Life happens. But I haven't abandoned my stories. I missed you all and I missed writing all of my stories. Thank you for all the messages and reviews, the constantly remind me that people enjoy what I do.
Until next time
Muse XoXo
Song choice: I know you so well- shiloh dynasty
Previously:
"Would you like to share breakfast with me?" Olivia asked calmly though her eyes were uncertain whether he would agree.
Fitz smiles happily "I'll love too."
Olivia nods head happily "Okay." She opens the cabinet grabbing two plates, her hangover long gone.
"Let's eat." She says walking out of the room to the table with Fitz following behind.
They eat in a comfortable silence; they talk and share stories but mostly they simply enjoy the presence of the others company. Olivia, smiles at Fitz when he wasn't looking but a sudden peace arises. A forgone conclusion forms.
This could be the start of something beautiful.
X
The breath catches in Olivia's throat as she walks through the doors of 'The Grant and Doyle Firm'. It's Monday morning and her only concern should be getting enough coffee in her to stay awake and endure the countless meetings she had today. Yet she couldn't sleep a wink last night, how could she when hewas on her mind.
The lines they crossed once again, the day they spent together; it meant something to her. That is the problem. When the sun had begun to set and she had to walk him out, she felt something intrinsically pulling her towards him, near the point of asking him to stay the night once again. They did nothing amazing, simply stayed inside her apartment and watched movies and the news. Somehow the conversation flowed easily between the two and from there they would discuss everything from social reform, immigration, celebrities, and the dirty secrets that lie just beneath the surface.
"I miss being a lawyer but not for those reasons." Fitz said watching and old acquittance defend a celebrity sex offender.
"It's hard for me to imagine you being one."
"I know." Fitz agrees "it feels like another lifetime ago."
"Where did you work?" Olivia inquired raising her legs into her chest on the sofa they shared.
"At the Grant and Doyle firm."
Olivia nearly chokes on her wine.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Olivia shakes her head "It's just hard to imagine you there at thatfirm."
Fitz nods his head in agreement. "I was senior partner and President."
"You were?" Olivia asked shocked
"I was." Fitz answer "I was there for five years, I personally handled Kraft's food buying Campbells even though there were issues with litigation and trademark I somehow managed to make that deal happen but that wasn't my favorite part of the job."
"That was you?" Olivia turns to stare at Fitz in amazement "I heard about that deal but…I never knew you were the one that closed down the biggest deal for the firm ever."
"That was me." Fitz smiles taking a sip of his wine.
"Why did you leave?"
Fitz squirms slightly "it was time." Fitz said looking up at Olivia and it was.
"How could Jerry let you walk away?" Olivia asked knowing already that money talks to Jerry more than any words possibly ever could.
Fitz shrugs his shoulder and veers the topic to a more simple one.
While Fitz may have attempted to change the subject, Olivia didn't forget, how could she? The more she was around Fitz, the more she learned about him, slowly pulling away the layers that he shields to protect himself. Olivia finds him fascinating but it's not the mystique of his character that keeps her coming back to him. He's more. He's far more miraculous than he knows.
The second she arrived at the firm, the first thing she looked at was the leader wall, she eyes Jerry and Hollis, even Daniel's picture as current president of the firm but Fitz…his picture is absent on the leader wall. And the more Olivia began to think about it, Fitz was never mentioned in any meeting or even on the firm's website. His name and his presences have been completely erased from the firm but there must be a reason for it.
Avoiding Abby at all directions, swiftly Olivia walks into her office and closes the door without so much as a word being uttered. With her belongings put away, she sits at her computer and quickly does a google search typing 'Fitzgerald Grant'. She tells herself she's an adult and not a schoolgirl, but still it doesn't explain why her palms are sweaty, and her stomach is constricting into a tight ball of nerves. She's not doing anything wrong, inquiring about a former chairmen of the firm is common practice, but her heart says otherwise.
Grabbing a sticky she quickly writes the phone number and address to his studio, she views the website and looks at the array of paintings, his work is remarkable the layers of color morphing together to create this beautiful story on canvas. The large scale pieces display such raw emotions through the use of three dimensional effect that Olivia finds herself drifting into the abstract painting, fading into the ocean blue as though she too can hear the whales sing.
After absorbing as much information about Fitzgerald Grant as she can, she finally leaves his website and ventures into articles about his life before art.
She bites her lip nervously as she clicks on an article written about him. Dressed in a navy blue pinstripe suit, with a white shirt and red tie he looks every bit of a politician but his eyes... Olivia moves closer to the screen as she looks at him fully and completely as though he was right in front of her.
His eyes tell his truth.
At one point she glances up at his picture nervously with a small smile, as she found him gazing at her as if he was there. After several attempts she finally forces herself to look away from him and towards the article itself, her eyes squint tightly as she sees that what Fitz said yesterday paled in comparison to all that he had accomplished in his short time as senior partner and acting president of the firm. Recognized as a 'super lawyer' he was placed on the nation's Top One Percent, earning several awards under the American Lawyers Associations. Under his management 'The Grant and Doyle Firm' flourished to resounding new heights earning themselves the 'Best Law Firm' during his tenure as President. But as the article comes to a close so does Fitzgerald Grant; like a shooting star he was seen but just as quickly disappeared into the darkened night. Olivia bites her finger nail frustrated at the minimal information given about Fitz. Where did he go? How can the top grossing firm in New York lose the president of the firm? Why did he leave? Why hasn't anyone else taken him?
A knock disrupts her thoughts.
"Come in."
Quickly and swiftly Abby walks in closing the door without so much as a word uttered.
"Abby."
"Don't. Don't act like you haven't seen my text messages or my calls."
Olivia folds her arms in defiance.
"What happened with you and Fitz?"
"I don't know what you are talking about."
"Olivia, don't play games with me. I know about you two. I know you slept with him and I know you still have feelings for him otherwise you wouldn't have gotten drunk and went home with him."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Olivia insist.
"Liv…"
"Abby nothing happened, Fitz took me home and that was it; leave it alone."
Abby stares at Olivia who also is not backing down.
"I'm not judging you. I've never seen you like this with any guy before. You are doing what you feel is right. I get that. I just want you to be careful."
"Thank you, but nothing happened."
"You are really going to protect him?"
Olivia closes her arms and stares Abby down.
"I'm not protecting anyone and I would appreciate it if you would not bombard me first thing in the morning about my personal life."
"Answer me this, if I were to talk about Fitz would Daniel get upset?"
Olivia's eyes grow large and dark.
"Exactly my point."
"They are brothers and at the end of day they will still have each other's back."
Olivia sits in silence for a moment, contemplating Abby's words "I don't know what you are talking about." She repeats once again
"Fine, you are an adult I can't beg you to talk to me or anything but I just want you to be careful and don't say that I didn't warn me about what you are doing to that family."
Abby walks out the office leaving a confused Olivia to dwell on her current dilemma, lifting her head from her hands she finds herself staring at the picture of Fitz on her computer.
'What am I going to do with you, Lover Boy?'Olivia says to the picture.
There is a tentative knock at her office door and she looks up, startled and praying it isn't him. She can't face Daniel just yet. Although she knows she will have to soon enough considering he's back from his trip, there is something dreadful and painfully poignant in having to face the man she has deeply wronged.
He walks in and Olivia calmly exits her browser.
"Hey."
"Hey." He closes the door and walks over to Olivia's desk and plants a sweet kiss on her lips.
"I've missed you." He said sweetly sitting on the side of her desk, smiling down at her.
"Oh really?"
"Yup, I couldn't get you off my mind. I called you a few times but you didn't answer."
"Yeah, I was out with Abby and Quinn."
"When do you think we should take our relationship to the next level?"
Olivia's eyes grow big "wow, one business trip and you are already thinking of taking things to the next level." Olivia jokes trying to downplay what Daniel just said.
"Well, it just reminded me that I hate going home to an empty apartment and that I love you."
Olivia smiles sweetly but she doesn't respond.
"We just took our relationship to the next level by me going on vacation with you to see your family."
"I know, I just want more."
"Of course because you've always gotten what you wanted."
"That's true. But it doesn't change the fact that I love you and I want more of you."
Olivia kisses him sweetly on the lips but she doesn't respond.
"Can we go to dinner?"
"Yes." Olivia agrees
"And can I spend the night with you afterwards?"
Olivia pauses for a moment "yes."
/
Nonchalantly Olivia eyes the paralegal who has been with the firm since they originated.
"Hello Ruth."
"Hi, Olivia. How can I help you?"
Olivia gives a small laugh though she knows she's been caught red handed. She always acknowledges everyone she encounters but she must confess that she at times can be difficult and often elusive to those that don't work directly with her.
"Oh nothing, I was just doing some research here at the firm and I found out that you were here when the firm started."
Ruth smiles kindly, pushing her thick rim glasses up to the bridge of her nose.
"I was, I've seen a lot of change in my twenty years here."
"How has that been?"
"Like every job. You have moments were you feel progress and other times were you are thinking of walking away."
"I can understand that, but still you must have seen so much here. To watch the firm be where it is now. I hope they are taking care of you, for your loyalty."
Ruth shrugs "They are taking care of me, I could be making more elsewhere but I have 401K, my schedule, my office, also I'm comfortable here. It's very frightening to leave a place that you know and venture out in the world."
"I'm sorry it hasn't been the best experience here."
"Oh I didn't say that, but like every job when a new boss comes they try to change the system and remind others they are in charge."
"Out of all the bosses you have had here, who was the best?:
Ruth answers the question without thought "Fitz."
"Who?"
"Fitzgerald Grant the third."
"I didn't know Jerry had another son?" Olivia downplayed
"Oh he does."
"What was he like?" Olivia asked sitting down on a chair adjacent Ruth.
Ruth smiles fondly "he was the best boss and a great man."
"Is he dead?"
"I don't know, he might be, no one has been able to track him down. But he was an extraordinary human being."
"What did he do?"
"He did so much that he never got the credit for. When Jerry retired and Fitz took over, it was like all of our suffering was somehow amended by this great young man who came in and introduced himself to every single person and knew everythingabout you. I had worked with Jerry for twelve years and I was ready to quit and I voiced my frustration to my boss. Well, I received an impromptu meeting with the new president of the firm. Fitz sat with me and listened to me complain and after it was over, he told me to dry my eyes and that he was going to make things right.
First, he apologized for what was occurring. Second, he gave me a raise. And Third, he asked if I could be his personal paralegal and with that came an office that I could call mine." Ruth wipes the tears coming down her face.
"He was an extraordinaryman. Every two months he would have lunch with the different departments and he would supply the lunch and with those lunches we discussed everythingfrom sexual harassment, the frustration of the department and how we can work together to make it better."
"Wow." Olivia whispers
"When he was here, the turnover rate at the firm was at a staggering five percent and that was only do to people having to move because of their spouses, but no one left when he was here. We voted and we spread the word that 'The Grant and Doyle Firm' was the best firm to work at and Fitzgerald Grant was the best boss, and he was."
"Why did he leave?" Olivia asked herself though she said it aloud
"I don't know." Ruth shakes her head "I think he was too caring, too ahead of his time. He was making a name for himself and I think others became alarmed at how powerful he could be if he stayed. This firm is where it is because of him. He created a scholarship for employees children, he personally dealt with matters that were sensitive subjects, and he was also acquiring top brands and people to the firm that he personally handled."
"Jerry." Olivia whispers to Ruth who can only shake her head
"I don't know what happened but one day we saw Jerry and we knew it wasn't good. He told us that Fitz was gone effective immediately and that Daniel will be running the firm."
"Is that why Fitz's picture isn't on the wall or mentioned at all?"
"I believe so. Jerry is very powerful and in a matter of a day, the world forgot about Fitzgerald Grant and so did the firm, but I never did forget him."
Olivia sits puzzled and positively broken.
"Do you know Fitz?" Ruth asked
Turning to face Ruth, Olivia smiles sadly "I wish."
Ruth looks at Olivia dejected "I was hoping you found him."
"Has he been missing?"
"Kind of."
"I'm sure someone has his number."
"Mr. Grant." Ruth answers
"Why don't you ask for it then?"
Ruth smiles kindly but squints her eyes at Olivia for her to truly comprehend the dynamics of the Grant men.
"Olivia, you are a kind and smart women but there is one thing you should remember."
"What's that?"
"Be careful with the Grant men and never ask about Fitzgerald Grant."
Olivia nods her head but somehow her lips never moved.
/
Two sounds come from the dark bedroom.
"You did hurt me."
"I'm sorry."
"Why do I feel this way about you?"
He is lying on his side, fingers idly tracing the bumps of her vertebrae, dazed at the contact.
"I don't believe we have much control over destiny."
"Do you think we are destined to be together?"
"I just know how the story ends."
"What story?" Olivia asked drunkenly though still coherent enough to talk clearly
"Our story."
Her eyes soften to a gentle glow.
"How does our story end?"
"It ends with us."
She exhales a small sigh, not one of melancholy or displeasure, but a supported sigh.
Those words echoed through his mind in a loop, over and over again.
The blaring car horn waked him from his momentary lapse. Traffic was obnoxiously jammed on a Monday night, but considering it is New York City, when is traffic ever tamed? He eyes the countless faces packed in clusters walking on the sidewalk and some partially on the street. It appears everyone has decided to go out to dinner or a drink today.
Fitz slams his hand on the steering wheel, cursing under his breath at the driver ahead of him taking his sweet time turning. He was running late to work and this was his last strike .
"Fuck." He curses watching the clock tick closer towards nine.
Rain begins to splatter across his window, and Fitz smiles angrily at the circumstance, the more he tries the more he fails.
He waltz's through the crowded restaurant, wearing his button down white shirt and black tie and pants, he was soaked but he was there.
"You're late."
"I'm sorry" he apologizes grabbing his book.
"You have tables five through nine, hurry." The manager barks before walking back to the kitchen
He wipes his face with a dry towel before walking to his first customer.
He weaved through tables until he got to his section. "Hi, my name is Fitz and I will be your waiter can I get you guys anything to dri-" he freezes at the sight.
"Olivia."
"Daniel."
As though the rain wasn't chilly enough, the sudden arrival of Olivia and Daniel has rendered Fitz frozen.
They look every bit of a couple. Olivia is wearing a dashing black dress, Daniel is wearing one of his many tailored custom suits.
He kept his gaze lowered, forcing himself not to look at her. He could not. He would not.
Olivia froze at the sound of the voice, she forced herself not to look at him but with him uttering her name like a chant she lost her resolve and turned to him, eyes questioning. At the sight of her turning, his eyes traveled down her body before coming back to meet her eyes. She looks lovely.
"Fitz." Daniel stands up hugging Fitz warmly.
"How have you been?"
"Not as good as you, brother." Fitz promises
"Well, that's all because of Olivia. When you are happy, you look happy."
"Happiness, suits you." And it does. Fitz eyes the lightness in Daniel's eyes perhaps they are strangers and at best indifferent but he does wish his brother the very best in life even at the risk of his own.
Then she turned to him, the unavoidable circumstance.
His smile dimmed somewhat as it landed on her. Once again, words seemed to fail her. Should she smile broadly as she wished to, feign insignificance or politely acknowledge his presence? In the end, a small smile was all she could give to him.
"And how are you?" Olivia asked gently bringing the conversation back to a neutral topic.
"I'm here." Fitz said lifting his hands up
"And you?"
"I'm fine." Olivia answers trying desperately to prevent her cheeks from blushing.
A beat passes. Daniel orders drinks for the two and swiftly Fitz departs to the next table leaving a confused Olivia grappling with the new found information that Fitz is here and that he works here. It seems no matter how hard she tries, she can never escape him.
"Liv, how's that case going?"
"We said we wouldn't talk about work when we are off."
"Right." Daniel smiles apologetically
"Then let's talk about us."
Olivia meets Daniels eyes and for a second she thought she was looking at Fitz.
"What?"
"Us. As in you and me. I want to take our relationship to the next level."
Olivia begins to shift uncomfortably "we aren't ready for that."
"Liv, you won't even consider moving in with me."
"Because we are not there yet."
"Then how do we get there then?"
She eyes him coldly not likening the feeling of being targeted and put on the spot.
"Let's not do this."
"Olivia, I'm tired of playing games."
"Are we ready to order?" Fitz asked coming back carrying drinks and thankfully ending the conversation.
Olivia gives Fitz an appreciative smile for coming in at the right time.
"Fitz, answer me this."
"Okay?"
"If you have been dating a women for a year now and you are ready to make the next step what would that entail?"
Olivia turns to Daniel coldly "we are not going to have this conversation with your brother."
"Olivia, we are just talking."
"No, what you are trying to do is put me on the spot in front of your family in order for you to get the answer you want. And it's not going to happen."
"So you don't want to move in?"
"Not at this time, no."
"Ever or just now?"
Olivia's eyes harden as she glares at Daniel.
"Well, since you asked my opinion. I would wait until both parties were in agreement. What's the point of pushing someone to do something they don't want to do? Let Olivia make her own decisions."
"You are supposed to be on my side." Daniel turns laughing
"Not when it comes to Olivia." Fitz says kindly.
"I'm going to go place these orders, can I get you guys anything else?"
"How long have you been working here Fitz?" Olivia asked wanting desperately for Fitz to stay versus dealing with Daniel and his constant push for more of her.
"Well, a few months but I think this is going to be my last day."
"Why?"
"Well, I was running late today…"
"You can't keep a job to save your life."
Fitz eyes Daniel wanting desperately to remind him that the job he currently has belonged to him at one time.
"I had a job, in case you forgot."
Daniel immediately takes a sip of his whiskey.
"What happened to it?" Olivia asked
"Another life and another story to be told at another time."
"Olivia, that is Fitz's way of saying 'stay out of my business.'"
"No" Fitz shakes his head "I don't have a problem sharing with Olivia but this is not my date and I am not her boyfriend."
Olivia's eyes fall to her untouched glass of wine.
"I'll leave you guys to your date." Fitz said gently before walking away
Olivia shakes her head disappointedly "why did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Why did you have to bring your brother into our relationship?"
"I was just asking a question."
"Yes, a question that does not pertain to your brother."
"Olivia, I love you and I want to be with you and I don't understand why you don't want the same thing?"
"I never said I did not want that, what I've been trying to tell you is that we are not ready for that at this moment."
"How?"
"Fine, I am not ready. We broke up because I saw you in a completely different light then I have in the past and what I saw when you were with your family was not someone that made me feel proud to be with."
"Olivia, I said I was sorry."
" I know" she shakes her head "but if you keep pushing me, I'm going to pull away."
Daniel sighs loudly, unsure how he somehow managed to be the bad guy in a situation that seemed to be positive from his standpoint. He's tried giving Olivia her space, he did not have to travel for work, he could have easily assigned the assignment to someone else but he didn't, he used the time away as a firm belief that Olivia would miss him and perhaps would want more, but clearly he misjudged the situation and Olivia.
"What do you want, Olivia?"
What is happening to her? Olivia is not a frivolous person who views commitment and morals as an inconsequential standard. She believes in honor, values, monogamy, yet why can't she seem to uphold those beliefs when it comes to Fitz?
Without her realizing it tears began to form. They pooled in her eyes, but they would not fall.
"I want-"
"Here you go, as ordered." Fitz walks to the table not seeing that Olivia was near moved to tears.
"We didn't order this." Daniel said looking at the shrimp scampi appetizer steam from the plate.
"It's on me." Fitz said kindly walking away.
Daniel lets out a heavy sigh as he follows his brother around the restaurant. "I envy, Fitz." He laughs sadly "how is it that he has to bust tables, and I am watching him with such jealousy that he seems happier than me?" Daniel turns to look at Olivia who's eyes remained focused on Fitz , lost in her own thoughts.
"Olivia, what's wrong?" Daniel asked moving closer towards her.
"Nothing." She says firmly finally turning her eyes away from one brother and to the other.
"It's crazy with Fitz, he has all the potential in the world and he prefers being lazy."
"I wouldn't call this job as lazy." Olivia retorts once again looking at Fitz quickly as he took orders.
"You know what mean, he is brilliant and he's just wasting it by being here."
Her eyes moved in his direction, found his for a fraction of a second before sweeping back to Daniel.
Olivia shrugs "I doubt this was his plan in life, maybe something happened and he fell on his luck?" Olivia asked turning to Daniel to see if he would give any answer as to why Fitz was abruptly fired from the firm and why he took over so swiftly.
Daniel immediately pulls away from Olivia "Either way, Fitz always wins. Look at him now, talking to beautiful women and getting paid to do so."
Her eyes narrow in on Fitz talking to the group of beautiful women, they are clearly flirting with him but the longer Olivia stares at them she can't decide whether Fitz is flirting back or if he likes the attention. She shakes her head before downing her glass of red.
"Okay, I will be bringing your plates out in a couple of minutes." She hears the deep baritone voice behind her but made no move to see him. Instead she feels a knot in her stomach, a painful sensation moving from her legs to her esophagus.
"Who are the girls?"
"What girls?"
"Over there." Daniel motioned his head to the group of young women
"Oh they are just some girls drinking before going out tonight."
"They were flirting with you."
"Yeah…" Fitz rubs his head obliviously
"Are you going to keep the blonde's number?"
"Damn Daniel were you looking that much?"
"It's just small talk, so are you going to call her?"
"No." Fitz said firmly trying to look at Olivia who refused to pay him any attention.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want her or any of them."
"Are you gay?"
"No." Fitz laughed "but I want someone in particular."
"What's her name?"
"Daniel, we aren't school girls."
"Come on." Daniel pleads
"No. Now, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Daniel laughs to himself as he looks at a still silent Olivia "He's gone, Olivia."
Her head rises and she smiles shyly at Daniel.
"I never knew that made you uncomfortable."
"It doesn't but I don't want to comment on brotherly banter."
"You are too good to be true."
Olivia smiles softly but she doesn't respond.
/
She takes a deep breath and looks at herself in the mirror. She had to get away from him. His voice, his body, his scent- it was all becoming too much.
"What the fuck am I doing?" She whispers to herself.
That is the million dollar question, what exactly is she doing with Fitz? What is she doing right now? Refusing to give the issues more thought than she already has, she fixes her hair, adjust her dress slightly and walks out the door.
But something happened in that short time span that Olivia couldn't grasp, all she remembers is Fitz emerging from a room and swiftly closing another door.
He moves towards her, kissing her gently on the lips.
But she stops the reunion before it could actually begin. This isn't right. She pushes him away.
Hurt.
Irrationally upset.
Her mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
He stares back at her, with a loss of words.
Olivia looks back into his eyes, and shakes her head with contempt. They shouldn't be in here, they shouldn't have to hide who they are. They deserve more than a few seconds in a closet.
A long minute passed in silence between them, neither looking at the other.
"Liv?" he whispers out
What happened to the man she was getting to know. Is this what he wants? Is he looking for something exhilarating and as scandalous as having an affair with his brother's girlfriend? Is this how he views her?
"This is sad."
"Liv…" he moves closers to her but she moves away.
After all that they have shared, why does it still feel like she doesn't know him.
"We are in a closet, and we have to pretend to be strangers."
"I don't want to play games with you. I'm just trying to do what you want."
"I don't know what I want, that's the problem."
"Why are you mad at me?"
"I'm not mad at you I'm just frustrated at this situation."
"I understand."
"No, you don't. I don't know why I act this way at the thought of some girl talking to you, or even looking at you" Olivia laughs as she pushes her strand of hair back. "now you are flirting with girls to make me jealous."
"That's not what I am doing."
"What are you doing then?"
"I don't feel you should be questioning me, Olivia."
"Right." She says coldly
"Hey." He reaches for her hand but she pulls away once again.
"I didn't mean for this to happen." Olivia promises
"I know that." He agrees
"I have feelings for you and I can't do anything about it without jeopardizing everything that I worked for in life. If I were to walk away from Daniel, I would lose my job that I love and my reputation would be ru-."
"I know, and I don't want you to jeopardize you future for me. I don't want that."
Her lips begin to tremble "I thought you saw me and now it feels like you see right through me."
Her words shoot through him, wounding him. Shocked, he steps back from the visceral pain. Olivia watches him stumble backwards from the corner of her eye, but she loses her resolve and turns to him, eyes questioning.
"I know you, I know you so well." A chill runs up her spine as he steps towards her, and she realized that the voice he was using was no longer that of the cool and confident Fitz. It was the quiet voice of Lover Boy.
Olivia bows her head, overwhelmed by her sadness and his but mostly the nearly devastating desire to take him in her arms. "Fitz…I"
Moving slowly, he lifted his hand to her chin, and used his fingers to tilt her face upwards to meet his eyes. "And I can do better than he can."
Olivia's eye become larger, maybe it's the light in the utility closet, but they seem to fill with tears at Fitz's declaration.
"I'll be here." He promises
Her pulse throbs in her throat, as he moves his hand to cup the side of her face . Feeling the pit of her lower stomach turn molten, Olivia lets out a ragged breath.
Fitz bends to brush his lips against hers, his evening stubble scraping her cheek. It's dangerous behavior to kiss her in public, but right now he just doesn't care "You know me." She whispers before kissing him on her lips. She has to kiss him, for no one else but herself. She has to kiss him at least one last time.
Fitz looks up at the clock. They are living on borrowed time.
"Time's up." He looks away from the clock and to her.
He's prepared. He'll live, an optimist like him has only one choice which is to have hope.
Olivia leans in closer and is rewarded with a whiff of his scent, a heady potion of oak, deodorant and toothpaste. She holds his shirt tightly, slightly pleading with him to take her away but he doesn't, he can't.
Fitz kisses her on the lips again and pulls her to him so she can feel the anxious beating of his heart through their layers of clothes. Or maybe it's her own heart.
"I have to go."
"You have to go."
"One minute."
"What?" Fitz asked
"Can I just stay here with you for one more minute?" Olivia asked softly
A sad, yet serene, smile grows on Fitz's face. "One minute"
Her eyes peered at his, unblinking, and silently sending a message that Fitz immediately understood. Without a word Fitz opens his arms and Olivia walks into his warm embrace. At this moment, she forgot about Daniel, about her career, about everyone and just focused on his heart beating in rhythm with hers. She feels like she's home in his arms. Like this is where she was always meant to be.
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulls her closer into him. Hot tears spark his eyes; as he thinks about the young woman who came into his family and after just a few encounters, breathed some desperately needed life into his world. How can he possibly let her go? Without realizing it his grip tightened around her as her arms reached around his waist and hold on for dear life.
For one minute time stops moving. For one minute they are quiet and their silence seems to fill the room, to become its own entity, living and breathing with the two of them.
Fitz places a kiss on the top of her head, a gentle sign that their time was up once again.
Olivia pulls away, quickly wiping the corner of her eye that shed a tear. She takes a deep breath as she pulls away just enough to look at his face. His normally pure blue eyes, hold a tinge of red.
"See you later, Wonder girl." He pressed a final kiss to her hand before disappearing through the concealed doorway.
Her eyes shine with unshed tears "Goodbye, Lover Boy."
The check was paid, and the dinner went on without a hitch. Fitz went his way and Olivia went hers, but with the final minutes left before she might walk away with what could be the last time they ever see one another. He felt his heart rate accelerate, his palms dripping with sweat.
Turn around, he called silently, hating himself for the human weakness of love, of yearning, of hope. Look at me. He pleads
Daniel slides her coat on and the two begin walking out the dinner hand in hand. As she passes the arch leading to the door, she turns, her eyes moving swiftly to find his waiting for hers. Hope he knew he had no right to feel detonated inside the cavity of his chest. Their eyes locked across the chaos of the room for a fraction of a second and then she was gone.