. She clung to him, letting his kiss, his touch; distract her from the reality that awaited both of them. Too soon for either of their liking, Fitz slowly withdrew from the kiss. Olivia allowed her head to drop to his chest. She closed her eyes, reveling in his closeness, his scent, his adoration.
Fitz was the first to speak. "You have to walk away, Livvie. I can't leave you, but I know I can't take you with me. You have to leave me, please," he pleaded.
"I can't leave you," she offered, her voice cracking with despair.
"You have to. For us. If you don't leave now then we will never make it," he explained. "You can't make this decision now, not like this. You will always wonder if I took advantage of you, preyed on you when you were vulnerable, and eventually I will start to believe I did. We will grow to resent each other and that resentment will destroy both of us. Walk away, Liv. Walk away now so that you can come back to me later, when you're sure. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here when you're ready, but right now I need you to go home."
Olivia fought back tears. She wrapped her arms around Fitz's neck and pulled him close for one last soft and lingering kiss. Without a word, she slowly turned her back to him and walked toward the Range Rover. When she was within a few steps of the vehicle, Brian opened the door and helped her into the SUV. Fitz watched her until he was certain she was safely in the car, before lowering himself into the Aston Martin and speeding off without looking back. As he drove away, he felt a searing pain explode in his chest. How could he be so broken-hearted over a woman that was never his?
Olivia's eyes watered as she watched Fitz drive away, but she willed herself not to cry. Her insides throbbed in pain, but she refused to let a tear fall. Not today. Crying wouldn't change her situation. It wouldn't make her any less married or the path forward any more apparent. The short-term decision had been made; she was going home, to her husband. The long-term plan was yet to be determined.
Would what happened between her and Fitz in the Hamptons stay in the Hamptons or would it follow them back to Miami? Would it be awkward and uncomfortable when they both arrived at work in the morning or would they maintain the connection they developed over the past week? Would she tell Jake what happened? If so, would that be the end of her marriage or would she fight to save it? Is that what she wanted, to save her marriage, or did she want out, out of her marriage and out of the person she'd become as Jake's wife?
Right now, she needed to focus on getting through these next set of firsts. Her first night back at home with her husband, the guilt about her feelings for Fitz weighing heavy on her. And, her first day back in the office with Fitz, their intimate secret lingering between them. These first interactions would be the hardest. After that, she would know what to expect from herself, and from them, and could adjust accordingly. She just needed to get through tonight and tomorrow. She could do that. Right?
Brian made eye contact with Olivia in the rear view mirror. "Where to Mrs. Ballard?"
"Please, call me Olivia, especially after what you just witnessed." She hung her head, embarrassed by what he must have thought about her, a married woman, carrying on in public with another man, her boss no less.
"Mr. Grant wouldn't -"
Olivia looked up and interrupted. "Trust me," she said, shaking her head, "Fitz doesn't want you to call me Mrs. Ballard. In fact, I'm surprised he allows you to call him Mr. Grant."
"Ma'am -"
Olivia looked at him sternly. "Brian, you're not listening. It's just plain Olivia or Liv if you're feeling bold. Not Mrs. Ballard. Not ma'am."
Under different circumstances, Brian would have insisted on the formality, but she was already so sad. He didn't want to compound that by making her angry as well. "OK, Olivia," he said with a wide grin. "Where can I take you?"
"Just home, please. Thank you." Olivia settled into the plush leather seat, allowing her head to fall back on the headrest. "You must be an expert at this drive of shame."
"Excuse me? I'm not sure I follow you."
"This," she gestured between them, "us in this awkward moment with you having to drive me home after I've been dismissed by Fitz."
"Is that what you think just happened, because that's not what I saw?"
Curious, Olivia asked, "Haven't you witnessed what just transpired between Fitz and I a hundred times?"
Brian laughed. "I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of the terms and conditions of my employment so I can't tell you what I've witnessed, but I can talk about what I haven't witnessed. I've never seen Mr. Grant treat a woman the ways he treats you."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm sure you've seen it before. He has this attitude. It's hard to explain. It's like he's Fitzgerald Grant. You know, rich, successful, handsome, I imagine good in bed -"
"You've imagined Fitz in bed?" Olivia interrupted, a bit shocked that he, presumably a heterosexual male, would admit thinking about his boss that way.
He shrugged. "You haven't?" he asked casually. Olivia's cheeks flushed with heat and her eyes dropped to the floor. It wasn't until she reacted that Brian realized how what he said could be interpreted. "Not now," he said, embarrassed and scrambling to explain. "Before, when you were just his assistant."
Olivia gave him a wry laugh. "You say that like there's an after. I'm still just his assistant."
"That's what I was trying to explain before I put my size tens in my mouth. Mr. Grant doesn't do a lot of changing or accommodating. However, with you he's different. It's like you're Olivia Ballard -"
"Pope," she interrupted again. Brian looked at her in the rear view mirror, his brows furrowed in confusion. "When we're together he calls me Olivia Pope. It's my middle name," she explained.
He nodded, acknowledging what she said and didn't say. "With you, he's the one making the adjustments to try and measure up to your expectations. He didn't dismiss you. He left you in the care of his second most valuable employee," he said, winking at her in the mirror, "to make sure you have everything you need before delivering you home safely. Dismissing you would have been instructing me to drive away before your Uber arrived."
Olivia was astounded. "He wouldn't, would he? Has he?" she asked, growing more incredulous with each word.
Brian flashed her a schoolboy grin. "I signed an NDA. I can't talk about it if he did." She laughed a lighthearted, melodic tone that made him laugh along with her. There was something special about Olivia. He just hoped his boss recognized it.
They spent the rest of the drive to the house with Olivia peppering Brian with questions about his adventures working for Fitz. Some questions he answered, the others he claimed he couldn't because of the NDA, each time making Olivia cackle in delight. All in all, it was a jovial conversation and exactly what Olivia needed to take her mind off of her sad and painful goodbye with Fitz.
When they arrived at her house, Brian parked the Range Rover in the Ballard's driveway. Olivia waited while he got out of the car and came around to open her door. "Do you have your keys?" he asked, causing her to search through purse. When she located her keys, he instructed, "You go ahead and unlock the door. I'll be right behind you with your bags. Unless, you want me to go in first and check the house."
Olivia laughed. "How very chivalrous of you, but I'll be fine. Jake's been home this entire time. I'm not worried about a break-in."
Olivia bounded up the stairs and unlocked her front door. She walked into the house and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth hanging agape as she turned in a slow circle surveying the damage. The house was trashed, the rancid odors of sweat, spoiling food, and stale air hanging in the air. Beer bottles were scattered all over the living rooms tables and floor. Olivia groaned when she spotted a silver dollar sized stain on her rug where beer had leaked from an overturned bottle onto the floor. There was a greasy pizza box open on the couch and mountains of takeout containers piled high on the coffee table. Jake's clothes were scattered around the floor as if someone had grabbed an armful and just thrown them in the air like confetti. Olivia expected to find that Jake had reverted to his bachelor days, but this was beyond the pale.
A few minutes later, Brian joined her in the house, carrying the largest of her suitcases. "Whoa!" he exclaimed, as the breath rushed out of his lungs. He took one look at Olivia's horrified face and added, "I gather the house didn't look like this when you left. What time does your housekeeper get here?"
"You're looking at the housekeeper."
"Oh," he said, dropping her bag. "I'll help," he offered, walking over to the coffee table and picking up an armful of empties.
"Brian, please, you don't have to clean my house," Olivia protested, rushing into the kitchen and grabbing a blue recycling bag for the bottles.
He dumped the bottles in the bag and asked, "Do you want me to call Marisol?"
"Who is Marisol?"
"Mr. Grant's housekeeper. He's been with you for the past couple of days so she hasn't had much to do. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
"Thanks for the offer, but it's bad enough you had to see my house like this. I would be mortified for anyone else to see it. Please just bring in the rest of my luggage and you can go. Thanks!"
Brian hesitated for a moment, giving Olivia an opportunity to change her mind. When she turned her back to him and started collecting the rest of the beer bottles, he shrugged and walked out of the house. Moments later, he reappeared carrying the rest her bags. "Where's your bedroom?" Olivia looked at him stunned. He laughed. "You're beautiful, but most likely not worth the trouble. I don't think the boss would appreciate me hooking up with his girl. I just want to drop off your bags so you don't have to drag them up the stairs. You already have your hands full, no need to add to it."
Olivia smiled appreciatively. "Follow the trail of clothes and shoes," she said pointing up the stairs.
It took Brian a couple of trips to get all of Olivia's luggage up to her bedroom. When he was finished, he bid her farewell and wished her good luck. Olivia walked him to the door, thanking him for everything. After watching him drive away, she closed the door and slumped against it, sinking to the floor. She looked at the mess Jake made and laughed a dry and humorless laugh. All weekend she lived a Cinderella fantasy with Fitz in the role of Prince Charming. It seemed rather fitting that the Cinderella theme would follow her home. It was officially midnight, the magic from her fairytale weekend dissipated, leaving her in role of scullery maid. She sighed, rising to her feet and heading for the bedroom, gathering up Jake's clothes and shoes along the way. She would start cleaning there and work her way back to the living room.
Several hours later, an exhausted Olivia trudged through her bedroom and walked into her now pristine bathroom carrying a full glass of red wine in her right hand and the two-thirds full bottle in her left. She placed the bottle on the floor, sat down on the edge of the bathtub, and reached over to turn the water on. She took a long sip from her glass, rolling the wine over her tongue for several seconds before swallowing, as she patiently waited for the tub to fill. It wasn't the fine wine she'd grown accustomed to drinking over the weekend, but it was warm and soothing as it coursed through her body, promising to numb her limbs and make her mind hazy.
Discomforted by the quiet, she called out for Alexa to play Sam Smith's latest album. When ribbons of steam began to rise from the tub, she added vanilla bubble bath and lavender soaking salts into the water. Slowly, she peeled off her sweaty clothes and secured her hair in a bun atop her head. Satisfied the water was ready; she eased her feet in the tub and gingerly slipped under the water's surface. She allowed the steamy hot water to caress her tired muscles while she continued to sip from her glass.
She leaned back, resting her head against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes, a deep sigh escaping her lips. Suddenly and without warning, her mind conjured up Fitz's image, placing him in the tub with her, staring back at her with those warm blue eyes, his thin lips twisted in a crooked smile. Her eyes snapped open and she sat up in the tub, her eyes darting wildly around the room, a small part of her hoping he was really there with her.
Satisfied she was truly alone, she settled back under the water and closed her eyes. Once again, Fitz was there, but this time she was expecting him, his beautiful naked body seated at the opposite end of the tub. Eager to test the details of this fantasy, she stretched out her leg and rested her foot on the inside of his thigh. She brushed it against the long, thick member between his legs, causing it to jump. She giggled, wondering who had been kinder to Fitz, her imagination or the genetic lottery.
A curious smile crept onto her face as the wine and heat from the bath allowed her to succumb to her active imagination. She felt pressure against her arch as Fitz's firm fingers began massaging her foot. He lifted her foot out of the water and kissed the small dimple beside her ankle, then her ankle, and then the curve above it, slowly working his way along her leg.
Olivia wasn't sure when it happened, but she was pulled deeper into her fantasy by the sensation created by caressing her own breast, letting her fingertips run softly over her stiffening nipple. Her fingers became Fitz's as she brushed her thumb over her sensitive and aroused peak. Her right hand drifted lower, sliding over her quivering belly, while the left continued to massage and tease her breast.
Her legs felt apart, as she pictured Fitz where she needed him most. Her fingers continued their slow crawl south running over her mound, her body quivering in anticipation at the contact. She pressed her fingers between her folds. The slippery wetness that met her touch wasn't from the water, but her own smooth lubricant. Even imagined, Fitz strummed her body like an exotic instrument in a master's hand. She ran her index and middle fingers up and down her slit, smearing them in her wetness before she started slowly swirling them around her clit, heightening her arousal with her teasing touch. The building pressure bent her body in a graceful arch, water sloshing out of the tub, as she pleasured herself.
She was snatched back to reality, breathless and panting, by the sound of her garage door lifting. Jake was home and he would be standing in front of her in little over two minutes. She had a decision to make; she could finish herself off or wait for her husband to join in on the fun. Sinking down into the water, she closed her eyes and waited to see if Fitz would join her once again.
Fitz was on her in an instant, his body leaning over hers, his sparkling blue eyes darkened with lust. She lunged forward and kissed him roughly, biting his lower lip before pulling away. "We don't have much time," she whispered. Her fingers expertly found their way between her slick folds and she gasped as her thumb grazed her sensitive clit. Pressed for time, she rubbed tight, concentrated circles over her clit. Her body went rigid as she barreled forward toward her climax. Her fingers moved faster, feverishly rubbing her own clit until the pressure burst and she uttered Fitz's name in a soft gasp as she came.
Olivia's eyes fluttered open and Fitz disappeared just as Jake walked into the bathroom to find her recovering from her orgasm. Her was skin flushed, she was panting, and water was all over the floor. He took a long, curious glance at her and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Yes," she replied, still struggling to catch her breath. "You startled me. I didn't hear the garage door and wasn't expecting you home so soon."
He squatted beside the tub and leaned forward toward her. "I missed you pretty girl."
Olivia winced. She hated when her called her that. Sure, she thought it was cute when she was nineteen, but now she found the nickname infantilizing. Ignoring the creepy sensation that was crawling across her skin, she reached out, capturing his face in her wet hands and pulled him down for a gentle, but passionate kiss. "I can tell," she said after she separated from him, sinking back into the tub.
"How long have you been home?"
"A couple of hours," she said with a shrug.
"Why didn't you call me? I would have come home early."
"To help me clean?
"Are you mad?" he asked sheepishly.
"Are you done punishing me?" she asked pointedly.
"I'm not -". Olivia silenced him with a withering look.
Jake rose to his feet, his knees cracking under him as he stood. Loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top buttons of his dress shirt, he asked, "Do you want company?"
"No," she said a little too quickly, causing him to study her closely. "The water is getting cold," she explained. "I was just about to take a quick shower. Why don't you change into something more comfortable, go downstairs, and grab a beer? I'll be down in a minute."
Disappointed, Jake grabbed a towel from the nearby basket and held it open, waiting for her to step into it. Olivia pulled out the tub stopper, stepped out of the tub, and into his waiting embrace. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her the way he had so many other times before. His kiss was supposed to feel familiar, like coming home, but instead it felt foreign, as if she were kissing a stranger.
Jake dropped the towel to the floor, pressing Olivia's naked body against his so she could feel his erection straining against her soft curves. She couldn't help but compare his softening middle aged frame to Fitz's athletic muscular frame. He spun her around in his arms, kissing her exposed neck, his hand kneading one of her breasts. Olivia involuntarily flinched at the contact. Jake quickly spun her around to face him. "What's wrong?" he immediately asked, his voice laced with concern. "You're acting oddly. Did something happen while you were away? Did he touch you? Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice breaking at the suggestion.
"Nothing happened. He didn't hurt me." Olivia reached out, her fingers stroking his cheek, soothing his fears away. "I guess I'm not fully adjusted to being home. I haven't been touched like that in days. It felt...I don't know...wrong somehow."
"It feels wrong to be touched by your husband?" he asked, confused, but trying not to get angry.
"No, of course not. I just need a minute to adjust," she answered calmly, softly pushing away from him. "Let's start over." Pointing to the wine glass on the floor, she said, "I have a half a bottle head start." She paused briefly to peck him on his lips. "You need to get downstairs and catch up. Will you order something for dinner while you're down there?" she asked, stepping into the shower, desperate to put a physical barrier between them.
"Sure," he replied, not completely convinced everything was fine. "Do you want Thai from that place you like?"
"Sounds good," she said, smiling brightly before walking into the spray.
Jake turned his back to her and walked into the bedroom. "Don't take too long. I've got plans for you tonight," he called over his shoulder.
When she was certain Jake wasn't returning, she rested her forehead against the cool shower tile and sighed loudly. She stood like that for a while, letting the water pound her, trying to close her mind to the thoughts of Fitz that tried to invade it. What was she going to do?
XXXXX
"Shit!" Olivia exclaimed, slamming her palms on the steering wheel of her Audi A5 Coupe. She was running late, very late. It was after nine o'clock and she was at least ten minutes away from the office. Nothing this morning had gone as planned. She was awakened before her alarm went off by her husband, his erection pressing against her back. After what she thought was a satisfying round of sex in their bed, he joined her for another round in the shower. After attending to his needs, she playfully pushed him out of the shower, convincing him they both had to get to work and there was no time for another round of sex.
Her routine disrupted, she spent the rest of her morning in a fussy snit, her mood worsened by a slight hangover from the bottle of wine she'd consumed to loosen up last night. Jake wet her hair in the shower so she had to spend precious time straightening it before styling it in a curly bob. Despite having a new wardrobe, she couldn't find anything she wanted to wear. She finally settled on a simple white, sleeveless, wide leg jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. She tried on four pair of shoes before selecting a pair of completely impractical four and a half inch gold mirror leather sandals. She kept it somewhat simple with her accessories, a gold Movado watch and a pair of gold mesh drop earrings. She carefully applied her makeup, paying a little extra attention to her eyes, but being careful not to detract from her natural beauty. An hour later than usual and ninety minutes behind schedule, she pulled of her garage and headed into the office.
Olivia pulled into the parking garage below her office building, grateful that Grant Enterprises reserved spaces for the company's senior executives and their staff. She quickly found her assigned space and speed walked into the building, pausing briefly to take note of Fitz's vacant space. Breathing a sigh of relief, she slipped into the elevator and pressed the button for the sixteenth floor, home of the C-Suite.
The elevator doors opened on the fourth floor and Olivia's good friend and Cyrus's assistant, Lauren Wellman, stepped in the car. "Well look what the cat dragged in. It's about time you joined us bitch."
Olivia smiled, pushing her sunglasses onto her head, and took an exaggerated look at her watch. "I have at least another forty-five minutes before Fitz arrives," she countered.
Her friend looked at her confused. "What are you talking about? Fitz is here."
"Fitz's here? My Fitz?" she asked, touching her chest when she asked the last question. "Are you sure?"
Lauren laughed. "I'm sure. I've seen him with my own eyes. He had an eight o'clock meeting with Cyrus and the attorneys this morning."
"Charlotte scheduled an eight o'clock meeting on his first day back in the office? He must have been livid. Was he hungover?"
"What the hell? Did Jake fuck you senseless last week? Did you not check email or talk to Fitz while you were away? He returned to the office yesterday. The meeting this morning was his idea. Charlotte said he wanted to meet as early as possible. Eight was the earliest Cyrus could do. And, no he wasn't hungover, but he did look particularly delicious."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "I know, I know," Lauren prattled on, ignoring Olivia's antics. "You're married to Mr. Perfect. He completes you. He makes you want to be a better woman. To you, he's perfect and all that other romantic bullshit. That doesn't mean you're blind. Fitz is a fucking god. Charlotte certainly noticed, thirsty bitch. She's been more than eager to fill in for you. They were here late last night and in early this morning. I'm sure she's been shamelessly throwing herself at him and we both know he's not one to turn down what's been offered. I don't know what that girl wants more, your job or to be the future Mrs. Fitzgerald Grant. You better get your ass back to your desk and save him from himself."
"That's not in my job description," Olivia scoffed, trying to mask her insane and irrational jealousy at the thought of a Fitz working so closely with another woman. Why didn't he tell her he was going to the office? She would have come in as well. "Who he sleeps with is his business, although Charlotte would be foolish to believe any relationship with him would last longer than one night. My job is to make him look good while he's at work and I'm damn good at it. She needs to find another position to covet. Fitz and I are moving into the CEO's office together this spring."
"I swear you're the only woman in this building immune to his charm. It's why you're the perfect assistant for him," Lauren said as the elevator door opened. The two women stepped onto their floor and prepared to head to their respective desks. "Let's have lunch later this week so you can fill me in on all the details about how Jake spoiled you rotten last week."
Olivia looked away from Lauren, doing her best to hide her confusion and uneasiness. Jake's idea of spoiling Olivia would be to give her his credit card and send her off with her friends for a girl's day. He wouldn't know where to begin execute the weekend Fitz planned for her, but, to be fair Fitz had help. Speaking of help, she wondered whom that help was, hoping it wasn't Charlotte. The last thing she needed was a nosey millennial with something to prove sniffing around Fitz's personal life. He must have told her he needed her to cover for Olivia's vacation and she was happy to spread that seemingly innocuous information around the office. She wondered if the details of Fitz's weekend were also common knowledge among the staff. She would have to find a way to ask Lauren about it without being obvious. Lauren was incredibly perceptive and she didn't want to alert her to the change in her relationship with Fitz, especially before she decided what that change was. Right now, Olivia just needed a couple of days of "normal".
Olivia tuned back into Lauren in time to hear her say, "It must have been wonderful, you're practically glowing and you look fierce. I love your hair. You know, I would consider settling down if someone promised me vacations with shopping sprees to Prada and Jimmy Choo. You must have been a very very naughty girl," she teased.
Olivia laughed heartily. "Girl, you are crazy. Call me later, once I've had a minute to settle in, and we'll schedule something." Olivia walked away quickly, eager to reclaim her desk and her boss from Charlotte.
Fitz and Charlotte walked out of his office engrossed in conversation just as Olivia was rounding the corner headed toward her desk. He sensed her presence, a comforting warm glow that engulfed him, before he saw her. He looked up just as the most graceful and beautiful creature he had ever seen came into view. A slow smile curved his lips as everything faded away, until it was just the two of them. Just how he liked it. Olivia was a stunning vision in white. Her outfit pushing the limits of appropriate for work, as was her norm. She was always impeccably put together, but she seemed to do a little something extra today. He wondered if she had selected her outfit with his seduction in mind. If so, it was working.
"Hi," he said, opening his arms to wrap her in his embrace. Olivia subtly waved him off before he reached her. Realizing his error, Fitz immediately shoved his hands in his pockets, not trusting himself not to touch her. They had only been back in the office together minutes and he already hated this, being so close to her and having to pretend he was unaffected. How was he supposed to pretend that everything was normal when their time together had left him so deeply and profoundly changed?
Since they said goodbye at the airport, she'd been in his every thought and he had counted the hours, minutes, and seconds until he could see her again. He knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help himself. Now that he'd found something real, he had no interest in pretending. It had been a long time since he felt this way about anyone and he didn't want to waste any more time not being with her. He wanted to talk to her and really hear her when she talked back. He wanted her to tell him what she was thinking and feeling. Specifically, he wants to know if their night apart allowed the feelings of regret to creep in or if she missed him as much as he missed her.
Olivia took a moment to appreciate Fitz. Lauren was right. He looked delicious, wearing a navy Tom Ford suit, white button down shirt, and light blue and gray striped tie. His impossibly blue eyes made even bluer by his clothes. "Hi," she replied with a wicked grin. "How was your meeting?"
Fitz felt his body gravitating toward her without conscious thought as he closed the gap between them. "It was productive. The lawyers and I were able to convince Cyrus to make the concessions needed so Jeff and Alex will sign off on their end. I emailed you the current draft. Do you think you can have your comments ready before noon? My goal is to have our draft of the agreement ready for Alex's review this afternoon."
"I can review the agreement," Charlotte injected. "I've been involved with the project from the start. It's Olivia's first day back. No need to overwhelm her as she walks through the door."
Olivia huffed, irritation rising at the younger woman's intrusion into their conversation. She wasn't about to allow Charlotte to encroach on her territory, professional or otherwise. She glared at her before speaking. "I'm already up to speed. I just need the notes from this morning's meeting and I can get those from the paralegal assigned to the agreement. Thanks for covering Fitz's office for me while I was away, but I'm back now and I've got it from here," she said, effectively dismissing her substitute.
Fitz smirked, amused by Olivia's feisty attitude. He'd seen her handle an ambitious pool assistant before, but there was something sexy about the possessive streak she'd just displayed. Charlotte's flirting wasn't lost on Fitz. Instead of acknowledging it, he opted to ignore it, knowing that Olivia would be back at her desk soon and the young woman would be reassigned. He wonder who tipped Olivia off to Charlotte's behavior and if she had solicited the information or if it had been volunteered.
Feeling a bit guilty for enjoying the tension between the two women, Fitz jumped in to lighten the mood. "Charlotte was just about to run to the coffee shop on the corner. Can she bring you a vanilla chai latte?"
Olivia allowed herself a slight smile. He remembered her drink order. "Your treat?"
"My treat," he said, handing his credit card to Charlotte. "My way of thanking Charlotte for helping out and welcoming you back."
"It was my pleasure. I hope you will ask for me the next time Olivia's away," Charlotte said with a wink and a smile before heading in the direction of the elevators.
"I hope you will ask for me the next time Olivia is away," she repeated in a mocking voice, rolling her eyes as she watched Charlotte walk away. Fitz could suppress his laughter. Olivia was adorable when she was jealous. When Charlotte was out of sight, Fitz stepped toward Olivia, placing his hand on the small of her back, and drawing her to him. A shiver rushed through her body. "Not here," she hissed, quickly moving away from him.
"Not here or not at all?" he snapped, far more curtly than he intended.
Olivia looked at him with soft eyes. "We're at work. All eyes are on you. You can't afford even the appearance of impropriety."
"I don't care," he said, stepping closer, invading her personal space.
"But I do," she whispered, separating the two of them. "Please don't make this harder than it already is."
"Why does it feel like you're pushing me away?"
Olivia looked down at her extended arm pressing against Fitz chest and laughed. "Probably because I am."
"Liv..."
Olivia gestured for him to follow her before turning and walking to her desk. She took her usual seat and Fitz perched on the edge of her desk, waiting for her to speak. "I'm not pushing you away." Fitz looked at her with doubt in his eyes. "I'm really not," she said sincerely, resting her hand on his knee before removing it quickly. "Going home wasn't some magic pill that made me forget everything that happened between us or how you make me feel. Nevertheless, it did make all of this real. This decision is not just about the two of us. No matter what happens, someone I care about is going to get hurt. It's not fair to either of you for me to make a quick, impulsive decision, because everything that has happened between us feels destined."
"You deserve to be happy."
"But at what cost?"
"So, is this your plan? Keep me at arm's length while you go home to him every night?" he asked bitterly.
"What would you have me do? Leave? Where would I go?"
"You could -"
"Please don't say I could stay with you. We barely know each other."
"I know you," he said, his brilliant blue eyes staring at her intently.
"Just because you know how to make me come doesn't mean you know me."
"I know you," he said, punctuating each word. "You were born Olivia Carolyn Pope on January 31, 1983, in New York, New York. Your mother was an English professor at Boston College and your father was a...," his voice trailed off as he realized he didn't know how to finish that statement. Olivia looked at him with smug superiority, her point proven before he could finish his second sentence. "Your father was a lawyer and an avid Red Sox fan," he continued. It was a lucky guess based on what he knew about her, but judging by the surprised look on her face, he'd guessed correctly.
He continued. "You have your mother's looks, but you have your father's brains. Not that your mother wasn't formidable in her own right, but you see the world through your father's eyes." Olivia gasped audibly. How did he know these things about her? She hadn't gone into detail about her parent's influence on her life and, while she agreed with him, she never would have articulated that agreement aloud. Fitz grinned. He'd hit the nail on the head.
"When you were four your family moved to 350 Vermont Street, a home you still own, but won't step foot inside. You were a deliriously happy child, spoiled beyond reason, but completely deserving of your parents' adoration. A straight-A student, you attended the most rigorous private schools in Boston. Everything was picture perfect until, sadly, one day the bottom fell out. Your mom was diagnosed with cancer, changing your world forever." Fitz hated reminding Olivia of her loss, but he couldn't claim to know her without acknowledging how her life was shaped by the loss of her parents at a young age. He paused to give her a moment to collect herself. When he felt she was ready, he continued. "You were a strong, resilient child, but still a child. With all the changes at home, your grades slipped, you withdrew from your teachers and classmates, and the independent, self-sufficient woman sitting in front of me was born." Olivia looked at him through squinted eyes. How had he inferred all of that from the limited information she gave him? Was she really that easy to read?
"After your mother passed, you enrolled at Cushing Academy, where you quickly fell back into old habits. Once again, you were the star pupil, beloved by your teachers and classmates. You had a small, but loyal, group of friends, of which you were the alpha female. Determined to get into Boston College and honor you mother's legacy, you concentrated all of your energy into building the perfect college application. You joined every club and sports team that would accept you. The drama club was your favorite because of the escapism it afforded you by allowing you to become someone else for a couple of hours a week."
"Sadly, tragedy struck once again when you lost your father." Olivia's sad eyes looked everywhere, but at Fitz's compassionate gaze. She was obviously a daddy's girl and it was clear that, even after all these years, she still missed her father dearly. "This time you knew what it felt like to lose a parent and you were better prepared, but no less devastated. Once again, you withdrew from your friends, but this time you threw yourself in your studies as a distraction from your new reality."
"Made vulnerable by your grief, Winnie was able to penetrate your defenses and, for the first time since before your mother got sick, you allowed someone to take care of you." As far as Fitz could tell, Winnie was one of the only two people to make it over Olivia's walls. He wondered what it was about her and Jake that made Olivia trust them while she held the rest of the world at bay. What did he have to do to join their ranks? "She kept a watchful eye on you while you were in school and gave you a place to crash during breaks and the holidays. Without any fanfare, you quietly became the fifth member of her family."
"Around this time, puberty finally caught up with you and you were transformed. A real ugly duckling story." Astounded by his audacity, Olivia's head snapped in his direction and she glared at him. Did he really just call her an ugly duckling? Fitz laughed. "Let me finish. A real ugly duckling story, but only if you believe the duckling transformed from beautiful to breathtaking During your senior year, you experienced your first heartbreak when some young dumbass, who will never know that he made the biggest mistake of his life, convinced you he loved you as a ruse to steal your virginity. Winnie nursed you through your heartbreak and convinced you that better was out there waiting for you. Eventually, your heart mended and you went on to make bad decision after bad decision about the men in your life, present company excluded of course," he said, earning a laugh from Olivia.
"You were accepted early decision to the only college you applied to, Boston College. You graduated near, but not at, the top of your class, which suited you just fine because you didn't want to give an inspirational speech to your classmates and their proud families at graduation anyway." At this point, Fitz was just making shit up, but judging from her face and reactions, he was more right than wrong. "If you don't mind, I'm going to skip ahead to my favorite part, that fateful night during your freshman year when you met your future husband and the love of your life. Too bad it's taken you nearly a decade and a half to realize they're not the same person." Fitz's last comment earned him a menacing look from Olivia, but she didn't part her lips to protest.
"In college, you kept the winning format. You worked twice as hard as everyone else, formed a loyal and protective group of friends, and crashed with Winnie and the kids when you needed to feel at 'home'. Around this time, you also caught the travel bug big time. You travelled throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia during summers and breaks, packing more adventure into four years than most people experience in a lifetime. My guess is you applied to three law schools, including the one in Cambridge, but your boyfriend proposed so you followed him to Miami." Olivia smirked in his direction. He must have gotten something wrong. He logged that little nugget away determined to sleuth out the truth in future conversations.
"Moving to Miami was a bit of a double-edged sword for you. For the first time since you were a pre-teen, there was someone waiting for you at home. You delighted in having someone to come home to, to cook dinner for, and to cuddle with on the couch at the end of a long and difficult day. However, for the first time in your adult life, you were accountable to someone else. After almost a decade of doing what you wanted, when you wanted, you had another person to consider and this frustrated you greatly." Olivia silently recalled how difficult of a transition moving was for her. In those early days, Jake was threatened by her independence and was often needy of reassurance. Although he was older than she was, he at times felt more like an anxious, clinging child than a loving and supportive husband. "This time around, you graduated at the top of your class and had your pick of prestigious firms, but Jake, now your husband, had other plans. He had big ideas about his future, needed you to help him get started, and convinced you to defer your dreams to help him achieve his.
"It's no secret there's no love lost between your husband and I, but I will forever be in his debt." Olivia shot him a quizzical look, which caused him to laugh. "He brought you to Miami and, when his business failed, you took a job that you are completely overqualified for at Grant Enterprises, which brought you back to me. Fast forward a couple of years and you find yourself here, in this moment, trying to figure out if the man standing before you is sincere and if the life he's offering you is real." Fitz winked at her, grinning like a fool, as his ego took victory laps around the room.
He reached out and brushed her hair out of her face. "You see, Livvie, I do know you. In the six days we spent together, I learned all that and how you taste when you come. However, there's so much more to learn. I want to know everything about you, every single detail about the person you are and the person you want to be. I am going to make you happier than you ever thought possible, but I can't do that if you won't let me."
Olivia looked up at him speechless. He had a way of making her feel naked although she was fully clothed. She'd only told him a fraction of story he'd recited back to her directly. The rest of it he inferred or pieced together from the fragments she'd shared. After years of stuffing down her deepest desires, denying her true self, it was intoxicating to be seen. He was a man unlike any other and he was hers, she only had to be brave enough to allow him into her life. She had to find a way to push aside her fear of once again finding herself alone and the guilt of breaking the promises she'd made and open herself up to the possibility that Fitz could be her lover, her partner, and her best friend. Somewhere along the way, she'd convinced herself that type of love didn't exist, but it did and he was sitting in front of her, waiting for her to choose him.
Fitz watched as Olivia processed his words. It was a last chance shot, taken out of desperation, but he had been determined to break down her walls. It worked. He'd never seen her so vulnerable. He looked into her chocolate brown orbs and a sense of calm washed over him. He was no longer afraid. She was his. Maybe not today. It would take some time for her to come to terms with her feelings and the eventual dissolution of her marriage. Nevertheless, regardless of what came out of her mouth next, he knew that eventually, if he continued to show her the man that he was, the man he wanted to be for her, she would choose him.
Olivia was lost for words. There was so much she wanted to say, but she had no idea where to begin. How was she supposed to make him understand that, as much as she wanted him, she needed time? This was a small step for him, but it was a giant leap for her. Instead of being swept away by the undercurrent of emotion swirling around inside her, she focused on the tangible obstacles in front of them. "We can't do this here. Not now. Charlotte will be back soon. We'll have this conversation, soon - I promise, but right now I have a job to do. Please let me do it," she implored him. Her eyes found his and he looked so defeated that something inside her softened. Olivia stood up and looked around. Moving quickly before she lost her nerve, she positioned herself between his legs and leaned in to give him a brief, but passionate kiss. "Go, please." Acquiescing to her wishes, he pecked her quickly on the lips and pushed himself off her desk, smiling as he walked.
A few hours later, Olivia's intercom buzzed. Thinking it was Lauren calling to schedule their lunch; she held the receiver to her ear and answered. "What it do?"
It was Fitz. "Liv," he said, laughing, amused by her greeting.
"Shit...Fitz...I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else. You never use the intercom. What do you need?"
"Is Charlotte still with you?"
Olivia rolled her eyes. "No, she left more than an hour ago. Is there something I can do for you?"
"Will you come to my office, please?" he asked, his tone all business.
"Yeah, sure," she said, a little wary. "I'll be right there."
She entered his office and found him leaning against the edge of his desk, his muscular arms straining against his sleeves as he folded them across his chest. There was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes, but the rest of his face was serious. "Have a seat," he said nodding toward one of the empty chairs in front of him.
Olivia eased into the chair directly in front of a Fitz and flashed him a smile that made his heart race and his stomach do flips. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. "You summoned me," she said in a sultry tone.
Fitz's mouth went dry as her brazen sexuality robbed him of his voice. He looked at her through slanted eyes. Was the little minx was flirting with him? What happened to her work boundaries she was enforcing earlier? A wide smile spread across his face. Completely forgetting why he called her into his office, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Her eyes lit up at the innuendo and she raked a heated gaze over him. After the night and morning she'd spent with her husband, she should have been fully sated, but she wasn't. His close proximity awakened a hunger she hoped to keep restrained at work. She deliberately licked her lips and asked, "Do you want me to grab you lunch from that deli you like down the street?"
"I was thinking more like he tapas place in Coral Gables."
Olivia frowned, trying to figure out how she was going to bring his lunch back to him. "I don't think that will travel well."
Fitz chuckled. "I thought we could go together."
"Together?"
Before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. Annoyed that someone would dare interrupt them in his office, he snarled, "What do you want?" and snapped his head in the intruder's direction.
"Grant," Jake offered as greeting. "I was looking for -"
"Jake?" Olivia interrupted, surprised to see her husband standing in the entrance to Fitz's office holding a huge bouquet of flowers. What was he doing here, popping up at her office in the middle of the day? She thought she had recovered from and made up for their awkward start the previous evening. Was she wrong? Did something about her demeanor last night cause him to be suspicious enough to check-in on her today?
"Ballard," Fitz said, the sound of his voice pulling Olivia from her thoughts. She watched quietly as everything about Fitz's body language shifted. His jaw was clenched and his hands fisted, tension coming off him in waves. "Red roses, how cliché," he said, his voice dripping with snark.
"Not if they're her favorite," Jake replied smugly. Confused, Fitz's eyes searched for Olivia's eyes. She returned his gaze, silently pleading with him to let Jake win and not point out his mistake. Fitz shrugged, if Olivia didn't care that her husband brought her roses when another gesture would have been more meaningful, he wasn't going to make a big deal about it.
"They're beautiful, thank you," she said rising from her seat and taking the bouquet from Jake's arms, kissing him chastely on the lips. "What are you doing here?" she asked, trying to mask her annoyance at the unexpected visit.
"I'm taking you to lunch. While you were away, I picked up a couple of travel magazines. I thought we could flip through them while we eat and get some ideas for our trip."
Trip? Did he misread her earlier? Had Olivia made her decision? Did she pick Jake? Was she rededicating herself to her marriage starting with a second honeymoon? Is that why she didn't want to talk this morning? Was she going to tell him that she changed her mind? "Planning a vacation?" Fitz asked, fighting to keep his jealousy at bay.
Olivia turned and saw the hurt and confusion etched on Fitz's face. "Before we left for the Hamptons, Jake and I agreed to spend some of the money on a trip somewhere exotic," she explained, hoping Fitz would understand what she was saying. She made these plans with her husband before their weekend, before the incredible day they spent together, and before she asked Fitz for space to decide what she wanted. Speaking to Jake, she said, "It's my first day back in the office after a week away. I don't have time for lunch. I have work to do. I was just about to get Fitz's lunch before his afternoon meetings."
"You were about to get his lunch?" he asked incredulously. "That's the work you have to do? We're in a building full of people that work for him. Surely there's someone else that can get his food while you have lunch with your husband," he said, placing more emphasis than necessary on the word husband.
Olivia stared at Jake, no longer masking her annoyance. "This may be a building full of people that work for him, but only one of those people is responsible for getting his lunch, me. It may not be the most glamorous part of my job, but it's my job nonetheless. Thank you for the flowers," she said kissing him on his cheek, "but if you don't mind, I need to get back to work."
Fitz watched the couple, amused that Olivia was shutting her husband down. He spent a sleepless night worried that once she was back at home the guilt would return and she would be compelled to either confess or shut him out as she recommitted herself to her marriage. In this moment, neither appeared to be the case. She may be going home to Jake at night, but, at least for today, that wasn't an indication he was the man she wanted.
Undeterred by Olivia's dismissal, Jake pressed on. "You've been working around the clock for him for the past five days." Looking directly at Fitz, he said, "Please tell her you'll be okay by yourself for an hour or so while I take her to lunch."
Fitz was confounded that Jake would try to enlist his support while he tried to bully Olivia into doing what he wanted. "Olivia is an adult; she doesn't need me to tell her anything. She can make her own decisions about what she does and does not want. All she needs from me is to respect and abide by her decisions. If she wants to go to lunch with you, that's fine. If she decides to stay here and work, that's also fine."
Jake scoffed. "One weekend in a fake relationship and suddenly you're an expert, telling me what my wife needs."
Fitz laughed. "I'm no expert in relationships, but I do know how to please a woman." Your woman, he added in the voice only he could hear. "I know how to make them happy and it all starts with listening to them. Listening to what they say and what they don't say. Olivia is trying to tell you something. You should try listening to her."
Jake stood there stuttering incoherently, astounded by Fitz's audacity. Olivia glared at him, before saying, "I'm sorry for dragging you into the middle of our drama. We'll let you get back to work." She turned to face her husband, placing a hand on his chest and gently pushing him backwards, out of Fitz's office, closing the door behind her.
Fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock at his door. What was it with all the interruptions today? He looked at his watch and frowned. It was too soon for Charlotte to be back with his lunch. "Come in," he called out gruffly, hoping to dismiss whoever it was quickly. His door opened slowly and Olivia stepped into his office. He looked at her, his brows furrowed in confusion. "I thought you went to lunch with your husband."
"I decided not to go," she said shyly. Fitz's face lit up. "Don't gloat," she warned. Fitz considered responding, but decided against it. There was no reason for him to gloat. She may have turned down Jake's offer to take her lunch, but she was still going home to him at the end of the day. As long as that was the case, there was no reason for him to celebrate.
"I'm also not going to lunch with you. I can't disappear in the middle of the day for a leisurely lunch. I have work to do. I have a hundred emails to respond to, I still need to figure out what the hell Charlotte did to your calendar, and I have to work with your father's assistant to coordinate your travel for the rest of the month with your father's to determine when the jet is available and when you have to fly commercial. That doesn't even include checking in with the project managers to get the information needed for the quarterly report."
"I get it. I get it," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "You're too busy to have lunch. Another time?" he asked, his boyish charm melting away her defenses.
She smiled warmly at him, nodded and said, "Another time." She paused briefly and then asked, "Earlier, when you summoned me, was it just to invite me to lunch or did you want something else?"
He smiled at her in return. "Have a seat," he said, gesturing to one of the chairs. When she was seated, he started talking. "I wanted to give you an update about Kevin's scholarship. I spoke with the business manager at the Grant Foundation -"
"The Grant Foundation?"
He nodded, understanding the question. "It's the charitable arm of my family's business. My grandmother started it after my grandfather made his first million. She thought it was important for the family to keep our roots in the community. It was her way of keeping us grounded, making sure we remembered to give back to those less fortunate than we were. My mother runs it now."
"Another job for your future wife?"
"Only if you want it," he said with a smirk. "Otherwise I'll hire someone else to run the Foundation."
Olivia laughed heartily, the delightful sound music to Fitz's ears. "You are one smooth son of a bitch. You have an answer for everything. One day, I'm going to catch you off guard and render you speechless."
It was Fitz's turn to laugh. If only she knew how truly in awe of her he was. He wanted nothing more than to wrap her in his arms and never let go. "We digress. I wanted to let you know that I wired the funds to the Foundation yesterday. They issued a check to Boston College this morning to cover his fall tuition, fees, room, and board. They also issued a separate check to Kevin for his books and living expenses. Both checks were sent overnight and are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning, two days before the deadline. Will you reach out to Kevin tomorrow afternoon and ensure both checks were received?"
"Of course," Olivia said softly. "You didn't have to do this, but I'm so grateful you did."
"Haven't you learned by now there's nothing I wouldn't do for you?" he asked sincerely. Olivia's eyes darted to the floor, uncomfortable with Fitz's admission. "Boston, Winnie, her family...those are your roots. I'm just helping you keep them watered. It's the reason why my grandmother created the foundation. You remind me a little of her," he said, grinning broadly. "Strong, independent, loyal; she was the smartest and most respected person in the room, our benevolent autocrat."
Olivia looked up at him, her eyes beginning to well up with tears. She parted her lips to speak, but Charlotte walked into the office with Fitz's lunch, effectively silencing her. "I'm sorry to interrupt," she offered, when she noticed the awkward tension in the room.
Olivia wiped her fingers under her eyes to catch the tears before they fell. "There's need no apologize. We were just wrapping up. I'll leave the two of you to it," she said, moving quickly to exit the room. Fitz watched as Olivia all but fled the room. He wanted to chase her, but thought better of it. They were at work and she was married, the last thing she needed was for him to make a scene, drawing unwanted attention to the romance brewing between them. He would give her space for now and check on her later. He wouldn't let her get too far away from him.
A/N: In the next chapter, Olivia will meet the Grants. As always, let me know what you think. What did you like or dislike – other than how long it takes me to post updates . What are you looking forward to happening in future chapters?