Hello fan fiction readers, thanks again for your support with this story. I know it's been a while since my last update. And I appreciate your patience with me. Hopefully this installment will renew your interest in this story. Enjoy!
It's getting late in the day, and as Olivia sits in her office entranced and almost flushed by her thoughts regarding the impending epic do over, she and her love have been vying for all day. She knows she's not going to get much more work done with a clear head. It's been about twenty minutes since the last text she got from him, advising what he wants and will do to her the first chance he gets tonight. And she simply can't wait.
Her thoughts and feelings of anticipation are rudely interrupted by a knock on the door. She looks up and sees it's Quinn. She smiles as she walks through the open door saying, "Hey Liv. Sorry to barge in. But we got the final round of info on the candidates you're considering. And I figured you'd want it after talking with them today."
Olivia smiles in return as she says, "Thanks Quinn, I appreciate it. I'll take those. Hopefully something in here will help me decide which one to bring in." Quinn walks toward her desk and hands her the files. Once she hands them off she asks, "So you're only looking to hire one person?"
Olivia responds, "I think so, or at least one at a time. Charlie seems to be fitting in well, and to be honest I'd rather have him working for us than against us." Quinn nods in agreement as she says, "That makes sense. Plus Huck can keep a better eye on him with him being in house." Olivia smiles and nods as she says, "Exactly."
She always appreciates how Quinn's mind works. She's proven to be a valuable asset to the team, and couldn't imagine life at OPA without her. With that said, she's curious of what she thinks about adding someone new to the equation.
So she asks, "How do you think things are running around here as they are?" Quinn looks at her and says, "I think it's tight at times, but we get the job done." Olivia replies, "So you're comfortable with being stretched so thin?" Quinn takes a breath as she says, "I'm over worked, underpaid, and I have a sleeping cycle that would drive any normal person to drink. But, at the end of the day every day I know we're making a difference for people who need us. So I'd say my personal struggles are worth it. Because I am a gladiator, we're all gladiators in suits. Which is why whomever you choose to bring in, he or she must embody that element to their core."
Olivia is impressed by her response. It seems to help her make a decision on what to do next in her decision making process. The integrity of what they do must be held in the highest regard. It's not just about filling spots, and moving on. It's about having the right fit more than anything else. They'll never be who they were, and they don't have to try to be those people. They just need to be the best of who they are now.
The brief silence quells between them as Olivia snaps out of her head and asks, "With that said, if I move forward with hiring someone. Who do you see as a good candidate?" Quinn smiles as she asks, "Really? You want my opinion." Olivia replies, "Yes. Of course. I value your opinion and your work here Quinn. Without you OPA wouldn't be in existence anymore. And until now I didn't realize I never thanked you for being the embodiment of our cheesy mantra, gladiator in a suit."
They share a smile as they both think of Harrison, and how cheesy the mantra always sounded when he said it. But it has always been true. To do this job you have to be a resilient, focused, and ready for battle at all times; which are the key attributes of a gladiator.
Still smiling Quinn says, "You don't have to thank me Liv. I didn't do anything that you or Harrison wouldn't have done in my position. But I appreciate your gratitude. It means a lot." Olivia feels the warmth in her words, and she also appreciates her response. She nods as she says, "You're welcome Quinn. I know I don't say thank you enough, or hell maybe not at all when it comes to all of you. But I really do appreciate you for your loyalty and dedication to me and our cause. So try to think about that when you're over worked and under paid fatigue sets in."
They both chuckle at her response as Quinn says, "Will do boss. I'd better get back to work if we want to get out of here before night fall." Olivia nods in agreement. Looking at the time she sees it's about time for her to get going too; if she wants to prepare for her night of redemption with her love.
As Quinn turns to leave Olivia recalls her unanswered question she posed, and says, "Hey Quinn. You didn't tell me who you'd pick if I hired someone." Quinn responds, "Honestly, they all seem like the same person, which is okay. If okay is what you're looking for."
Olivia instantly understands her point; nobody jumps off the page as someone she needs to have as an addition to their team. So she says, "Thanks for your input Quinn." Quinn nods as she says, "You're welcome. No matter what Liv; we trust that whomever you pick they'll be a good fit. After all, you picked all of us, whether we wanted to be here or not."
They share another smile and a giggle; both remembering how fabulously well she originally reacted when she realized what led her to OPA. That was quite some time ago, but not so long that they don't recall. The look of gratitude in both of their eyes as they look at one another settles the moment, just before Quinn dismisses herself to return to work.
Despite staying later than anticipated; Olivia is feeling accomplished and decides to go home for the day. The decision of who to add to her crew for now, has been tabled. She takes solace in the words of one of her most valued employees as she thinks to herself. When the right candidate presents him or herself, she'll know. Until then, they'll continue to gladiate as they always do, because it's what they do.
After making sure all is well as she leaves for the day; she advises them all not to stay too late. They deserve to enjoy their weekend. Everyone but Huck appeared to acknowledge her good bye. She could see he was engaged in a computer program of some sort, and also talking on the phone. She knows when he's in a zone. It's not wise to interrupt him. So she shrugs it off as him being his usual self.
As Olivia heads out the door, she dons a smile of happiness. She has a mission on her mind, as she settles into the moment. As her thoughts balance and she thinks about the pleasure giving and receiving on her mind, that's primed to take place in a few hours.
Instinctively she looks at her phone and sees he didn't respond yet to her last reply to him. Instantly, she thinks about how dismissive Huck was as she left a moment ago. Could the two instances be connected? She's not sure, but knows that it's possible. She encouraged Fitz to utilize Huck's intel when his suspicions of Cyrus arose a while back. And it's that intelligence that made it possible for him to stay ahead of the game where he's concerned.