A/N: Guess who's back, back again. Shady's back, tell a friend. Guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back, guess who's back? Guess who's back?
As promised, below is the second half of the chapter I posted last week. I hope you enjoy!
Olivia grew quiet when they passed through the security gates of one of Miami's poshest and most exclusive neighborhoods. She looked out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the houses, but all that could be seen from the road were rolling green lawns and impenetrable security gates. They rode along in comfortable silence until Fitz turned the car into a driveway and stopped in front of a gate remarkable for both its size and the huge ornate gold G's decorating each half. He rolled down his window and entered his security code. Slowly the gates began to roll backwards. "Are you sure you want to do this," he asked.
"No, but I'm doing it anyway," Olivia said with a nervous smile. Fitz slowly drove the car along the long and winding driveway.
"Wow!" Olivia whispered as the house came into view. "You grew up here?" she asked, taking in the mansion and the surrounding, perfectly manicured grounds.
"It's just a house," Fitz said, dismissing her awe. He parked the car in the circular driveway in front of the garage. "Do you remember what I told you when we arrived at the Merkles'?"
Olivia nodded. "It's okay to be impressed. The architect intended to wow me, but not to let the owners use the house to intimidate me."
Fitz laughed at the almost verbatim recap of his pep talk. "Well...throw that out the window. In this case, the owner and the architect are the same arrogant asshole and he definitely wants you to genuflect to his greatness. Don't! He's insufferable enough as it is, if he sees an opening he'll try to exploit it to use you as a weapon against me."
"I would never..."
Fitz grasped her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips, kissing her softly. "I know you wouldn't intentionally, but my father has a gift for finding his enemies' weaknesses and using it against them."
Olivia looked at him, her confusion evident in her expression. "You're his son, not his enemy," she said softly.
He smiled weakly. "I wish it was that simple. My relationship with my father is strained at best. He wanted his son to be molded in his image, but I had my own ideas about the man I would become. The most ironic thing is the parts of me he hates the most are the parts that most closely resemble him." Olivia watched him quietly, her eyes clouded with emotion. "Shit, Liv, I'm sorry. I'm sitting here bitching about my father when you're father is -"
"Fitz...you don't have to tiptoe around me. My father is dead. He has been for a while. You're not being insensitive by talking about your father. Speaking of him, let's get in there and get this over with. Anything I need to know before we go?"
He grinned and motioned with his index finger for her to come closer. She leaned across the center console with an amused look on her face. Looking at her, he struggled to find the words to express how grateful he was that she was there with him. "Thank you for coming. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Olivia smiled up at him. "Luckily for you, you'll never have to find out. Now, kiss me before I change my mind about letting you make out with me in your parents' driveway."
He ran his hand along the smoothness of her exposed thigh and under the hem of her dress. The feel of her body trembling with anticipation under his hand increasing his hunger for her. He moved closer to her. "Are you going to let me get to second base?" She tilted her head back, bringing her lips to his ear as if she intended to whisper something in his ear. Instead, she bit his earlobe, her tongue moving quickly over the spot to remove the sting. "Now you're just being a tease," he said.
She was so beautiful. Every bit of her more seductive than the last time he looked. He leaned the rest of the way in and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her as if she was his salvation. She yielded to him as he slipped his tongue in her mouth and threaded his fingers into her hair. He kissed her with a hunger that left her senseless and clinging to him. She moaned softly as his lips and tongue moved with expert precision against her own. When he finally released her, she was panting for air. "I want you so fucking bad," he murmured against her lips, "but not like this, not in a car parked in my parents' driveway. You deserve better than this."
Olivia lightly traced her fingers across his lips, wiping at the hint of lipstick on them. "To be continued?" she whispered.
"As you wish. Let's go inside. I want you to meet my mother," he said with genuine excitement. Fitz got out of the car and walked around it, opening Olivia's door and helping her out. They walked hand in hand to the door. When they were standing on the front step, he looked at her and said, "Promise me nothing that happens in this house will change who we are."
Olivia looked at him sincerely and said, "Nothing that happens in this house will change who we are."
He released her hand and opened the front door. The couple entered the foyer and Olivia's mouth fell open. The high ceilings and high windows allowed the natural light to dance with the crystals in the unlit chandelier to give the space an ethereal, magical quality. Fitz observed with amusement the wonder that played on Olivia's face as she took in the stunning entryway. Placing his hand on the small of her back to guide her forward, he said, "Just say the word and I will design and build you a house that makes this one look like a shack."
She swatted playfully at him. "You don't have to keep proving yourself over and over again. Your skyscraper is already taller than his is. You're going to be CEO of his company. You've won. Take your victory lap and have a seat," she scolded.
He studied her curiously, her words perplexing him. Had she really misunderstood the intent of his comment or was she deflecting, trying to shift his focus from the personal to the professional? Deciding it was the latter, he dropped his hand from her back, conceding to her unspoken wishes. If she wanted professional, he would give her professional. "Mom," he shouted loud enough for his voice echo throughout the lower level.
"In here," called a soft, feminine voice from the recesses of the house. Olivia followed Fitz's lead as he guided her to his mother's study. When they entered the room, he wasted no time crossing the distance and pulling his mother into his embrace.
Olivia took this moment to quietly observe Fitz and his mother. She looked very different from how she pictured her. Whereas Jean was regal in bearing, Anne was open and approachable, emanating a warmth that drew you in rather than pushing you away. She must have been an incredibly beautiful younger woman, because she was a very attractive older woman, dressed simply in slacks and a silk blouse. Watching them together, mother and son, she immediately understood this was the person who molded the man for whom she was quickly developing very real feelings.
Anne allowed the hug to linger before separating from Fitz and ruffling her fingers through his hair. "You need a haircut."
Fitz laughed, running his finger through his hair trying to tame his curls. "I just got a haircut on Tuesday."
"Why did he leave it so long?"
"A woman cuts my hair and she left it this long because I asked her to. I'm trying something different."
Anne studied Fitz's face for an explanation. He hated his unruly curls. One of his first acts of rebellion was taking clippers to his precious locks when he was eight years old. He was in college the last time he allowed his hair to grow this long. It was also the last time a woman influenced his decisions. Elizabeth loved his curls and he had worn his hair longer as a small nod of deference to her preferences. A curious smile spread across her face as she looked around Fitz and acknowledged Olivia's presence for the first time. "You must be Olivia," she said, approaching her with an extended hand. "It's wonderful to put a face with the voice."
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Grant. You have a lovely home."
Anne quickly surveyed the young woman's appearance. Dressed elegantly, but fashionably, she projected confidence and humility. Although she was stunningly beautiful, she appeared to be a real woman, not the plastic versions that often graced her son's arm. She was impressed, that was until she noted with dismay the bridal set on her left finger. Why would Fitz take this married woman with him to New York instead of his fiancée? Were they having an affair? Surely, her son wouldn't disrespect her home by sneaking around behind Melody's back and bringing his married lover home to meet his parents.
"Thank you. Please, have a seat," she said gesturing to the sitting area behind her. "Gerry's flight was delayed due to thunderstorms in Dallas. I expected him home thirty minutes ago so he should be joining us any minute now. Olivia, can I offer you something to drink?" she asked, walking in the direction of the small bar.
"I'll take a glass of wine if it's not too much trouble," Olivia replied opting to sit in the armchair rather than beside Fitz on the couch.
Fitz looked between both women frowning. This is not how he wanted this evening to go. These were the two most important women in his life and he wanted them to get along. Presently, it was evident that they were not. It wasn't lost on him that his mother hadn't invited Olivia to call her by her first name. She never allowed people to call her Mrs. Grant. It reminded her too much of her mother-in-law, a woman with whom she'd had a tense and difficult relationship. Olivia had responded to his mother's cool demeanor in kind, distancing herself from both Anne and Fitz. He had promised to protect Olivia, and he would, even if the person he was protecting her from was his mother.
"It's no trouble at all. Red or white?"
"I prefer red."
"I have a Cabernet. Is that acceptable? If not, I can send Fitz to the wine cellar." Fitz flashed Olivia his lopsided grin, hoping to get her to relax a little, but she didn't respond.
"A Cabernet is more than acceptable. Thank you."
Anne nodded in response, busying herself at the bar before returning to the sitting area carrying two glasses, a generous pour of Scotch for Fitz and Olivia's wine. She handed off both glasses before retrieving her wine glass from the end table and taking a seat beside Fitz on the couch. She took a small sip of wine before speaking. "I assume Olivia's presence here with you tonight and as your date for the weekend at the Merkles' is the reason why you've been avoiding me."
Fitz watched helplessly as Olivia's posture stiffened and tension crept into her facial features. Olivia didn't have a lot of tells, but both were signs of her defenses coming back up. He groaned internally. It felt like it was always one step forward and two steps back with her. He'd spent the better part of the day convincing her that she could trust him. Now it appeared his efforts were all for naught as he found himself on the outside looking in once again.
Turning his attention to his mother, he addressed her comment. "I'm not avoiding you. It's only been two weeks."
"It's been four weeks," his mother corrected.
Fitz looked at his mother apologetically. "Has it really been that long? I'm sorry. I should have made time to stop by. The weekend was incredibly productive and I've been ridiculously busy since we've returned."
"I can see that," she spat, causing Olivia to flinch.
"Mom," he warned. He stared at Olivia for a moment, willing her to make eye contact with him, but she refused.
Anne was shocked by his reaction. It was rare for him to take that tone with her and even rarer for him to care if she and his guest were playing nice. "I'm sorry," Anne offered. Turning to Olivia, she said, "I'm being an ungracious host. I apologize."
Olivia wondered if this was what it was like to have a mother-in-law. Jake was estranged from his mother so most of their interactions had been limited to special events in his sisters' lives. His mother was so grateful to see her son that she was exceedingly deferential to Olivia's role as his wife. This tug of war with a mother for her son's affection was new to her and she didn't like it. She wasn't about to compete with any woman for Fitz's attention, not even his mother. Their situation was already complicated enough, she didn't need to add unnecessary drama.
Olivia smiled politely at Anne, still refusing to look at Fitz, afraid of what emotion she might find there. "There's no need for an apology. You're a mother concerned about her son. I understand that. You're the most important woman in his life. Our plan to pretend to be engaged so he could woo potential future business partners may have been a bit misguided, but I know he would never want to disappoint you or damage the Grant Enterprises reputation among your peers.
"Plus, it's mostly my fault he hasn't been by to visit." Fitz watched Olivia closely. She still hadn't acknowledged his attempts to connect with her, but she was skillfully working his mother. He had no idea what she would say next, but he knew it wasn't what his mother was expecting. "With the three projects he's balancing plus his other responsibilities, I've scheduled every second of every day for the past four weeks. It's been a grueling pace of one fourteen hour day followed by another. I'll be sure to carve out time for the two of you to have dinner next week. I'll take care of the reservation. The usual place or somewhere special?"
Anne's body language softened and she smiled warmly at Olivia. "The usual place is fine, thank you," she said softly. Returning her attention to Fitz, she asked, "Now, where is your fiancée and why didn't she go with you to New York instead of Olivia?"
Fitz groaned aloud. Why did his mother insist on having this conversation in front of Olivia? He'd been candid with Olivia about the end of his relationship so there was nothing he could say that would upset her, but his mother didn't know that. Was she intentionally antagonizing her? If so, why? Olivia had been nothing but respectful and gracious since they had arrived. There was no indication that their relationship was anything other than professional, yet his mother was colder and more callous than he'd ever experienced her in a social setting.
Responding to her question, he offered, "I don't have a fiancée. Mellie called off the engagement a few days before the trip to New York. I didn't want to show up stag for a weekend focused on finding the balance between business and family, so Olivia graciously agreed to be my partner for the weekend. She's been the other woman in my life for years now so it was an easy enough role for her to pretend to fill."
Finally, Olivia allowed her eyes to connect with his, letting him know she was unfazed by his mother's behavior. "There was nothing easy about pretending to want to marry you, Fitzgerald," she teased. "You spent the whole weekend working and you snore, loudly. I should have demanded hazard pay. I understand why Mellie left you," she said, laughing with Anne at Fitz's expense.
Anne wiped a tear from her eye. Turning serious, she asked, "Why did Melody call off the engagement?"
His mother was like a dog with a bone. What was it she was expecting to find at the end of this inquisition? "Don't pretend you're going to miss Mellie. You barely tolerated her and the thought of her as the mother to your grandchildren made you ill. She left because she caught me in bed with a wine angle from Cibo," he said bluntly. Startled by his frank admission, Olivia nearly choked on her wine, causing both Fitz and his mother to look at her with concern. When it was clear she was fine, he explained. "I don't keep secrets from my mom. I never have. It made for some awkward moments during my teenage years, but, now, I'm sure there's nothing I could say that would shock her."
"I don't think that's something to brag about," his mother teased. "With his father traveling so much for business, Fitz and I were often left alone to take care of each other. I think that made us a 'team' of sorts. He didn't have to share me and I didn't have to share him. It strengthened our bond and allowed us to develop a friendship of sorts. It was the two of us against the world. That feeling was only reinforced as his relationship with his father deteriorated over time."
"I knew my ears were burning for a reason," Gerry said as he walked into the room, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Shame on the two of you for ganging up on me, trying to persuade our guest that I'm the bad guy in this family," he continued, patting Fitz on the back and briefly greeting his wife with a kiss before approaching Olivia. "Fortunately for me, Olivia knows better. Hello, dear," he said, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. "Thanks for coming."
"You didn't exactly give me a choice Mr. Grant."
"You know better," he scolded. "We're past the Mr. Grant crap. Any woman who has saved me millions of dollars gets to call me whatever she wants."
Olivia laughed easily. She could feel Fitz's eyes burning two holes in her, but she ignored him and focused on Gerry. "I was just doing my job."
"I always could count on you to go above and beyond the call of duty," he said with a wink, which caused her skin to crawl with disgust. Turning away from Olivia, he spoke to his wife. "Why don't you go check on dinner while I get cleaned up? Let's all meet in the dining room in ten minutes." After everyone nodded his or her agreement, Gerry left the study followed quickly by Anne.
When they were alone, Olivia quickly headed to the bar for a refill. If that interaction with Gerry was any indication of how the rest of the evening would be, it was going to be a long night and she needed to be dulled to endure it. When she walked past Fitz, he reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her movements. "You never mentioned you were so friendly with my father," he hissed.
"I'm not," she spat, snatching away from him. "How dare you insinuate otherwise. You're letting him do exactly what you warned me about. He walked in here overly friendly and you assumed we had a past. He used me to get under your skin and you let him. You of all people should know..." her voice trailed off as her next words stuck in her throat. Had her integrity been compromised such that he would believe she had sex with his father?
"Liv I didn't -
"Yes you did," she countered, not backing down. Laughing humorlessly, she continued. "All this time I thought you saw me, but you don't have superpowers, just a couple of lucky guesses."
"I do see you."
"If you did, you would have known that your father was making me uncomfortable. I only thought your mother hated me before, but now I know she definitely hates me. Thanks to the two of you she thinks I'm sleeping with her husband and her son."
"I'll talk to my mom. I'll explain -
"You'll explain what exactly? You should have told me about your relationship with her. I never would have agreed to come if I knew you were going to tell her the truth about us."
"There's nothing to tell. The truth is we're not sleeping together."
"Fitz," she sighed, exasperated.
"Livvie," he responded, opening his arms for her, relaxing when she walked into them. "I'm sorry," he said, kissing her softly on the forehead. "I'm having a terrible day. I'll do better."
"We'll do better," she said, rising up on her tiptoes and kissing him chastely. "Once, when I was covering for your father's assistant, a paralegal dropped off a contract for him to sign. You know me, I was curious, so I read the agreement. I found a loophole the paralegal missed that could have added millions of dollars of expenses and fees to the agreement. That's why your father and I are friendly. The rest of the innuendo was strictly for your benefit."
Fitz pulled her close and hugged her tightly. "Are you ready to join them for dinner?"
"No," she groaned. "Your parents hate me. Can't we just run away?"
"You can, but they're my parents. I can't avoid them forever," he said with a weak smile.
"I'm ready," she said with an attitude. "But, you owe me big, mister."
Fitz kissed her adorable pouty lips. "You can have whatever you want. All you have to do is ask." Laughing at the shocked expression on her face, he grabbed her hand and led her to the dining room, where his parents were waiting.
As they were being seated, Gerry gleefully asked, "Trouble in paradise? I hope it wasn't something I said."
"No trouble, but also no paradise, at least not one that we share," Olivia said, looking pointedly at Gerry.
"Stephen said you were a firecracker. Did you really call Fitz arm candy?"
Olivia laughed. "I did, the night of the ball." Bringing Anne into the conversation, she turned to her and said, "You've seen your son in a tuxedo. I was the envy of every woman in attendance."
Anne smiled and laughed with Olivia. "He does clean up pretty well."
"It's a shame he isn't more handsome. Maybe then he wouldn't need a weekend fiancée." Fitz watched with amazement as Olivia enlisted his mom as their ally. His father had picked a fight with the wrong woman and it appeared that everyone was lining up against him.
After dinner was served, Gerry directed the conversation back to the topic of Fitz and Olivia. "When Stephen was going on and on about how impressed he was with young Fitzgerald and his fiancée I knew he couldn't possibly be talking about Melody Carmichael. There's very little impressive about her. I also knew it couldn't have been one of your model/escort/strippers stand-ins. Stephen is far too exacting to be impressed by someone like that. What I couldn't figure out is why, if you met the woman, and this is a direct quote from Stephen, that complements you perfectly, why you hadn't introduced her to us. Then, I figured it out. You hadn't introduced her to us because the woman pretending to be your fiancée wasn't yours. She belonged to someone else. I knew he was talking about your assistant the second Stephen mentioned her only flaw."
Fitz looked at Olivia confused by the turn in the conversation. "You're going to get wrinkles in that beautiful face of yours," she said, smoothing away his furrowed brow. "I'm a Red Sox fan," she explained. "Your father gave me skybox tickets to a Red Sox and Marlins game as a thank you for catching the loophole."
"I guess great minds really do think alike," he said, bitterly.
Olivia briefly rested her hand on his and whispered in a voice only he could hear. "You're nothing like him. Someone had to tell him what to do. It was five years ago and I'd completely forgotten about it until just now. I will never forget the day we spent together in Boston."
Anne smiled softly as she watched their tender moment. Slowly, the pieces were falling into place. There was something brewing between the pair and she wondered how aware they were of their undeniable connection. Oh, what a tangled web they wove as the one-time colleagues pretended to be lovers and now were pretending to only be boss and employee. Stephen and Jean hadn't been fooled, they had borne witness to the beginning of a love story. Her eyes were drawn to Olivia's wedding bands as she wondered if their story would end in happiness or tragedy.
Drawing everyone's attention back to him, Gerry continued, "Stephen didn't call you by your name. He called you something else. Olivia...Olivia...Olivia what?"
"I was introduced to him as Olivia Pope. My full name is Olivia Pope Ballard."
"Ballard...why is that name familiar?"
Olivia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew where this was going and there was no way to avoid it. She shot Fitz a quick apologetic glance and answered. "My husband is Jacob Ballard. He's an architect at another firm in Miami."
"Jacob Ballard. Jacob Ballard," he said, rolling his name around in his mouth like a fine wine. "Didn't you go to graduate school with him?" Gerry asked looking at his son. "Didn't he get the job at Zyscovich Architects? The one you wanted?"
Olivia felt Fitz stiffen at the mention of the ignominious start to his career. She watched as he silently reached for and drained his scotch, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. She reached over and squeezed his knee. "My husband is a very talented architect, but we all know that's not why Fitz didn't get the job."
"Liv," Fitz warned.
"No, son, let her speak. She obviously thinks she knows something."
Olivia's eyes darted to Fitz, holding his gaze until he nodded in her direction. "Robert White and his wife were also guests of the Merkles. After dinner the first night, Bob told an interesting story about a father so desperate to control his son that he threatened to devote his considerable resources to ruining the career of any CEO that dared to hire him."
Anne gasped audibly. "Gerry," she exclaimed, glowering at her husband. "Tell me you didn't."
Gerry glared menacingly at the pair, but remained silent. Olivia continued. "Fitz was the best prospect in his graduating class. I completely understand why you wanted him to work for you. He's a Grant, the future of your family's company. His place was always at Grant Enterprises, working at your elbow, learning everything he could about the business from the men that came before him. He's only forty years old and in position to become the next CEO of a multi-billion dollar organization. That wouldn't have happened if the person grooming him hadn't been completely invested in his success. Whether he realizes it or not, you did him a favor. In part because of the resources afforded to him, he's one of the most accomplished architects of his generation. As his father and his mentor, you have no reason to be anything other than proud of his career path and professional achievements."
Fitz grasped her hand under the table, his eyes aglow with admiration. He leaned toward her and whispered softly, "Thank you."
"You're not here tonight because of his professional achievements," Gerry retorted.
"Aren't we though?" Fitz asked. "Olivia and I are professional colleagues and we accomplished every goal you had for the weekend. We laid the foundation for the Patterson Place subcontract that will bring Stephen to Miami multiple times this winter. The Patterson Place project is too small for Stephen to be involved the way he plans to be. He should have handed the project off to Seth," he said, resting his hand on Olivia's leg to comfort her, "but, he didn't. Instead, he went out of his way to create a direct communication channel between the two of us. This relationship is begging to be mined for a joint bid on a multibillion-dollar project. Stephen wants to work with us and I'm going to find a project worthy of his partnership."
"What will happen when Stephen discovers the 'us' he wants to work with doesn't exist? He's interested in the mature, responsible executive you pretended to be, not the spoiled, rich boy you really are."
"No offense to Olivia, she's perfect, everything a man could hope for in a spouse. Her husband is an incredibly lucky man. We make an excellent team, but my future success isn't dependent on her. I am the man Stephen spent time with last month with or without her. I just needed her to get me in the door, everything that happened after that was a combination of my talent and a little good fortune."
Anne watched as Olivia's smile faded a little and a flash of disappointment crossed her face as she listened to Fitz's blunt statement. If things were as she suspected, her son was very, very wrong. She knew Gerry sent Fitz to the Hamptons representing Grant Enterprises as a test, one he fully expected him to fail. However, he didn't fail. She didn't have the specifics, but, judging from Gerry's reaction, Fitz had exceeded even the most optimistic expectations for his performance. She was an executive's wife and knew well the role Fitz had asked Olivia to play. His success that weekend was as much her victory as it was his and she was disappointed in him for not recognizing that.
Having heard enough, Anne pushed her chair away from the table, clearing her plate and Gerry's. "Fitz, will you help me with dessert?"
"Of course," Fitz replied before excusing himself from the table, carrying the remaining dinner dishes. He followed his mother into the kitchen fully aware that her request had nothing to do with dessert and was just an excuse to get him alone.
Once they were in the kitchen and out of earshot, he said, "OK, Mom. Just give it to me straight. How bad is it? I know you're disappointed in me for lying and for dragging my perfectly innocent assistant into my lie, but I didn't have a choice. Mellie called off our engagement four days before we were expected at the Merkles'. I needed a fiancée and Olivia was the perfect fill-in.
"Are you upset that I paid her? It's not what you think. Olivia is not like the women I usually bring to corporate events. She is not a pro and I would never disrespect her by treating her like one. She's also not the kind of women that would earn a promotion or a bonus on her back. She's formidable in her own right and has earned all of her accomplishments at Grant Enterprises. Before this weekend, our relationship was strictly professional. She did me a huge favor by accompanying me for the weekend and I paid her for her time. That's it. I respected her boundaries the entire weekend. This wasn't some elaborate scheme by either of us to seduce the other.
"What would you rather I do? Cancel the trip and leave Grant Enterprises without representation? Or, would you rather I told Dad and let him pick another employee to represent the company? Do you know what that would have done to my chances of becoming CEO? Do you really want a stranger running our family's business?"
While Fitz rambled on, Anne moved effortlessly through the kitchen collecting the items needed to serve dessert. When she had everything she needed, Anne calmly turned to her son and asked, "Are you finished?"
"What?"
"Are you finished? Is it my turn to talk now?"
Fitz's face turned red with embarrassment. He'd been so afraid of disappointing his mother that he was tripping over himself to explain. He was desperate to get her on his side in what he knew would be a battle with his father. "I'm sorry," he said with a sheepish grin, "I just wanted you to understand why I did it before we got to the part where you told me how disappointed you were in my decisions."
"Well then," she said, pausing to collect her thoughts. "Olivia really is quite lovely. I can see why the Merkles were so taken with her. I've never seen someone challenge your father the way she does. Yet, at the same time, she carefully strokes his ego just enough to keep him where she wants him. He's trying to hide it, but I can tell he's charmed." Fitz remained silent, waiting for his mother to switch to the topic she called him into the kitchen to discuss. "How long have you been in love with her?"
"What?" he exclaimed. "I'm not in love with her. Did you miss the wedding band on her finger? She's in love with another man, her husband," he said, choking on the words as they came out of his mouth. "Olivia and I work together, and after these past few weeks we've become friends, but I most definitely am not in love with her."
"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, III," Anne said sternly. "You can lie to yourself, but I will not tolerate you lying to me."
Fitz looked at his mother as if she'd grown a second head. "I don't know what you think you see between us, but you're wrong. Olivia and I are just falling back into the routine we developed at the Merkles'. We're not in love. It's all an act."
"If that's true you both are in the wrong profession because you are delivering an Oscar worthy performance in the dining room. Nevertheless, we both know it's not true, don't we son? I'm your mother, I know what it looks like when you're in love. I haven't seen it in a very long time, not since you were with Elizabeth," Anne paused, giving Fitz time to recover from the sudden mention of his former lover.
"I can't talk about Elizabeth," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears, "not now, not with Olivia in the other room."
"I know, love," she whispered, pulling him into a comforting hug. "For years, I worried the part of you that loved her so deeply, so passionately died with her, but it didn't. I know this because I spent the whole night watching you and Olivia. I don't know how she did it, but somehow that beautiful, intelligent, charming young woman found the piece of you that you buried under years of grief, anguish, and regret and brought it back to life. I wasn't sure you'd ever find love again and now I can see you have. I'm not disappointed, I'm grateful."
Fitz looked up and saw his mother gazing down at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "I like her." His mother looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "I like her a lot," he said with an impish grin. "Neither of us planned this. It just sort of happened. One day she was my married and completely off-limits assistant and the next we were both struggling with these crazy intense feelings for each other. I never would have asked her to join me if I knew this would happen."
"What did you think would happen when you whisked your married assistant away for a romantic weekend?"
"It was business trip, not a romantic weekend." Anne's doubtful expression made Fitz laugh. "It's true; for once I was thinking with a more responsible part of my anatomy. I would never intentionally cause someone I care about so much turmoil and I cared about Olivia before the trip."
"Are you sure? It sounds like you and her husband have a history. He took your toy and now you're taking his."
"Olivia is not a toy," he snarled. "Jake and I have a history, but that's never involved Liv. Our differences are from graduate school. Sure, I was pissed when he got the job and I didn't, but that was forever ago. This is not some crazy revenge long game. I don't have the patience for something like that. I won't deny deriving perverse pleasure every time Grant Enterprises is awarded a bid over his company, but I didn't seduce his wife because I was feeling impotent about some job I didn't get fifteen years ago."
"So, you admit to seducing Olivia."
"No...well, yes, but not intentionally. I just treated her the way I thought she deserved to be treated." Once again, his mother looked at him in disbelief. "OK," he said laughing, "maybe I took it as a personal challenge when I learned she hates surprises. She was doing me this huge favor and things didn't exactly go smoothly with Stacey and Samuel or when I paid her. I wanted her to know that our relationship wasn't transactional. Then she was assaulted by Seth -"
"My God," she gasped, covering her mouth with her fingertips, her blue eyes reflecting his devastation. "He didn't -"
"No, I found them before - I don't want to think about what would have happened if I had been ten minutes later."
"Was she hurt?" she asked quietly, not certain she wanted to hear his response.
"Because of me and my reputation, she was bruised and terrified, but also brave, so incredibly brave. She needed me and I know it was wrong, but I wanted her to lean into me, to need me instead of her husband. I wanted to be the man that rescued her, the man that helped her heal and forget, and she allowed me to be that man. I can't describe it, but there was something about her vulnerability and us turning to each other in that moment that forced us to acknowledge - allowed us to give into - what was happening between us. I spent the rest of the trip trying to prove to her that the moment didn't have to be fleeting, but none of it matters. She's married."
Anne watched Fitz closely, her maternal heart bursting with pride that he was finally starting to exhibit the qualities of the man she raised him to be. Although she wished the circumstances were different, that Olivia wasn't married and that she wasn't one of Fitz's employees, she understood falling in love was rarely rational. The heart wants what it wants, even if the pursuit of that love promises to bring emotional pain and suffering to everyone involved. As much as she wished her son had chosen an easier path, she was glad that he finally found someone to love, someone whom she believed would love him in return.
"People get divorced every day. Does she have children?"
"No, not even a dog."
"That simplifies things significantly. It's obvious to anyone paying attention that she loves you too. She wouldn't be here with you tonight if she didn't. You should have seen the fire in her eyes as she defended you to your father. That wasn't an employee standing up for her boss that was a woman riding hard for the man she loves."
"She was afraid you would think she had an affair with Dad."
Anne looked away from her son. "Your father and I have an understanding. He wouldn't have brought her here if that were true."
Fitz looked at her with immense sadness in his eyes. He'd always suspected his father had strayed outside their marriage, but this was the first time either of them had confirmed it. The knowledge that his mother had an "understanding" with his father that would allow him to disrespect her in that way incensed him. He wanted nothing more than to punish his father for hurting her.
Anne watched Fitz's eyes as he processed this new information. His breathing was labored and his nostrils flared with each inhalation. She grasped his hands between hers, gently squeezing them. Bringing his focus back to Olivia, she asked, "Is she having an affair with you?"
He studied her quietly for a moment before nodding and answering her question. "Physically? No. Emotionally? I'm not sure. She's scared."
"Can you blame her? A few weeks ago, you were engaged to another woman. You change partners as often as you change your underwear and everyone knows it because of your highly publicized lifestyle. "
"I never loved Mellie. That was a business arrangement. I needed a wife and she wanted all the trappings associated with being Mrs. Fitzgerald Grant."
"I know that, but does Olivia?"
"Yes. I don't keep secrets from her. I tell her everything."
"Including how you feel?"
"We've talked about it," he said flatly.
"And?"
"And what? I told her that I thought we could be special together; that, for her, I was willing to risk being vulnerable again; and that, if given the chance, I would spend the rest of my life making her happier than she ever thought possible."
"What did she say?"
"Not much. She admitted she has feelings for me too, but she's confused. The commitments she made are important to her and she feels guilty for wanting to be with me." Fitz hung his head. "What am I going to do if she chooses him?"
His mother wrapped her arm around him and kissed him on the top of his head. "She won't."
"You can't possibly know that," he said, a bit of defeatism creeping into his voice.
"I can. Call it my mother's instinct. She's already picked you. She's just waiting for you to show her she's made the right decision. If you want her to act on her feelings, you're going to have to prove to her that she is safe with you. She needs to know she can trust her heart with you. No more wine angels," she scolded.
"I haven't been with anyone since before our trip."
"That's a good start," she said with a chuckle.
"A start?" he asked, his mouth hanging open in shock. "I was a virgin the last time I went five weeks without sex. I don't know how much longer my Krav Maga sparring partner will tolerate me working out my frustrations on him."
Anne laughed. "I have a feeling she's worth the wait."
Fitz nodded and smiled. "She thought you were going to hate her."
"She wasn't wrong. I'll admit I wasn't feeling very generous when I learned about the stunt the two of you pulled with the Merkles. Your father and I had a blazing row when he told me he invited the two of you to dinner and expected me to be a cordial host. I wrongly assumed Olivia was a home-wrecking temptress and the reason why Mellie called off the engagement. I was even less pleased when you introduced us and I noticed the wedding bands on her left hand. I was furious with you for disrespecting your relationship with someone who obviously didn't value hers. I assumed she was looking to get paid and I was disappointed that you could be so stupid and reckless when you had so much to lose."
"What changed?"
"I watched the two of you together. When you guys look at each other everything else disappears until there is nothing else in the world but you and her. I remember that look. I used to look at your father like that," Anne said, a wistful smile upon her lips. "The two of you anticipate each other's needs and take care of each other. A comforting smile here, a gentle touch there, it's subtle but, if you're paying attention, all of the signs of a loving relationship are there. Watching you together, it's like you've known each other all your lives, not just a few weeks. You're so attuned with each other you breathe in sync. The two of you have a lot to work out and Olivia has some very difficult decisions to make, but I believe you have a real chance to be happy together and that's all I've ever wanted for you."
Fitz stood up and approached Anne. "Thank you, Mom," he said, wrapping her in a tight bear hug, picking her feet off the ground.
"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, put me down," she exclaimed in the sternest voice she could muster.
Fitz gently placed his mother on the ground. She reached up and caressed his face gently. She knew the weeks and months ahead would be challenging for her son. Her heart broke as she thought of the pain he would likely endure if he decided to pursue things with Olivia. When that happened, he would need his mother, but tonight things between the young couple were good and she saw no reason to shatter that.
"We should probably get back out there and rescue Olivia from your father," Anne said lifting the carrot cake off the table and heading for the dining room. Fitz grabbed the tray with the plates and utensils and followed close behind her.
As Fitz approached the dining room, he heard the sound of Olivia and his father's laughter. He and Anne entered the room to find them doubled over in laughter on their respective sides of the table. "What's so funny?" he asked.
"You," Olivia replied, struggling to regain her composure. "Your father was telling me about the time you went to the beach as a family and you got knocked over by a huge wave and lost your swimming trunks in the process."
Anne started laughing. "I remember that. It was the summer we had the cute red headed au pair from Ireland. Fitz had the biggest crush on her. He was ten years old and completely panicked at the idea of walking out of the water without his trunks in front of her. I had to meet him deep in the water and wrap a towel around his waist to get him out of the ocean. He was mortified."
"Et tu, Brute?" Fitz asked his mother. "I'll have you all know that was the last time I was embarrassed to be naked in front of a woman."
"I knew you had a weakness for blondes," Olivia said. "I didn't know that extended to red heads as well."
"I have a weakness for beautiful women." Dipping his head near her ear, he whispered, "You're my current obsession."
Olivia couldn't hide her body's reaction to his words as she stared back at him with parted lips and flushed cheeks. "Behave," she hissed. "Your mother is watching everything we do." While his mother was occupied serving dessert, she leaned over and whispered to Fitz, "Does she hate me?"
"Just the opposite, but she does know about us."
"You told her?" she asked in a surprised voice.
"I didn't have to. Apparently we breathe in sync." Olivia rolled her eyes. "I told her you weren't sleeping with either of the Grant men."
Olivia detected a hint of sadness in his voice and wondered what had transpired between the two of them in the kitchen. "Did she believe you?"
"I think she did."
"What are the two of you over there whispering about?" Anne asked with a mischievous smile as she served Olivia.
"This smells delicious," Olivia replied, avoiding the question.
"Thank you. It's Rosie's specialty. She's been with our family for years."
Olivia turned to Fitz. "Did you get lucky with Rosie or is carrot cake your favorite dessert because of her?"
Anne couldn't prevent a smile from spreading across her face. Olivia Ballard was a curious study. It was evident she was a dedicated employee, loyal and devoted to her boss. Could the same be said for her as a wife? Fitz described her as being torn between the two men in her life. She wondered how Olivia found herself in this situation. Had she accepted the job looking to trade up or was it kismet, as Fitz had explained? A sudden shift in Fitz's demeanor brought her back to the conversation.
"Absolutely, not!" Fitz exclaimed. "My agreement with Olivia was for one weekend only. She shouldn't even be here tonight. I won't keep imposing on her. She's not going to New York."
"She doesn't have a choice," Gerry barked. "Stephen's request was explicit. He invited the four of us as guests to his next board meeting. He's making some big announcement and he wants us to be there to hear it."
"What's the announcement and why does he want Olivia there to hear it? He doesn't know she works at Grant Enterprises and she doesn't have a seat on our Board, like mom. The three of us can attend to represent the company without her. I'll make up some excuse for her absence."
"Stephen was atypically tight-lipped about his announcement, but he was clear about who he wanted to attend. The invitation wasn't to Fitzgerald and his fiancée or to Fitz and Olivia. It was to Olivia, young FitzGerald, me, and Anne. Her name was first. The two of you made this bed with your brilliant performance," he said snidely, "now you're going to lie in it. What did you pay her the first time? A million dollars? Pay her again. What's it going to take for her to say yes? Two million dollars? Five million? Let her pick a number and you pay it."
"You bastard!" he shouted, leaping from his seat. "Olivia cannot be bought."
"Olivia can speak for herself," she said calmly, placing a hand on Fitz's arm and pulling him down into his chair. "Not that I wasn't enjoying this display of testosterone, but I don't recall giving my proxy to either of you. Despite what you think," she said, boldly looking at Big Gerry, "I don't belong to anyone and I can't be bought. I, and I alone, will make this decision and it won't be about money."
"Do you like your job, Olivia?"
"Very much so, Big Gerry."
"Well...if you want to keep it, I suggest you pack your bags for New York."
Olivia looked at Fitz with panic in her eyes. Was he being serious? Would he really fire her for refusing to join them? Fitz rested his arm on the back of her chair, careful not to touch her, but close enough to make a statement. "Don't worry," he assured her. "You work for me. He can't fire you."
Gerry scoffed. "I think you're forgetting that you work for me. I could very easily fire you both."
"You do that and you'll have one hell of a sexual harassment lawsuit on your hands with me as Olivia's star witness."
"You? The COO I had to fire for having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a subordinate. I don't think you'll make a very credible witness."
"Maybe not, but I will," Anne threatened. "I will not allow you to bully this young woman into doing something she doesn't want to do for your professional gain."
"Thank you," Olivia said softly. "When is the board meeting?"
"The end of October," Gerry answered quickly.
Looking at Fitz, she continued, "You are a gifted architect and you have great vision as an executive. I am confident Stephen would have recognized this if Mellie or some other woman had accompanied you for the weekend. However, they didn't accompany you. I did and, right or wrong, Stephen believes I'm the woman who's allowed you to focus less on your libido and more on Grant Enterprises. Earlier you said you are the same man with me as you are without me. Do you really believe that?"
Her eyes were so clear, so hopeful that he couldn't bear to hurt her by lying to her. "You know the answer to that question."
"Is this board meeting important for your career?"
"I don't know. Stephen is definitely planning something. First, we met his business partners and competitors. Then, we met his C-suite. Now, he wants us to meet his Board. I know I'm one of the pieces on his chessboard, but you don't have to be. Not if you don't want to be."
"Even if that means your piece comes off the board?"
"Yes," he said without hesitation.
"Fitzgerald, think about what you're saying," his father implored him.
"Stay out of it Gerry," Anne growled.
"If you show up without me, the woman that complements you perfectly," Olivia said in a mocking tone, "Stephen will assume you are the man your father has been telling him you are for years."
"Maybe, but I'll do my best to convince him otherwise. I'm not playing games here, telling you to do one thing while secretly hoping you will do the opposite. This trip won't be like the Hamptons. It will be mostly business. I won't be able to stay with you. I'm not sure I can keep you safe."
"I'll stay with her," Anne said, causing both Fitz and Olivia to turn in her direction. "If she decides to go, I won't let Seth get near her. I'll make sure she's safe." Gerry looked at his wife, waiting for her to explain. She simply shook her head. Now wasn't the time for that discussion.
"You told her?" Olivia asked, her shaky voice conveying her betrayal. "It wasn't your secret to share."
Fitz hung his head. "I know. I'm sorry. I can explain if knowing why I told her will change things.
"It won't," she said sharply.
He took her tiny hand and blanketed it with his larger hand. In a slow, even tone he spoke, "I don't want to fight with you. It's been an emotional day and I know you're freaked out by my father's ridiculous threats. I'm on your side." He paused for a moment and then repeated himself, "I'm. On. Your. Side. I don't expect you to go. You're not going to lose your job. I won't let him, or anyone else at Grant Enterprises, hurt you in any way. Nothing that has happened tonight will change anything for you. You're protected here. You can trust me. Please trust me."
Gerry looked at his wife for confirmation that he was interpreting the scene playing out before him the way she was. She gave him a single nod. Their son was in love with Olivia Ballard and he wasn't bothering to hide it. When forced to choose between her and his career, he chose her without a moment's hesitation. Now, the question was if she would choose him in return.
Olivia removed her hand from his grasp. "Do you need me -
"Always," he said with a lopsided grin.
She giggled softly, the tension starting to leak out of her taut frame. "If you want me to go, I'll go."
"This is not about what I want. This has to be your uncoerced decision."
Olivia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and focused on Fitz, allowing everything else to fade away. She sat silently for a moment, her eyes flicking back and forth as she searched his face for an answer. He smiled, watching her, waiting for her response. It was then that she saw it, a brief flicker sadness in his eyes. He didn't think she would choose him. There was something so earnest about him in that moment, freely giving of himself, but not expecting anything in return, that made her decision for her. "I'll go, but I won't take your money."
"Liv -"
"You said it was my decision. Getting paid feels coercive. I won't be controlled by your money."
"What about Jake? We both know he hates me. He'll never agree to let you go if he's not getting anything from it."
"Let me worry about my marriage."
Her words weren't intended to sting, but they did, nonetheless. He knew her words came from a place of defense and denial, but that didn't make them easier to hear. Her marriage was the only thing standing between him and the future he wanted, a future with her. What did he have to do to show her that what he was offering was better than her life with Jake? The difference in what he was offering was much more than his money and the lifestyle it afforded. He would devote himself to ensuring her happiness at every level. She would be his queen. He would never ask her to subjugate herself to stroke his frail ego nor would he expect her to dim her light so he could shine. They would be a team with both partners working together to ensure both of their needs were met equally. Why couldn't she see this?
"What do you need from me?" he asked.
"I already have everything I need," she replied with a beguiling smile. He leaned in as if to kiss her, but her scramble to move out of his reach reminded him of their audience.
At the exact same moment, the pair turned their gaze to his parents, who were staring at them with mysterious smiles. "What?" Fitz asked.
"Nothing," replied his mother, "just watching the two of you work this out. Olivia, are you sure you want to do this?"
Olivia nodded. "I'm sure. We've done this before, I know what to expect. Just promise me this time we won't have to share a bedroom."
A look of disappointment flashed across Fitz's face. Was she having second thoughts? After the last trip, he knew better than to presume they would have sex, but he thought that at the very least they would share a bed. He missed being close to her and he was looking forward to having her all to himself again. Now, he wondered if his excitement was premature. "I'll have Charlotte book us a two-room suite."
Olivia dismissed his offer. "I'll take care of it. I don't need Charlotte to cover for me while I'm in the office. It's bad enough we'll be out of the office again at the same time. The last thing we need is to be the subject of the office rumor mill."
Perceiving Olivia's retreat back into her professional persona, Anne interjected. "Olivia, as you are going to be my pretend future daughter-in-law, we should spent some time together getting to know each other. Would Fitz be able to survive without you for one hour this week?"
Olivia paused, running Fitz's schedule in her head to determine when she could escape. "This week is incredibly busy. Next week is much better. Fitz is out of the office -
"I am?"
"Yes, you have the conference in DC at the end of next week."
"Do you want to come?"
"I'll be fine here," she replied, quickly shutting down the suggestion. Turning her attention back to his mother, she said, "Next Friday would be ideal. Are you free?"
"I'm far less busy than you are my dear. I'll make myself available," she said warmly.
"I look forward to spending time with you and hearing more embarrassing Fitzgerald stories," Olivia said with a chuckle.
"Mom," Fitz warned.
"Relax, dear, I promise to only share the stories your fiancée needs to know." Anne and Olivia shared a laugh.
"It's not fair. I spent two whole hours with Winnie and I didn't get a single awkward story from your teenage years."
"It's not my fault people open up to me," she said batting her eyes. "Plus, Winnie knew you were my boss. She would never share my secrets with my boss."
"Is Winnie your mother?" Anne asked. Judging by the look on Fitz's face and how quickly his hand darted to Olivia's back, she assumed she had said something wrong.
"My parents died when I was a teenager. Winnie welcomed me into her family after they passed. Fitz surprised me with a visit to her home when we were in Boston. However, he introduced himself as my colleague so I was spared any embarrassment."
"I'm very sorry for your loss. It sounds like Winnie was one of the good foster parents. You hear so many horror stories about neglected and abused children. I'm glad that wasn't your story."
Fitz looked between the two women, smiling. He knew introducing Olivia to his parents while she was still married was a risk, but this was the interaction wanted them to have. He wanted his mother to take the time to get to Olivia because he knew when she did, she would see the astonishing woman he knew her to be. Stephen was correct; Olivia was perfect for him and he wanted his mother to accept her as the woman in his life. It was still early, but he was hopeful about the future. Looking as his watch, he looked pointedly at his father and said, "As much fun as this has been, I have to get Olivia home."
"You three say your good-byes," Anne said, rising from the table. "I have to get something from my study for Fitz."
After Anne left the room, Fitz was the first to speak. "I wish I could say it was a pleasure, but, as usual, you found a way to ruin what would have otherwise been an enjoyable evening. You may have gotten what you wanted, but I won't allow Olivia be used as a pawn in your quest for power and control. I don't want to see you again until I have to and, even then, let's keep it professional, no more of this happy family bullshit. I will do my part in New York, but, until then, let's just stay out of each other's way. Tell mom I said goodnight." When he was finished speaking he stood up from the table in a huff.
Olivia stood to follow him. "Thank you for dinner, Big Gerry."
As she walked past Gerry, he grabbed her hand, halting her movement. "Talk to him. Make him understand he's working against his own self-interest."
Olivia removed her hand from his grasp. "I think you misunderstand," she said coldly. "I only pretend to be his fiancée. I can't make him do anything. Thanks again for a lovely evening," she said sarcastically.
Fitz stormed out of the dining room and headed to the front door. He was about to open the door when his mother called his name. "Fitz, wait, I have something for you." She reached out and handed him a business card.
He examined the card. It was a simple white card with black lettering. The card just listed a name, telephone number, and email address without any indication of who the person was or the services he offered. "Tyler Avery?"
"He's the best divorce attorney in Miami. Be sure to tell his assistant that you're Fitzgerald Grant, III, not Fitzgerald Grant, II, or he won't take your meeting."
"Mom!"
"What? Your father is a difficult man to love. You know this. I wanted to make sure we would be protected if our marriage dissolved. One more thing, be sure to pay the retainer in cash or in Olivia's name. I'm sure the infidelity -
"We're not having an affair."
Anne held her son's face between her hands. "Trust me. I know you will want to help her through this, but you will need to create a paper trail of Olivia acting independently. Her husband can't sue you for alienation of affections, but I doubt he will just grant her an uncontested divorce, especially if he doesn't already know his marriage is over."
"Thank you," he said, hugging her tightly, "and thank you for giving her a chance. She really is special."
Olivia rounded the corner in time to see a Fitz shove something in his pocket and wondered what his mother gave him. She approached the pair cautiously, not wanting to interrupt their moment. Fitz immediately sensed her presence and was awestruck by how complete he felt whenever she was near him. How had he existed without her and what would he do if she decided to leave? He smiled brightly, nodding for her to join them. Olivia approached them and extended her hand warmly to Anne. "Mrs. Grant, it was lovely to meet you. Dinner was delicious. Thank you so much for everything. I'll call you tomorrow with the details for your dinner with Fitz and our lunch."
Anne waived off Olivia's offered hand and pulled her into a gentle embrace. "It was a pleasure to meet you as well. I look forward to our lunch next week." Then, she whispered quietly in her ear, "Be gentle with his heart. It's been a long time since he's allowed anyone to see it."
Olivia pulled away from Anne, tears glistening in her eyes. "I will. Have a good night." With that, she grasped Fitz's hand and allowed him to lead her out of the house.
A/N: As always, I love to read your comments – positive, negative or otherwise. Your clever observations, insights, and questions are an inspiration for future chapters.