Secrets

A/N: Since I put it out there, I decided to load it. Here goes!

Chapter 2-Guilt

Olivia finally wakes feeling refreshed and exuberated. She immediately sits up and looks around her guest room and everything comes flooding back. "Fitz." She whispers out as she touches her lips in memory. Her eyes land on her nightstand and sees her cell phone, a glass of water with two aspirin and a note. She reaches for it and reads.

Thank you…Take care of yourself Livvie….F

She smiles to herself and lifts herself from the bed after pulling back the cover that were neatly covering her naked body. She takes the aspirin with a sip of water. Not because she's feeling effects from the wine but for the pain between her leg and in her gut. Fitz definitely left her soar and satisfied. She takes a long soaking bath afterward stripping the bed before continuing with her day with an extra pep in her step.

She picks up her discarded clothes from the floor and held her shirt to her nose taking in his scent left there. Relieving how good he smelt and felt against her body before tossing them in the washer along with the bed linen. The fact she was married momentarily forgotten until her cell phone ring and Max's face pops up. It was in that moment the guilt hit her like a ton of bricks,

She can't bring herself to answer the phone as if picking up the phone would somehow reveal what she's done. She stares at the ringing device like it's a foreign object but still does not pick it up. She instead runs to the guest bedroom after grabbing different cleaning supplies along with the Swiffer cleaner and attempt to scrub away all and any signs of the love making that took place just hours ago.

She couldn't bring herself to sit still suddenly filled with nervous energy. After finally replacing the now clean comforter on the bed along with the same sheets and pillowcases she stands back and looks over the room. Finally satisfied with the results retraces her and Fitz steps from beginning to end replacing the bourbon back to its original place. She is startled when the sound of the doorbell takes her by surprise.

After composing and chastising herself she answers and finds a delivery man standing with a dozen roses. "Hello ma'am I'm looking for Mrs. King."

"I'm Mrs. Pope-King."

"Oh, sorry ma'am it only said King, but I believe these are for you. I just need a signature."

Liv signs for the roses and thanks the delivery guy as she looks up to see Jay pulling into the driveway. She waits for him as the delivery driver returns to his vehicle and drives off. Jay walks up in his total Jay fashion dressed to the nines with his expensive Tom Ford suit. "Hi Jay-man, what brings you to my humble abode?"

He walks up to her and follows her inside "My Spidey senses have been going off. I needed to check on you woman because you don't know how to pick up a phone, texting the team with a no show for work, so you already know, you can't ignore me without me coming to check on you first-hand." His stops next to her in the kitchen and kisses her on the cheek. "Now, tell me what the hell is going on that got my gut doing the rumble when I'm not even hungry?" Liv places the roses into a vase after peeking at the card rolling her eyes in the process

"You worry too much, Jay I'm fine. All is well with Olivia."

He leans in and takes a whiff of the roses "Umhm, is all fine with Olivia and Maxwell? Don't try to use word play on me. I know you remember, and my gut is never wrong. Now spill. Are these apology roses?"

What part would she tell him? The part about her cheating with Fitz or the part about her gut telling her Max is cheating on her? Neither seemed palpable. She decided some secrets are best kept with herself. "I'm not sure. We didn't argue before he left. The card just says Miss and Love you, Max. He knows I hate that he's away so much but it's playoff season, so it's not like I'm not used to him being gone."

"So that's it. You've been missing your husband and have bottle all those feeling up inside of you. The loneliness, the feeling of abandonment, and neglect on his part…am I getting warmer?"

Liv plops down on the sofa as she made her way back to the living area. "This is what I signed up for Jay-man, but I don't have to like it." She draws out in frustration

Jay walks over to her and sits down next to her taking her hands into his "Liv. You have to learn to open up and tell that man how you feel. He's not a mind reader. Even though I don't care much for the man you can't just give up at the first fork in the road."

"I have Jay, but he's so arrogant, and just makes me feel stupid for even bringing it up."

"You can't ask him for what you need Liv, you have to demand what you need and show him you mean business. A marriage takes two participants willing to do the work. If he's not listening, you have to find a way to make him listen. You are not a push over. You're fierce and strong-see this is why my gut is acting up because you're over here falling the fuck apart…secretly might I add. There's more going on with you than you willing to share. I get that but know I'm here when you're ready to dive deep. Just don't wait until you feel like you're drowning before you reach out for this life jacket love. It's hard to save someone drowning but not impossible."

Liv looks at him and smiles "You and all your analogy's, that's why I love you. Strait to the point with no chaser. Thank you for sparing my feelings and taking it easy of me. I promise I will talk to Max."

"You know I can find out if he's cheating, right?"

"Yep. That's why I will handle this my way. Stand down Mr. GQ. I got this."

"Okay Liv, but I swear if he makes you shed one tear, he will indeed have to deal with me and I'm a different kind of breed. I will come for his ass know that."

The two continues to chat before Jay is satisfied that Liv is okay, for now. He leaves just as Max calls. Liv answers as she kisses Jay on the cheek as he exits. "Hey honey, I got the roses. They're beautiful."

"Really? You haven't called to say thank you and the delivery was signed for over an hour ago."

GUILT….

"I know and I'm sorry Jay stopped by at the same time the delivery came. He just left as you were calling before I had the chance to call you back."

"I'm sure he had plenty to say about our relationship. He needs to find someone, then he can stay the hell out of our relationship."

Liv rolls her eyes "As I said thanks for the roses, and as far as Jay goes, you need to be more concern with our relationship instead of projecting everything on him. He's my best friend and brother so can you please respect that and not speak on him when you know nothing about him."

"Why do you always take up for him?"

"Why do you always have to speak negative about him? You know what don't answer that. Thank you for the roses. I'll see you whenever you decide to come home." She uncaringly hangs up and turns off her phone.

Max and Liv meet 3 years ago at a criminal trial for one of his players. The high-profile player was being accused of assault on a man who was actually trying to rob him. A simple open and closed case for Olivia. The player had built in camera's in the front and rear of his BMW truck, but the man didn't know that.

Liv first noticed him by his small air of arrogance that alluded to confidence. His sharp suit. His crisp box fade haircut and perfectly aligned beard and hazel eyes captivated her. He was very attracted to Olivia as well. Once Liv met with accuser's attorney and showed him the video the case was dropped. Maxwell thanks Olivia and before letting her get away he asked her to dinner. They dated for 6 months before becoming a couple finally becoming intimate where he proposed and six months later, they were married and living together.

She didn't realize his best attributes would become her biggest issues in their marriage. Being a lawyer and the owner of her own law firm had its perks. It gave her independence and power which made up for her hidden insecurities cause by a strict and lonely childhood. An only child of Norman and Diane Pope who both tragically perished in a plane crash when Olivia was a 22-year-old college student. Their take on life was give your child the best of everything materialistic and keep that said child in line would guarantee that child's success as an adult. Private schools, curfews, and a sheltered life without friends was Olivia story, reason being she had not yet learned the ability to express or share her bottled up emotions.

The rest of the day she continued to ignore Max's calls. Her mind was on someone else. His touch, his taste, the feel of him inside her, tasting her, kissing her. The exuberating feelings she was experiencing she had never felt before. The deepness of his voice. The care he took when handling her body. How he would slowly stroke her face and deeply thrust inside of her. How powerful his stroke became when she called his name, how they got lost in each other's eyes, how their hearts beat in sync, and how he said her name while making love to her. It was like he knew her body, knew her even. Never had she ever experienced anything like any of this before. Never would she ever forget. It would forever be her secret.

The rest of the week, she found herself watching for him, waiting for him, yearning him, wanting him, but that day never came. His wife Mellie had returned home with her new baby. It then dawned on her what he said about his wife cheating on him and having another man's baby. How did he find out? How was he so sure she wondered? Did he leave his wife? Did he sleep with her to get back at his wife? She could feel bad or complain but she chose not to because she enjoyed it as much as he did and wanted it to happen, so she had no one to blame but herself if she was placing blame. The only guilt she felt was the guilt of enjoying the feeling of another man outside of her husband more than her husband. She turns and looks at him smiling as he slept wonder who the hell he was dreaming about.

….

Fitz returned to his home after leaving Olivia's, packed all of his belongings down to his tools over the next several days and moved into the presidential suite of his family Grant Hotel. He had already informed his parents of Mellie's deceit and filed for a swift divorce. He didn't want to get caught in the whole marriage automatically makes you the father. He wanted nothing else to do with Mellie or her child. She needed to find the man that she was cheating with. He had a strong suspicion it was her associate at the bank Marcus Walker. They both worked at the Bank of America. She was his Assistant, and he was the bank Manager. They traveled together a lot to booking financial deals and were always a little to flirty to just be co-workers.

It had been two weeks since leaving Mellie. He unfortunately took to work to help him cope with his problems. Being a Grant came with a huge responsibility for a political family with trust funds and deep pockets. His family law firm was one of the highest paid in Washington and the Grant name was a big deal. As CEO of the family businesses including the law firm, he only showed up for the really big cases. Everyone knew when Fitzgerald Grant III showed up meant things were bad for their client and the big dog had to brought in.

He found himself daydreaming at times. He had been having a hard time with what he's done by using Olivia for sex. She didn't deserve it even though she showed interest in him just as much, he should not have sleep with a married woman. The same thing he was mad about concerning Mellie he was now guilty of.

He loved everything about he and Liv's time together. She gave him something he would never forget…What it felt like to be desired, truly desired. The way she looked at him, the sensation he felt of how she called out his name, the way they fit perfectly together, how she called out for more of him. Her over all reaction to him, if he didn't know any better, he would have thought in that moment he fell in love, but of course that wasn't possible, right?

The words of his father also played over and over in his head. We need to find you a new wife in the next two years to get your political career started. Fitz really didn't like politics, but he wanted to stay in his father's good graces. He just wasn't yet ready for another relationship. He needed to get over the one he just left, plus he couldn't get the beautiful Olivia out of his thoughts.

He knew it was wrong, but it was one of those rare moments, a crossroad where you know, a moment he couldn't just let slip away. He had secretly been attracted to his beautiful neighbor and had not this happened with Mellie, he would have never acted on it. The fact that she wanted him in that moment as much as he wanted her was astounding. He was disappointed that one time was all they had because she was indeed married to someone else, so pursuing a relationship or anything with her was unrealistic. He decided to concentrate on getting his divorce and starting his life once again as a single man.

He had Mellie served the divorce papers the same day after he left the hospital so he knew he would hear from her sooner or later. So he decided to make himself unattainable by taking personal time off from work after notifying his security and staff that Mellie was not allowed on the premises nor was she to be transferred to him at anytime or given any information concerning him or his whereabouts. He only explained that they were getting a divorce not elaborating on any of the details. That's when another thought hit him, and he decided to hit her with a restraining order claiming harassment due to the pending divorce. No proof needed because he knew how to get around the law and his last name carried a lot of weight. After finishing up his workload for the day he headed out. California, he comes. He headed to his parent's vacation home that no one knew about except his parents when they needed to get away.

…..

Mellie was left flabbergasted and filled with guilt when Fitz walked out on her only to have her served in the hospital hours after delivering her child. She knew the moment the doctor laid her beautiful son on her chest that her secret was out. The gig was up. She slipped up. She and Marcus only had unprotected sex once during makeup sex. All the other times they used protection. It always comes down to the one moment when you throw caution in the win and go with the flow that secrets come out. She knew there was a possibility but didn't think much of it because she and Marcus always used protection and Fitz never did. A role of the dice did not land in her favor.

She was not supposed to have a child with Marcus. Spending so much time with him allowed the inevitable to happen…them sleeping together. After the first time she couldn't help herself, she always wanted more of him. It was something about him that just drew her in. How did she let this happen? How would she explain this to Marcus? Will he step up? If this along with their affair gets out, she could be fired and so could he. She needed Fitz. If this got out, she could lose everything. Her job, her home, her life, unlimited finance, and her access to everything including some of the most powerful people in Washington. She needed to find a way to tell Marcus and talk him into keeping their relationship and love child a secret in order to face the guilt of what she had done.

After a week of pondering with feeling of regret guilt and shame, she finally tried contacting Fitz only to be told he was unavailable. She would be stopped short of contacting him when she was served with the restraining order. Fitz meant business. She needed to figure out what to do next, so she finally called Marcus and asked him to stop by because she needed him to take a look at something very important. He agreed.

Marcus arrived 30 minutes after the call. "Hello Mellie."

She lets out a huff "He's not here, so stop with the formalities."

Marcus cool demeanor returns "Well in that case hello beautiful. You look amazing." He corrects as he walks inside the home pulling Mellie into a kiss. She hesitates and pulls back with a nervous energy.

He notices "What's wrong?"

She begins fixing her hair, a thing she does when she's on edge. "Umm, I ah, I need to show you something." She begins walking into the large living area towards the basinet and stops.

"Okay." Marcus answers following her thinking this has something to do with work. "Oh, and congratulation on the baby. I'm sure Fitz is over the moon." He adds as he approaches the basinet watching as Mellie lifts the small newborn into her arms.

Marcus eyes finally land on the beautiful baby's face and he stops in his tracks. "Meet your son." Mellie states never looking up at him

A/N: Two chapters in one day. I just couldn't resist. The awesome feeling I got with you guy's reviews. I think I needed this. I can't explain the feeling except to say it feels really good inside and I haven't felt this in some time now. Thank you all. I love you guys….Until next time…Keke