Chapter Seven: I love You
Three weeks later…
"Ooh what about this one?" Olivia asked.
Fitz bent down, to look a little closer at what Olivia was pointing at. "I don't know, it looks a little fat."
"He's not fat, he's chunky. That's what make him cute."
"Well firstly, I think he's a she. The sales lady called it princess about five minutes ago. And secondly, she isn't a little chunky, she's fat."
"Fitz!" Olivia laughed, and smacked his shoulder playfully.
"What? I'm not the one that overfed him. Seriously Liv, the thing looks like it's about to bust out that cage any minute. I don't even think it can move."
"Okay so remind me not to bring you along, when I pick out a new pet." Olivia walked away down the aisle, looking at the other animals.
"You need me and you know it." Fitz followed behind her. "Why do you want a dog anyway?"
"I don't know. I guess 'cause I always wanted one when I was a kid, but my mom would never let us have one. She said they were dirty, and they pooped everywhere."
"You should get a turtle or a fish or something small like that."
"No, I want a dog. Besides, you can't play with fishes. They're the most boring pets every, you can barely even call then pets. So I want a dog and you're gonna help me look for one got it." Olivia hooked her arm through Fitz's, and continued to drag him all over the pet store looking for the perfect dog.
It was weird and great how their friendship had bloomed over the past three weeks, after they got over the initial awkwardness of being friends and nothing more. They started hanging out more, more so Olivia going over to Fitz's to watch movies and dinner. They would go out to dinner almost every night, and Olivia would drag Fitz everywhere she went, when she was alone. She had become closer to Fitz in two weeks, than she had with friends she's known for years.
"Hey Liv what about that one." Fitz pointed to a small Dalmatian puppy. It had spots all over its body, with an all black tail, and ears. And her front two paws were black.
"Oh look at it, she's so cute!"
"Yeah, and I think it's the only one in here that doesn't have a weight problem."
"Oh like you're little weight problem in middle school?"
"We're not talking about me. Excuse me miss." Fitz got one of the sales clerk's attention. "Can you get that one form its cage?"
"Oh sure, no prob. She's only been here for a little while. All her brothers have all found homes. We don't get to many Dalmatians. Bugs is my favorite her by far."
"Well that's a horrible name, isn't it precious?" Olivia spoke in baby talk, rubbing the puppy's nose on her own. "I want this one. You wanna come home with momma don't you? You're so cute and I think I'm gonna call you Pongo."
"Really Liv? You're gonna name her Pongo?"
"Yes I am, and she loves it. Don't you Pongo."
"What kind of name is that for a dog? You're supposed to name it Doc or scout of something."
"She's not a retriever or a lab Fitz. And Pongo is a perfect name. It's like pongo from 101 Dalmatians."
"Really?" Fitz was trying not to laugh.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? I loved 101 Dalmatians when I was little. I dresses up as the evil woman for Halloween once."
"Really? Did you have the whole half black half white hair thing?"
"Yeah, I went all out. My mom even let me spray my hair half white."
"She let you dye your hair for Halloween?"
"Relax it wasn't like it was permanent, obviously. It washed out the same night, and my mom did my hair all big and puffy. And I had this little fake fur wrap me and my sister used for dress up. It was really fun, and I didn't take it off until the next day."
"Well this has all been very informative, but how about we go pay for this dog so she can get back to work?"
Forty minutes later, Olivia was the proud owner of a new Dalmatian pup. She and Fitz argued for ten minutes, on who was going to pay for the dog. Fitz ended up winning the argument, as long as Olivia bought all the accessories and food Pongo needed. She didn't realize it, but Fitz ended up buying most of it anyway.
Now they were leaving the store, and got caught by two paparazzi on the sidewalk. One had a camera recording them as they left, and the other was snapping pictures. Fitz kept his hand on the small of Liv's back as he guided them to his car, ignoring the paparazzi. He opened Liv's door first, before putting the bags in the trunk, and getting into the front seat; since he gave Tom the day off.
"Are we gonna get in trouble for that?" Olivia asked, after Fitz pulled off. She was sitting in the front seat, with her legs crossed and Pongo sitting on her lap. "You know for the paparazzi."
"Why would we get in trouble for that?"
"With like the board or something, or whoever helps fund GAI. Well this isn't the first time we've been caught by the paparazzi. We've been in the paper more than once. And you know they're going to put those pictures on the internet or something, or in the paper."
"Oh they're definitely putting those pictures in the paper or some magazine. And why would anyone who matters care? We're not doing anything wrong Olivia, it's not against the law to be friends with your employee."
"Yes but don't you think they'll find it a little odd that you're out buying bunnies with your employees."
"Olivia, I'm the boss okay. My name is on the building, I run things. Which means that I can do whatever the hell I want to. And if I want to buy you a dog, I will buy you a dog. Relax okay, it's no big deal."
X
"Hey can you get the key out my purse." Olivia and Fitz stood outside her brownstone, after leaving the pet shop. Olivia had her hands full with Pongo and her cage, while Fitz held all the bags effortlessly in one hand.
"You know, I'm starting to feel like glorified chauffeur." Fitz reached into her bag on her shoulder, reaching for the keys.
"Oh don't be silly. If I wanted a chauffeur, I would just ask Tom. He likes me better anyway."
"I beg to differ, since I'm the one who writes his checks." Olivia stuck her tongue out at Fitz, as he stuck the key in the door and opened it for Olivia to go in first.
"You know what we should do tomorr- Oh my god!" Olivia yelled, shoving her face into Fitz's chest behind her. She had just walked in on a sight she never wanted to see. Patrick's bare white ass, pumping up and down on her sister on their living room couch.
Patrick jumped up from the couch, when he heard Olivia yelling. He quickly put his boxers back on, while Alex scrambled to put her dress back on.
"Liv, I'm sorry." Alex finally managed to get her dress back on. "We just got a little carried away." Olivia ignored Alex and walked away into the kitchen, leaving Fitz behind.
"Patrick finished getting dressed, so I can take you home." Fitz said.
"Roger that, just give me a minute to find my pants." Patrick said.
Fitz bent down, and picked up Patrick's pants by the foyer table and tossed them to Pat. "Hurry up." Fitz walked off to the kitchen behind Olivia. She was sitting at the bar, feeding Pongo a doggy treat. "I'm going to go, and take Pat home."
"Okay, thanks again for going with me today." Olivia looked up from feeding Pongo. Fitz could tell she was upset. "And I'm sorry you had to see that."
"I shared a dorm room with him, trust me I've seen his pale behind before." Fitz joked, trying to make Olivia laugh. He was glad to see a little smirk form on her face. "You sure you okay?" Fitz asked, and Olivia just barely nods her head in response. "Okay, I'll see you at work tomorrow then." Fitz kissed her forehead, and walked out the kitchen.
Liv heard the front door shut, and Alex came into the kitchen a minute after. Her dress strap was hanging off her shoulders, she was missing her bra and her hair looked like she got it caught in a fan. Olivia ignored her presence, and kept on rubbing Pongo's head as she ate.
"Really Liv, you're just gonna pretend I'm not standing here."
"I don't have anything to say."
"Liv I said I was sorry about what happened."
"Don't even worry about it. I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"You know what it means."
"No I don't, so please enlighten me."
"Rodger can't sleep on the couch without you getting upset, of fear of getting drool on your pillows. But you can have sex on the couch getting semen and God knows whatever else all over it."
"Oh come on Liv, you're being dramatic and childish."
"No, I'm really not. Buy you are being selfish."
"What?"
Olivia stood up from the chair, standing square with Alex. "Three weeks ago, you told Quinn that you weren't going to sleep with Patrick. Not only did you sleep with him that same night, but you're still doing it three weeks later. Why even lie to her about it, if you two have this oh so open relationship."
"I never said I wasn't gonna sleep with him. I said I wasn't going home with him and I didn't. He comes home with me."
"Whatever Alex." Olivia rolled her eyes, and turned to get a bottled water from the fridge.
"What's your problem?"
"You're my problem." Olivia said with an edge to her voice and slammed her water on the counter. "You and how you live your life."
"Not this shit again Liv. Don't start."
"I'm not. It's just… you were there for me when I got messed over by someone I thought cared for me. Then you just… you turn around and do the same thing to the people who care about you."
"It's not the same thing."
"How is it not?!"
"Because you were in a relationship with those men. I am not in a relationship with anyone. I can do whatever the hell I want!"
"That's your problem! You think everything is about you. What if it was switched huh? Would Quinn be able to do the same messed up stuff you do? Or what about Harrison? Would you be okay knowing he was out having sex with other women?"
Alex was shocked initially, that Olivia knew about she and Harrison. But she quickly recovered. "It's not the same thing Olivia. Why do you even care?"
"Because you haven't had someone screw around on you before! You don't know what it feels like! You are nothing but a selfish and inconsiderate person, who only cares for herself. Just… you know what, it's your life to live." Olivia picked Pongo up off the bar, and walked out the kitchen. She was heading up the stairs when Alex caught up with her.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"Oh suddenly I have the problem because I don't sleep with every man or woman that buys me a drink? I don't even know why I bother saying anything to you because you're just gonna do whatever you feel anyway." Olivia kept walking up the stairs and into her room, closing her door behind her.
X
The next morning, Olivia woke up earlier than usual. Not being able to sleep much last night, she stayed up and painted. All night long all she could think about was the fight she had with Alex. Sure they had had fights before, they were sisters. All sisters but heads from time to time. But Liv and Alex had never been mad at each other for more than a day. They were too close to not talk to each other. Whenever they fought, by the next day one of them would have already apologized. And this time Olivia was gonna be the first to apologize. Because although Olivia meant everything she said to Alex last night, she didn't mean to come off as strong as she did. And last night, she realized that those may have come off a little too hard. She just couldn't stop herself.
Normally her sister's lifestyle didn't bother her that much, and she would just ignore it. But when Liv saw that look on Quinn's face, she looked so heartbroken. And Olivia remembered feeling the same way, and she couldn't take that her sister had caused so much hurt to other person. And what makes it worse is that Alex doesn't even realize how bad she hurts those people. One of these days, she's going to hurt someone beyond repair.
Olivia was too deep in thought, that she didn't hear Alex come into the kitchen. By the look on Alex's face, Liv could tell she didn't get much sleep either. The two starred at each other for a moment, before Olivia spoke up. "I'm sorry!" Olivia cried, tears already welding in her eyes. She was always the more emotional of the two.
"I'm sorry too Liv." Both girls opened up their arms and embraced one another.
"No really Lex. I never should have said those things I said to you and I never should've blown up on you like that."
"It's okay, you were probably right."
"No Lex, it's your life to live, and I have no right to judge you. Besides, it's not like I'm perfect patty."
"Oh my god, please never say perfect patty again. You sound like momma."
"Ouch, I'll take that as payback for last night." Liv sat back on her stool at the bar. She was sipping her tea, when she saw a picture of her and Fitz on Alex's phone, before the screen went black. "Hey what was that?"
"Oh that's actually what I was coming down to show you." Alex unlocked her phone to show Olivia a picture of her and Fitz on Facebook. "You and your boyfriend made it on the cover of two magazines and the Times. The tabloids love Mr. Fitzgerald Grant."
"He's not my boyfriend Lex. We're just-"
"Just friends, yeah I know. Which is why you go out to dinner together at least three times a week, if not more. Why you're always at his place watching movies. And why you sleep all cuddled up to each other on the bed."
"It was the couch, and it was one time. We were watching a movie and we fell asleep."
"In a spooning position?"
"It was cold and it's a small couch. Which reminds me, you need to buy another. Because I am never sitting on that couch again."
"Whatever."
X
"Ms. Pope… Ms.-" Lauren, Fitz's assistant, had been calling Olivia's name for the part three minutes, to no avail. Liv was too busy blasting Janet Jackson's Black Cat, it was on the guitar solo, Li's favorite part. Good thing the room was soundproof, and you could only hear anything when the door was open. "Ms. Pope."
Liv's back was turned to Lauren, so she couldn't see her. She was painting a woman in the nude, laying across a couch with her legs propped up. She entitled it beautiful imperfections. All the things the world would have you think was an imperfection, and not so beautiful, Olivia painted on the woman. She had think thighs, thick arms. Her stomach didn't have wash board abs, she had stretch marks on back and stomach. Olivia hoped the painting would help improve self-hate. No one should feel they weren't beautiful, because they didn't look like the stick models in the magazines, computerized to be skinnier and blemish free. The painting was supposed to help you love yourself. It was not only for others, but for Olivia herself, because she had the same problem herself.
The song went off, and was changing to the next. Lauren took the opportunity to call out to Olivia again, effectively scaring her half to death. "Holy frack you scared me." Liv turned the radio off.
"I'm sorry, but I have been calling you for a couple minutes now."
"Sorry 'bout that. I sort of get in the moment when I'm painting. Especially when I'm painting the hair, it's my favorite part."
"It's fine. Mr. Grant needs to see you in his office. He needs you to meet with someone."
"Really? Like right now?" Liv looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a pair of baggy jeans and an old white spaghetti strap shirt that over the year had gotten splattered with paint on several different occasions. And she had a light blue bandana on her head, covering her two braids. She wouldn't have problem with her clothes, if she were just meeting with Fitz. Fitz had seen her like this before. Half the time, this is what she looked like when she went over his place. But Fitz apparently wasn't alone, she was meeting with someone else as well.
"Ms. Pope? Right this way."
Olivia snapped out her thoughts and followed behind Lauren to the elevator. "You know you can call me Olivia right. Ms. Pope just makes me feel old, and I'm not even a day over twenty four."
X
"Mr. Grant Ms. Pope is here." Lauren opened the door wider for Olivia to walk in.
"Olivia come on in. Thank you Lauren, and could you please bring in some melon water."
"Yes sir." Lauren nodded, and walked back out to get the water.
Olivia hesitantly walked into the office, and over to the where the couches were. She saw a man and a woman already sitting sown, waiting for Olivia and Fitz to join them. The man was dressed in an impeccable black suit and the woman looked stunning in an all white business pant suit. Standing next to Fitz in his grey Armani, Olivia felt underdressed and out of place.
"Liv this is Vanessa Bush, she's the editor in chief for Essence Magazine. And her assistant Marcus Dellinger."
"Hi nice to meet you. I would shake your hand, but I don't want to get paint on you."
"It's alright." Vanessa smiled, "And it's nice to meet you as well. I was just telling Mr. Grant here, how much I love your work. I'm a big fan."
"Really?" Olivia was shocked, the editor in chief of a major magazine was a fan of my work.
"Yes, I remember you use to sell your art at Valerie's store. Her place is the only store in the city that has my favorite candles. I've seen your work there a couple of times, and I recently bought one of your paintings."
"Really wow, that is so cool. I hope you enjoy it."
"I plan to." Just then Lauren came back in the room with their waters, and put them on the table and left once again. "Now Olivia, as Mr. Grant said I'm the editor in chief for Essence magazine. And next month we're going to do an Art and special skills issue, displaying all types and forms of art. Dance, singing, photography, poetry, painting and many more. It's going to display up and coming artist from across the country, and we want you to be one of those artist."
Olivia almost choked on her water. "What?"
"I said we want to feature you in our magazine."
"But why me? I mean there's more people here, who've been here linger than me and-"
"But they don't have the potential you have, nor do they have your painting style. Your work is different and unique and you have the potential to go very far in this industry. Not to mention you were the top seller at GAI last month."
"I was?" Olivia asked Fitz, and he only nodded in response.
"Olivia this would not only be a fun and incredible experience, but this would also be a great opportunity to jumpstart your career. You're doing great now, but you could always be doing better. Essence sells all over the country, which means you would sell all over the country. So what do you say?"
"Yes, of course. To be honest, I didn't even really need the pep talk, I was just a little stunned that you wanted me is all."
"Well don't be so shocked, your work is great and it deserves to be appreciated. Now the shoot will be just a one day shoot this Sunday so tomorrow, and Marcus will give you all the information you need.
"Really so soon?"
"Yes, and sorry about the late notice. That's on us. But in addition to the shoot, we will do a brief Q&A with you Sunday as well and that as well as behind the scenes footage will be posted to our website. Marcus will give you a list of questions we'll ask for the magazine as well as the video. They won't be anything too invasive."
"Okay." Olivia was still trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.
"Okay then." Vanessa stood up, which in turn made everyone else stand up as well. "I look forward to working with you. And it was nice meeting you."
"Like wise." Olivia held off her squeal, until Vanessa and her assistant had left the office. The minute the door shut behind them Olivia jumped up into Fitz arms, wrapping her arms tight around his neck and her legs tight around his waist. And he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you thank you thank you!" Olivia squealed, in between dropping kisses all over his face. "Thank you so much Fitz, I will love you forever!"
Fitz chuckled, still holding on tight to her. "Well that's good to know, but I didn't do this. I just got a call from Essence asking for a meeting with you. You did this all on your own." Fitz looked adoringly into Olivia's eyes. He was so proud of her right now, she had come a long way in just a short amount of time. Her contract was only for a year and even though most people resigned after their contract was up. Fitz was confident that once Oliva's was up, that she would be just fine on her own.
"Mr. Grant-" Their moment was interrupted, by Lauren walking into the office. She had a bemused look and smirk on her face, as Olivia quickly hoped out of Fitz arms. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but your brother and mother are here to see you sir."
"It's alright Lauren, send them in."
"I guess I'll go back to work." Olivia said, but before she got to the door, she heard Patrick loud voice and a moment later he came on with an older woman on his arm.
"Hey! How the hell are you?!"
"Fitzpatrick, must you be so loud all of the time?" The older woman, who had to be Fitz and Patrick's mother said. Olivia once again felt out of place and underdressed, eyeing the woman's cream long sleeved dress, dark brown Burberry jacket and scarf. She looked to be in her late forties, early fifties. She had jet black hair, with just a hint of grey. And she looked to have kept herself in great shape for her age, Olivia hoped to look that good when she hit her fifties as well. "Fitzgerald dear, could you get your mother a water." She removed her elbow length gloves as she spoke. "Oh, I didn't realize you had company."
"It's alright mother, this is Olivia. Liv this is my mother Marilyn."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Grant."
"So you're the Olivia Patty's been telling me about. The one my Fitz here is so smitten about."
"Mother, we're just friends, I told you that."
"Well not according to the paper, you're not. Have you read it yet? Apparently you two the new hottest couple. And New York's most eligible bachelor is now off the market."
"And that a prime example as to why you can't believe everything you read in the paper or some sleazy magazine. Olivia and I are just friends."
"If you say so." Marilyn smiled knowingly to Olivia, making her blush from embarrassment.
"Um I should probably go, I have a lot more work to do. It was nice meeting you again Mrs. Grant." Olivia quickly made her exit, before someone could object.
"She seems like a sweet girl." Marilyn said.
"She is."
"And it looks like the two of you are getting closer. Seems like there's a different picture of the two of you in the paper every day."
"I can't help the paparazzi follows me wherever I go mother."
"I know you can't honey. Have you talked to her yet?"
"Who?"
Marilyn made a face, "You know who."
Fitz sighed, "I haven't talked to her directly in years' mother."
"She's not going to be happy with those pictures in the media son."
"I know."
"You need to handle her Fitzgerald."
"I've been trying to handle her for three years mother. I can't do much more than what I am now."
"Just be careful Fitz, that's all I'm saying. I would hate for that sweet young girl to get caught up in the middle of your mess."
X
Olivia was in a daze as she rode the elevator back to her l back to her 'studio'. She couldn't believe the meeting she was just in. Essence Magazine wanted her to be in their magazine. That's not just a normal occurrence in an ordinary person's life. What the hell was she supposed to do now? She could very well focus on her work now. Her mind was running a mile a minute, she had so much going through her mind right now. She couldn't wait until Sunday, she was already beyond excited. She was also beyond scared. She'd never been in a magazine, by choice, before. She certainly wasn't a model, how was she supposed to pose for pictures? Was there even a certain way? It's not rocket science Olivia. You just stand in front of a camera. Olivia said to herself, to calm her nerves.
"Olivia oh my God!" Olivia was startled, when Abby and Amber came barging into her studio. Huck was following behind her, but he was being his usual quiet self. "Why didn't you tell me you were gonna be in Essence?"
"I just found out myself. How'd you know that, I just got out the meeting with the editor?"
"Oh please honey, there's no one's business around here I don't know." Amber gave her a hug, "Congrats."
"Thank you." Olivia hugged her back, before accepting Huck's hug and congratulations.
"So when is the shoot?"
"This Sunday actually.
"You excited?" Abby asked.
"Yeah I am, but I'm a little nervous too. I'm not use to all that attention. I'm gonna feel so awkward standing in a room full of people staring at me and taking pictures.
"Oh don't worry about it, it's nothing to it. A couple of us did a people magazine shoot, when they did a story piece on Fitz. It was a group photo, and we were only in one picture, the rest was Fitz by himself. But it was still fun and totally easy. Nothing to worry about."
"So I hear congrats are in order." No one had noticed Jenna standing at the door, leaning against the doorframe. "You got a magazine spread."
"What do you want Jenna?" Olivia asked already annoyed with Jenna's presence. Liv could tell by the look on her face that her little visit was just for congratulations.
"Nothing, I just wanted to say congratulations just like everyone else. Congrats Olivia." Jenna unenthusiastically clapped three times, to match the sarcasm in her voice. "So guess cozying up to the boss really pays off eventually doesn't it."
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh don't think no one's noticed how you've gotten incredibly close to Mr. Grant."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh please, don't give me that bullshit line. You two are always leaving together, and sometimes show up together. You're always in his office 'talking', and you have lunch just about every day together. And let's not forget all the tabloid shots you two appear in every week."
"Fitz and I are just friends-"
"Oh Fitz is it?"
"Jenna why don't you just leave her alone?" Amber growled, getting tired of Jenna berating Olivia.
"I'm just simply asking the questions everyone is thinking but no one had the balls to ask, so I will." Jenna turned her attention back to Olivia, who was standing quietly next to Huck. "You know there's a word for women who sleep their way to the top."
"Yeah and her name is Jenna Jenkins." Abby said, "You know you have a lot of nerve coming in here acting like you're mother Teresa, and you're the one whoring around."
Jenna was caught off guard, she wasn't aware that people knew about her little fling with Jake. "I don't know what you're talking about." She tried to play it off.
"Oh just shut up Jenna and go sit on Jake's lap why don't you."
"Bitch." Jenna muttered, before walking out the room defeated. That was not at all how she had planned it out in her head.
Abby and Amber left the room after Jenna, leaving Huck and Olivia alone.
"You okay?" Huck put a comforting hand on Liv's shoulder. Olivia and Huck had grown close since she started working here. They had a lot in common and a lot of the same likes a dislikes. Huck was easy to talk to, because he was a great listener and Olivia needed that sometimes."
"Yeah. She's just a little…"
"Annoying? Hypocritical?...Bitchy?"
"Yeah. Why does she hate me so much? It seems ever since I got here, she's made it obviously clear that she doesn't like me."
"Don't worry about her. She's just intimidated by you is all. You're becoming the start pupil, that everyone loves and she doesn't like that. She's an attention whore, and you're stealing her spot light. Besides, Jenna is not the type of friend you want."
X
"You okay Liv? You're and you seem a little off. You should be stoked right now, you're gonna be in Essence magazine!" Alex was super excited for her sister, when Liv told her the news. "Everyone we know reads that mag." Alex asked, sitting across from Liv at their favorite diner. Alex had called her at work to go out for lunch, because she felt she was being neglected. Olivia felt a little bad, because in a way her sister was right. She had been in overtly neglecting her, by spending all her time with Fitz. She felt a little bad, because if she went to lunch with Alex that would mean she would have to cancel with Fitz. But he called her later on, and told her he had to postpone their lunch, because he Patrick and their mother were going out. She wasn't sadden by the prospect of not seeing him, because later on she was going over to his place for dinner.
"I'm fine." Olivia answered her sister. "Something just upset me at work today."
"What happened?" Alex asked, and Olivia told her about the confrontation she had earlier with Jenna. "That bitch! You let her talk to you like that?"
"Lex you know I'm not an argumentative person. I don't like confrontation."
"Yeah Liv I know, but you have to let that shit go and get in a bitch's face sometimes. Stand up for yourself." Alex was getting rowdy, and the people in the tables near them were starting to stare.
"I do stand up for myself." Liv had her head down, dragging her fork over her food. She wasn't really hungry, and had been playing with it for the past ten minutes.
"Not enough Liv. You need to get angry sometimes."
"And what is getting angry going to solve? Nothing. We'll just be screaming at each other, and then pretty soon we'll eventually forget what we were made about in the first place."
"Whatever. I'm right and you know it. Don't let people walk all over you Liv."
Olivia dropped her fork, making it clink against her plate as it fell. "Can we please drop it?"
"Fine. Letting it go." Alex held her hands up in surrender. "So what did Fitz say about it when you told him."
"I haven't told him."
"Why not? You should tell him just so he can fire her ass."
Liv rolled her eyes, "I haven't even talked to Fitz since this morning. His mother is in town, so he and his brother are with her today. Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Do you think Fitz and I spend too much time together?"
"Yes! Entirely too much!" Alex laughed loudly, but Liv only frowned at her.
"I'm serious Lex. Although what Jenna was accusing me of was wrong, she did have a point about Fitz and me. Maybe we are spending too much time together for a boss and employee."
"Liv I was just joking with you before. There's nothing wrong with your relationship with Fitz, it's not like you're doing anything illegal. You guys aren't even having sex. You're just friends, just like any other platonic relationship. The only reason so many people have opinions about your relationship, is because Fitz is well known, and the tabloids love him."
"So do you think Fitz and I should maybe spend a little time apart? Maybe not see each other so often." It hurt Olivia to even say that. Fitz was one of her dearest friends, and she liked being in his company. Being away from him for a day was hard, she knew she couldn't do it for more than that.
"No, you don't have to do that."
"But everyone thinks we're dating. Or just sleeping together."
"And they are still gonna believe that, even if you and Fitz start seeing each other less. He's a public figure Liv, which means everything he does, is gonna be documented and picked through with a fine tooth comb. You and Fitz know what the truth and that's all that matters. Let everyone else believe what they want to."
Alex was right, people were going to have opinions no matter what she said, and they were going to believe what they wanted to. She and Fitz weren't doing anything wrong, and what they were doing wasn't any ones business but theirs. Liv was still lost on thought, when Mark, Jordan and Chance all came over to the table she and Alex were at. They were boisterous and loud as usual, drawing attention from everyone. Olivia wasn't embarrassed by her loud friends, but she didn't always like the attention they got from it.
"Do you always have to be this loud?" Alex asked, just as loud as they had been before.
"Shut up Alex, you're worse than us." Jordan sat down on Mark's lap, since he and Chance took the last two seats. "So what are we talking about?" She stole a shrimp off Olivia's plate.
"About Liv's man problems."
"Liv has a man?" Jordan asked.
"Or are you talking about the hunk of ass you threw in the friend zone." Chance said.
"Yeah I still can't believe you did that." Jordan took another shrimp from Liv's plate, before Liv slid her the plate.
"Have you and Fitz boned yet?" Chance was never one to hold his tongue. He said what he wanted to say when he wanted to say it.
"I'm gonna assume that bone means sex, so no. No we haven't had sex, and we aren't going to have sex because we are-"
"Just friends!" Everyone finished her sentence for her.
"We heard you the first fifty times Liv. You put him in the friend zone. But really, why the hell would you do that? He'll never get out of the friend zone."
"That's not true. What about the married couples who met in high school or college? They were friends first."
"Liv that the type of shit you see in those cheesy romance movies."
"That's not true people in real life marry their high school sweetheart."
"Yeah, and their living in a fuckless marriage."
"Chance!"
X
"Does he ever answer his own door?" Olivia asked once Beth, another one of Fitz's maids answered the door. Beth only smiled, and opened the door wider for Olivia to come in.
"I can take that for you ma'am." Beth spoke of the pizza box and bags Olivia had in her hand.
"Thanks." Olivia gave Beth the pizza box and the bags, while another housekeeper came and took Olivia's coat and purse. It was hard to keep up with how many housekeepers Fitz had, and was even harder trying to remember all their names.
"Mr. Grant is in his office." Beth told her, before she disappeared to the kitchen.
"Fitz?" Olivia called out to him, as she walked through his penthouse. She put Pongo on the ground and took off her leash so she could run around. Before, she couldn't navigate her way around his house. But now, after spending countless night here for dinner and sometimes sleeping over, she felt like she'd lived here forever. "Fitz?" She knocked softly on his office door, before opening it. He was sitting in his chair chuckling behind his massive desk, still dressed in his tux at eight o'clock at night. Olivia shook her head at his attire, and walked in the room.
Fitz hadn't heard her knock on the door, but noticed her when she poked her head in the door. She looked effortlessly beautiful and relaxed in in a black pair of jogging tights and a neon yellow athletic jacket and matching neon shoes. He held up a finger, telling her to hold on for a minute. "Patrick no- No that's not gonna work… Because it's just not." Fitz was a little suspicious, when he saw a smirk appear on Olivia's face.
Liv had been listening to his conversation, trying to figure out who he was talking to. She was pleased when he spoke Patrick's name, because that meant she could mess with him and not mess up an important phone call. She got this devilish smirk on her face when she spotted his feather ink pen. She saw his curious look when she grabbed it, wondering what she was gonna do with it. "No Pat I'm serious he-" Fitz was cut off, when Olivia started tickling his ear with the feather on the pen. He swatted at her hand laughing, but she just moved away giggling. "No it's nothing. What's you say-" Liv stuck the pen in his ear again, and this time he caught it, but couldn't catch her. Since she didn't have the feather anymore, she had another idea. It wasn't a well-known thing, but Fitz was very ticklish, and mainly on his sides. Liv slowly snuck over to the chair, and saw her perfect time to strike, when he reached to put the pen back on its holder. She reached out and tried to tickle his sides, but he knew what she was about to do. He caught her wrist and pulled her into him, and over onto his lap. Olivia squealed, as she was tossed over his lap. She hadn't expected him to do that. "Hey Pat, yeah I'm gonna have to call you back. No everything's good." Liv began to squirm, trying to get up, so he leaned down lightly on her resting his elbows on her back. "Yeah, everything's good. I'll see you tomorrow." Fitz hung up the phone, and put it back on the receiver. Olivia was quietly giggling, still on his lap. "What have I told you about tickling?"
"Oops." Olivia laughed out loud when Fitz abruptly stood up, throwing her over his shoulder. "Fitz! Put me down!" Liv swatted his butt, and Fitz smacked her back as he continued to walk.
"Mr. Grant." Beth was taken back by the sight of Olivia hurled on Fitz's shoulders. He'd never seen him interact that way with a woman before. She'd never seen him act that way with anyone, now that she thought about it. The man who barely smiled, was laughing and joking around with a woman. "Um I put the food Ms. Pope brought in the kitchen sir."
"You brought food?" Fitz put Olivia back on the ground, much to her delight.
"Yes I did."
"I was going to have Annie cook."
"Yes I know, which is why I brought food. No offense to Annie, she's amazing. But I wanted normal food tonight."
"I have normal food."
"No Fitz you don't, and it's okay, because you're not a normal person. Normal people don't eat caviar and little snails for dinner almost every night. That's why I brought pizza." Liv took Fitz's hand, and walked him to the kitchen. "Thank you Beth."
X
"Hang on a sec." Quinn fixed her robe, and adjusted the towel on her damp hair. Her doorbell rang again, before she finally opened it. "Geez, where's the fire-"
"No fire, just need to talk." Alex said, before she got a good look at Quinn's attire. She smirked at Quinn's short robe, clinging to her wet body. She could tell she was naked underneath. "You know, I came here to yell at you for missing a week and a half of rehearsals. But now I'm thinking we can hold off on that conversation." Alex moved into the apartment uninvited, and pulled Quinn close to her.
"Alex stop." Quinn pushed Alex away, disconnecting her lips from her neck.
"Why?" Alex pulled at the string on Quinn's robe. "You don't really want me to stop."
Quinn pulled her robe strings from Alex, Fastening them back before Alex could open it fully. "Yes I do, and I think you should just say what you came here to say so you can leave."
"What's you problem?"
"You know exactly what my problem is."
"No I don't so why don't you tell me. And while you're at it, you can tell me why you've missed over a weeks' worth of rehearsals. Our biggest gig we've ever had is coming up, and you're skipping rehearsals. I need everyone in top shape."
"I just needed a minute to myself."
"You get a minute, but you get that minute after you've done your job."
"Why is it always about the job to you?!" Quinn had a couple tears running down her face. She wasn't prepared to have this conversation with Alex tonight. And especially wet and half naked. "Can't you ever think about anything else, but the next show?!"
"No I can't! Because this is my life, and I thought it was yours as well. This is the only thing I know how to do right, and it is the most important thing to me after my family. I will do anything it takes to get where I want, and make it to the top. And that includes getting rid of any dead weight. So pull your shit together, and stop letting our situation stop you from doing your job." Alex picked up her purse from where she dropped it by the door. She gave one last look to Quinn, before walking out the door, not looking back.
X
"I told you this movie was way better." Olivia said, taking another big bite of her cheesy supreme pizza. She didn't eat take out often, but when she did, she liked to indulge at her favorite pizza place. To her, they had the best pizza in the city.
After fifteen minutes of arguing over which movie to watch. Fitz finally gave in and let Olivia choose the new Jurassic World movie, over his black and white movie. Now they were sitting on his oversized couch, eating their pizza and curly fires. Fitz was at one end of the couch, and Olivia was at the other, with her feet propped up over his legs. While Pongo lay sleep on the floor by their feet.
"You love that movie and you know you do."
"It's a black and white film that you've seen a hundred times before. I don't like it."
"So why do you laugh at it whenever we watch it."
"I'm laughing at the corniness of it."
"Sure you do. So what's the problem between you and Jenna?" Fitz asked changing the subject. He knew that many people had a problem with Jenna in the office. Mainly because of her arrogance and competitiveness and generally her bad attitude. But this afternoon, after he returned back from lunch with his mother and Patrick. He was informed of a little argument between Jenna and Olivia.
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you two had a little disagreement."
"I guess you can say that. She accused me of sleeping with you to get some kind of special treatment, and I disagreed." Olivia shrugged it off as if it was nothing. Honestly she was done with it that morning, and even more so after her talk with Alex.
"She what?!"
"Relax Fitz. She was just upset, because the entire office found out I had a meeting with Vanessa. Huck said it's because she's jealous of me."
"Well of course she is, everyone knows that. But that is no excuse for her to do what she did."
"Fitz I didn't tell you so she would get in trouble."
"I'll handle it."
"Fitz no really. It really wasn't a big deal. I'm fine, you're fine, she's fine everyone's fine just please let it go." Olivia regretted telling him anything now. But even if she hadn't told him, she was sure he could get the details from someone else.
"I hope you know we have to rewind this movie. We've missed half of it because of you." Fitz changed the subject again. He let the problem go for now, but had no intention of letting it go entirely.
"We missed the first part because you kept talking."
"I didn't know what was going on."
"That's why you have to watch the movie. You big idiot." Olivia screamed, when Fitz unexpectedly pulled her over the couch and onto his lap and started tickling her.
"Who you calling an idiot?" Fitz furiously tickled Liv's sides, as she tried to pry his hands off her sides.
"Stop! Fitz you're gonna make me pee!"
"Eww!" Fitz stopped tickling her, and just held her close with her head resting on his chest. It was alarming to him the rate at which their relationship was growing. It had only been three weeks, and they were already closer than they had been in the past three months. They laughed, they talked about any and everything. They shared their past and embarrassing moments. Fitz thought he knew everything there was to know about Liv. And Olivia felt the same about Fitz. He knew he promised that they would be friends for now, but honestly how long did she think they could keep this up.
"Fitz." Olivia spoke into his shirt with her head still on his chest, while he ran his fingers through his hair.
"Hmm?"
"I think you're the best friend I've ever had. I love you Fitz."
Fitz knew it was only on a friend basis, and he did feel the same. But it did hurt a little that it might be a while or never before she said the same words with a different meaning.
"I love you too Liv."
X
Cath You Later...