Chapter 88

Sunday evening arrived and was time for the brides to head back to the farmhouse. They were lying in bed in their suite with Natalia laying on Olivia's chest, Olivia mindlessly running her fingers through her lover's hair.

Olivia kissed her head and pulled her tighter against her. "I suppose we should get up and get dressed. The kids are expecting us."

Natalia nodded against her chest. "I guess you're right. It's just so comfy here in your arms. I'm not ready to go back to the real world yet."

"I know what you mean. I've thoroughly enjoyed the last two days with my wife."

"You've enjoyed not having to put clothes on for two days."

"That too. But no, it's been nice. We haven't had to worry about anything for two whole days. It's just been us, and it's been nice. We have so much going on and it's nice to have some time for just me and you. You know?"

"Yeah. I know." Natalia kissed Olivia's chest and rose her head to look into jade eyes. "I know we have a lot going on right now, but it's getting better. We just have the meeting in St. Louis and the barn renovation and then maybe things will settle down."

"We also have the grand opening of The Beacon Chicago, and if we buy the property in St. Louis we will have that renovation and then opening too. I don't know when we are going to squeeze in a real honeymoon."

"Baby, we talked about this. We are going to go on our honeymoon as soon as Ava's apartment is finished. We'll be done with the opening in Chicago, and, if we do buy the hotel in St. Louis, it will be under construction which Josh already agreed to oversee just like Chicago. We are going on a honeymoon Mrs. Spencer-Rivera."

"Yes ma'am." Olivia gave a mock salute.

Natalia leaned down and claimed Olivia's lips. "I love you Olivia Spencer."

"That's Olivia Spencer-Rivera."

Natalia smiled a full dimple smile. "Yes it is. So, you ready to get up and go home to our children?"

"No, but I guess it's time."

"Yes it is, but it's just a few hours and then we can crawl in our own bed and continue this."

"Mmm. That sounds good." The two shared a final kiss before rising from the bed and getting dressed. As Olivia was buttoning her shirt, she looked over at her wife. "So, we still have one more thing to discuss."

"What's that?" Natalia asked, turning around to face her love.

"When do you want to announce the new company and you're official role as partner and co-owner?"

"Um, I hadn't really thought about it."

"I told Mel to file all the paperwork when she files our marriage license and the name change forms, so it will be legal tomorrow morning, I was thinking we might hold a staff meeting and make the announcement to the staff first thing tomorrow." Natalia looked hesitant but nodded. Olivia approached her and took her in her arms. Kissing her soundly before leading her to sit on the bed. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

"Nothing."

"Natalia, come on honey, tell me."

"It's just, I'm worried about how the staff is going to handle it. You know some of them weren't

exactly thrilled when you first promoted me, and then, after I left over the summer and came back, some of them were worse than the first time around, I just…"

Olivia lifted her chin so their eyes met. "Hey, stop, none of that matters. You are my wife, my partner, we are complete equals in this relationship, and in this business. Baby, I wouldn't be where I am today without you. When I was sick you stepped in and took care of everything. You made sure The Beacon continued to run as normal. You have been doing far more than an assistance job since I first promoted you. You are amazing, who cares what anyone thinks. We know that you have more than earned your position in this company. Not because you married me, and put up with all my crap, but because you are amazing at your job. So, stop worrying about what our staff is going to think. They love you, and you have more than proven to them that you are capable in this job. And they definitely enjoy having a much calmer boss. Not just you, but the effect you have on me. Hell, most of them aren't even scared of me anymore. That's because of you Natalia, and I think most of them will be expecting this. Ava is the general manager, Rafe is her assistant, it's kind of obvious that you will be moving up too."

"I know, you're right, I just don't like people to think I slept/married my way to the top."

"They won't honey. You were promoted to my assistant before anything ever happened with us, and you have earned you position as partner."

"Partner yeah, I think people could understand that, but co-owner, it's a little different."

"How so?"

"Olivia, you've been married five times and none of them had anything to do with your business, now, we're married and you're giving me half of everything, including Spencer-Rivera Hotels and Resorts. It's a lot."

"Yes, it is. But sweetheart, it's because I love you and I trust you so much. None of my other marriages even mattered. I only really count one of them and even he can't hold a candle to you. Natalia, you are the love of my life, the one person in this world I was meant to be with and because of that I want to share everything with you. And because of you and the wonderful job you do, we are expanding, that wouldn't be happening if it weren't for you."

"I love you too. And I am so thankful to have you and this amazing life with you. I want this, all of it, it's just gonna take some time to get used to it. Can we maybe wait until after our St. Louis trip to announce my new position and SRHR?"

Olivia gathered her into her arms and kissed the top of her head. "Of course, we can wait baby. Whatever you need to feel comfortable. I love you."

"I love you too. Now, you ready to go home?"

"Yes." Olivia kissed her head again and stood from the bed. "Let's go home."

Once the two arrived home, they shared dinner with their children as they all recounted both weddings. Laughing and just enjoying being together. After dinner, Rafe, and Ava both retired to their rooms and Olivia and Natalia tucked Emma in before retiring themselves, drifting to sleep wrapped in the warmth of each other's arms.

Monday morning came and it was time for Emma to return to school and the rest of the Spencer-Rivera clan to return to work. It was the first day Rafe would officially be Ava's assistant and although they weren't announcing it, it was Natalia's first day as co-owner. First order of business was to show Rafe his office. He was stunned into silence when he realized that not only did he have his own office, but they had decorated it to his taste. He hugged both of his mother's and sister before they left him to get acquainted with where everything was.

Ava gave her mother's a quick hug and then set off for her office. Mrs. And Mrs. Spencer-Rivera walked hand and hand to their office doors, sharing a brief kiss before each going about their business. Olivia needed to make the final arrangements for their trip to St. Louis the following week along with catching up on some emails. Natalia also had an entire inbox of emails to go through, but first she need to call and check on things in Chicago and began arrangements for the grand opening as well as take a look at this month's projections.

Just as Olivia was finishing up with her emails, a familiar red head entered her office, unannounced. "Really Spencer, married for less than three days and already buried back in work."

"It's spencer-Rivera than you very much, and yes, Natalia and I have a lot to do before our trip to check out another property next week. We will be taking a proper honeymoon in February."

"You did take the weekend off didn't you?"

"Yes. We spent the weekend up in our suite."

"Good."

"So, what brings our esteemed mayor to my office this morning?"

"Frank." She stated dryly.

"What did that ass hat do now?"

"Nothing new. I just needed to speak with you about how you'd like to proceed from here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we have a couple of options after what he pulled at your wedding."

"I didn't know that crashing a wedding was against the law."

"It's not, however, harassment is, as well as all of the things he's done to you over the past year. Like I said, we have options."

"Alright Wolfe, what are you thinking? And don't even think of anything that risk Rafe."

"I'm not. We can file a simple harassment case, it will get him suspended for at least a week, possibly demoted but probably not. And I'm not sure we have enough without going into past events."

"What is the other option?"

"Well, we can file the harassment charge as well as the assault against Natalia and take our chances with the courts on your and Rafe's retaliation against him, I do feel any judge would be on your and Rafe's side given what he did to Natalia."

"No, not an option. I will not risk Rafe going back to prison."

"Well, there is another way we could go."

"I'm listening."

"We can file to have Rafe's record expunged. He was a minor when it happened, and although Jeffery is no longer with us, we still have the letters he wrote on Rafe's behalf, not to mention how well he has done since his release and his spotless record while incarcerated."

"Do you really think that's a possibility?"

"I do. I can't make any guarantees, but I think it could be worth a shot. Then we could file the assault charges without much worry for Rafe."

"Let's do that. We should be doing that anyways. Even though Rafe plans on staying with SRHR, his future would still be better without that charge hanging over him. Make sure there's nothing to be used against him in the future, when he's the one making the deals for our families company."

"I agree, however, it's not going to be easy and it's going to take some time."

"And while we are waiting Frank is still police chief and the assault charges hold less and less baring the more time that passes."

"Exactly."

Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose as she stood and began to pace. "I don't know what to do Doris. I am not afraid of Frank Cooper, but Natalia is. She pretended to be okay, but what happened at the reception really shook her up."

"I know. That's why I'm here. I feel we need to do something to put a stop to his madness."

"You're the mayor, can't just suspend him and demand a psych evaluation?"

"I have to have justifiably cause for that Olivia. I can't just suspend the chief of police for no reason."

"What about the harassment charges, can't we file those and use that time to work on Rafe's case?"

"We could, yes, the problem is, I have to have all of the evidence to file a case. That's gonna include what happened with Natalia last month."

"So, what you're saying is, there is no way for us to press any sort of charges without bringing up the assault." Olivia said sitting back down in her chair.

"Not exactly."

"Alright Wolfe, spit it out, I know you have a plan brewing."

"What if we set up a little trap. A way to get Frank to admit what he did to Natalia without bringing up what you and Rafe did to him in return, not to mention keeping your ex-husbands and their beat down out of it."

"Oh my god, I completely forgot about that. How bad did they hurt him?"

"Pretty bad, he's at Cedars, getting released later this afternoon. They broke a few ribs, his nose, and fractured his wrist. I'm sure he'll be pressing charges."

"Shit. I can't let them take the fall for this. They were just trying to protect me and Natalia, get him to leave us alone finally."

"I know, don't worry, Phillip has a plan."

"And what's that exactly?"

"He is having Josh and Bill added to his security detail, on paper at least. It will look like they have worked for him for over a month before the wedding. Frank did trespass on private party and technically he broke into the Spaulding mansion. By law, Phillip had a right to defend his home, Bill and Josh may have a few bruises that may or may not have been inflected by Mr. Cooper. It was their job to remove him from the property, Frank fought them and they did what is in their job discerption, all of it taking place on private property where Frank Cooper was not invited. And there are witness to the fact that he was asked to leave several times before he was forcibly removed."

"So, the members of the Olivia Spencer ex-husband club are safe, they won't have charges filed against them?"

"Not a single charge. All three of them acted in tune with the law. Problem is, trespassing and fighting with security, isn't enough for me to suspend him. The only way I can is if you and Natalia press charges. Now, I think you will be safe from any prosecution, Rafe on the other hand, I'm just not sure. It would depend on the judge."

"I can't take any risk with Rafe Doris. He's worked too hard."

"I know, that's why I want to get Frank to admit to what happened with Natalia on his own. It would be a new admission and wouldn't violate the deal you made with him, which I recorded. If he were to try and bring up pressing charges on you and Rafe, I could play the recording for him, which is bribery and by an officer of the law no less. I don't think any judge would take kindly to the chief of police bribing his way out of trouble."

"Why didn't we do this before? The bribery thing I mean."

"Because, you made a deal with him, if we tried to use it then, it would have been thrown out, both of you bribed each other, but, if he admits the abuse to Natalia again, a new confession, it would be separate from your deal, especially if an officer just happened to be in the vicinity and overheard his confession and decided to make an arrest."

"Okay, I get it. But how are we going to make him admit it again, he still thinks it wasn't a big deal."

"I've been thinking about that. I think our best shot is to arrange a meeting with him, somewhere public, but private enough for him to feel comfortable to talk. We could tell him you want to discuss all of this, try, and figure out a solution that doesn't involve any more violence. Remy and I will be close by so we can 'overhear' the conversation that you will also be recording on your phone."

"He is not going to go for that. He knows me better than that."

"Well, I actually think Natalia is the only one that is going to get him to agree to meet."

"No, no, no, no way. I am not going to do that to her. She is terrified of him."

"Olivia."

"No. Doris, it's not an option."

At that moment Natalia walked into the office. "What isn't an option for what?"

"Nothing." Olivia answered before Doris had a chance to speak. "What can I do for you Mrs. Spencer-Rivera?"

"I just needed to have you look over this month's projections and give the final sign off, and I was hoping I could convince my wife to take a break and get some lunch."

"You wife would love to, and you don't need me to sign off on anything, you can do that now."

"Right, that's gonna take some getting used to. I still want you to look it over, please."

"Of course, I will, after you sign off on it. I trust you and I know you would let me know if there were any problems."

Natalia walked around the desk and gave Olivia a quick peck. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Alright you two." Doris interrupted. "Olivia, we need to do this."

"No, we don't."

"Do what?" Natalia asked, giving Doris a pointed look.

"We need to put a stop to Frank."

"I agree. How do we do that?"

"Well…" Doris started.

"We don't know yet." Olivia interjected, glaring at her friend.

Natalia looked between the two before settling her gaze on her wife. "Olivia, what are you two thinking? I know you are up to something."

"Nothing. It's not a good idea."

"What's the idea Olivia?"

"Doris wanted me to try and talk to him, but it won't work, he won't meet with me."

"But he will meet with you." Doris said in a rush before Olivia could cut her off again.

"Wolfe." Olivia growled.

"What? She's a big girl Olivia. You should allow her the opportunity to decide for herself. She's the one he's attacking after all."

"Thank you Doris. I agree. So, what would I be meeting him for?"

Olivia pulled Natalia onto her lap and wrapped her arms around her, kissing her cheek. "Nothing honey, I don't want you anywhere near him."

Natalia cupped Olivia's cheeks between her hands. "I know, and I don't want to be anywhere near him, but I would like to know what this plan is, maybe it will work and we can get rid of him once and for all."

Olivia nodded and turned her attention to Doris for her to explain.

"Okay." Doris started. "So, I explained to Olivia that I don't really have anything on him, besides possibly harassment, however, to file that charge, I would need all of the information, including what happened last month…."

"No, nothing that risk Olivia and Rafe going to jail."

"I know. That's why we need you to meet with Frank. My thought is that if we get him to confess to everything that's happened over the past year, from the beginning if possible, with a police officer, Remy perhaps, around to hear it, then an arrest can be made and it will be separate from the deal you and Olivia made with him to not press charges. If he still tries to, I will bring the recording of him bribing you guys to not press charges to his attention. It might not work, but it could. If he has harassment and assault charges filed against him, not to mention making a judge fully aware of his stalker like tactics to try and get you to marry him, I would have enough to take him off the force completely and he may even do some time, a psych evaluation at the very least to determine if he is fit to stay in society and not be a danger."

"You really think I can get him to talk about everything?"

"I don't know. I think if you brought the Natalia Rivera that raised a baby from the age of sixteen by herself, stole Harley's husband, bribed the mayor, and took on Olivia Spencer to the fight, I think you could." She said with a smirk.

"How would I even get him talking?"

"Well, tell him you want to talk, try and salvage your friendship, then start talking, start where this all started. My understanding is a dinner you shared. Then, even if he doesn't bring things up, you can and he can just agree that he did it. It's still a confession."

"Do you think it would work, get him to actually leave Olivia and I alone?"

"I think that the more you get out of him, the more likely it is that he will do time, and I will have just cause to fire him and hire a new chief of police, someone without all the bias. Then when he gets out of jail, you two can file a restraining order, if he violates it, a non-bias police chief will be involved."

"Okay, let's do it."

"Are you sure honey?" Olivia asked.

Natalia turned in her lap to meet her eyes. "Yes, I'm sure. I'm tired of worrying about where he is gonna pop up next. I'm tired of being scared all the time, and Ava said that Emma had a nightmare over the weekend. I will not have my little girl be afraid."

"Wait, Emma had a nightmare? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because we didn't want you to kill him for hurting Emma again."

"What was it about?"

"She said that in her dream, Frank was hurting me, you tried to stop him but he hit you and then he took me away."

"My poor jellybean. We need to talk to her when we get home. Make sure she knows that no one is going to take you away from us."

"Yes, we do, and I want to set this up with Frank. We have been taking it easy, at first we thought that he would stop when he saw we were serious, then after he hurt me, but now, I'm not sure anything is going to stop him from trying to take me from you. I think this is our best chance."

"Natalia's right Olivia. Things are getting way out of hand; this is really our only shot without risking you and Rafe." Doris agreed.

Olivia rested her forehead against Natalia's. "Okay, but I will be nearby. I will not risk him putting his hands on you again."

Natalia leant in and kissed Olivia chastely. "Deal."

"Alright, I'll leave you two newlyweds to your make out session, I'll come by the farmhouse tonight and we'll make a plan." Doris said as she stood and made her way to the door.

"Thank you Doris." Olivia said.

"Anytime Spencer."

"Lasagna okay with you for dinner?"

"I do love your lasagna."

"Okay then, bring Jamanda."

"Alright, I'll see ya around six." With that she left the office, shutting the door behind her.

Olivia tightened her hold on Natalia, making sure she didn't try to leave her lap. She lay her head in the crook of her wife's neck and breathed in her familiar scent. "I love you so much baby, I'm sorry all of this is happening."

"It's not your fault Olivia, and really, in the grand scheme of things, it's not that bad. We have so much good happening in our lives, this is just a small inconvenience."

"Honey stop. It's not an inconvenience its bug fucking deal. Frank is all but stalking you, harassing you, he assaulted you, and he tried to ruin our wedding reception. Please don't minimize this."

"I have to Olivia. If I let myself think about it too much, I just, I can't Olivia. This is a small problem that we are going to get taken care of as soon as possible. Defiantly before we go the St. Louis."

"Are you sure about this?"

"No, not really. I don't want to be alone with him, but I know it's the best possible way to get him to pay for his crimes and leave our family alone. I'm scared, the kids are worried, and I know you are too, even if you're trying to play fierce protector not afraid of anything Olivia Spencer. I know you."

"I am scared of anything ever happening to you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"That's why we are going to do this, and you and Doris will be nearby so there's no chance of anything happening to me. Okay?"

"Okay." Olivia relented, closing the small gap between them, and kissing Natalia's soft lips. This kiss was for all of the love and protectiveness she felt for the woman and the hope that the nightmare that is Frank Cooper would soon be over.