In the two days that Fitz left, Olivia and Cyrus worked to contain the fallout. Cyrus convinced Mellie to go to California shortly after because the optics were terrible if the press found out he left without her. They had Grant campaign surrogates out trying to change the topic of conversation and focus on the policies but it wasn't working. The media wanted to hear what Fitz had to say.
When Fitz came back from California the first presidential debate was only a few days away. He landed in the morning and he immediately called a meeting with Cyrus and Olivia.
He sat in his office waiting for Cyrus and Olivia to show up. When they came in and sat in front of his desk, he began.
"Who's idea was it to send Mellie to California?" he asked.
"Mine, the optics of her staying here was terrible, we already lost our lead to Reston, we can't afford to lose any more points with the general election only months away," Cyrus explained.
Fitz was stone-faced.
"Olivia, how did this happen?"
"Mellie bribed one of the assistants into scheduling the interview and told her not to tell me and keep it off the press itinerary. She kept Karen with her all day, obviously, she was prepping her for the interview."
"What's the plan on how to deal with this?" Fitz asked.
"Olivia has a brilliant plan? Go ahead Olivia," Cyrus interjected.
"A few months ago Mellie told the world she suffered a miscarriage, we can say she's still suffering from the effects of that, it's made her a little distant and reticent, which is what Karen was talking about when she says 'mommy doesn't play much'. Tell the public that you have stepped up, to give Mellie time to heal by taking on more responsibility with Karen. It will gain her sympathy as a mom and it will get you adoration as a father."
Fitz was silent for a while.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked.
"I think I'm disgusted at how good of a liar you are?"
"Excuse me?" she asked, thinking she'd misheard him. She had to have misheard him because she couldn't believe he said that.
"That's a brilliant lie but one we wouldn't even need if you didn't let this happen in the first place."
"Let this happen?"
"Yes, you let this happen. You were in charge here and this happened on your watch. What was Karen doing with Mellie in the first place? You didn't do your job, you should have had a handle on what fuck was going on," he barked.
Cyrus sat in silence.
"It's not my fault your wife doesn't know her place and what the hell was I supposed to do grab Karen out of Mellie's arms, I am not her mother, Mellie is. And while we're talking about job descriptions, It's not my job to keep your wife in check, it's yours but since I'm doing such a horrible job, I quit!"
"You're not going anywhere," Fitz barked.
Olivia got up and stormed out. Cyrus chased after her immediately.
"Liv? Liv? You can't quit," he said as he tried to catch up with her as she strutted to her office.
"I just did," she retorted.
"Look, just take the day off and cool down. I'll talk to him. He's never acted like that before," Cyrus pleaded.
She threw her blazer on and grabbed her purse.
"No Cyrus, I'm fucking done. I'm done with him and her," Her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears but she quickly wiped them away before any fell.
"Please Liv, we're so close," Cyrus begged as he held her by the shoulders, "just take a day, don't make a rash decision."
Fitz walked in.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked.
She moved away from Cyrus but didn't say a word.
"You are not quitting."
"Yeah you're right, I already quit 5 minutes ago." She walked to the doorway but Fitz was blocking her path.
"Get out of my way."
Fitz didn't move.
"You're not quitting. Take the day and calm down and I'll see you tomorrow."
Fitz moved and let her pass and she stormed out.
Cyrus let out a long, loud sigh, then he started laughing.
"You know you're wrong right?"
"I don't care," Fitz said.
"It's not her fault Mellie pulled that, she could have pulled it on anyone of us, how many times did Mellie pull something out of her ass on you and there was nothing you could do about it."
Fitz pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I don't care."
"You're being an asshole."
"I know just let me be mad for a second then I'll go grovel to Olivia later,"
"You better or-"
"You quit, I know."
Cyrus shook his head. "I was going to try to get her. Fitz, I would never quit on you now, we are too close."
"Do you know where she went?"
"Her hotel most likely."
"Okay and Cyrus please watch Mellie, even if you have to put a collar around her neck and walk her behind you like a bloodhound."
"Don't tempt me," Cyrus chuckled.
On her way to her room, she decided instead to go to the bar. She asked for directions in the lobby and after briefly getting lost, she found the hotel bar. She sat at the bar counter and ordered a beer to drink and a burger with fries to eat. It wasn't long after she sat eating that she began to get attention from a man sitting a few seats down. He stared for a while, giving her time to finish her food before he approached.
"Tough day?" He asked.
"Why do you think that?"
"I think anyone in a hotel bar before 5pm has had a tough day," he said with a smile.
"You might be right," she responded then took another sip of her beer.
"Let me buy you a drink," he offered. " and treat you to your lunch. No string attached."
"Um…" Olivia began hesitantly, "sure."
"You owe me nothing. One of my favorite things in the world to do is feed extremely beautiful women. If you happen to give me your number it's appreciated but not expected of course."
Olivia nodded, "you're off to a great start."
He laughed and turned to the bartender and pulled out his credit card then proceeded to pay for Olivia's tab.
Fitz just ended his call with Cyrus who informed him Olivia was in the hotel bar. After he knocked at her door for some time it was clear she wasn't there. He had to play phone tag to get Cyrus to call her and pretend he planned to meet her to get her to tell him where she was and then call Fitz back with the information.
He was annoyed.
He made his way down to the hotel bar. The moment he walked through the doors she caught his eyes at the counter, giggling at whatever the man beside her was whispering in her ear.
He walked towards them slowly and stopped when he was behind Olivia. She didn't notice him until she turned around and immediately frowned then she returned her attention to the man.
"You were saying?"
"-I have a great place on the Amalfi coast I'd love to take you to. Just for a weekend, if you're free in the next few weeks. You can bring a friend if you feel safer that way."
"I quit my job today and so I am free and I have a great friend that would love to come."
"This isn't funny. Let's go," Fitz said.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" The man said.
Fitz stepped between them and lifted Olivia off the chair and leaned in her ear. "I will make a scene in this fucking bar. Is that what you want?"
Olivia rolled her eyes and grabbed her purse from the counter then made for the door. Fitz followed her as she made her way to the elevator. The doors opened just as she approached. They both stepped in and a hotel guest attempted to step in too but Fitz stopped him, " it's full." The man looked confused as the door closed on the mostly empty elevator.
Once the elevator began moving Fitz spoke. "Are you incapable of going just one fucking minute without seeking the attention of a man?"
Fitz waited for her response and there was none.
"What? No answer."
The elevator continued moving up as they stood in silence. The doors opened and they both stepped out. She walked towards her room and he followed. She noticed but ignored him and pulled the room key out of her purse.
"So are we gonna talk?" he asked as she opened her room door.
"We don't have anything to talk about." She said as she walked into her room and turned to shut the door but he was already in the doorway. "I need to talk to you, let me in."
"I said there is nothing to talk about. Get out of the doorway so I can close the door and pack my shit and get the fuck out of here."
"I'm sorry for what I said today, it was unfair to blame you for that, I know it wasn't your fault, you know it wasn't your fault. I was being a dick but that's not a reason to quit."
Olivia stepped back and allowed him inside then closed the door.
"I've already made up my mind."
"So that's it, you're done two months before the election? Because I yelled at you…once."
"Yeah, I'm gonna go somewhere else and feed my need for constant attention from men," she said as she sat in the bed and slipped off her heels.
"We've been on the outs for a couple hours and already you have a man all over you- his hand is on your back and he's whispering in your fucking ear. Am I supposed to be happy about that?"
"Oh my god his hand was on my back," Olivia said sarcastically.
Fitz rolled his eyes.
"You're not supposed to be anything because you're not my man."
Her words stung and left Fitz momentarily stunned. They were true but that didn't make them hurt any less.
"It's not fair for you to get jealous that a guy bought me lunch and flirted with me at a bar when you have a wife. I'm 28 years old and I have my entire fucking life ahead of me so I'm not gonna stay here and torture myself by being around you every day if I don't have to. I should've left a long time ago but I'm doing it now."
"I know it's not fair to you. I know. Just give me a chance to fix it."
"I'm sorry governor, I've already made up my mind. I'm leaving after the debate."
Fitz huffed at the sudden formality, frustrated and angry at the thought of her leaving.
"Fine, then quit."
He walked out and slammed the door
The few days that Olivia worked up to the debate were torturous. Fitz didn't speak to her unless necessary and whenever he did have to speak to her, he was very formal and he kept his conversations with her short. She couldn't regret her decision even if he was upset, it was the best thing to do. If she was being honest with herself, she should have left the minute they decided to sleep together. But instead, she decided to stay and fall deeper and deeper in love with him every day.
Cyrus had tried every second of every day to convince her to stay. Olivia's plan worked as she expected and the conversation changed from Mellie being a horrible parent to how to address the mental health of mothers. It was finally the day of the debate. In the morning they went through several rounds of mock debate and prep. On the evening before the debate, Olivia and Cyrus left first to talk with the press. Mellie and Fitz came about a half-hour before the debate began. They waited in the dressing room as hair and makeup touched up all four of them. Olivia sat in her chair scrolling through social media to get a read on people's thoughts before the debate.
"Your cheekbones are to die for," the makeup artist gushed as she applied powder to Olivia's face. Touching up the makeup she'd already done for herself. "You literally look like a doll. Call me to do your makeup anytime."
"Thanks," Olivia said with a smile.
Mellie audibly sighed and from the mirror, Olivia could see she rolled her eyes. Moments later, she left to get seated about 10 minutes before the debate, and then it was just Olivia, Fitz, and Cyrus. After Mellie left, hair and makeup did shortly after. Then an intern came and called Cyrus, Olivia tried to go with him to avoid being left in a room alone with Fitz but Cyrus told her he could handle it by himself. After Cyrus left, they sat silently and awkwardly. Fitz would gaze at her ever so often but even when their eyes met he didn't speak.
She sat quietly debating whether or not she should try and talk to him. She decided to try, she didn't want to leave things sour with him even if it seemed like it was his wish.
"Good luck tonight," Olivia said although she didn't expect a response.
As she expected, he didn't respond.
"So, are you ever going to talk to me again?" she asked.
He didn't answer her.
"Not even when you become president?" She teased, "I can't call in any favors?"
She watched his lips finally pull into a slight smile.
"I'm serious…"
He sighed and reached into his jacket pocket and handed her a small turquoise box. When she saw the box she instantly knew it was from Tiffany's. She took it; hesitantly, untied the ribbon around it, and opened it. It was a platinum diamond bracelet. Her mouth dropped open. Bracelet of that caliber from Tiffany's cost at least 50 grand.
"It's a thank you gift for working your ass off for the campaign and your birthday comes up in a few days as well."
"Fitz I can't take this from you."
"What? You don't like it?"
"No I love it but it's too beautiful, I can't take it and it costs too much. If people knew you gave me this-"
Fitz shook his head at her ridiculous objections.
"Can you forget about people for one second?"
Olivia huffed but couldn't form a response.
"Look, I took out my frustrations about Mellie on you and that wasn't fair. I'm really sorry about that and I understand why you want to leave," he said.
"You know that's not why I'm leaving. I told you why I'm leaving. I told you that I'm in love with you." She blurted it out before she had time to filter her words.
Fitz was blindsided by her confession because she had never said those words. He opened his mouth to respond but Cyrus ran into the room.
"Fitz the debate starts in one minute, why the hell aren't you out there. We need you and Reston on standby now."
She saw Fitz hesitate and she knew he was trying to finish the conversation.
"Go now," she said sternly.
He obeyed and rushed out with Cyrus.
Once Fitz was on the stage, she walked with Cyrus to their front-row seats that were right behind the moderator. Once the formalities were over, the moderators started lobbing questions back and forth at Fitz and Reston. Olivia predicted they would have started the debate by throwing marriage questions at Fitz but oddly enough it didn't come up until Reston slickly mentioned it in one of his answers.
"Governor Grant, do you care to respond to Governor Reston's allegations about your marriage?" the moderator asked.
Fitz chuckled charmingly.
"I've seen the lovely and very well constructed photo ops of governor Reston and his wife, the way they always hold hands and dotingly look into each other's eyes, I'll be honest it's hard to compete with that. That's not the relationship Mellie and I have, we're a real couple, we don't get along every second of every day unlike governor Reston and Joan, we don't have a perfect relationship but we are friends and partners and most importantly we are parents to a beautiful and brilliant 6-year-old, she obviously takes after her mother in that way and because I'm a little cocky I'll take some credit as well."
He paused, the crowd chuckled and he found Olivia's eyes in the crowd and held them.
"Look all of that aside, I am in love with an amazing woman, I won't defend it or explain it and that's all I have to say."
Olivia smiled and grabbed onto Cyrus' arm.
"Our boy is doing good," he whispered into Olivia's ear
"I know," she blushed.
There was just something about the way he looked at her, it made heat flash all over her body.
It was a long night. After the debate, Olivia and Cyrus did interviews with all the mainstream outlets. Fitz and Mellie did a late-night rally and went back to the hotel, while Cyrus and Olivia stopped at the hotel bar for a celebratory drink.
"Liv, are you seriously going to leave now, we just won the debate, we are back in business." Cyrus cheered with his beer in hand. "He was on fire."
She chuckled."Maybe I'll stay if you beg hard enough," she teased.
"Do you want me to get down on my knees and blow you? Cause I'll do it," Cyrus laughed.
"I'm your work daughter, you heathen."
Cyrus laughed then he sobered. "Liv, he's sorry, he's never like that, Mellie got to him. Just come back, you've never been a quitter."
"I'll sleep on it okay."
"Please."
They sat at the bar for almost an hour before Olivia excused herself to her room, Cyrus sat for a while before he left and went to his room as well.
Olivia showered and dressed in her cotton pajama shorts and tank top. She hoped that Fitz would stop by to finish their conversation but she was also terrified that he wasn't talking to her when he said what he said during the debate and he didn't feel the same way about her as she did for him. The more she thought about that possibility, the more she started to panic. Almost on cue, Fitz knocked the door.
She took a deep breath and opened the door. He was dressed down, he had on gray sweatpants and his gray navy shirt.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
She opened the door wider so he could enter. He walked in and looked around the hotel room, he could see that she was packing up her things.
"So you're really serious about leaving?"
"You know I have to," she said. "It would be the best thing for both of us."
"Why because you love me?"
"Yes and this thing between us is only going to get more messy and complicated if feelings are involved."
"Feelings were always involved, I would've never broken my marriage if I hadn't been deeply fucking-madly in love with you and you would've never slept with me if you didn't have feelings for me either so don't pretend this is one-sided."
She was silent for a while, still processing what he said.
"You love me?" she asked.
Fitz shook his head because once again she was being ridiculous again.
"You are the smartest, kindest, and most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on, I'd be an idiot if I wasn't in love with you. I know it's selfish to ask you to be with me but I can't be away from you. Still, it's your decision."
"I hate being away from you too," she admitted.
Fitz smiled his charming smile that always made her swoon.
"Does that mean you'll stay?"
She smiled coyly. "Yes, but I won't take the bracelet you got me."
"Oh come on, why not?"
"It's beautiful and I love it. But it's too expensive, I'm not keeping it."
"I want you to keep it."
She could see that he wasn't backing down.
"Please keep it…for me," he walked closer and wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him, and tipped her head back for a peck on the lips.
Olivia melted inside. "Fine, but you can't get me anything else."
"I can't promise that."
She was about to protest when he kissed her again. Olivia wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I love you," she whispered in between kisses.
"I love you too," Fitz whispered back as he stroked her cheek. As he ran his thumb up and down her cheek he felt liquid and realized she was crying.
He broke this kiss and stared down into her eyes, "don't cry."
Olivia smiled and kissed him again, "I'm not sad."
Fitz sighed against her lips, relieved then smiled. He pulled her closer against him and continued stroking her cheek. With his free hand, he reached down and caressed the curve of her ass. Olivia hummed softly and deepened the kiss with her tongue. Fitz pushed down her shorts and panties in one motion then pressed her crotch against his growing erection. Olivia pulled his stiff penis from his sweatpants and stroked him slowly, feeling his veins and ridges. He grabbed her ass to steady her against him and then thrust his length in between her legs, rubbing his shaft against her clit and between her lips but never entering her. He moved his hips forcefully and quickly, spreading her fluid all over her inner thighs. Olivia broke their kiss and grabbed onto his shirt and she shuddered and came.
Fitz laughed, amused that she was able to cum as quickly as she did from as little as she did. He lifted her out of her shorts and panties that were pooled around her ankles and kissed her.
"You came," he teased. "I'm not even inside you yet."
Olivia laughed, "I can't help it. I missed you."
He pushed down his pants and stepped out of them then walked to the bed and laid her down. He stood at the edge and finished undressing before he climbed on top of her. Fitz pulled down the straps of her top and pushed it down to her waist so we could see her breasts then he leaned down and kissed a line between them then he turned her on her belly and raised her ass in the air. He positioned himself squarely behind her and took her from behind. His first thrust inside her was indescribable and he had to take a moment to bask in the pleasure of it. He leaned down and thrust again slowly as her walls opened around his length to fit him. She was dripping wet but still, there was too much friction for him to move easily in and out of her.
Olivia moaned into the sheet and squeezed the pillow underneath her, enjoying every second of readjusting to his length and girth. She could feel the texture of his cock, the protruding veins, and the stuff curved of his tip as he fucked her painfully slowly.
Fitz thrust again and his groin slapped against her ass sending her flat against the bed. He bore down and thrust deeper which sent a gasp and cry from her throat. He half-turned her to him and kissed her hungrily as he intertwined his fingers around hers.
He began thrusting deeper and with purpose. Their skin slapped together with every thrust and the sound echoed around the room. Fitz raised his hand around her throat to support her neck and hold her against his lips.
"You're so fucking tight," he groaned fiercely, just on the cusp of his orgasm.
Olivia could barely get a word out before she began to quake uncontrollably underneath him. She screamed into his mouth as she came and gushed liquid on his engorged cock, thrusting pointedly and unevenly inside her as Fitz came as well. They finished together and Fitz immediately pulled out with cum still dripping from his tip. He plopped down beside her, breathless.
Some time passed.
Olivia laid against the pillow but her neck was pained from their position. Still, she was content. Fitz leaned up after he caught his breath and saw drops of cum on her ass from his failed pull-out attempt.
He pulled her over on her back playfully and ran his hands up and down her torso. "Are you okay?"
Olivia smiled and climbed on top of him and lay flat on his chest and yawned. "I'm perfect."
The next morning Olivia informed Cyrus that she'd decided to stay. He was ecstatic as they prepared for a week of heavy campaigning in Florida. Midway through the week, Olivia's birthday arrived. She had to field calls from colleagues and friends and family wishing her a happy birthday all throughout the day. Fitz paid for food, treats, and drinks for the entire campaign office to celebrate her at lunch but they were all so busy it was hard to spend too much time celebrating.
It was later in the night after they'd left a rally that Cyrus suggested they head back to the temporary campaign office for a meeting before retiring for the night.
The office was empty when she arrived just after 10pm. Mellie had gone back to the hotel so it was just Cyrus and Fitz who accompanied her to the office. Cyrus suggested her office and when she walked into the dark room first and turned on the light, Abby, Harrison, and Stephen jumped out of her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!" they yelled.
She screamed and covered her mouth.
"Oh my god! What are you guys doing here?"
Abby ran over and hugged her, "we're celebrating your birthday."
There was a light pink rosette cake and two bottles of champagne on the table with flutes. There was also a bottle of tequila with lime wedges and several shot glasses.
Olivia turned to Cyrus, "did you know about this?" she remembered he was adamant they meet at the office and not the hotel.
"Guilty," Cyrus said.
Abby pulled Olivia towards her desk. Fitz leaned against the door-post, content to watch. Harrison grabbed Olivia and hugged her in the playful, platonic manner Fitz had expected after their first meeting but Stephen was much different. He hugged Olivia and lingered, closing his eyes and breathing in her smell before he let go. Fitz frowned.
"It's been so long Stephen," Olivia said.
"I had to come to see you. I missed you entirely too much," he said then kissed her cheek.
"I missed you too," Olivia returned with a smile then she turned and pointed to Cyrus and then Fitz, "this is Cyrus, we work together, I'm not sure if you met, and this is governor Grant, my boss."
Stephen walked to Cyrus and shook his hand then he walked to Fitz and shook his as well. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Abby took the bottle of tequila and poured a shot.
"Shots," Harrison yelled.
"Just one," Olivia said, "I have a busy day tomorrow and I can't be hung over." She turned to Fitz and Cyrus, "We should probably call it a night."
"I'm fine to party," Cyrus said as he walked in from the door, "In fact, after today I need a shot too. I despise Florida."
"Okay," Olivia said then she turned to Fitz, and without a word she understood he was staying as well.
When Olivia turned around Abby had a shot waiting and a lime wedge in her hand. Olivia placed her Hermes bag on the chair in front of her desk and took off her blazer then took the shot glass from Abby and downed it then sucked the lime wedge. She shut her eyes tight as the burning sensation subsided then opened her eyes. "Whooo," she cheered.
Abby laughed, "that's my girl!"
Abby handed everyone a clean glass except for Fitz who rebuffed and one by one they downed shots then she placed a spark candle on the cake and lit it.
"Did you bake this?" Olivia asked.
"Of course," Abby answered, "it's vanilla. You're favorite."
Fitz chuckled.
"With a strawberry whipped filling."
"Yum…can we cut it?" Olivia asked.
Abby nodded and handed Olivia a plastic knife. She waited until the spark candle went out then sliced into the cake and cut herself a slice. She placed it on a small clear cake plate and grabbed a plastic fork. She took a small bite and chewed.
"Abby, you've outdone yourself. Holy shit!"
"Can I try it?" Fitz asked.
"Of course," Olivia said with a smile. She cut him a slice and walked it over to him.
"Thank you," Fitz said.
Abby cut more slices of cake for Harrison, Stephen, and Cyrus and began to fill the flutes with Moet champagne. Olivia finished her cake quickly and as she attempted to take a sip of her champagne Harrison stopped her.
"We're gonna toast to the birthday girl first," he said.
Olivia smiled, "okay. Let's hear it."
Stephen raised his glass first, "to Olivia, you're smart, beautiful, funny, and fun. You're a great friend and an exceptional lawyer. Hurry up and leave D.C and come back to New York!"
Olivia laughed, "you don't want me back in New York because then you won't have any cases."
Stephen laughed, "true."
Harrison raised his glass, "to Olivia- a pain in my ass but a great friend."
"Short and sweet," Olivia said. "just like you Harry."
"I'm 5'10," he defended with a cackle.
Abby raised her glass, "Olivia, you're absolutely glowing. I don't know what's going on with you but I like it."
Olivia blushed embarrassed while Fitz smirked. Abby noticed.
"This last year and a half have been the hardest in my life and I couldn't have made it without you. To keep it short you're a once-in-a-lifetime friend and the only sister I care to have. I love you. You're my fucking soul mate."
Olivia took a breath and fanned her face when she walked to Abby and hugged her.
"To Olivia," Olivia heard Cyrus but she stopped him and turned around and wiped her eyes, "no more toasts."
"I wanted to give one," Cyrus said. "It was gonna be good."
"Which is why you can't give it. Cheers." Olivia said then she gulped down her champagne.
Everyone else followed and drank as well. They stayed in her office a while longer before Abby decided it was time to move the party back to the hotel.
Hours had passed and after two bottles of champagne and more shots of tequila, Olivia was more than tipsy.
She swayed as she walked and Stephen quickly scooped her up and held her honeymoon style in his arms then nestled her. "Don't worry love, I've got you."
"Thanks Stephen," Olivia mumbled as she wrapped her arms around his neck to balance herself.
Fitz's jaw tightened, frustrated by Stephen's attempt to weasel his way into being closer to Olivia. They headed back to the hotel and Fitz watched Stephen carry Olivia into her room when they reached their collective floor. Harrison and Abby joined them in Olivia's room and though he knew nothing would happen, he was still annoyed.
After Stephen and Harrison went to their hotel rooms.
Olivia stood in the bathroom using wipes to clean the makeup from her face. She was still feeling the effects of the alcohol but she was more sober than before.
"So, what's going on with you?" Abby asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You're glowing."
Olivia smiled, still buzzed "I don't think I'm glowing."
"You are, you're fucking beaming happiness."
"Well, you guys surprised me for my birthday. I wasn't expecting it obviously and I'm happy you came."
Abby nodded, willing to accept her answer but then she changed her mind. "Is something going on between you and the governor?"
"What?"
"I'm definitely feeling something between the two of you. I don't think I'm wrong."
Olivia finished with the wipes and then washed her face, trying to buy herself time before she answered. She didn't want to lie to Abby. When she finished washing her face she dried her face with a towel.
"What do you think is going on?" Olivia asked.
"Honestly, I don't know. It's just the way he watches you and like I was watching him and he seemed annoyed by Stephen because obviously, Stephen has a thing for you so he must've picked up on that. Then I swear he was pissed Stephen carried you to the room. It's weird. So I'm just asking and you don't have to tell me but we don't keep things from each other so…"
Olivia took a breath, "we've…been together. We slept together a few months ago. We've been spending most nights together since then and a few days ago we started sleeping together again."
"Why?" Abby asked.
"It's not something I can explain and I really don't want to be judged for it because I know it's wrong."
"I'm not judging you. I would never. I guess I'm just trying to figure out how it happened."
Olivia shrugged, "it's hard to explain. Maybe once this entire campaign is over we can have a glass of wine and talk about it."
"Well at least answer this: do you love him?"
"Madly," Olivia answered, "and it's fucking terrifying but I'm not thinking about that right now."
"Why is that terrifying?"
"For obvious reasons. Aside from the fact that he's married and running for president every time, I think about the future I get a fucking headache. How often do married men like him leave their wives for the 29-year-old they're fucking on the side."
"It happens," Abby said.
"Don't give me hope," Olivia said. "Still, I might as well enjoy myself until he rips my heart out."
Abby nodded but said nothing in response. They continued getting ready for bed and when Abby fell asleep beside Olivia, she quietly rose from the bed and searched for her room key and Fitz's room key then left the room. She walked slowly to Fitz's room and slipped his room key into the lock. It wouldn't open. She tried again and got frustrated. "Fuck-" she cursed.
She pulled it out to try again and then Fitz opened the door and stood in the doorway staring at her. Olivia walked in slowly, not able to maintain her usual charismatic strut. She dropped the keys by the door and walked over to the bed and crawled in. Fitz closed the door and got in the bed beside her and pulled her close to him. He wrapped his arms around her and caressed her cheek.
"Come here birthday girl," He said as he kissed her lips softly. Olivia closed her eyes and sighed blissfully. "Fuck me," she said softly as she opened her eyes. Fitz kissed her again. "Baby, you're drunk."
"I'm a little buzzed but that doesn't change how much I want you inside me," she said as she slid her hand down into his pants and began stroking him. "Fuck," he sighed, frustrated that he couldn't resist her. His erection began to form immediately and fill with blood. She gripped him tighter around the skin right under the tip of his penis. "Don't you want to feel me?" She let him go and sat up and pulled off her spaghetti strap top and pushed down her shorts. She had no underwear on. She climbed on top of him. Fitz pushed down his pants and pulled Olivia against his chest, kissing her hungrily as he shifted the positions so he was on top. He entered her slowly and fucked her even slower, grinding his hip in circles into her, until she was writhing in pleasure under him, until she came in rapture on his penis and was panting in esctasy. Fitz came as well, so hard he stiffened with his fingers in her mouth as she sucked them.
When they finished he pulled out and cuddled her into his arms and pulled the blankets over them both. Olivia pulled his hand wrapped around her body and brought it to her lips and kissed it then intertwined their fingers. Fitz smiled and shook his head then sighed. "I was jealous of your friend tonight. The fact that he carried you to your room- it made me crazy. It's ridiculous- I know- but I can't help how I feel."
"Stephen is a friend. An old friend. I love you. I don't love him."
Fitz kissed the crook of her shoulder. "I know and to be honest I'm in no position to be this annoyed about your friend…but I am."
They laid together and neither spoke again. Olivia fell asleep first, Fitz followed shortly after. In the morning, she woke early and snuck back to her room before Abby woke to leave back to New York.
It was the beginning of October when Big Gerry threw his big 75th birthday celebration and campaign event. It would be bad optics for them to skip it and as much as Fitz protested, Cyrus convinced him to go.
They arrived in California in the early afternoon, the drive from the airport to the ranch was a long one. Once they entered the Grant estate, Fitz got antsy. The drive to the residence once they were actually on the property was long and it made Olivia wonder how big the ranch was. When they arrived and got out of the car, Olivia's mouth fell open slightly. The villa was a large mansion but it had the architectural style of a country house. She could see hills in the background, a lake further down the road, horses in the barn, and plenty of workers running around making preparations for the party. Olivia often forgot Fitz was wealthy, he was so down to earth that if you didn't know his name or history, you could mistake him for a regular guy, Mellie, on the other hand, would never let you forget how rich she was, even though it wasn't her money. Fitz came from old money. His family wealth started when Henry Grant, a Scottish businessman came to America in 1820, he started his business by selling gunpowder, muskets, and ammunition, quite the lucrative business back in those times. He quickly amassed a fortune. Muskets began fading out of use a few decades after. His great-grandson, Ross Grant, set out to find a new business and luckily struck oil in Texas. Every male in the family has run Grant Conglomerate, after Fitz acquired his law degrees at Yale and Oxford and served in the military, he got a business degree at Harvard and managed the family business as Ceo for a few years until he ran for governor. The Grant industries' main business was in Oil and pipelines, which led them to have a net worth of over 20 billion plus assets, all of which were to be inherited by Fitz once Big Gerry passed. The Grant family was small, big Gerry had one child and so did his father and his grandfather. Gerry made a fuss about the fact that Grant men only conceived boys when Karen was born, Fitz was the first Grant to have a daughter since Henry Grant which caused Gerry to question her paternity. His family had been dabbling in politics and trying to influence elections in their favor for a long time until his grandfather actually ran for office and won, then Big Gerry ran for office and won and he would've run for the presidency had it not been for his sex scandals, so when Fitz was young, he decided that Fitz would run and since Fitz was 10, he'd been grooming him for the presidency.
As soon as Fitz walked up the steps Karen ran out and jumped on him.
"Daddy!" She screamed and gave him a tight hug as if she hadn't seen him two weeks earlier.
"Hey sweet girl," he said as he showered her with kisses. Karen giggled wildly.
"Daddy I missed you so much. Come help me with my homework."
"Sure, let me just show Olivia and Cyrus to their rooms first."
Karen turned and saw Olivia and gasped.
"Olivia, you're here!" She dove out of Fitz's hand and ran over and greeted Olivia then Cyrus.
"Hi mommy," She said as she passed Mellie and gave her a hug on her way back to Fitz.
"Hi sweetheart," Mellie said as nicely as she could, she didn't want a repeat of the tv interview in front of guests tonight and she was also trying to be a better mother to Karen. Once they got into the main villa, some workers came out and asked to take their luggage.
Mellie practically threw hers at the maid.
Olga, one of the longtime maids, asked Fitz for his luggage.
"Olga I can manage to carry my own luggage," Fitz said as she tried to take his luggage.
Olga chuckled in response.
Another worker approached Cyrus and took his and then Olga approached Olivia and took hers.
Then a white-haired black lady came into the foyer, she looked to be about 65 years old.
"Thomas is that you?" She asked loudly.
"Ahh yea Titi, it's me, I was just about to come to see you."
"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have made your favorite chicken."
"I wanted to surprise you Titi," He smiled and walked over and gave her a hug.
He turned around to face Olivia.
"Titi, this is Olivia, she's been helping Cy run my campaign."
She walked over to shake Olivia's hand.
"I know Thomas, I watch the news you know," she chuckled and took Olivia's hand
"Hello Olivia, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Tabitha but Thomas has been calling me Titi since he's been in diapers. I hate that name but it seems to be what everyone calls me now, so you might as well call me that too.."
Olivia chuckled. "Nice to meet you Titi."
Tabitha then turned to Cyrus and patted him on the shoulders.
"Cyrus, it's been almost a year now, you old hag."
Cyrus cackled."Look who's talking."
Both Fitz and Tabitha chuckled.
She completely ignored Mellie and walked back over to Fitz and Karen.
"Karen, have you finished your homework?"
"No Titi but I wanted daddy to help me with it."
"Marta was doing a great job of helping you, you can play with your father once homework is finished."
"Okay," Karen said with a sulk.
Fitz walked Cyrus to his guest quarter first, then as he walked Olivia over to hers, Olivia decided to ask him a few questions she had on her mind.
"Who is Titi?"
"She was my nanny," he answered.
"Why does she still work, why hasn't she retired?"
"She did, she only came back to watch over Karen while I campaigned, I didn't want Karen to be raised by a nanny per se, so she offered to help, she's like a mother to me and a grandmother to Karen and in case you're wondering she's really well taken care of so it's not like she needs to work. She's only with Karen as a favor to me."
"She seems a little hostile towards Mellie, why is that?"
"She can't stand her."
"I could've guessed that," she chuckled.
They arrived at Olivia's quarters. "This ranch seems to go on for miles, it could house a town," she teased.
"It's a little gauche for my taste but it has character?" he said sarcastically.
She smiled.
"The party starts at 7, please don't be late Ms. Pope," he said courteously.
"Just please behave yourself and don't fight with your father."
"I can't make any promises," he said as he ran off playfully.
"Fitz-" she called out to him but he kept jogging away.
As the evening progressed, Fitz avoided big Gerry who was walking around making sure everything was just how he wanted it to be for the party. By 6:50, guests started arriving, the waiters and waitresses seated them or offered them champagne and hors d'oeuvres as they waited for other guests to arrive. By 7:30, Big Gerry was out at the party greeting and socializing with all his guests. Most of them were old wealthy conservative influencers, politicians, or socialites. They were the 'creme de la creme of the republican party.
The party was in full swing at 8pm, almost all the guests had arrived, the music was loud and laughter and chatter filled the air. Fitz was nowhere to be found.
Olivia and Cyrus arrived a little after 8pm. Olivia wore a beautiful cream dress that draped off her shoulders, belted to accentuate her waist, and stopped at her knees. She paired it with suede gray Jimmy choo's, she wore her hair pinned up with loose strands to frame her face and exquisite makeup with a matte red lip, Cyrus wore a plain black suit.
After Fitz put Karen to bed at around 8:30, he headed to the party. When he walked out into the yard where all the excitement was, the first face he saw was Olivia's and he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips because she looked absolutely stunning and always stood out. He attempted to walk over to her when Big Gerry stepped into his path.
"Fitz where the hell have you been? I have people that came here specifically to see you?"
"I had to put my daughter to bed," he said.
"That's why you have 3 rotating nannies, let them do it."
"You're drunk," Fitz said. "and I have a beautiful woman waiting over there, I have to go."
"Who Mellie?" he called, confused.
Fitz disappeared into the crowd to find Olivia. She was in deep conversation with Cyrus and a few other guests when Fitz walked over. He chatted for a while and shook a few hands until he could get Olivia all alone.
"You look beautiful."
She smiled, "I know."
Fitz guffawed, surprised by her response. "I have to see you tonight. I'm gonna die if I don't."
She tried to fight off the smile that tugged on her lips, she was well aware that they were surrounded by people and even though they couldn't hear the conversation, body language spoke volumes.
"Don't be obvious," Olivia mouthed.
Fitz rolled his eyes.
"Go mingle," she said.
"Fine," Fitz agreed begrudgingly and headed off.
Unbeknownst to Fitz and Olivia, big Gerry watched their entire interaction. The moment Fitz stepped off Gerry approached her but Olivia walked off as he was walking toward her. Gerry stopped and watched her and realized she was heading back to the villa. He wasn't sure why so he began following her again.
"Olivia?"
She turned around and was surprised to see Gerry. She was in the corridor towards the entrance.
"Mr. Grant," she greeted.
"Why are you leaving so soon?" his words slurred a bit and he had an empty drink in hand.
"I have a long day tomorrow, I need to catch up on some work and sleep."
"There better not be anything going on between you and my son," he warned.
Olivia felt her heart thump violently in her chest. She was shocked but she couldn't let him see that.
"You're drunk Mr. Grant, you don't know what you are talking about."
He grabbed her arm tightly and squeezed.
"The only reason I wasn't president is that I made the same mistake he did but I got found out. I waited too long for this. I've waited too long for him to get to this point. I like you, you're smart and pretty but I don't like you enough to risk my family for you. Whatever is going on with you and him, end it now."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Olivia said as she tried to pry his fingers from her arms.
"End it or I will end you."
"Get your fucking hands off me," she screamed at him but no one could hear her over the party music.
"What? Do you think he's going to leave his wife for you? He's in a prenup so tight he-"
Olivia socked him in the nose with her free hand. "Let me go," she barked. Blood gushed from his nose and he scrunched his face then growled and slammed her against the wall of the corridor. He wrapped his hands around her throat. "You think you can fight me!" he said angrily.
Olivia grabbed his hand and tried to pull it from her throat.
Gerry was drunk and vicious.
It was a struggle to breathe and when she got desperate she kneed him between his legs as hard as she could.
He howled out in pain and let go of her neck. Olivia took a deep breath in and then felt a slap so hard across her face it sent her to the floor. The sting was so painful it brought water to her eyes and she tasted blood.
Cyrus had been searching for Olivia. They decided to be each other's date for the night, to help each other get out of unwanted company and conversation. He had seen her wander off towards the villa and walked out of the crowd to meet her. He was confused when he saw Gerry approach her and even more confused when he saw Gerry's fingers wrapped tightly around Olivia's arm. He walked over to them only for it to get progressively worse. When he reached Olivia was on the floor sobbing and holding her cheek and throat. Gerry was holding his groin, groaning in pain.
Cyrus dashed beside Olivia. "what happened?" his voice was shaking. He saw what happened but he couldn't believe it.
"Help me, Cyrus," she mumbled through sniffles, holding her throat.
Cyrus pulled her arm around his shoulder and helped her off the ground. He hugged her to his side as he walked her to the main entrance of the villa and then headed further down the corridor to Olivia's room.
He opened the door and helped her to the bed and then locked the lock on the door behind him.
"What do you need?" he asked in a panic.
"I'm okay," Olivia said, still wiping away tears. "I just need a minute."
"Olivia- what happened? Why did he do that?"
"Cyrus please just give me a minute-"
Cyrus took a breath and pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'm calling Fitz-"
"-no! Don't tell him. Don't tell anyone."
"Olivia, Gerry attacked you, I have to tell Fitz."
"No," she said again, "don't tell anyone." She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and then wiped her eyes.
Cyrus shook his head, "it's not fine. What if your neck is bruised, what if your face is bruised?"
"I'll leave early tomorrow," Olivia said. "Just don't tell anyone."
"Right and when we fly back to D.C. and you have a black eye and hand prints around your throat what do you say then?"
Cyrus waited for a response when suddenly there was loud, violent banging on the door.
"Open this fucking door you little bitch!" Gerry barked.
Olivia jumped and began crying. There was too much that was happening all at once.
"You have that faggot in there with you. Do you think he can protect you? Open up. This is my house!" The door handle twisted but didn't open and the banging began again. "Open the fucking door!"
Cyrus pulled out his phone again. "I'm calling him." He quickly dialed Fitz and waited for him to answer as Gerry continued banging on the door. Fitz answered after a few rings.
"Cyrus," he said.
"Fitz, I'm in Olivia's room and you have to get here now. Your father is going crazy."
"What? What is he doing?"
"You just have to get here, now, Fitz, quickly," Cyrus said.
"Is that Olivia-is she crying?" Fitz asked.
The music was so loud in the background that he wasn't sure if Fitz heard Gerry's banging but he heard Olivia crying.
"Cyrus opened the door, you faggot," he barked.
They both heard what sounded like a kick against the door. "Cyrus stop him," she cried.
Fitz had moved quickly through the crowd away from the music and could hear everything through the phone.
"Come on, let's go to the bathroom," Cyrus said then he hung up.
He helped her off the bed and they both walked to the bathroom quickly and closed the door. Olivia sat on the floor and took off her heels.
The banging continued for a few more moments and then stopped.
Fitz saw Gerry banging on the door from down the corridor and sprinted down to him.
"What the fuck are you doing?" he barked as he shoved him away.
Gerry stopped immediately and turned to him. Fitz was in front of him now. "I was asking them to come out and enjoy my party," Gerry said.
Fitz didn't believe him.
"Move," he said, using his body to block Gerry from the door. He knocked. "Cyrus, I'm here, open up," Fitz said then he turned back to Gerry, "get the fuck away from the door. Leave."
Cyrus looked to Olivia. "I'll be right back."
"Don't tell him," Olivia said again.
Cyrus sighed, annoyed at Olivia's request then opened the bathroom door and closed it behind him. She stood and shut the lock of the door then she took some tissue from the vanity and wiped her eyes. When she looked in the mirror, her eyes and cheek on the left side of her face were red and so was her neck.
Cyrus opened the door and saw Fitz standing in the doorway.
"What happened?" Fitz asked.
Cyrus looked for Gerry but he was no longer there.
"I told him to go," Fitz said, "what happened?"
Cyrus sighed, unsure of what to say, "he was just out of control, banging on the door and yelling, obviously drunk-"
"Did it scare Olivia? Is she okay? It sounded like she was crying."
"Uh…I mean yeah she was shaken up but she's fine, I guess."
"Where is she?"
"She's in the bathroom," Cyrus watched as Fitz moved to head there but quickly stopped him, "she uhh…didn't want to talk. I think she just wants to rest."
"Okay- I'm still gonna check on her."
Cyrus stopped him again, "she really doesn't want to talk."
"Is she upset?"
"I don't know," Cyrus said.
"You don't know?" Fitz repeated.
"She just wanted to be alone."
Fitz nodded, skeptically, "you're sure that's all Gerry did?"
"At the door, yeah- I guess."
"You're being very specific with your words- what did he do before he was at the door?"
Cyrus chuckled nervously, "you're such a lawyer. I just called you because I needed you to get him away from the door Fitz, it's okay now."
Fitz reluctantly accepted his answer, "fine. It's just that I know him but fine if you say that's all he did then fine."
Cyrus walked to the door and Fitz followed him, "you're sure Olivia's okay?"
"She just wanted to be alone."
Fitz took a breath, "I told you we shouldn't have fucking come."
"You did," Cyrus agreed. They both left Olivia's room and closed the door. Once she no longer heard them she opened the bathroom door and walked out. She quickly grabbed her laptop and booked an early flight back to D.C then she undressed and wrapped herself in a bathrobe and went back to the bathroom and turned on the shower faucet. As she gauged the water she heard a short knock on the door and headed quickly over to the answer.
"Cyrus?" she asked from behind the door.
"Yes," he said, "I brought ice."
She opened the door quickly but didn't let him in. Cyrus handed her the ice through the space in the door. "Thank you," Olivia said, then closed it quickly.
"Come on, Liv," Cyrus protested but Olivia shut the lock and headed to the bathroom. She took a cold shower and dried and wrapped in her robe once again. She took a sleeping pill and drank some water when brought the ice pack over to her bed and iced it as she waited to fall asleep.
Fitz watched Cyrus from across the yard hand something to Olivia in her room and then walk away. Something was wrong.
He walked down the cellar in the main villa and found the rack of keys, labeled by room. He took the key to Olivia's room and slipped it in his pocket then headed back upstairs. He called her cell phone but she didn't answer.
He was hesitant to go into her room without her consent but they needed to figure out what was going on and neither she nor Cyrus were being open about it. He waited outside by her door and tried her a few more times before he finally knocked. She didn't answer and after a few more knocks he took the key and let himself in.
The room was dark.
"Olivia?" he called.
She didn't answer so he turned on the light and saw her asleep on the bed. He walked over and stooped beside her so he could see her. She had a half-melted ice pack on the nightstand and a bottle of tablets. He pulled the sheets back from her face and saw a red bruise across her left cheek. He moved her face to check the other side but there was no bruise. He looked down and saw hand prints around her neck.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Cyrus as he turned off the lights and left the room.
"Fitz?" Cyrus answered.
"Meet me at the entrance to the guest villas now," Fitz said.
"Okay," Cyrus said.
A few minutes later, Cyrus approached from the direction of his room.
"What did Gerry do to Olivia? Don't lie to me because I already saw it," Fitz said angrily.
"What did she say?"
"I asked a question, Cyrus."
"I don't know what he said to her but she was leaving the party when Gerry followed her. He grabbed her arm and he was yelling at her…I think…and then she hit him in the face to get him off her. He slammed her up against the wall and choked her. I ran over and she kicked him in the balls- I think to try to get his hands from around her neck and he slapped her across the face and she fell. I got there. She was crying and her mouth was bleeding. I carried her to her room but then he came and banged and kicked on the door, calling her a bitch and me a faggot and telling us to come out to him. That's when I called you."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"I don't know. It's your father.."
Fitz nodded and walked away in search of Gerry.
"Don't make it worse," Cyrus called out.
When Olivia woke the next morning, her face felt worse. She squinted and flexed her jaw then she felt her neck. She opened her eyes and jumped when she saw Fitz sitting against the wall across from her bed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," Fitz said.
Olivia attempted to cover her face with her hand.
"I already saw it," Fitz said.
She sat up and tied her robe to close it. She was naked underneath it. She noticed Fitz had his hand in a bucket of ice.
"Why didn't you tell me what Gerry did to you?"
"Where is he?" Olivia asked.
"The hospital," Fitz answered, then pulled his hand from the bucket of ice and stood. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know," Olivia said. Her voice was small and hoarse.
He gently pulled her against him and kissed the top of her head. "I'm so fucking sorry he did this to you, Olivia. I'm so sorry."
"It wasn't your fault," Olivia whispered. Fitz's affection made her feel vulnerable and before she knew it she was crying again.
"It doesn't matter. This should've never happened to you." He kissed her hair again. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
Olivia leaned up, "I need a ride to the airport. I booked an earlier flight."
"Oh…" Fitz said, "I scheduled a flight for us. It's private. Cyrus and Mellie staying behind to deal with Gerry then they're coming behind us on the campaign plane….unless you don't want me flying with you."
"No, I want you to fly with me," Olivia said.
"Okay," Fitz agreed.
"Can we just lay here?" Olivia asked.
Fitz nodded and helped her into bed then pulled the covers over them both. He wrapped his arm around her. Olivia looked down at his knuckles, both hands were bruised but one was significantly worse than the other and it made her wonder how badly Gerry got hurt especially since he was in the hospital. That was a disaster in and of itself but it was something she decided not to worry about.
"I'm very sorry Livie. Anything you need, anything at all, don't hesitate, I'll give it to you."
Olivia nodded and took his knuckle to her lips and kissed it.