A/N: I'm very sorry to be away so long, especially after promising I wouldn't be. Life has been incredibly busy, but mostly good, so I'm not complaining (but I understand why you guys are). My public thanks to those of you who took the time to check-in on me. You guys are the best! I hope you enjoy!
Fitz was in his office on the phone when there was a light knock on the door. "Hold on a second, Dad." He cover the receiver with his hand and shouted, "If you're not Olivia, go away!" The door opened and Olivia slowly entered the room. "Dad, I have to go. I'll call you from the plane."
His father chuckled. "Give Olivia my regards. Is she traveling with you?"
"It's doubtful, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I'll talk to you later."
"Bye, son. Safe travels."
Fitz hung up the phone and rose from his desk, quickly crossing the room to where Olivia was standing. "Hello, beautiful."
"You didn't have to get off the phone. I was just checking to see if there was anything you needed before you left. Brian will be here to take you to the airport in twenty minutes."
"Remind me again why I'm traveling to DC in the middle of the day on Wednesday when my talk isn't until Thursday afternoon."
"You're going early to get settled in before you have to start making the rounds. You know, pressing the flesh and kissing babies."
"I'm trying to be CEO of my family's company, not run for president."
"Which is exactly why you're hosting this year's pre-conference dinner. I've been on the phone all morning with the restaurant's event planner making sure everything is in place for tonight. She seems competent enough and she'll be on-site tonight to make sure you have everything you need."
"She knows -
"That you're allergic to caraway, you hate Brussels sprouts, and you don't drink wine. Yes, she knows. She also knows you have a three drink limit tonight."
"Three drink limit? The whole point of these dinners is to brag about your company's accomplishments and to drink as much as you can on someone else's tab. Half of my colleagues will be drunk before the main course is served."
"That's the plan," she said, walking toward him. "People talk more when they've been drinking, a situation you can manipulate if you're sober enough to take advantage of it. The Board will announce the new CEO in less than two months. If they are seriously considering another candidate or have expressed concerns about your leadership, someone in this group will know. You can drink all you want when you have dinner with Harrison on Friday. Tonight, I need you to impress them with your business acumen, not your alcohol tolerance," she said, straightening his tie and smoothing his lapels.
"You know what would be really impressive?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist. Olivia shot him an inquisitive look, but remained silent. "Having you with me as my beautiful co-host." He moved to kiss her, but she quickly slipped out of his embrace.
"We're at work," she hissed. "There are at least twenty people working within one hundred feet of that door."
"The only person bold enough to walk into my office without knocking is my father and he already knows about us," he said, walking to and locking the door. "Happy now?"
Olivia took a series of slow steps in his direction. "What would people think if they knew you were behind a locked door with your young, impressionable assistant?"
When she was close enough to touch, he grabbed her by the hips and pulled her into him. "You're not that young," he teased before crashing his lips onto hers. He loved how easily they came together, their lips moving in tandem against each other as if they were practiced lovers. As was wont to happen, the kiss quickly became heated, their tongues twirling around each other as they took turns dominating the kiss. The kiss lingered on, neither willing to let the other go. When they finally broke apart, she bit his bottom lip hard. "Ouch," he cried, sucking his lip into his mouth.
"That was for calling me old."
Fitz laughed. "I didn't call you old. I just pointed out that you're not some vulnerable teenage virgin." He lightly moved his hands over the curvy planes of her body, ultimately resting them on her bottom. He pulled her closer so she could feel him pressed against her. "You are more than capable of handling me."
Olivia stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly. "It'll be lonely here without you," she whined. She nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his clean, masculine scent.
He wrapped her in his embrace, holding her close. "This doesn't have to be good-bye. You can come with me."
She closed her eyes and rested her head on his chest. She knew this was coming. He'd been dropping hints that he wanted her to travel with him all week. "I can't. Jake and his team will be there. Their talk is Friday afternoon."
"It's a big city. We can stay in another hotel across town. He'll never know you are there."
Olivia pulled slightly away from him. "And what am I supposed to do while you're at the conference? I'll be stuck hiding in the hotel room waiting for you to return."
"You don't have to hide in the hotel. You can do whatever you want. You can visit the museums and monuments, go on a shopping spree, you can have a relaxing spa day or you could do all three. Why don't you invite Abby and Quinn so you won't be alone?"
"They have jobs, Fitz. They can't just drop everything and fly to DC to babysit me. Even if they could, I won't risk being caught gallivanting around the city by Jake or one of his colleagues. I'm not going to embarrass him like that."
Fitz dropped his arms and walked away from her, staring out his office window. "I thought you were leaving him. Why does it matter how he finds out?"
Olivia released an exasperated sigh. Careful to modulate her tone, she said, "I hear you. You're frustrated with my decisions. Although I said I choose you, it still feels like I prioritize Jake over you. Things aren't unfolding the way you want and you're tired of waiting. If we're going to be together, you want it to happen now." Fitz turned around and faced Olivia, his surprise at her response evident by his expression.
"Did I miss anything?" she asked, smiling warmly at him.
Only that I'm falling in love with you and I'm terrified you'll never love me back, Fitz thought, but wouldn't dare say. "No, I think you covered it."
"Do you need me to go with you to DC?"
"What?" he asked, confused by her sudden change.
"Do you need me to go with you to DC? If you need me to go, I'll leave now, go home, pack a bag, and meet you at the airport in an hour. However, if you just want me to go, if going makes your life easier, but my absence doesn't materially change things; I'm asking you not to make this a 'you versus him' ultimatum." Olivia walked to him and held him around his waist. "I promise you that if it comes down to you versus him, I'm always, always going to pick you. Me staying in Miami is not me picking him. It's me picking us. I don't want to have to hide you, to be constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure someone's not watching us. I don't want to treat you like you're my dirty little secret when you're so much more."
Fitz wanted to believe she would choose him, but he could tell she was torn. He didn't blame her, not fully. She didn't go into the weekend they spent in the Hamptons expecting her life to change so dramatically. She'd given almost half of her life to Jake and now he was asking her to throw all of that away, asking her to trust that he could provide her with a better life, the life she deserved. However, it wasn't something he could give her, she had to take it and he wasn't convinced she would.
Olivia stretched up and kissed him with a fierce intensity. He allowed her to lead, letting her distract him with the desire he felt for her. He knew he should push her away, make her use her words instead of her body, but her needy whimpers and soft moans reverberated around him until possessing her was all he could think about. He lifted her onto his desk and wedged himself between her legs. Surprised when she suddenly pulled away, he blinked his eyes rapidly, trying to focus on her face. "What?" he asked. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," she said, gently stroking his cheek. "I just need an answer. Do you need me to go with you?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation.
A brief look of disappointment flashed across Olivia's face. She used his tie to pull him closer and kissed him softly before easing off his desk. "I'll see you at the airport in an hour."
She had only taken a few steps towards the door when he called out, "Liv, wait." When she turned to face him, he ran his hand through his hair and said, "I'm sorry. I'm being a selfish jerk. I don't need you to go and I don't want you to go if you're not comfortable being there."
"Are you sure?" she asked cautiously, visibly relieved by his reversal, a fact he tried not to take personally.
"I'm sure," he replied, making no attempt to hide his disappointment.
"But?" she asked, hoping to prevent him from stewing in his feelings until she saw him again on Monday.
"I need more than stolen moments. I want to be with you and I need you to find a way for that to happen."
Olivia nodded solemnly. She heard him and understood where he was coming from, but she had no idea how to give him what he needed without raising suspicions about the change in their relationship. "I'll figure it out," she said, walking towards him, relieved when he opened his arms and wrapped her in his embrace.
He held her close and kissed her lightly on her temple. "I don't expect you to pack your things and move out. I understand we're not there yet. I just want you to give us a chance. We can start small. Let me cook you dinner next week."
"Do you cook?"
Fitz laughed. "No, but my chef does. I'll have her make whatever you like."
Olivia looked up at him in amusement. "It's a date." When Fitz lowered his head to kiss her, she quickly moved away from him. "You don't have time. Brian is downstairs waiting."
"He can wait. I'm not leaving without a proper good-bye," he said pulling her flush against him. "I'm going to miss you Olivia Pope."
"I'm going to miss you too," she replied, turning her face up to his, smiling sadly.
"Don't look so sad. I'll bring you something special from DC."
"All I need is you. Now, kiss me before I change my mind," she said with a laugh. He didn't need to be told twice, his lips meeting hers hungrily, kissing her breathless.
XXXX
After dinner, an exhausted Fitz opened his hotel room door and stepped inside. His eyes were immediately drawn to a bottle sitting on the bar with a large royal blue bow. He stepped toward it, his pulse racing when he noticed the attached card with his initials written on it in Olivia's elegant script. "Livvie," he called out hopefully, fending off disappointment when his call was met with silence. He picked up the bottle and hummed contentedly, she had spared no expense. It was exactly the kind of thing he would have done. He opened the card and read it.
Dear Mr. CEO,
Congratulations on hosting your first corporate event as the soon to be head of Grant Enterprises. I'm sure every attendee walked away confident that you're ready to lead your family's company to future greatness. I hope every single detail of your evening was perfect, as you deserve nothing less. I can't wait for you to comes home and tell me all about it. Hugs and kisses!
Yours Always,
Olivia
Yours always, he thought. Did she mean it? As much as he wanted to believe her, he wasn't convinced. She still seemed conflicted. It was as if something was still holding her back, tying her to Jake. He couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, but it seemed along the lines of duty or obligation. The one thing he was certain of was she wasn't in love with her husband, not anymore, if she ever had been. His patience was being tested, but the past few months taught him that pushing her only made her stubbornly dig in her very high heels. For now, they had to move at her pace. He reached for his phone and dialed her number.
"Hello," she answered groggily, her voice thick with sleep.
"Shit, Liv. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. What time is it?" he asked, looking at his watch, noting it was after one in the morning.
"No, it's fine. I'm up."
Fitz laughed. "Liar."
"Shut up. Did you get my gift? Cask strength, first fill, aged over an entire 24 years. It's your favorite, right?" she asked, her voice transitioning from sleepy to sultry.
"You got it right," he said, the low rumble of his baritone warming her insides. "Thank you."
"I'm glad you called. I hated that I couldn't be there for you tonight."
Fitz was tempted to correct her, to point out that she could have been there for him. She chose not to be. Instead, he accepted the scotch the way it was intended, as a peace offering. She was alone with him now, even if there were a thousand miles between them, and that's what was important. "Next time," he said softly, making his way to the bedroom. "I think I did okay without you tonight."
"I'm sure you did more than okay. I've seen you in social executive mode. You are confident and commanding, the consummate leader. You don't need me, the greatness in you is all yours. I didn't create it."
"But you do enhance it."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "Are you done for the night?"
"Yeah, I'm just going to have a nightcap and head to bed."
"Are you going to the bar?" she asked, insecurity creeping into her voice.
"Thanks to you, I don't have to. Have a drink with me, Livvie?"
"It's too late for me to have a drink, but I'll stay up with you."
"Give me a couple of minutes to get settled and I'll FaceTime you."
"I'll be waiting," she said before hanging up.
Fitz quickly changed into his pajamas, grabbed the bottle and a tumbler from the bar, poured himself a drink, and settled into bed before FaceTiming Olivia from his iPad.
His face lit up in a huge smile when she answered. She had her phone propped up on a pillow next to her so it looked like she was lying beside him. "Hello, beautiful," he greeted her while his finger traced the contours of her face on the screen. She was wearing a light pink silk cami, the thin straps of her top baring to him the delicate jut of her collarbones, the rounded slope of her shoulders, and her soft, but toned caramel arms. How could a woman just roused from her slumber look so perfect, so angelic?
"Why are you naked?" she asked, feigning moral outrage. "What kind of woman do you think I am?"
"I'm not naked," he said, laughing. He panned the camera over his body so she could see he was wearing pajama bottoms. His ears perked up when he thought he heard her moan softly. "Satisfied?"
"You're too far away for that," she teased.
"Liv..."
"I know," she said, quietly acknowledging she was the reason they were currently apart. "You travel a lot for work. We're going to have to get used to being apart."
"It feels like we spend more time apart than we do together."
Olivia took a deep breath, willing herself not to react to his provocation. Although they spent more time together than most couples, she knew he wanted to spend time with her outside of work. She wanted the same thing, she just needed time. "I don't want to fight. Maybe this was a bad idea. We both have early mornings."
"Liv, wait, I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated."
"You don't have to apologize. You were just being honest." Fitz looked at her through narrowed eyes. "What?" she asked.
"Are you ready to me honest with me?"
"Have I been dishonest with you?"
"No, but we both know there's a huge gulf between being dishonest and being honest. Let's try something new." Olivia groaned. "Hear me out. Let's agree to ask each other three questions about anything we want and the other person will answer honestly and candidly."
"What are we now, middle school kids playing truth or dare?"
"What I'm asking you to do will be much more challenging than being dared by your best friend to kiss a boy she knew you wanted to make out with."
Olivia laughed. "I haven't thought about Bobby Johnson in years. He was so nervous he nearly peed in his pants when I kissed him. I wonder what he's doing now."
"Liv," he warned.
She laughed off his threat. "You're so easy. The slightest mention of another man and you go all caveman. You're going to have to learn to control that."
"Like you weren't possessive when Jacci approached us in the club."
"That's different. You two have a history. Bobby is a boy I kissed in the seventh grade."
"Stop stalling. Are you willing to cooperate? It's just you, me, and the truth."
"I can ask anything I want?"
Fitz paused. "You can ask anything you want and I'll answer any question you ask, but I think there are some things better discussed in person so we can interact with each other." Olivia nodded along, reflecting on his words. "I'll let you ask the first question."
"Hmmm...three questions to discover your most guarded secrets," she said rubbing her hands in delight. "Ok...I'll start you off with a soft ball. Who are the three people that have had the greatest influence on your life?"
"My mom, of course. She's my best friend and the one person I know will love me unconditionally. She was there for me during my darkest days, letting me lean on her strength until I was strong enough to stand on my own. She's quietly and, at times, very annoyingly not so quietly cheered me on. She's been beside me to celebrate every significant milestone in my life."
Fitz looked at the screen and noticed Olivia's eyes were brimming with tears. He instinctively reached toward her image to comfort her, dropping his arm, when he realized his gesture was fruitless. Olivia quickly wiped the tears away before they could fall. "You're very lucky to have her. Don't ever take that for granted. Life can change quickly," she said with a weak smile. "Who's the second person?"
Fitz paused before responding, hating that she didn't give him an opportunity to comfort her, but understanding that's not what she needed in this moment. "Keith Duncan, he was my toughest professor and advisor at the GSD. He's the one who convinced me to take the job at Grant Enterprises when no one else would hire me. He continued to mentor me even after I graduated. I flew to Boston routinely during my first major design project for his guidance and advice. Without him, I would probably have opened up a small shop in Atlanta or D.C. and wouldn't be nearly as accomplished as I am today. The first thing I did when I got access to my trust fund was endow a professorship for him. He was the Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, III, Professor in Architecture for the last few years of his career. We still talk a couple of times a year and I was an annual guest lecturer in his class before he retired."
Olivia smiled warmly. "And the third?"
"Hugh Hefner," he deadpanned.
Olivia cackled. "I thought it was just you, me, and the truth."
"I am telling the truth. Hef is a legend and we have a lot in common. People get distracted by the parties, the women, and the magazine, but he was so much more. His life was a shining example that a man can be more than one thing. He was a trailblazer for diversity and inclusion. He was also a generous philanthropist, supporting dozens of legitimate causes. All of this while publicly challenging the notion that sex should be hidden in shame. Playboy is a far more structured way for a pre-teen boy to explore his sexuality than the internet porn today's pre-teens have access to. I may not agree with everything he said or did, but he led a sexual liberation movement that normalized behaviors we both enjoy very much," he said with a wicked smile.
"Sounds like the two of you are practically twins," Olivia said, rolling her eyes.
"No, there's one huge difference between us. I know ours is a bachelor's lifestyle. I would never expect you to share me with another woman. I've settled down. I'm ready for all of the things that come with being your partner. I'm just waiting for you to figure out what picking me means to you."
Olivia immediately alerted to Fitz's word choice. I've settled down, instead of I'm ready to settle down. Had he already given up his bachelor lifestyle? She assumed he was still sleeping with other women. They'd never discussed it, but it was the most likely scenario given his sexual appetites. Had he instead opted for self-imposed celibacy? Was he even capable of abstaining? Thinking back, his body had been extremely reactive lately, but she assumed that was the product of their insane chemistry. Was she wrong? Their relationship was in the fledgling stage and she was still married. She was in no position to expect this of him. Had he done it anyway? If so, why?
Fitz watched her closely. She had that cute furrow between her brows that appeared when she was working through something. "If you have a question, you can just ask it. You have two more."
Olivia narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "Nice try, mister. Ask your first question."
"If money were no object-" Olivia scoffed aloud. Fitz ignored her and continued, "-neither having it nor earning it, would you work and, if so, what would you do?"
"That sounded like two questions to me," she teased.
"It was one, compound question." Fitz laughed, the skin around his brilliant blue eyes crinkling at the corners. Olivia stared at him on her screen, allowing herself to get lost in his eyes. They were hypnotizing, care and affection pouring from them. She melted a little bit knowing these emotions were reserved solely for her. Was it too soon to feel this way? Neither one of them had uttered the word love, but lately she found herself thinking about it, a lot. "Liv," he called, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Sorry," she mumbled, embarrassed to be caught staring at him. "I would be the managing partner at one of Miami's top law firms."
"Just like your dad."
Olivia's eyebrows lifted. "Was that another question?"
"No," he said, shaking his head at her precociousness. "That was a statement."
"Because I'm in a generous mood, I'm going to answer the question anyway. My dad was a criminal defense lawyer, one of the best in Boston." Fitz looked at her, his eyes wide with surprise. "He always said the deck was stacked in favor of the prosecution and the other side needed good people too. I only saw him in action once, but I know he was admired and feared by colleagues and opponents alike. The courtroom was his domain where he toyed with prosecutors, charmed judges, and enchanted jurors. The partners at his law firm hired me to intern for a couple of weeks between my junior and senior years of high school. I didn't do much work, but the stories they shared with me about my dad were both entertaining and illuminating. I will be forever grateful for the experience.
"However, I didn't find my calling in the courtroom. I'm much more comfortable in boardrooms and backrooms, leveraging my opponents and fighting for my clients. I'm a natural born negotiator." Fitz nodded his head in agreement. It was true and a skill that he'd relied on many times during the years they worked together. "In school, I loved the grind of big law. Although I was mostly tasked with grunt work, I found it fulfilling. There's nothing like staying up all night studying and finding an obscure precedent that gives your partner an edge, finding and closing a loophole that could have cost your client or watching your opponent, resigned to defeat, sign an agreement that he knows is not in his favor."
Fitz looked at her confused. "If you want to be a lawyer and you are a lawyer, why aren't you practicing law?"
"That was definitely a question," she said with a laugh.
"Indulge me," he replied.
"You already know the answer. I graduated from law school ten years ago. Even if by some miracle I could study for and pass the Bar, no one would hire a thirty-four year old first-year law associate."
"Why would you work for someone else when you could start your own firm? How much would it cost to build a firm with top-tier talent? Ten million dollars? One hundred?"
"Fitz," Olivia said sharply. "It doesn't work like that. You have to start at the bottom, work your way up, and build a reputation and a client roster before you branch out on your own. But, none of that matters, even if someone was willing to hire me, I would have to pass the Bar first. At this point, I doubt I could. I made a different decision. I choose a different path. I'm content with that."
"Are you?"
Olivia paused, closing her eyes. Over the years, she'd repeated those last three sentences until they'd become her mantra. Until she could almost believe she meant them, but she didn't, not really. She didn't finish undergraduate school in three years and kill herself to graduate at the top of her class in law school to be someone's assistant. She had dreams of being a big dog, but through her own decisions she found herself in a supporting role. Slowly, she opened her eyes and confidently looked at Fitz. "No."
Olivia watched as a lopsided grin spread across Fitz's face. "Well then, let's do something about it."
His smile was infectious and it wasn't long before Olivia found herself smiling back at him. He was five states away and he could still make her heart flutter with just one look. "Can we table this discussion until you return?"
"As you wish, but I'm not letting this go. I won't let you compromise yourself to support me, not any more. Your turn, what's your second question?"
"What's your biggest fear?"
Fitz paused and looked away from his iPad, reflecting on the question. After a few seconds, he focused once again on her image and responded, "In life or right now?"
"Are the answers different?"
"Yes."
"Will you answer both?"
"Are you asking for an extra question Ms. Pope?"
"Indulge me," she said, mimicking his earlier reply.
"If only you would allow it."
"Fitz..."
"You are the most stubborn person I've ever met. Is the thought of allowing me to take care of you really that offensive?"
"You know it's not. I just don't want to repeat the mistakes of my past."
"I'm not him. If anything, I want you to be more, not less," he replied, exasperated.
"Intellectually I know that, but emotionally I guess I'm still guarded. I'll work on it. Now, are you going to answer my question?"
Fitz exhaled loudly. "What is my biggest fear? In life, it's that I will prove myself to be the man my father thinks I am. I'm terrified that I will fail as the CEO and be the Grant that bankrupts the family company and ruins my family's reputation in the process. That somehow I'll find a way to let down the people that are counting on me. Grant Enterprises has more than five hundred employees. All of those people will depend on me and my decision making to provide for their families. What if I make a series of bad business deals or the economy tanks and I have to lay off people?"
"You won't," she interrupted.
"You can't know that."
"I do. Even if things get tight, you'll find a way to take care of your people. You do that now and there's no reason to expect that will change."
"What if, instead, I fail you or our kids? What if I'm so busy trying to conquer the business world that I don't make time for my family? I don't want to be the kind of man that misses birthdays, anniversaries, school plays, and lacrosse games. I want to be there when our children take their first steps and say their first words. I want to be there for knee scrapes, school dances, and heartbreaks. What if I can't balance both worlds?"
"You'll find a way to be present for your family and lead your company." Fitz winced when Olivia said your family instead of us. Did she not see herself as part of his family, part of his future? "You're going to need strong partners in business and at home, but you can do it. Working mothers have done it for years," she said with a smirk. "Was that your right now fear?"
"No, right now I'm afraid you and I don't want the same thing."
Olivia furrowed her brows in confusion. "What do you want?"
"You. All of you."
"Fitz..."
"Don't, you know I'm not trying to turn you into a stepford wife. I treasure and value your independence. I just want to be the place you call home, the place you come when it's your turn to be taken care of." Olivia's chocolate orbs flashed wide with panic. "What?" he asked, trying to conceal the hurt in his voice. "Is the thought of being with me really that bad?"
Olivia answered in a hushed, almost timid voice. "The thought of being with you, belonging to you, isn't bad at all. It's hard to imagine a more perfect partner. I never for a second question the sincerity of your intentions or your wish for us to lead happy and fulfilled lives. Most women would want to be in my position. Many have tried."
Fitz hung on her every word, relieved to learn that she truly saw him and recognized his value, his worth, as her partner. Olivia continued, "My alarm wasn't at the thought, but your word choice. Sometimes we're so in sync that it's scary. The night we had dinner with your parents was the first time I felt like you could be the place I finally found home." She focused her gaze on his eyes, her mouth relaxing into a smile. "We want the same thing. Your turn."
"Can you leave Jake?" he asked without hesitation, abruptly ending the tender moment they just shared.
Olivia scowled at him. "I just said -
"I know what you said. I also know that Jake, Winnie, and her kids are the only family you have. Judging from the fact that you didn't know where Winnie lived or that she was a grandmother, I am going to assume you've grown apart, giving Jake an even bigger presence. If I'm right, Jake is the only family you have and I know how important family is to you. Given all that you've lost and all that you've sacrificed to get where you are, can you really just walk away from your life with him?"
Olivia's eyes drifted to Jake's empty side of the bed. There was a time when she couldn't sleep without Jake beside her, but tonight she had fallen asleep without difficulty. It was just the latest example of how things had changed for her at home. When her eyes returned to the screen they were distant and unfocused. "I was young when I got married, but I wasn't naive to the gravity of the vows I made. Since then, I've done lots of things the woman who made those promises couldn't fathom. I never thought I would prioritize my boss over my husband, but I did. I never thought I would find myself naked in bed with another man, but I have. I never thought I would be the reason why my marriage failed, but here we are. I've thoroughly broken every promise I made that day and I'm lying to everyone I claim to love. I've already left my family, they just don't know it yet," she said sadly.
The hurt in Olivia's eyes crushed Fitz and made him instantly regret asking the question. He didn't expect her answer to be so pained. He just needed reassurance that she wasn't toying with him. He knew that men seeking relationships outside of their marriage often deceived their mistresses, pretending to be more available than they were or planned to be. He needed her to be honest with him before he allowed himself to love her completely.
"If they love you, they will forgive you. You haven't done anything that can't be undone," he offered.
Olivia smiled weakly at Fitz. "I don't regret my decisions or my actions. I don't want to go back to the way things were. I just hate that finding my happiness will hurt people that I care about."
"People?"
"I'm the cheater, the homewrecker. Our mutual friends will side with him and my friends will be angry because I didn't trust them enough to tell them what was really going on with me. They will assume you paid me a little attention and I jumped in your bed, like a little wanton slut that couldn't keep her legs closed. At the end of this I will be alone. I know this and I'm trying to prepare myself for it."
"You won't be alone. I'll be with you."
Olivia smiled. "That's sweet, but you can't support me through my divorce."
"I can and I will. I want all of you, even the part that's mourning the death of a marriage you thought would last forever. I want to support you in whatever way you need me to. You won't be alone because I will be there for you. I also think you're underestimating your friends. Once they see us together, really together, they will understand we didn't have a choice. They will know choosing each other was our only option. Winnie understood this before we did. When she asked to speak to me, she didn't tell me to stay away from you because you were married. She asked me to put your happiness first and told me if I couldn't I should walk away. I'm still here and I'm not going anywhere. If you decide to leave him, it will be difficult, but, if you allow me to, I will spend the rest of my life proving to you and any other doubters that you made the right decision."
The depth and sincerity of every word Fitz spoke made Olivia's eyes well with tears as she felt herself falling deeper in love with this amazing man. He was unabashed about his desire for and devotion to her, simply refusing to allow her to doubt him for a second. As she stared at his image on her phone she regretted her decision not to join him. She could be there now in the safety and security of his embrace instead of alone in a place she no longer felt she belonged. He loved her, he didn't need to say it when he telegraphed it with his every word and action, and it was time she started showing him he wasn't alone in his feelings. "I'm sorry," she said.
"For what?" he asked, not following her.
"I should have said yes when you asked me to come with you. I should have been there for you tonight."
Fitz looked at her wistfully. "As much as I wish you were here with me tonight, I understand why you can't be. We can't get ahead of ourselves."
Olivia let out a long yawn, a bashful expression creepy across her face. "It's late, I should let you go," he offered, with a smirk.
"You owe me another question," she pouted.
"I'll answer whatever question you have tomorrow, but right now you need your rest. I'll call you in the morning."
"Stay with me until I fall asleep?" she asked, her eyes fluttering closed.
"For you," he said with a sly smile, "anything."
"Fitz?" she queried half asleep, her soft voice barely audibly.
"Yes," he answered curiously, sipping from his drink as he watched her drift away.
"I'm going to leave him."
"I know," he replied with a wide grin, finding her sleepy conversation adorable.
"Soon."
"I believe you," he whispered softly so as not to interrupt her soft snores. When he was certain she was asleep, he added, "I love you."
XXXXX
The rest of the week flew by quickly and before Olivia had too much time to stress about it, it was time for her lunch with Fitz's mom. After a quick pep talk from Fitz in the car, she entered the restaurant confidently and ready to handle whatever Anne threw her way.
"Olivia," Anne exclaimed rising from her chair.
Olivia walked to the older woman's side of the table and embraced her before kissing each cheek. "Mrs. Grant, it's great to see you again."
"Please, call me Anne." Olivia couldn't suppress the look of disbelief that flashed across her face. Fitz's mother smiled warmly, gesturing for Olivia to have a seat and continued, "We got off to a rocky start. I made assumptions about you because -
"I'm married," Olivia interrupted, boldly staring at her.
Anne chuckled. "No." Olivia looked at her through narrowed eyes. "You think you're the first compromised woman my son has brought home?" Olivia's skin flushed with the heat of embarrassment. Anne waited until Olivia made eye contact with her before speaking again. "I'm not blind to his faults and his selection of companions has been questionable at best in recent years. Fitz has shown up to our house and other events with all kinds of women, but he always does so boldly, practically daring someone to challenge him. With you, he is different, more guarded, and a little insecure."
"You thought I made him doubt himself so I could take advantage of him?"
"When I saw your wedding rings - yes - and they brought out my mama bear. He may be forty, but he's still my baby."
"You don't have to protect him from me. I would never hurt Fitz," Olivia volunteered, her voice quivering with emotion.
"You don't think he's hurting now?" Olivia gasped audibly in surprise. If Fitz was being hurt by their relationship, his mother would be the person he would confide in. Before Olivia could respond, a college-aged woman approached the table to fill their water goblets and take their drink order. "I'll have a rosé. And for you, dear? A Pinot, Malbec, or Cab?"
Olivia smiled at the server. "I'm fine with water for now." Turning to Anne, she explained, "I'm expected back in the office this afternoon." Satisfied with her reply, the young woman left to get their drinks.
"Now, where were we?"
"You were just accusing me of hurting your son -
"I don't think -
"No, let me finish. I get it; you don't like me. I don't blame you, not really. You think I'm a married Jezebel that can't be trusted with your son and nothing I can do today will change your mind. I'm okay with that, for now, but we have a bigger problem. You may not like me, but Stephen Merkle does and he's expecting a reprise of the performance Fitz and I put on in the Hamptons. I can do that, but Fitz won't be able to, not if we're at odds. You're far too important to him and he'll be torn between pleasing you and pretending with me. Stephen and Jean had us under a microscope the entire time we were in New York. If there is anything off between us, they will know immediately and it will only draw unwanted attention to our relationship. Regardless of how you feel about me, I think we both want the same thing for Fitz. Are you willing to work with me to do what's best for him?"
Anne looked at Olivia and laughed. This bitch, Olivia thought. Here she was, willing to suffer the indignity of humbling herself before a woman who hadn't even made an effort to get to know her before judging her and Anne had the audacity to laugh in her face. She removed her napkin from her lap, folding it neatly before placing it on the table. "Thank you for the invitation," she started, rising from her seat, "but I really should get back to the office."
"Sit down, Olivia," Anne said sternly. Determined not to make a scene, she remained still, glaring at the older woman. "Please," she said, nodding toward Olivia's now empty chair.
Olivia hesitated for moment before quietly taking a seat. This was Fitz's mother and, like it or not, if she was going to be in his life, she had to find a way to get along with this woman. "You accused me of not liking you," Anne offered, "but nothing could be further from the truth. I barely know you and I already like you more than any woman my son's brought home in the past ten years."
"But, you -
"I said Fitz is hurting. He is, we both know that, but he's also an adult that decided to pursue a relationship with you even though you're married. He's making this decision with his eyes wide open and, as I spend more time with you, I'm beginning to realize why. You're not a Jezebel. You're clearly devoted to my son. You're a woman in a difficult situation trying to make an impossible decision."
"Our situation is difficult, but the decision isn't impossible. I want to be, plan to be, with Fitz."
"Does your husband know this?"
Olivia sighed, fidgeting with the napkin in her lap. She felt like a new life was out there just waiting for her to grab it, but she couldn't do that until she let go of Jake. "Not yet, but he can tell things are different with me, between us. He's blaming Fitz and trying to be a better husband, but what's broken between us can't be fixed. I'm not the woman he thought he married, not any more. I probably never was. I plan to tell him, soon. The current situation isn't fair to anyone; not to Jake, and certainly not to Fitz. There are just some details I need to work out first."
"Details?" Anne asked. "That's what Tyler Avery is for. Just do what he tells you and everything will be fine."
"Who is Tyler Avery?"
"Your divorce lawyer. He's the best and most sought after attorney in Miami. There's nothing for you to worry about. He'll make sure you're protected and that you walk away with everything you're entitled to."
"I don't have a divorce lawyer and, if I did, it definitely wouldn't be Tyler Avery. Jake and I live a modest life, there's not a lot to fight over," Olivia said as her phone vibrated in her purse.
Anne chuckled. "That's probably Fitz checking to make sure we're getting along okay. You should answer, otherwise he'll just worry and keep calling."
Olivia ignored her phone and looked at Anne with cold eyes. "Fitz can't buy me from Jake nor can he bully him into a divorce. Was Tyler Avery your idea or his? Do I get a say about when and how I end my marriage or am I just expected to stay quiet and do as I'm told? Because that doesn't work for me. I won't be a spectator in my own life, not any more. I'm done letting others make decisions for me."
"Good for you," Anne replied bluntly. "No woman should settle for being ornamental in her life or relationship, especially not someone with as much potential as you clearly have. I'm just glad all that passion and fight is working with my son instead of against him. I gave Fitz Tyler's card because I thought it would be too forward of me to suggest a divorce after our first meeting, but you just admitted your marriage is over.
"Tyler is my lawyer - " It was Olivia's turn to be confused. As far as she knew, Anne and Big Gerry were Fitz's biological parents and had been married for more than forty years. Why would Anne have a divorce lawyer on retainer? " - and I know he will make sure you walk away from your marriage with everything you want and deserve. Although, I suggest walking away from everything and building a new life. Fighting with your husband about material things that can be easily replaced will only prolong the divorce proceedings."
The conversation was interrupted when the waitress returned to their table to take their lunch order. After both women ordered salads, the server departed leaving them alone. Stalling for time and hoping the conversation would move away from her marriage, Olivia took a sip from her water glass. Anne waited for her to finish and then asked, "Are you the reason why Fitz called off his engagement to Mellie?"
"What?" Olivia exclaimed sputtering. "No! Mellie caught him with someone else. It wasn't me."
Anne laughed at Olivia's reaction. "I know the story, but it doesn't make sense." Olivia looked at Anne quizzically. "Mellie and Fitz had an agreement - one that didn't require monogamy - that worked for both of them. Why would he violate that agreement a few days before he and his fiancée were expected in New York. He's smarter than that. Plus, he doesn't drink wine. How did he end up in bed with a wine angel?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"I'm wondering if my son blew up his life at the worst possible time intentionally. I'm wondering if he created the whole situation knowing you would be compelled to rescue him. Hoping that a couple of days alone with you would give him the opportunity to show you the man he could be, the man he wants to be for you."
Olivia reflected on their weekend in New York. The time they spent together as colleagues had done nothing to prepare her for the intensity of his affection. He was relentless in his efforts to show her she deserved happiness and that he was a man who understood her wants, needs, and desires. "Why would he take such a huge risk?"
"I think the answer to that question is obvious."
"It is?"
"Yes, he did it for you. You're the woman he's been waiting for since he lost..."
Olivia's eyes narrowed. She wondered if Elizabeth's specter would always hang over their relationship. She didn't know if could compete with a ghost for Fitz's heart and was anguished by the idea of being his consolation prize. She was pulled from her thoughts when the waitress approached their table carrying their salads.
Once the pair was served, Olivia spoke up. "For what it's worth, I don't think asking me to go to New York was pre-meditated." Anne raised a doubtful eyebrow at Olivia, making the younger woman laugh. "I was there. He was just as surprised as I was. I can't explain how it happened, but somehow we went from pretending to being real."
"When did you know something had changed?"
"There were little things along the way; the searing heat of his touch, how easily I folded into his embrace, the way I felt when he looked at me. I tried to brush those feelings away and it was working until Seth..." Olivia's trailed off. After a moment she looked up at Anne with tears glistening in her eyes. "No one's ever stood up for me like that before. It allowed me to really see him. Not the protective mask he wears, burying his pain in the alcohol, parties, and women, but the version of himself that he hides. We've both made mistakes in our past and with each other, but I believe we want the same things in life and can help each other realize our full potential. It doesn't hurt that he's also gorgeous," she said with a laugh.
"With a very generous trust fund," Anne added.
Olivia bristled. "I'm not interested in his money."
"Maybe not, but it won't take long to get used to having it. Being with him will completely change your life, but not all of the changes will be easy. Are you sure that's what you want?"
"No, but I know I want to be with him. I'll learn to live with the rest of it."
"He's slept with half of the women in Miami and the other half are lined up waiting their turn. They won't stop trying just because he's dating someone new. If anything, it will only make them bolder. The more unavailable he is, the more attractive he will be to them."
"I know," Olivia said evenly. "He has a system for letting me know when we encounter someone from his past and he says he's settled down. I trust him."
"Why?"
Olivia confidently held Anne's gaze. "Because he hasn't given me a reason not to. I'm the one that's living a lie, not him."
Olivia's phone vibrated again. Anne chuckled and said, "I told you he was going to keep trying. Are you going to answer him and tell him everything is fine?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Whether or not you're done testing me. First, you made it seem like you disliked me so you could see how I would react to being challenged. Then, you tested my commitment to my marriage and how willing I am to let Fitz be the dominant partner and take care of me. Next, you suggested he's manipulating me and has an ulterior motive. After that you brought up his money and history of infidelity. You've done everything except offer me an obscene amount of money to leave him."
"Would it work?"
"No. Is that what you want? For me to leave him?"
Anne shook her head. "No, that's not what I want. Everything you've said today only reinforces my belief that you're in love with my son."
Olivia smiled warmly at Anne as she pushed her salad around her plate. She was yet to disclose her true feelings to Fitz. She wasn't going to tell his mother she loved him before she said the words to him and she didn't want to do that until she was free to be with him.
Anne studied Olivia closely. The young woman was holding something back. Was it possible that she and Fitz hadn't owned their truths with each other? If so, she wondered what they were waiting for. Despite Olivia's marital status, it was obvious they were a loving and committed couple. She couldn't figure out why they were wasting time being apart instead of together.
"Now, please text Fitz and let him know we are okay so he can stop worrying. We are okay, aren't we?"
"I think we are," Olivia replied with a genuine smile. She opened her purse and removed her phone noting she had two unread messages. She unlocked her phone and read the messages.
Fitz: How r things going?
Fitz: Liv...
Before she could type a response, a third message came through.
Fitz: Is everything ok? Im starting 2 worry. Do I need 2 come home?
Olivia: U r n DC. Relax & let me take care of ur mom.
Fitz: 2 words...private jet.
Olivia: 3 words...consider it handled
Fitz: Olivia
Olivia: Fitzgerald
Fitz: I wont allo mistreated, not even by my mom.
Olivia: She didnt mistreat me. She tested me. She said things that were hard 2 hear but true.
Fitz: Those arent my truths. Not anymore.
Olivia: But they r mine.
Fitz: Liv...
Olivia: We r getting along fine now. We both want whats best 4 u.
Fitz: Ill b fine. I want whats best 4 u.
Olivia smiled reading his message. He never allowed her to doubt her role in his life for a second. She wondered if it would always be this way or if they too would fall into the complacent routine of being in a long-term relationship.
Olivia: Right now we need 2 focus on u.
Fitz: I can multitask.
Anne watched as Olivia intently read and responded to messages from her son. She didn't need to read the messages to know Fitz was reassuring Olivia that, whatever her differences were with his mother, he supported her. The moment was bittersweet for her. On the one hand, she was pleased Fitz had finally found the person with whom he wanted to share his life. On the other, although she knew it would happen one day, it hurt a little to know she was no longer the only woman in his life. She cleared her throat, hoping to interrupt the lovebirds.
Olivia looked up and smiled. "I'm sorry. You know how he can be. I had to tell him we were fine five times to stop him from flying home. Let me get rid of him so we can continue our lunch."
Olivia: Were being rude. I need 2 go. FT me 2night when u r getting ready 2 go out w/ Harrison.
Fitz: Y? R u hoping 2 c me naked?
Olivia: Now that u mentioned it... ;-)
Fitz: U dont have 2 b shy. Ill show u anything u want 2 c. Im urs.
Olivia: Remember that when those DC chics r throwing it u 2night.
Fitz: Im not interested. I only want u.
Olivia felt the now familiar butterflies swarm around in her stomach as her face flushed with heat. Would she ever get used to his declarations of devotion? He could have any woman he wanted and for some inexplicable reason he chose her with all her baggage. At times it felt too good to be true, but, somehow, it was. Fitzgerald Grant wanted her and he never missed an opportunity to show or tell her how much. She glanced up and found Anne staring at her with a raised eyebrow. "Everything okay, dear? You look a little flushed."
"I'm fine," Olivia replied, taking a sip of her water. "Give me one minute to wrap this up."
"Take your time. I'm the one who encouraged you to answer him."
Olivia: I have 2 go. Ur mom is looking me like she can read my mind. Its kinda creepy. TTYL.
Fitz: I miss u.
Olivia: Miss u 2. Hurry home.
Fitz: Ill b back 2morrow night. Can I c u?
Olivia: Im having dinner w/ Abby. Maybe after.
Fitz : XOXO
Olivia: :-)
Olivia locked her screen and placed her phone back in her purse. "I'm sorry about that. Where were we?" she asked, reaching for her water glass.
"We were planning a wedding."
Olivia nearly choked. "A wedding?" she sputtered. "We're not ready for that."
Anne chuckled. "I know that, but the Merkles don't." Olivia laughed nervously, embarrassed by her overreaction. "You two had the brilliant idea to get engaged before your first date, so this is where we are. Jean knows I've been waiting for years to plan this wedding. She is going to expect details, so I'm going to need details. What are your thoughts about date, size, and location?"
"Fitz and I never got that far with our backstory. We didn't even have a meet cute story."
"Whatever you came up with obviously worked."
Olivia paused thinking back to that moment and the strange sensation that rose from her belly as Fitz waxed beautifully about the night they met. At the time, she was terrified by her reaction to his words, but now it warmed her heart to think about how fate brought him back into her life after missing her initial opportunity. "Your son has a way with words," she said shyly. "How about a June wedding? Every bride wants a June wedding, right?"
"June? Do you really think you can get everything done by June?"
"Any decent wedding planner can manage our timeline," Olivia dismissed.
"What about everything else?"
"Everything else?"
"Do you really think you can get divorced, engaged, and remarried in nine months?"
"Whoa! Fitz and I can't get married for real. We've only been on one date. We haven't even...we're still getting to know each other. Our engagement is pretend, a farce. We just need to keep up the charade long enough to find out what Stephen is planning. I thought you understood that."
"I understand more than you think. If your engagement is a farce, but your relationship is real, how do you plan to explain why you didn't get married?"
"We're going to -
"Break up?" Olivia paused as she considered Anne's question. That was the original plan, they would simply break up and call off their engagement. Neither one of them had stopped to consider what they were going to do now that things had changed between them. "Are you really going to let him go, even if it's only for show?"
"No," Olivia replied quickly.
"Well then, what's your plan?"
Olivia took a long pause. "I don't know. I need to talk with Fitz. We'll come up something. We just need to get through the next trip. Once we know why Stephen invited us to New York, we'll know what to do."
"What then?"
"Fitz's last engagement was a business arrangement. I have no interest in that. I won't marry him so he can close some business deal."
"No, but will you marry him because you love him?"
"Of course," Olivia said before sighing deeply, "but that won't be, can't be in June. He'll be a great husband and an even better father one day, but he's not ready for that now. I won't set him up to fail. I won't hurt him that way. We're not ready." Anne parted her lips to protest, but Olivia cut her off. "I promise you we'll work together to find a way to protect him and your family's company, but we won't do it as husband and wife. I've been taking care of him for the last four years. I'm not going to stop now."
Anne nodded, silently wondering how the couple planned to get themselves out of this mess of their own creation. She was reminded of the infamous line from Sir Walter Scott's poem that her grandmother often quoted: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!"
"Well then," Anne said, "let's start planning the wedding of your dreams." A wedding she strongly suspected she would attend in the near future.
XXXXX
Fitz sat at the hotel bar nursing a scotch and flipping through photos of Olivia on his phone. Since he'd been gone, she'd stepped up her Instagram selfie game. His favorite photo was one of her stretched across her bed wearing only a Harvard GSD t-shirt with a message that read, "I only miss you when I'm breathing". The shirt was Jake's, but he knew the image and the message were only for him and it took all of his resolve not to comment on her photo. She was writing him a very public love letter and the audacity of her actions made him hopeful.
He missed her terribly, which was ridiculous given he had just ended their video call less than an hour ago. Being away from her these past few days had been harder than he'd imagined and the nearly constant texting, talking, and video chatting weren't helping. He wanted to hold her, needed to feel the warmth and comfort of her body pressed against his. He shook his head chuckling to himself, wondering when he'd become this person, this man that was utterly rudderless without her. A previous version of himself would have scoffed at the idea that this is who he'd become, but there was something so overwhelming about loving and being loved by her that he eagerly succumbed to the feeling rather than fight it. Olivia Pope was quickly becoming his drug of choice and he had no interest in fighting his addiction.
His quiet was rudely interrupted by a familiar, but unwelcome voice. He looked over his shoulder and saw Jake walking through the lobby with two attractive women, one blonde and the other brunette. Fitz knew the women were Jake's team members from their presentation earlier in the day. Fitz attended Jake's talk prepared to heckle him, but he was surprised to find the talk was well researched and informative. He quickly averted his eyes hoping not to be spotted. The last thing he wanted tonight was an encounter with Olivia's jealous husband. He knew it wasn't his night when he felt someone approach him from behind. He quickly blackened his screen, but not before Jake caught a glimpse of Olivia's image. "That one's my favorite."
"Excuse me?" Fitz asked, feigning ignorance.
"The photo of Olivia that you were just staring at like a lovesick puppy. Please tell me you're not sitting here, sad and lonely, sipping your drink and pining over my wife. Wishing you were the man she was missing."
"I don't pine," Fitz said with disdain. "I observe, I find an opportunity, and I take action. I'm a man that usually gets what he wants."
Jake chuckled. "You better find someone else to want. I don't know what happened between the two of you in the Hamptons, but whatever you pulled, it didn't work."
"She didn't tell you what happened? You didn't ask?"
"I'm not going to insult my wife by asking her if she slept with you. Besides, I didn't have to ask, her body fits mine like a glove. I would know if something happened between the two of you. Unless, the real reason you prefer strippers and whores is because they are the only ones willing to fake it with you."
"I'm not going to let you bait me into some pissing contest that ends up denigrating Olivia. She deserves better than that."
Jake scoffed. "Does this get you off? Sitting there with your smug smile, trying to get me doubt my wife."
"Why do you call her that?"
"Call her what?"
"My wife," Fitz replied using finger quotes.
"That's who she is. What else do you want me to call her?"
"Olivia, Liv, or the far more endearing Livvie. Your wife is what she is, not who she is. Olivia Pope" - Jake puffed out his chest, ready to challenge Fitz's use of her maiden name, causing Fitz to give him an amused smirk - "Ballard is so much more than your wife."
Jake rolled his eyes. "You really don't know my...Olivia. If you did, you'd know never ever to call her Livvie. She hates it. Something to do with her parents," he said with a shrug. "You'd also know not to waste your time. She's like a penguin, she mates for life. It doesn't matter what you do or what you offer her, she's never going to leave me. Even if she tried, I wouldn't let her go. It took me years to transform her from the insecure and inexperienced girl I married to the confident, self-assured woman you know today. Now that she's perfect, don't think for a second I'm just going to hand her over to you because you asked nicely. I'll fight you for her with everything I have, but that won't be necessary because you've already lost. We're going to have a baby."
Fitz refused to bite, keeping his jealousy in check. He knew Olivia wasn't pregnant. They hadn't specifically discussed it, but he had every reason to believe her birth control was still intact. He decided to play along and have some fun at Jake's expense. He rose from his barstool and clapped Jake on his back hard enough to make him stagger. "Congratulations, man," he exclaimed excitedly. "Bartender, a glass of your best," he paused, turning to Jake, waiting for him to tell the man his preferred drink.
"Bourbon," Jake offered. Fitz couldn't help but wonder if Olivia drank bourbon because her husband did or if it was a happy coincidence that the couple enjoyed the same liquor.
"I'm really happy for the two of you. Liv will make a great mom. I can't believe she didn't tell me herself. She must be so excited. Is she having an easy pregnancy so far? She must be. We work so closely together, I can't believe I didn't notice any changes. I'm so dense. I'm sure she's glowing. When is she due?" Fitz babbled on, his body language dripping with false sincerity.
Jake shifted awkwardly on his feet and mumbled something under his breath.
Fitz leaned in his direction. "What? I didn't hear you."
"Liv's not pregnant. We're trying to have a baby. We're just not pregnant yet."
Fitz suppressed the urge to laugh in his face as the bartender handed Jake his glass.
"So...Liv's not pregnant?" Fitz asked, dragging out each word.
"Not yet, but we're trying," he added quickly.
Fitz leaned in close to Jake and, in a low, menacing voice, said, "If Liv's not pregnant, all you have is missionary sex under the covers in the dark. If you think that's enough to keep her away from me, you're the one that doesn't know her."
Fitz glanced up and saw Harrison walking towards them. He rose from his seated position and gestured for the bartender to bring the check. When the bartender slid him the check presenter, he covered it with his hand and said to Jake, "This has been fun, but I have to go. My dinner date is here." Pushing the folder toward Jake, he added, "Thanks for the drink. Let's do this again when she's actually pregnant." With that he quickly took his leave.
Jake opened the folder and saw the bill was more than a hundred dollars for two drinks. He shook his head in disgust, there was no way he'd be able to expense that. "Asshole," he shouted in frustration as he followed Fitz with his eyes to see the beauty that would be entertaining him tonight. Much to his surprise, Fitz walked up to and embraced an African-American male. The man was vaguely familiar, but Jake couldn't place him.
Across the bar, Fitz greeted Harrison with a bro hug. "Is that Jake Ballard?" Harrison asked with a laugh.
Fitz groaned. "Unfortunately, yes."
"What did you do to him now? Please tell me he's not still butt hurt because you slept with his mother."
"Nah, we've moved on from that. He's salty because he's worried his wife is going to leave him to be with me."
"Please tell me you're not cheating on Olivia with Jake's thot wife. She seemed like the kind of woman that could be your Michelle Obama." Fitz looked at Harrison in confusion. "You know, a woman that always has your back. One that's standing right beside you fighting for your dreams. Don't misunderstand, she's not along for the ride. She's gorgeous, smart, funny, and, if you're lucky, freaky. She doesn't need you, but she sees something in you and decides to take a leap and love you. That kind of woman is special, but she's not going to take your shit. You keep fucking around and you're going to lose her. Then another man will get your Michelle."
Fitz couldn't suppress the megawatt smile that spread across his lips as he listened to Harrison perfectly describe Olivia. "I'm not cheating on Olivia with Jake's wife. Olivia is Jake's wife."
Harrison shook his head in disbelief. "No wonder he hates you. All the women in Miami and you propose to his ex-wife?"
Fitz dropped his head. "Olivia's not my fiancée and she's not Jake's ex-wife. Her full name is Olivia Pope Ballard and she's currently married to that jackass."
Harrison cradled his face in his hands. "I'm so confused. If Olivia is Jake's wife, why was she pretending to be your fiancée in the Hamptons? You know what...don't answer that. I'm going to need a good steak and a stiff drink for this conversation. Where are we eating?"
"Liv made us a reservation at The Prime Rib. Did you drive?"
"I'm a man of the people. I took the subway," he answered with a chuckle.
All Fitz could do was laugh. "Let's go. I'm sure the concierge can find us a car."
Later, at the restaurant, Fitz filled Harrison in on the details about how he and Olivia came to pretend to be engaged in the Hamptons.
"So, the longing looks and the tender moments between the two of you that night were all for show, to convince Old Man Merkle you finally settled down with the most beautiful girl at the ball? For what gain?" Harrison asked.
"At first, we just wanted to represent Grant Enterprises and show Stephen and the other CEOs that I was their equal. Reputation is everything in this business and I wanted to show them that I was more than Big Gerry's disappointing son."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore. I hear Seth's wearing that mantle now. Daddy has him permanently assigned to the Boston office as the VP of purchasing paper clips. He's totally isolated from the decision makers. He might as well be in Siberia."
"The Boston office? Really? That's interesting. I wonder what he did to earn that." Fitz chewed on his bottom lip as he considered what Seth could have done for his father to push him out of his family company's leadership. He hadn't forgotten his promise to ruin him, but he'd been so distracted with work and Olivia that he hadn't had an opportunity to formulate a plan. Was someone else working against Seth? If so, was that person an ally or threat to him?
"I see your gears grinding. What's worrying you Grant?"
"Stephen invited Olivia, my parents, and I to New York in a couple of weeks. He's planning something, something big and I think I'm part of his plan. The problem is I don't know whether I'm a pawn or a rook. Have you heard anything?"
"You know I don't run in his circle, but I'll keep my ear the ground. Whatever it is, I'm sure you can handle yourself. If you need backup, I'm only a short train ride away, unless you want to loan me that fancy jet of yours," Harrison teased. "Is the incredibly sexy and enchanting Mrs. Ballard joining you?"
"Don't call her that," Fitz snarled.
Harrison's curiosity was piqued by Fitz's overreaction. Was there more to his relationship with Olivia than a business trip? Deciding to push his friend a bit, he said, "The two of you are good together. You certainly had me fooled. I thought my boy was ready to settle down and be an honest man."
"I am."
"What?" Harrison asked, genuinely surprised by Fitz's response. "I thought you were a bachelor for life."
"Me too, but I haven't been the same since that tiny woman agreed to be my weekend fiancée. I'm falling in love with her and there's nothing I can do to stop it. I'm not sure I would if I could. For the first time in a very long time I'm happy, she makes me happy without really trying. She's just her and that's enough. Things aren't perfect, obviously. She's still married, but I think we have a chance to have something really special."
Harrison looked closely at his friend. He looked happy and had an unusual calmness about him. He was normally always chasing the next - the next deal, the next rush, the next woman. But, tonight was different. The restaurant was filled with beautiful women, more than one of whom had tried to get his attention, but he was largely indifferent. At first, he thought he was playing hard to get, but now he knew his friend was at peace. "Is she here with you...or him?"
Fitz's eyes drifted away from Harrison as he lost focus for a brief moment. "No, she's home in Miami," he answered wistfully.
Harrison observed the Fitz's sudden sadness and wondered what the full story was. "Then, I only have one more question."
"What's that?"
"If Olivia is in Miami and Jake is in DC, why are you here with me instead of home with her?"
"That's an excellent question," Fitz replied with a devilish grin, reaching for his phone to instruct the pilot to start making preparations to return to Miami.
A/N: I want to thank all of you for following me through the last 22 chapters and tolerating my lengthy absences. It's Christmas and I believe I owe you (and Fitz) a gift. Coming up in the next chapter is the moment you've all been waiting for. I hope it doesn't disappoint. As always, I welcome your feedback good, bad, or otherwise.