Cyrus called her the week before. Desperation was clear in his voice. He begged her to at least come and take a look before completely rejecting his proposition. The chance to run a presidential campaign this early in her career was unheard of and she wasn't at all sure she wanted to turn it down, still she just made partner in her firm and she couldn't mess up a good thing unless she was absolutely sure it was worth it.

She flew out from New York to their temporary campaign office in New Hampshire. It was a chilly January day, her camel Max Mara coat was draped over her shoulders, Navy blue Theory chinos and a fuzzy Burberry white sweater, finished with a pair of black leather Chanel knee high stilettos was her outfit for the day. Her hair was loosely curled and fell mid back and her makeup was barely there, consisting of only concealer, mascara and lip gloss.

She stepped out of her taxi and closed the door behind her. The taxi driver dropped her directly in front of the makeshift campaign office. She threw her Chanel black quilted purse over her shoulder and walked into the office.

She was immediately greeted by a volunteer.

"Hi, welcome to the Grant campaign office, how can I assist you?" the girl said pleasantly.

"Cyrus Beene is expecting me," Olivia responded politely.

"Olivia Pope Right?

Olivia nodded.

"This way."

The girl led her to Cyrus' office, he was in the middle of a phone call. So she stood in his office, looking around at the clutter.

Within a few minutes Cyrus was off the phone.

"Liv, thank you so much for coming, I can't tell you how much it means to me." Cyrus cooed as he ran over and hugged her.

"Well, I would hope so, I'm in the middle of a huge case and it wasn't easy making time to come see you," she scolded.

"You just made partner Liv, you're technically a boss there, you'll live."

She chuckled.

"So Cy, I know you didn't invite me here to make snarky comments about my job, what's going on?"

Cyrus sighed.

"Well, he's good Liv or else I wouldn't call you but something is missing. I've tried everything but I can't figure out what it is. That's why I've called you, my darling protege, to take a look and tell me what you think, I need a second opinion."

"Based on the footage I've seen of him on the news I already have a pretty good idea of what's missing," she countered.

"Be nice, just meet him first."

"Okay, where is he?"

"I think he's talking to the staff and volunteers in the conference auditorium. I have to make a few calls but check him out and tell me what you think and then I'll meet you once I'm finished here."

She nodded.

"Where is the auditorium?"

"Outside 2 rights then left," he replied.

"Got it."

She followed Cyrus' directions to the hall, the double doors were open. He stood in the middle of the floor. He wore a pair of dark navy Brooks Brothers tailored slacks and a crisp white long sleeve button down shirt that was neatly tucked into his pants.

The first thing Olivia noticed was how tall he actually was, between 6'2 or 6'3 based on her guess. He was also extremely handsome. She could see his blue eyes all the way from the back of the room, his hair was well kept and his teeth were perfect. She looked around the room and saw the female volunteers hanging onto every word he said like gospel. She was sure it wasn't because of what he was saying, it was how he looked when he was saying it. She heard he had a reputation for being very charming and it seemed that reputation was apt.

"It's not my stance on issues, I'm not gonna swing further right because that's not my belief. The voters know that, I swing further right it's gonna look like I'm flip flopping.-"

She sucked in a breath, 'here we go' she thought. She cleared her throat to announce herself. When he turned to her she spoke.

"It's because you're too perfect," Olivia announced.

"Excuse me?" Fitz responded, momentarily stunned.

"You're too perfect, too polished, too rehearsed and entirely unrelatable. No one wants a wealthy, know-it-all, telling them to trust him. All that aside, you and your wife look like you haven't had sex since you conceived your last child. You're a republican, one of the biggest fundamentals in your party is family values. That's why republicans vote for who they vote for, they want a family in the white house, a lovey dovey couple with cute perfect children, that represent the american dream. You and your wife don't look, touch or speak to each other and people notice, that's why you lost Iowa and that's why you'll lose New Hampshire. George Bush ran on the fact that he had more integrity than Bill Clinton and screwed his wife, that's all he ran on, nothing else and he won."

Fitz stood briefly speechless.

"I know what you're going to say." Olivia continued, "you won in governorship in California so you're not the problem but I would counter that California is the most pretentious state in the country and so of course you won there but you won't win in the places you really need to win, in order to become president if you continue like this."

Her words hung in the air and everyone was silent.

He took a few seconds to look at her, really look at her. She was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen, she was tiny in stature and very well dressed. She had utterly perfect pouty lips on her round face that had her beauty bordering on angelic.

He quickly realized his thoughts were trailing on and snapped himself out of it.

"That's nice. Who are you?"

"I'm Olivia Pope," she said with a snarky smile.

She turned around to see Cyrus with a huge disgusting smile on his face.

"I'll be in your office," she smiled at him and whispered so only he could hear.

She walked down the hall and then got lost by all the turns and doors that looked the same.

Everyone in the auditorium was still quiet. Fitz dismissed the staff and went to find Cyrus who already made his way back to his office.

When he stepped into Cyrus' office, he couldn't hide the huge grin on his face.

"Don't be so giddy Cy. That's the Olivia you were telling me about?"

Cyrus nodded, still grinning.

"Find someone else," he said.

Olivia finally found her way back to Cyrus' office, she saw Fitz's arm hanging outside of the wall once she was close enough to hear their conversation.

"Oh god she's good. I can't believe I've been missing that the enter time it was so obvious," Cyrus chuckled. "You're too perfect. It's coming off as fake."

"Great, now that we got the advice, you can get rid of her," Fitz repeated.

Olivia was insulted, not because he wanted her fired, she was used to rich brats throwing tantrums when someone stood up to them, but because she wasted her time coming there in the first place.

"First of all, I'm praying she even agrees to be hired. I don't know how I'm going to get her to work with us, I suppose I could try to guilt her into it," Cyrus said more to himself than to Fitz.

"Do not hire that woman Cyrus. I'm serious"

"Listen, we're a package deal at this point. Olivia Pope is one of the smartest, most perceptive people I've come across and she figured out a problem after having met you for 30 seconds that I haven't been able to figure out in months, so we are hiring her and if you really don't want her here then I can't stay either."

FItz rolled his eyes.

"You're not going anywhere Cyrus but she is. Tell her to go or I will."

Fitz turned around only to bump into Olivia who was standing behind him.

She cleared her throat softly, it was throwing Fitz off that she had a slight smirk on her face. He found himself wondering how one woman could be so arrogant.

She walked over to Cyrus and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek and hugged him. Fitz felt his heart race at the sight of her lips touching Cyrus' face and instantly felt a pang of jealousy. She was utterly stunning. Her hair was perfectly curled and shiny. Her skin was flawless. When she walked past him, he could smell the perfume lingering off her skin. She was a vision and her presence was palpable.

"It's been fun Cyrus."

She smiled pleasantly and then headed out the door.

Cyrus realized she was leaving.

"Come on Liv, he didn't mean it," he pleaded.

"I'm going to raid the fuck out of the minibar at the hotel and I'm going to charge everything to your campaign. Good luck Governor Grant," she threw over her shoulder as she strutted out.

Cyrus palmed his face.

"You better go get her right now or I quit," Cyrus mumbled through clenched teeth.

"Oh god Cy, you are so dramatic-"

"Go get her! Now!" Cyrus yelled.

Fitz turned and realized she had disappeared from the hallway, so he half sprinted to find her. He turned a few hallways and then saw a tiny woman walking towards a double door, he was a little confused because it wasn't the exit.

He sped up and stopped right behind her.

"Ms. Pope?" he called.

She stopped and turned around.

"What?" She said as she turned to look at him then continued walking again.

"Can I talk to you for a moment… I also think you're going the wrong way, this isn't the exit."

That caused Olivia to stop, then she chuckled."It seems I'm worse with directions than I thought…" She shrugged playfully. Fitz found the difference in her personalities jarring. "so are you going to tell me where the exit is?"

"I would but I don't want you to leave."

"Why?" she asked.

"Why don't I want you to leave?"

"No, why did you 'fire' me? Is it because I told you what everyone else was too scared to tell you. I run the risk of sounding condescending but if you intend to be president you're gonna have to grow thicker skin. I took time from my very important job as a favor to Cyrus and I am not happy that I've wasted my time. "

"No, you didn't, I actually agree with everything you said. It makes sense. I just," he took a breath, "didn't think it would be a good idea for you to stay."

His eyes caught hers and they locked for a moment. She understood him and found herself flattered and insulted.

"Can we just start over?" Fitz said.

She let out a short breath. "I'll stick around for today and then I'll make my decision," she said quickly and walked away. She couldn't help the small smile on her lips she heard him follow behind her.

She went back to Cyrus' office.

"Oh thank god,"

Olivia chuckled and sat at the chair in front of him. She placed her Chanel bag on his desk.

"I think we should sit down with him and the wife so I can get a better idea of what you're working with."

Cyrus sighed in relief."Great, just give me a minute to get them together. They can't stand each other."

"It can't be that bad," Olivia mumbled.

Cyrus called both Fitz and Mellie to the small office room so they could all speak with Olivia. After 5 minutes of wrangling, he was able to get them all in the same room.

Cyrus plopped himself down on the chair exhausted, Olivia walked in behind him.

"I think a formal introduction is a great way to start," Cyrus began.

Olivia could feel Mellie and Fitz's eyes wash over her, both in different ways.

"Fitz, Mellie, this is Olivia Pope."

Mellie turned to Cyrus.

"Cyrus, who is this child you've brought in front of me?" Mellie asked.

Cyrus sighed, annoyed.

"Okay," Olivia began, already having a good idea of who Mellie was just based on that short sentence, "Don't talk about me like I'm not in the room. You can direct your concerns about me to me and I'll address them. I am 28 years old, I'm not a child and I haven't been for quite some time."

Mellie smiled icily, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it in an offensive way, I just can't believe you look so young."

Cyrus began again.

"As I was saying, this is Olivia Pope, a former student of mine at Princeton. She is the youngest lawyer ever to make partner at Sullivan and Cromwell firm and fortunately she is my great friend and almost daughter and is willing to help with the campaign."

Mellie's icy glare quickly turned into one of admiration.

"Wow, I'm impressed, Sullivan and Cromwell is one of the top if not the top firm in the country."

Fitz was quiet, he just sat back and watched her.

"Olivia you have the floor," Cyrus instructed.

She took a deep breath.

"Look I just made partner less than a year ago and I'm giving up a lot by handing cases off and taking a leave of absence, if I do decide to stay I need to know that you will work with me and not throw a tantrum every time I constructively criticize or give an opinion on an issue."

Both Fitz and Mellie nodded.

"Now that's out of the way, you guys need to fix whatever situation it is, that's going on. You don't touch each other, you don't talk directly to each other and you don't look at each other. Right now you guys are sitting as far away as possible from each other, to the point where the Governor is almost not sitting at the table at all."

Mellie was about to say something but Olivia cut her off.

"I don't care about your personal situation but I'm just letting you know that this is how it needs to be on the outside. I want to believe you too are so hot for each other that it makes me uncomfortable just close to you. So whatever you guys need to talk about, you should probably just hash that out now so we can fix this and move on.

"Miss Pope, I think you are mistaken," Mellie said through clenched teeth. "And this is utterly inappropriate."

Cyrus sighed.

Olivia smiled at Cyrus' overly dramatic mannerisms. FItz stifled a laugh as well.

"Listen, like I said, if I'm going to stay here, then you need to take my advice. Are you going to take my advice or should I go?"

Cyrus chuckled, "we'll leave you guys alone to talk it out."

Olivia got up from her chair and Cyrus followed.

They stood outside the door, leaving Fitz and Mellie inside.

"Whatever quips and qualms and quarrels you have to get off your chest, do it now," Fitz started.

"Since you asked, I hate your guts, I still can't believe I made you knock me up," Mellie said icily.

"Are you done?"

"Here we go again with your condescension," Mellie grumbled.

"I'm so tired of you telling me I knocked you up, how about you quit being selfish and be a mother to your child," Fittz screamed.

"I never wanted children, I told you that, so I'm sorry if I'm not nominated mother of the year to match your father of the year award. You whiny contemptuous bastard. "

"Then divorce me, so me and my daughter can live in peace, you miserable hag."

Olivia's mouth dropped open and she covered it.

"Oh my god Cyrus,"

Cyrus nodded.

After about 20 mins, Fitz and Mellie came out..

"Miss Pope, I think we have come to an agreement and we'd love to have you, if you'd have us," Mellie said with a smile.

Olivia could still see the tenseness in their bodies when they got close to each other but she was never one to back down from a challenge.

"Well I'll reach out to you in a few days with my decision, it was lovely meeting you both."

Mellie rolled her eyes and stormed off.

Fitz grinned at his wife's behavior.

"Okay Ms. Pope, we look forward to hearing from you," he smiled like the entire exchange that took place moments ago never happened, he was a perfect politician.

Fitz shook her hand, momentarily hanging on a few seconds too long because he was surprised how soft and small it felt in his hand. I didn't go unnoticed by Olivia.

When Fitz left Cyrus turned to her.

"A few days Liv, I need you as soon as possible."

"Calm down grandpa," she said with a smile, "I just need to go back to New York to sort out a few things, it'll take me a day or two, tops. I already got approved for a leave of absence so that's not the issue."

"Oh lord, great. So it's definitely a yes then. How did they give you a yes that quickly?"

"You know they press it would generate for the firm if one of their partners managed the campaign of a presidential nominee and won. Cy, I do need to go home for a day or two though. I just need to get some things in order I won't be home for a while after that," she chuckled.

Cyrus wrapped her in a tight hug, Fitz saw them from down the hall.

"Thank you Liv, you won't regret it," he said happily.

She arrived back in New York later that night. When she got to her apartment Abby had her kitchen table filled with freshly baked cupcakes, cake pops and cookies, beautifully decorated and garnished.

"Abby, these look good, can I help myself?"

Abby came walking around the corner and Olivia was already eating a cupcake and a cookie. "Why ask, you always do," Abby chuckled.

"Because they always taste like heaven...mm-hmm."

Abby sat at the kitchen stool beside Olivia.

"So how are you feeling today?" Olivia asked casually.

"Better everyday, the bruises are fading too."

"Good, I want you to get back out there as soon as possible, you're way too fucking hot to be cooped up at home all day."

Abby chuckled.

"Thanks, how was your trip, is the governor as handsome as they make him out to be?" Abby questioned.

"He's not, he only looks good on the camera I guess," Olivia joked.

"Seriously?"

"No, he's hot as fucking balls."

"Nice! Are you gonna accept?"

"Yea, I'm gonna do it, his wife is a W.A.S.P. brat and so is he, but he has something I can work with."

"Aww I'm gonna miss you, when are you leaving?"

"Day after tomorrow, I have one day to pack. I don't even know where to start and the downside is that I'll be traveling so much, I'm practically gonna be living out of a suitcase, I can't think of anything worse," Olivia chuckled.

"I don't know how you're gonna fit all those gorgeous pairs of shoes you have in there," Abby remarked sarcastically.

"I can't, which is why I'm probably asking you to ship me stuff every few weeks."

"Oh okay that sounds more like you," Abby teased.

"Can I have one more of these?" Olivia asked with her mouth full of the last bite of cupcake.

"Liv me and you are the only two that live here, if you don't eat them, who will?"

Olivia laughed and shook her head. She couldn't say anything because she had already dug into another cupcake and her mouth was so full she could barely chew.

"Cyrus, how did you and Olivia meet?" Fitz said as he walked into Cyrus' office.

"We met at Princeton, she was in my political science class and she was so bright that I didn't feel the need to teach her. Instead I had her help me teach the class. We've been close ever since."

"Where is she from? And why is she so smart according to you?" Fitz asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Cyrus countered.

"I can't ask questions about the woman who is supposed to be running my campaign with you?"

Cyrus realized his questions were valid ones.

"She's from New York, she still lives there. She went to the best boarding schools in the world, St. Anne's in North Carolina. Ecole des Roches in France, Westminster school in England and Surval Montreux in Switzerland. When she came to Princeton she was practically already college educated, she sailed right through."

Fitz raised his eyebrow.

"Her parents must be pretty high up to get her into those schools."

"I've never met her parents and she never talks about them so I don't know but she's perceptive and intuitive as hell so we could use her here and she's giving up a lot by leaving Sullivan and Cromwell even if it's only temporary so please try your hardest to make nice with your wife, so this can work out great for all of us."

"I will," Fitz promised and then turned out.

That night he dreamed of Olivia. Her soft skin, her big brown eyes and her long shiny hair. He woke in the morning, annoyed that he'd dreamt of her but with the resolve to keep it strictly professional between them. The last thing he needed in his life was a distraction in the middle of running the biggest campaign of his life.

The next day Olivia woke early in the morning. She knew she only had one day to get all her affairs in order. She wanted some company to run errands but Abby refused to leave the house with some of the bruises her ex-husband Charles left on her still visible.

At first she ran to her law firm and when she was done there she went to the salon, she figured she'd be on the road for a long time and wouldn't have time to pamper herself.

In the afternoon, she made her way back home to pack and get some much needed rest and mentally prepare herself for what she was signing on for. She still had a few cases that she would have to work on because they were just too big to drop so she would have to fly back to New York City a few times but that was the least of her problems.

Her last day in New York went by rather quickly. With the New Hampshire primary coming soon, she knew she was needed immediately and when she got to the campaign office around midday after she landed, it was a madhouse. She knew there was nothing particularly concerning happening so there was no reason for that.

"Cyrus I'm here, what's going on?"

"We just got a new wave of volunteers and we're having a hard time placing them. Meet me in my office, I'm going to have to send some away because this shit is crazy," Cyrus said as he threw his hands up in frustration.

Olivia went back to his office to wait for him.

When Cyrus walked in he was accompanied by the owner of Doyle Industries and a well known judge.

"Olivia meet Hollis Doyle and Verna Thornton"

"Verna and Hollis, this is Olivia."

"Hi, it's so nice to meet you," Olivia said pleasantly with a wave.

"Why hello Olivia, aren't you one beautiful woman," Hollis said in his southern accent.

"God Hollis, leave the poor child alone," Verna interjected which caused Olivia to chuckle softly.

"Okay let's get to business, we have a president to make," Cyrus announced.