Chapter 4

The Java Main Method

Olivia sipped the coffee from the small dixie cup, hoping it was the flavor she remembered. The helpful woman behind the counter looked on expectantly.

"Is that the one ma'am?" she asked.

Olivia noticed the eagerness in her voice as she took the final swallow.

The hot liquid flowed onto her tongue. She held it there for a second, joy rising in her chest, eyebrows lifting in anticipation of the play of subtle flavors that would enliven her tongue if she'd found the right flavor. Her excitement fell flat when she swallowed.

Her brow crinkled in disappointment. "No, it's not the one I'm looking for. I admit this flavor is really close, but it doesn't have the same-"

"If you knew the name or even close to it, I would know which beans to start with. A Sumatra blend could, well, be anything. Where did you have it? Perhaps I could phone them for the name. A restaurant? A bar?," the woman said, grabbing a post-it note and a pen, eager to please.

At the woman's suggestion, Fitzgerald Grant's face appeared in her mind's eye, transporting her to that night, bending towards her as he placed the coffee on the table before her, giving her a quick wink and subtle smile. Olivia frowned, surprised by the brief daydream that didn't match what she recalled happening. He hadn't winked at her that night had he?

"Ma'am? Do you recall where you bought the coffee. It's really difficult to choose the same flavor on taste alone, especially with a blend," she said.

Olivia admired the quality customer service of the Jitterations Coffee Roasters employee who had taken up almost an hour to help her. She allowed Olivia to taste test 5 different brews using a number of different blend variations, never wavering from her enthusiasm. She was beginning to question her dogged search for the coffee Governor Grant had given her almost two weeks ago. Ever since that night, she'd had a craving for that coffee. Jitterations was the 7th roaster she'd tried. Olivia didn't dare rehash the true story of her coffee encounter although she replayed it in her head several times a day. Some days she wondered if she had dreamed it, especially since she hadn't heard a word from the governor in the 11 days since that night. Would ending her relentless search for that particular type of coffee, squash her thoughts of him?

Olivia glanced at the woman's name tag. "Jamiya," Olivia said making eye contact to reinforce sincerity, "thank you for all your help. I think it best for me to stop my search here. Don't worry about it. I'll take a half a pound of each blend you let me try." Olivia noticed how the woman's eyes widened, probably surprised given how much that would cost.

"But I'm happy to call-" Jamiya said.

"No, I don't...I do not remember where I had the coffee. I'm giving up my search. The beans I'm buying should be fine," Olivia said with a smile, accepting that she was never going to taste that coffee again.

"Sir, I've told you! Ms, Pope cannot see you today!" Esther said.

Olivia frowned as she made her way around the corridor, arms heavy laden with her large purse and bag of coffee beans.

"She will see me today. The governor of this great state said I could stop by...that she told him I was welcome anytime. I've been out of town and now I'm back..."

Olivia rounded the corner into the lobby area of Euphoria, Inc, her ears perking up when she heard mention of the governor. Esther stood in front of a well-dressed man with slick wavy hair. Everything about this man looked manicured in the way televangelists present when they are fervently asking for money. He stopped speaking when she appeared. Esther gave her a pleading yet grateful look. Olivia flared her nostrils in frustration. How could Esther be so incompetent as a her PR chief? She was proficient but a far cry from what Olivia needed for her company. She was beginning to regret hiring her.

"What is the problem, sir? I don't believe we've met," Olivia said. She placed her purse on the receptionist's desk and set the Jitterations bag on the floor. Stepping forward, she extended her hand to the unknown man, wondering what he wanted and his connection to Governor Grant.

He grasped her hand in a firm shake. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I know you've been expecting me. I'm sorry for the delay, but I was in Virginia leading a conference for clergy. I'm here now and am so grateful you've agreed to work with us on the governor's behalf," he said.

This can't be Sanders from Morality Watch she thought. She knew the governor had to be bluffing when he asked her to be his surrogate. Olivia smiled hoping he would say more before she responded.

"The Lord is good, isn't he, bringing the world and the Kingdom of God together for the purpose of building up his church? One purpose. One love. I hope you have some time to talk with me today so we can get this deal done," he said cheerily, "Oh, and I know you already know this, but I'm Charles Sanders from Morality Watch."

Olivia's stomach turned in a mixture of surprise and anticipation. I just might get more coffee after all, she thought, surprising herself at the thought. First, she had to get rid of Mr. Sanders who had caught her completely off guard. Looking around, she realized that Esther was gone. It was then she made the decision to fire her.

Olivia leveled her gaze on him. "Mr. Sanders, I am brimming over with excitement to work with you, but today is not a good day," she said, deciding to try something with him. "I'll have my assistant call you to arrange another time. Let me get your wife a gift certificate. She can use it for our intimate products or to visit SpaBliss."

His smile dropped and his face fell, almost sullen, before it changed back. "That won't be necessary. I'll wait to hear from your assistant," he said with less enthusiasm. "Enjoy your day, Ms. Pope. Those coffee beans smell really nice."

As Olivia watched him leave, she felt bad. Hoping to goad him with her offer of Euphoria's products and services, she'd ended up offending him it seemed. Now she felt uncomfortable about his response. Was his wife deceased? Olivia pushed those thoughts aside as she grabbed her purse and Jitterations bag. She needed to see Fitzgerald Grant and put a stop to this nonsense.

Here she was again sitting in front of the governor's desk, this time without pretense or subterfuge. She was herself, Olivia Pope, here to extricate herself from this pretty pickle she'd gotten herself into all for the advancement of her company. Governor Fitzgerald Grant was leaning on his desk facing her with his arms crossed and his legs also crossed at the ankles. He was the picture of lazy confidence.

"Would you like some coffee, Olivia?"

Her heart fluttered. "Yes, I'd love some if it's what you made me that night...Sumatra blend...I'll have some while we discuss what you've done."

He leaned back and pushed the intercom on his phone. "Ms. Hanley, two coffees please, the good stuff."

He turned back around and smiled at her. "Two coffees coming up," he said.

Olivia shifted in her chair. She felt uncomfortable being in the room with him which made her mad despite her excitement about tasting the coffee again. "Governor Grant, thank you for the coffee, but please make no mistake. This is not a social call. You have to call off this charade. Charles Sanders showed up in my office yesterday morning ready to work with me. I am demanding that you put a stop to this," she said.

His smile didn't waver nor did it match his words. "You are in no position to demand anything from me after what you did. You can work with Sanders or be prepared to shut down and open up SpaBliss in another location."

Olivia jerked back. "What? Are you doing this because I resisted your sexual advances?"

He crossed and recrossed his ankles, his smile know a smirk. "I didn't make any sexual advances. No, this has nothing to do with me expressing a desire to get to know you better or saying that you were intriguing, Olivia. You made yourself crystal clear. You sell sex. You don't do sex. You're asexual. I've been in politics long enough to know how to play the odds. Any woman who'd go to those lengths...lying about her sexuality just to turn me away, is a waste of time, no matter how interesting you seem.

Olivia's heart was racing now. She was shocked at his words and angry that he was calling her a liar. She felt an almost irresistible urge to slap him hard across the face.

Two swift taps on the door and the entrance of Ms. Hanley into the room staved off the edge of her anger. "Everything is there, sir...cream...sugar...I brought a carafe," she said after he thanked her.

"I want it black," she said.

"Yes, I remember how you like it," he said.

She watched him prepare their coffee feeling deja vu from that other night. "Thank you," she said when he handed her the cup and saucer.

"So what do you think of Sanders? He's a strange bird, right? There's something not quite right with his wife. Maybe you can find out and we can use it to our advantage down the road," said Fitz.

Olivia breathed in the glorious aroma of the coffee. Her breathing slowed. The anger she felt for the governor was there, but pushed aside. She lifted the cup to her lips for the first heavenly sip. The warm liquid rolled down her tongue, engulfing it like a blanket. The liquid was warm but not too hot allowing her the pleasure of a long draw as both of her hands surrounded the cup.

When she opened her eyes, she saw him watching her intently. "Wow, you must really like that coffee," he said.

Dear Readers,

It's been ages. Thanks for reading. I don't know what is going on with Liv and this coffee. Fitz gave up pretty quickly on getting to know Liv.

Until the cursor stops blinking and words appear..

~BP