A/N: Thank you for your reviews on the first chapter. Happy reading. Enjoy.
"Don't you think you've had enough for one evening pretty lady? Why don't you let me have Vivian escort you back to your room, make sure you get there safely?" Rick, the bartender at the Ritz in Oakland was concerned for the beautiful stranger.
"Just give me another shot of Jack, one more shot and I'll go, ok." Olivia slammed the glass down, obviously annoyed at Rick for trying to be a father rather than a bartender.
Vivian looked at Rick who summoned her to go for a few minutes Rick poured another shot glass for Olivia. "This is it, you're slurring your words now, take it, and you're going, otherwise I'll be forced to have you removed. You know how many hours you've been at this bar?"
"Whatever tough guy." Liv picked up the glass, moved it under her nose for a moment and downed it back. No more burning sensation, she had too many for the burn to remain. She dropped 4-hundred-dollar bills on the bar. She was about to turn to hop down from the stool, but man was the room spinning.
Rick looked at her. "You're not serious, that's way too much for your tab."
"Just take it Rick, ok. Liv grabbed hold of her temples with her fingers trying to stop the spinning. "I've caused you enough problems. Share it with Vivvy over there, or whatever her name is, her being my escort and all." Liv put the quotes up over escort, then laughed at herself. Suddenly, Liv looked around. "What's that about?" She could hardly get the words out, but she pointed in the direction of some suits looking around the bar.
Figuring she wouldn't remember anything he told her in the morning anyway, Rick said "Governor Grant, well, the hopeful Governor Grant, if he's elected is having his bachelor party here tonight. They must have finished up in the banquet hall. That means they're coming here for more drinks." Rick rolled his eyes and signaled to his wait staff.
Liv looked at some of the suits looking around the bar. "You think I should invite one back to my room? They look a bit stiff; I could loosen them up a bit." Liv began laughing. "What do you think Rick, would they be interested?"
"Ok, you're set to go. No, they wouldn't be interested. They are his security detail, they are working, besides you don't look the type to take a man and sleep with him."
Liv looked down at the floor. "Sometimes it's all you need to numb the pain Rick; you know what I'm saying? Love with a perfect stranger, am I right Ricky, Rick, Rick, Rick."
Rick shook his head. "Time for you to go. It's going to be crazy in here with the chaos coming in." Rick signaled over to Vivian to come get Olivia.
"Aww, I like chaos Rick, let me stay." Liv giggled, and she felt a bit of dizziness as she held on to the bar. She licked her lips, trying to gather up some saliva in her dry mouth.
"Vivian, take Ms." and Rick paused. "What's your name?"
"Doesn't matter. I'll go with Vivian. Vivian seems nice." Liv waved at the young lady who smiled gently back at her.
Liv grabbed Rick by the collar. "Thank you for watching out for me. I'll be going before the suits take over." She gave him a big sloppy kiss on his forehead and stepped off the barstool. Thank God Vivian was there, because she was able to grab Liv's elbow before she went down.
"Woah, easy there, I have you. Let's get you to your room. What on earth is having a gorgeous woman like you drinking alone on a Friday in Oakland California? What hand did life deal you?"
Liv stood still for a moment. She closed her eyes to stop the room's circular motion. She shook her head. "Trust me Viv, you don't want to know. She handed Viv her room key. "I'll never get the cardy in the slot thingy, could you help? It's room 27, no 72, wait, wait." Liv grabbed a paper out of her jeans pocket. She tried to open the folded paper but couldn't get a grip. She saw two papers instead of one and was trying to focus on one of them. It was useless.
Vivian grabbed the paper. She looked at it. "Room 782."
"Yep, that's it, you're so good to me Vivian. Make sure Ricky over there shares some of the wealth I left for him, ok?" Liv turned to exit the bar trying to keep up with the movement of the room. Three more black suits walked in, one bumping shoulders with Vivian as she was going after Olivia, not even apologizing.
"Jerk" Vivian said and looked down. A room key had fallen out of jerky boy's pocket. Vivian picked it up and handed it to the gentleman that walked in behind him. "That ass dropped this." She didn't even look at the other suit, they all looked alike. "You're welcome." Vivian ran to catch up to Liv who had walked out of the bar.
The guy looked down at the key and put it in his pocket and followed the guy to the bar.
Olivia was up against the wall outside the bar, holding on to her stomach. "You better move quickly; I need a bathroom."
"Sorry, dumb ass suit bumped me. I'm in for a long night. Drunk assholes celebrating a wedding the groom doesn't even want to happen."
Liv's head was now resting on the elevator wall as the motion was making her even more nauseous. She closed one eye trying to concentrate. "Then why is it happening?"
"Can't be a governor without a wife, I guess. Probably some arranged political marriage. Who knows? The woman looks like she's had 20 rounds of Botox in a month."
Liv laughed. It wasn't that funny, but she laughed. "They're probably meant for one another Viv. Political snakes are like that. They arrange marriages. Silver spoon Governor and posh wife, you see it all the time. When is the big day?" Liv really didn't care; she was just making small talk, so she didn't throw up all her contents in front of this nice girl.
"Well, it was supposed to be October, but the Grant campaign can't wait. Heard through the grapevine it was moved up to next week. May 20th. That's probably why Grant is downstairs now trying to forget his name."
Liv nodded. The elevator bounced to a stop on her floor, and Liv had to hold on. Vivian grabbed her arm. "It's ok, I have you. So why are you here alone, doing this to yourself?"
Liv avoided the topic. "So, this wedding, this Governor."
"Not Governor yet." Vivian corrected her.
"Whatever, why the rush?" Liv didn't truly care, she just needed to think of something other than vomit and Abby. This political wedding had her thinking of Abby.
"Have you met Governor Grant? Well would be Governor Grant. He's pretty much a shoe in, don't even know why they are having an election. He needs a wife, and his father runs the show, he's speeding it all up, calling the shots."
"Nope, I'm not from here, I'm from NY. Wouldn't know Governor Grant if I slept with him." She laughed. "Would he be good to sleep with, Viv? Rick didn't think I should sleep with a suit." She had no idea truly what she was babbling about now.
"Well, considering he's with security every second and he's getting married, I think sleeping with him is out of the question." Viv turned to the doors as they opened.
"My law firm is representing some high-profile case out here. I don't want to be here, I don't want to be on the case, but…" The elevator dinged. Vivian took Liv's arm gently.
"Good thing, you're the second door from the elevator." She slipped the key in the slot, handed it to Liv and walked her to the king-sized bed. "Be careful, ok, don't try to shower. Just lie down and sleep it off till morning. I don't want you falling and hitting your head or something."
"Ok, fair enough. Will you at least help me take off my shoes, jeans and shirt? I won't sleep completely naked, but I can't sleep in this." Her words were slurring more now, and Liv really needed to lay down. "Also, against the wall there, you'll see bat. Lay it along the floor of the bed, so I can reach it if I need it."
"Why would you need a bat?" Vivian was confused but did as Olivia asked. She put the wooden bat by the bed.
"I need protection Viv; you can never be too careful." Liv still had a fear of Putney's goons getting her somehow and when she wasn't with Huck, Liv took precaution.
As Vivian took off Liv's shoes and shirt, Liv thought of Abby again. This was something Abby would have done for her. "You ever have a best friend you love as a sister Vivian?"
"Yes, I do we've been friends since sixth grade."
"Good." Liv could feel the alcohol taking its toll. She wouldn't remember talking so much to Vivian in the morning, but she needed to get this out.
"What would you do if someone beat her?"
Vivian was surprised by the question. She looked at the bat. "I would beat them with a bat."
"Exactly." Liv patted Vivian on the shoulder. "You're so good. So, for my protection I keep a bat." Then Liv felt the tears and biting her bottom lip she said, "Because I don't have my best friend anymore, and there may be people…." She stopped. "Maybe not here in California. I may be paranoid, I'm sorry."
"Okay. Look, I am leaving my cell number on a pad here for you. If you ever need a friend in the Oakland area, you need to talk, anything, call me ok. No one should be drinking alone or be drunk all alone. Take care OK." She watched as Olivia pulled the covers up to her shoulders. She didn't want to leave her drunk and crying, but she had to sleep this off. Vivian turned and walked out.
Once the door clicked closed, Liv pulled the covers off her shoulders. She could smell the whiskey she had been drinking all night. She closed her eyes and heard the words of her boss. "Quit the case and be disbarred, Pope. Think long and hard, but you're not quitting the case."
Her words back to him should have gotten her fired on the spot, but they didn't she was too good for the firm. "Fuck it, you think I care. I have moral obligations too. You can't expect me to…"
"I can expect to do whatever the hell I want. Get your ass on the plane to Oakland and meet with the client. You're set up in the hotel until Monday until after the meeting. Use the weekend to wind down, calm yourself and do what's best." The whole office was now looking in the direction Flannery, the head partner was yelling at her. All Liv could do was squint back at him.
"This is fucking bullshit Flannery, and you know it. The guy is guilty as fuck, let someone else do this."
"Not a chance Pope, don't do anything stupid either, you hear me."
"I just buried my best friend for Christ's sake Flannery, where the fuck is your compassion? You know how she died, and you want me to defend a scum just like the one that killed her. Fuck you and your firm.
Feeling defeated she took her file and departed for the airport. The only reason being, she had nothing else to fall back on for now. Besides she wanted the time alone, even if she had every intention on quitting once she got back.
She felt her stomach churn. She threw the blankets back and ran to the bathroom, holding on to the walls for dear life, and vomiting right into the bowl. The back of her wrist on her mouth, as she was breathing hard, so not to vomit again.
The case itself wasn't the only thing on her mind, she couldn't get Abby's dead body out of her mind. She couldn't get the image of the smug look on Charles's face when the bastard entered the funeral. She should have let Huck kill him right there and toss him into a shallow grave at the cemetery, but she wanted prison for Charles.
She sat over a toilet bowl in a lonely hotel room in Oakland California remembering her years with Abby. She couldn't let Abby's mother down. She had to go back and focus solely on bringing him to justice. The look on her mother's face when her daughter's killer entered the funeral and there was nothing anyone could do. Liv buried her face in her hands, still sitting in front of the bowl.
Don't think of it, stop making yourself sick. Don't think of the Jake case until Monday, only good thoughts of Abby, she kept repeating to herself. She carefully grabbed the sink and pulled herself slowly up. She tossed water on her face, swished some around in her mouth, and spit it out.
She grabbed a washcloth and looked in the mirror. "Girl, you look like a tornado blew right through you." Then she laughed and guided herself using the wall back to the bed, kind of wishing she brought one of the "guy suits" up with her. She was lonely, had been for so very long. Instead, she was able to close her eyes and fall into a drunken sound sleep, finally.
Rick couldn't remember the last time he poured so much scotch in one night. It wasn't the cheap scotch either, this was some tab the Grant party was raking up. As far as Rick could tell, most of the scotch was being downed by Fitz Grant himself.
Fitz wasn't any where close to the men in his wedding party. He was off at a table by himself, about a dozen security around his perimeter. What the hell with all this protection? Rick just shook his head.
When Vivian walked over with the next round, two suits pulled her back and stopped her. They slipped a 50 into her apron pocket. "Don't come back over after this round with any more drinks, I don't care what he says." The taller guy whispered in Vivian's ear.
She shrugged. "Fine by me." She put the three glasses in front of Fitz. Fitz stopped her. He patted the chair next to him. "Sit, beautiful. I know they're cutting me off but sit." Viv looked at Rick who shrugged. It was fine with him.
"Thanks for the key before. Dumbass still doesn't know he dropped it." Fitz laughed as he held the glass up to the suit who dropped the key. The guy just nodded, and Vivian couldn't help but smirk.
"I didn't realize it was you I gave it to. "You going to fire him?" She asked.
"Nah, just play a little game. These guys think they're good. They'll be looking for me all weekend if I let them. You married Vivian?" He downed the scotch in one sip and reached for the second glass.
"Nope, never had the pleasure."
"Pleasure, it's no pleasure, not by a long shot. It's a bunch of fancy Bullshit." He smiled and toasted another glass to another suit and downed that one just as fast as the last.
Vivian's eyebrows shot up. He was already drunk, and he wasn't stopping, she understood why they wanted to cut him off.
"So, I take it you don't love her?"
"Love her, I can't even stand to be in the same room as her. You know what, though, I have to pay the price. Yes, one day I'll be in the White House, I'll be president, you know that?"
Vivian nodded. "I've heard rumors. Well, despite your love life, I am voting for you. I also heard a rumor the wedding was moved up, next week, huh."
"Next week, huh." Fitz repeated her. "Yep. Good ole dad." He raised his final glass of scotch but didn't drink from it. He had been drinking for many hours now, he didn't know how he was still going.
"Mr. Grant if you don't love her and this is being forced on you, why do it?"
"Are you from California?"
"Born and raised."
"How many governors have been single?"
Viv glared at him, understanding now, not agreeing, but understanding. "None that I am aware of."
"Bingo, little lady. How many presidents were single in the White House?"
"Just one, Buchanan."
"You know your politics. Bring her a drink." He looked at Vivian, "what are you drinking?"
"I'm not, I am working." She laughed.
"Oh, don't bring her a drink, I'll drink for her, the lady knows her stuff." He looked back at her. "One single president, and the poor bastard died alone, of respiratory failure. Mellie will be my wife."
"Well, you deserve better in your love life." Vivian shrugged
"Thank you, Vivian. Yeah, my love life. I don't love her Vivian. I am being….." He stopped and licked his lips. Suddenly he felt extremely hot. "You know what, watch my last glass, I'll be right back." The suits began to move with him, and he put his hand up.
He was swaggering trying to keep his balance, and when he composed, he pointed at the guys in front of him. He was tired of being followed around. This was it.
He had to get away. He couldn't stand to be around his personal sitters for another minute. He had a key to every room in the damn hotel, he can do what he wants.
"I am pissing alone, do not follow me into the bathroom, you hear me? Stay the fuck in the bar area." Fitz walked out, not letting his security goons near him. He was fine. He wasn't even Governor yet; he didn't need a fucking security team. This was his father's doing.
Fitz headed to the elevator and saw a worker leaving the front desk. Fitz reached in his pocket and waved a 100-dollar bill. "Tell me one room, any room that's vacant and here's your tip for it."
The kid was leaving for night, off for the weekend and he could use the cash. He shrugged "882".
Fitz patted the kid on the shoulder. "Good man, now tell no one, and for telling no one, here's another 100." Fitz got on the elevator as it opened and watched the kid exit the hotel.
He felt for the key Vivian had given him. Kent had no idea he lost it. His security held a master key for all the hotel rooms. Every key given to them opened every door of the hotel just in case someone wanted to attack or kidnap Fitz. Fitz laughed and felt at the key in his pocket as the elevator went up and up. He stood in front of the panel so the camera couldn't catch the floor he chose. He turned to the camera and waved, laughing as he did so. He couldn't remember the last time he was this drunk. "You're going to help me hide away little key" he laughed again talking to the key.
"882, 882, 882, 882." He kept repeating his room number, although Fitz couldn't even see he hit the number 7 button on the elevator panel. The rest of his fake ass crew was on a much higher floor. Only the best for the people Mellie had invited. He heard the ding, made sure the panel was darkened, and he slid out of the elevator door, barely able to walk straight.
He exited the elevator. His vision was blurred, and he squinted. He saw the 82 and thanked God it was right outside the elevator. The key slid in, green light on, and he fell into the room, literally fell flat on his face. He laughed as he picked himself up and found the way to the bathroom.
He took what seemed like a ten-minute piss, washed his hands, and looked in the mirror. "Jesus H Christ, Fitz, you look like hell froze over."
He splashed some water on his face and dropped all his clothes to his boxers. He held on to the sink, just staring down at it. Reality began to hit him hard. In one week, he would be married, six months elected governor, and nine months moving his life into the Governor's mansion.
He thought of his mother so many years ago. Alcohol does that to you; it brings out the sadness buried deep inside. "You left me." He whispered. Now he was a robot in Big Gerry's control.
He thought of Mellie. She ran to him just before he left for Oakland. She was so excited about the dress she had chosen, and she was going to get it this weekend. He shook his head. He reached down to get his phone out of his pants, but it wasn't there.
Fitz never had a moment to himself. If Mellie couldn't find him, she would call his father. His father would call him, and he'd have to explain himself.
His security detail wouldn't leave his side. If he disappeared for a moment, they were radioing each other. They couldn't chance Big Gerry Grant blaming them for something happening to his boy.
How easy was it to say he wanted to take a piss alone for them to let him out of sight? Now, with no cell phone, they must be frantic.
He left the cell on the table with his drink. "Ha! Fuck 'em all, I'm sleeping for two straight days, then I'll reappear." He though of his security looking for him. "Have to use the time while I have it." He knew they would be knocking on doors throughout the night, but he didn't care. He was going to be alone for as long as they couldn't find him. He looked back up in the mirror.
"You don't look any better Fitz, stop thinking and go get some sleep." His reflection nodded back at him, and he turned to exit the bathroom.
He reached the bed, the wall being the perfect guide in the darkness of the room. He didn't even notice someone was sound sleeping, cuddled under the blankets, and he fell opposite side, belly down and he too was in a drunken sleep before his head hit the pillow. He didn't need blankets, sleep being all the comfort for him.
Two a.m. in the morning, two strangers sleeping in the same bed, unbeknownst to each other. Both having different reasons to drink themselves into drunkenness and forget their problems for a few hours. What could possibly happen when they wake up and notice each other?