Okay, everyone this is it. I won't be gone for long and I still plan to finish all of my stories. Thank you for your patience and beautiful words of encouragement.
Until Next Time...
XoXo,
Muse.
Previously:
"Huck, what am I reading?" Fitz begs having already received a headache.
"There is manipulation of the stocks. They matched orders and inflated the stocks to create a false volume that explained the overinflating like the operating expenses."
"So they siphoned money through fraudulent stock sells and prices ."
"Jerry and Co paid early investors like Robert Lauss, Charles Winston, and the other men money raised from others, and the unaccounted money is most likely used to fund their prostitution ring"
"We have them then."
"There's a problem." Huck brings up.
"The employees and certain investors are being paid returns out of their own money rather than the profits. Olivia created many of these contracts with the men and unlike most of the employees at the firm, Olivia receives a substantial bonus."
"Olivia receives a bonus due to her tenure, and her contracts in which she does receive a percentage from." Fitz defends
"I know that." Huck agrees "But when Olivia receives a large bonus compared to her coworkers, and signed many high profile clients that are part of this cover up, it would be a red flag."
"She's implicated." Fitz whispers
"They have, Olivia." Huck warns.
X
"Fitz."
Olivia is almost certain that he is asleep, she can see his rhythmic breathing. Her cold hands warm up against his always hot body.
"Fitz…" she whispers again as she rubs his chest to wake him up, but he doesn't respond. Olivia release a heavy sigh.
"You have to let me go." She whispers to the quiet room.
"Anything but that." He murmurs waking up to Olivia's large brown eyes piercing his soul.
"It's been several weeks since we found this information out and as time goes by, Faith's case is getting further and further away…If it means putting the bad guys away then you have to let me go."
"You are innocent and had nothing to do with this. You are not going to suffer for their crimes."
"I know. But we can do more good with them in jail."
"There is no good with you joining them." Fitz answers firmly, turning on his side so that Olivia can have his undivided attention.
"So we stay here in limbo?"
"No. we move on." Fitz holds Olivia's hand inside his own. "we've tried doing the right thing and that deserves some recognition but I am not going to lose my family over this. Jerry, is too smart and we were in over our heads."
"It's doesn't seem fair."
"It's not, but the only thing we can do now is move on from here."
Olivia sighs, it doesn't feel right. None, of this feels right.
"We need to meet with the team, about coming up with a plan."
"We have, Liv."
"We need to try harder."
"Ok." Fitz shakes his head.
"Our anniversary is coming up." Olivia decides to change the subject,moving closer towards his side of the bed, snuggling into his warm body that comforts her always.
"It is." Fitz smiles
"Why are you smiling?"
"I just have something planned that's all."
"Oh really?" she sits up in the bed to stare at him, knowing his face will give away anything that he is feeling.
"Keep looking but you aren't getting any info out of me."
Olivia laughs softly before falling back to bed.
"I have a surprise for you too."
"Oh really?" He's shocked
"Yeah…" he tickles her causing her to erupt in laughter
"Tell me everything " he pleads
"Be quiet, you are going to wake up the baby." Olivia hushes as she kisses his warm and inviting lips.
He turns to look at the bassinet next to Olivia's side of the bed, he originally tried to move the baby toward his side but every night he would wake up and find him on Olivia's side of the bed, with her excuse being that she didn't want Abraham to wake him up.
"I'm ready to quit tomorrow."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I'm done. We are done. I need to get out of there while I still can."
Olivia nods in agreement but she doesn't say anything.
"Why would Daniel do that to me?"
He turns slightly never expecting Olivia to ask that question.
"He thought you were going to be his wife. Spousal privilege."
Olivia shakes her head with disgust "prohibiting testimony against a spouse in a criminal trial, to ensure a fair trial." Olivia rolls her eyes.
"He's smart." Fitz gives his brother credit "he thought he was going to get the girl and make dad happy."
"He might have, had you not showed up."
"Do you think you would have married him?"
Olivia shrugs "I don't know. I know I wouldn't be happy, but Daniel was the most serious relationship I had been in until you came along "
"Now?"
"Now." Olivia falls back to her side of the bed as Fitz leans over on her side of the bed to watch her "Now, I find myself wanting things I never wanted before. More open to the idea of things I wrote off long ago."
They make eye contact, unspoken words are transcribed and Fitz knows exactly what Olivia is referring to.
He climbs over her, tasting the remnants of wine on her tongue.
"Be quiet." Fitz whispers to Olivia as she removes her nightie.
"Why?"
"Because I am about to do very naughty things to you…" Fitz whispers
"Like what?" Olivia teases with a smirk on her face
He pulls her feet to the edge of the bed causing her giggle in surprise.
The sight of Fitz in between her legs does something enigmatic to Olivia. She feels his warm breath on her most sacred spot and consciously she is wanton with desire at the sight of him.
The oxygen catches in her throat as she feels his flattened tongue lick her clit. His tongue is hot and the air that rushes in afterwards is cool and her hips jerk forward helplessly into the sensation. Inadvertently she arches her hips for more contact.
Fitz takes his first tentative taste of Olivia with the tip of his tongue. He moans in obvious delight at the taste of her before taking another sip of her again. She tastes celestial, delicious rather. She's a smoother blend than any scotch and finer than any Cuban cigar . She is the most riches thing he has ever ate.
He cups her ass underneath, pulling her all the way into his mouth, whimpering loudly, she unconsciously spreads her legs wider for him, tipping her head back and closing her eyes as all the sensations known to man combust through her.
He rubs himself vigorously at the noise coming from Olivia. He can cum just by watching her, thinking about her.
Her head thrashes as he licks her with excruciating slowness, discovering every corner and crevice of her. She's already dangerously close to cumming, as his tongue finally reaches her clit, lightly flicking against it . Olivia finds it's becoming increasingly difficult to breathe as the sensations rushing through her become heightened.
"Fitz." She whimpers as her hand holds Fitz still inside her, twirling her fingers in his soft hair. It's too much yet not enough. But he's unforgiving, even with her pleads to cum he continues his meticulous attack.
Her ears begin pounding, she licks her lips deliriously as her eyes close in deep concentration, her climax moves over her and she surrenders to her carnal desires.
She's panting into his ear, hands gripped tight around the back of his neck as she surrenders to wave after wave of pleasure.
Feverishly subdued, she gazes up at Fitz and notices his engorged member staring at her.
She rises up in the bed, and rubs his enlarged member more than pleased to see him equally naked. She guides him to lay down as she moves to take the lead.
She teases his tip, rubbing herself along his member, happy to cause him such torture until she finally allows him entry.
He bites his bottom lip dangerously close to bleeding, trying with every bit of strength not to cum before her. She bends down to kiss him, their tongue battles for supremacy both aiming to win. He grips her hair tightly as he pumps into her vigorously with such wild abandonment that he can feel Olivia clench around him, his hand travels down and rubs her clit as their lips remained attached.
Her moans grow louder with each minute. She's struggling to remain quiet as Fitz groans in her ears. All that is heard in the room is their exchange of breath and their skin joining and separating at a rapid speed.
"I'm cumming." Olivia cries and with her sweet whimpers becoming more pronounce, Fitz flips Olivia on her back as he enters her with accurate precision to make her come once again and she does and he follows suit.
Their heavy breathing fills the room, till a young sob screams from beside their bed.
"You woke him, up." Olivia hisses watching Fitz pick up the young baby from his crib
"That was all you." Fitz laughs as he brings Abraham into the bed with them.
"Cause you made me." Olivia counters
"Are you complaining women?" Fitz turns to Olivia. He settles Abraham on his chest. Softly patting him back to sleep.
"You are really good with him."
"We make a good team." Fitz smiles at Olivia before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
/
"We have to come up with something!" Olivia says to the group in her living room.
"Liv, we 've tried and nothing works."
"We just aren't thinking."
"We have exhausted every outlet to spare you and we can't. We can play ignorance in court but it would be incredibly difficult to prove your innocence when all the information supports you being a part of it." Abby reminds Olivia.
Olivia folds her arms, annoyed that she didn't see this coming. How did she let this happen?
"What if we returned the funds back to the firm? Huck can remove Olivia's name somehow and we can go about planning the next step. What if we plant the money in someone else's account?" Stephen brings up
"I can do that."
"They are going to follow the money and if the money is returned back due to error?" Olivia brings up
"That can work." Quinn chirps up from the chair.
"Send the money back but send it to an account not constantly reviewed."
"Ok." Huck begins typing away, jumping to several programs that deals with encryptions and decoding of software systems.
"I think we got it." Huck says after a few hours. He opens Olivia's bank accounts to find her large bonuses removed and planted back inside the firm.
"I've created a web that will not trace back to you, Liv. I've encrypted this meticulously. You are safe."
Olivia nods her head.
"Fitz, is going to be happy to hear this." Quinn brings up happily
"Where is Fitz?"
"He's quitting."
"He's quitting?" The group exclaims with equal shock
"Why, stay? We were going to try and move on regardless of the outcome. But now we finally can."
"Looks, like you guys have a lot to celebrate." Abby quips to a confused Olivia.
"It's your anniversary this week. You've been planning this." Abby reminds Olivia
"I have." Olivia nods her head "I'm just nervous that's all."
"You'll be fine. He won't say no."
Olivia doesn't respond but nods her head. Her mind is everywhere at the moment but currently she's fixated on him and how he's doing.
/
He stands outside the building he once belonged too. The overcrowded street becomes less chaotic as people pass him by and enter the cell he calls hell. They all look so familiar yet are so different. It is a peculiar feeling to end a story where it has begun. With one finally look, he enters once again.
The blurred faces smile at him, staring at him with wonder as to what will happen next. They see it, they feel the end drawing near.
He opens the door and closes it swiftly without so much as a sound.
"What are you doing here?" Daniel says from his desk without so much as looking up from his stack of papers.
"I quit." His voice of strength and conviction that even Daniel's head rises to stare at him with confusion yet elatedness.
"What?"
"I quit." Fitz says once again. His head is held high, his shoulders squared back.
"Why?"
"You win brother."
"I didn't know we were playing a game."
"This is all it has been. Just a game. And you win."
"What do I win, exactly?" Daniel crosses his arms.
"This." Fitz says referring to the space they both occupy. There can only be room for one and Fitz silently retreats from this place all together.
"Why now?"
"You are my future if I stay here. I do not want to live my life not knowing who I am, and how I came to be this way. You have lost your soul long ago, and I will not." Fitz walks away from the office.
"Is this about Olivia?" Daniel rises from his desk "because I loved her and tried to keep her safe"
"Did you? Or did you throw her into the lion's den under the belief that she would be safe?"
Daniel freezes at Fitz's question.
"What are you referring to?" Daniel hisses
"You did this to her. She left because of you and I am happy that she did. We both know what this place is, and what happens to those who stay here. "
"Amber?" Daniel mentions attempting to bait Fitz but he doesn't budge.
Fitz eyes the large corner office that he once occupied "I thought this was a good place. I thought we were good people, but this is all an illusion aimed at projecting everyone's deepest desires and wishes. A false sense of security. And mirage that we all find ourselves stuck in." He eyes the many plaques on the shelf. The awards this company won under the pseudonym of civility and aiding the city and the helpless. Oh, the hypocrispy of it all.
"I will not be part of this illusion anymore. Jerry, is not in control of my life anymore."
"He won't accept that."
Fitz turns back around and eyes his brother who appears to be a stranger "He has no choice."
Daniel eyes Fitz, unnerved by his calmness.
"Goodbye, Daniel."
"Fitz…"
"Just a little advice, dirty little secrets always manage to come out."
Without turning around, Fitz walks away. Avoiding the looks and stares of everyone, Amber included.
/
"This can work."
"This can work." Olivia confirms with her arms wrapped around her legs, she eyes Fitz as he goes through the folder with a fine tooth comb.
"It's as if the money has disappeared."
"It did, back into the company."
Fitz smiles at Olivia before looking back at the paperwork.
"This is it."
Olivia's head falls on Fitz's lap as he softly rubs her head, knowing how much she loves it.
"We did it, Liv." He kisses her on the lips before smiling at the paper. It's all falling into place.
"We did." Olivia sits up in the bed as she smiles at Fitz "now we can celebrate."
"That can be arranged." Fitz says climbing on top of a giggling Olivia.
/
"Fitz, you know I hate surprises."
"I know, but it's our anniversary."
Olivia pouts through the blindfolded. " Why can't you just tell me."
"Because it's a surprise."
"Are we almost there?"
"Yes. We are here, but you can't take off your blind fold."
Olivia sighs but abides to Fitz's wishes.
"I can't believe, we filled a missing report on Faith."
"I know. "Fitz agrees "but it feels right, we've got all of our ducks in a row. We are ready."
Olivia nods her head in agreement.
"Abby, is keeping Abraham tonight?" Fitz confirms
"Yes. Her and Stephen are more than thrilled to keep him." Olivia says neutrally though inside she's worried about him being away from her.
Fitz smiles but doesn't comment, he knows it takes Olivia time to grow comfortable around people, and when it comes to Abraham, Olivia's feelings are often conflicted between what she feels and what she wants.
"Ok. You can take your blind fold off."
Without a second to waste, Olivia slides it off and looks around the large spacious building.
"What is this?"
"Let's take a look around." Fitz grabs Olivia's hand and walks her around.
"So here is the kitchen. Small but functional."
With Fitz leading the way, he guides her to a large room with cracked windows.
"This is the conference room. I know the windows are cracked but I feel that it builds character, you know. Not so cookie cutter perfect, but beautiful in its own way."
Olivia doesn't respond.
"There are several offices around here. Everyone has their own, but this is my favorite room." Fitz opens the mahogany double doors and Olivia marvels at the beautiful space and layout, it's open but reserved.
"It's perfect." Olivia whispers and it is.
"Good." Fitz smiles at her "it's yours."
Her eyes grow twice in size, her heart beats at an irregular pace, her stomach drops at the confession.
"What?" she whispers to him in shock and confusion
"I bought this building for you. For us. You said we needed an office…"
Olivia circles the large building already seeing their future so clearly.
"Fitz…" her voice fades out
"It's yours." He smiles at her "I wanted you to have a place that is yours, you told me of your dream and now you have no excuse as to why you aren't taking over the world."
"I can't accept this." Olivia whispers with tears threatening to fall down her face.
"Why not?"
"How did you afford this?"
"I am a wealthy man. My mother died and left me her money that she received from the divorce, I also have a trust fund but most importantly I'm a Grant." Fitz jokes causing Olivia to chuckle softly "I've always had money, but I just preferred not to use it. Not his money."
"Why the change of heart?"
"You." Fitz answers simply as his fingers glide across the wall "you are what changed my heart. I've never wanted anything In life until the day I met you. Because of you, I am becoming someone that I can be proud of. I still have work to do but I'm getting there." His voice trails off as he looks outside the window "Jerry caused us more than enough pain, I feel we deserve some conciliation for our suffering."
Olivia shakes her head in agreement. "You are the man of my dreams." Olivia rubs his face so tenderly that it feels like soft clouds caressing his cheek. "I can't repay you Fitz. Not now. I don't-"
"This isn't tick for tact, Liv. This is me investing in your future."
Large tears fall down her face as she shields her face in his chest.
"I love you, Wonder Girl." He whispers in her ear before kissing the crown of her head
Olivia giggles before looking up at Fitz "I love you too."
He smiles down at Olivia before kissing her lips.
"How do I repay you?"
He wraps his arms around Olivia's waist "if I am ever in need of your services, you show up. Deal?"
"Deal." Olivia promises once again resting her head on Fitz's chest "what should we name this place? The Grant and Pope firm?"
"I thought we weren't going to be a firm?"
"We are lawyers but it won't be a law firm." Olivia agrees repeating her mantra
"The Grant and Pope counsel?" Olivia offers
"How about Olivia Pope and Associates."
Olivia's eyebrows rise, her eyes growing wider. Perhaps it's the lighting in the room, but they fill with tears. And boy do they fall. She doesn't make any type of sound, but she cries silently, allowing him to watch her be open for the first time in her life. How is it possible that she managed to meet him?
She lets out a puff air that she has been holding in, for the first time in her life she can breathe.
He wipes her tears away grasping her small head in his hand, he kisses her tenderly. gently. His lips wet from their shared tears. Her mouth opens larger as she attempts to both devour and feed Fitz her very essences.
It's quiet a perplexing sensation for Olivia to describe both her fear and desire when it comes to Fitz. She wants to consume him and be consumed. She rubs his cheek as she smiles at him.
"Happy anniversary."
Olivia nods her head before walking to her purse and grabbing two folders.
She wipes her tears quickly before returning back to Fitz.
"I found Faith's family, Her real name is Miranda Simone Biel. They live in Philadelphia, which is a drive but it's doable. We can return Abraham to his grandparents or…" She hands Fitz the folder containing Faith's family's location
"Or?"
Olivia hands Fitz another folder "or we can adopt him."
Fitz opens the folder and finds the legal documents for adoption inside.
"I have friends, who typed up the paperwork and who would sign off on us adopting him. So what do you say?" She waits for his response with bated breath.
Now, it's Fitz's turn to cry. His eyes are read, he stares at the paperwork and sees that Olivia has already signed it.
She's in.
His hand covers his mouth to stop him from sobbing. Fitz shakes his head at Olivia in disbelief before kissing her soundly on her lips, she has once again completely overthrown him.
/
He carries a few boxes inside OPA. He figured he would get a head start on moving in. Fitz smiles at the place, it's perfect for them, a place where they can start over.
Clapping echoes throughout the room.
"Well done, my boy!" Jerry claps as he walks through the office towards Fitz.
"What are you doing here."
"It's time to come home, playtime is over."
Fitz squares up to Jerry " Please leave."
"I own this place. I'm not going anywhere."
"You do not own this place. Oliva does."
"With my money!" Jerry yells
"I'm not sure what you are talking about." Fitz says walking away from Jerry.
"You play me for a fool, like I don't know about you two."
Fitz freezes at the accusation he thanks God that he has his back facing Jerry otherwise he would see just how frightened he is.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
Jerry smiles all too calmly. "Then let us start from the beginning."
Jerry hands Fitz a phone.
"Press play." Jerry commands
He watches the video, oddly familiar with the day. They were at the ranch, and it was raining and Olivia was watching him work on his truck. He watches the video, witnessing the moment once again where his heart and lips became Olivia's. Their sacred moment tarnished. He remembers that day so clearly yet with Jerry's all knowing state he feels immense regret.
"You've been spying on us?" Fitz turns to Jerry with such bewilderment he could be sick.
"I've known all along. Hell, I've supported it!"
"Why?"
"Because I had something over you. I needed a girl to control you."
"You needed, Olivia."
Jerry nods his head. "It's both upsetting and uplifting to see how little my son thinks of me. I saw the way you looked at her, I kept Daniel away just so you could fall in love with her."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted you to know that everything you have is because of me. I don't ask for much, Fitzgerald but you constantly undermine my authority. I told you we had business to handle and you continued to live your life under the belief that you were in charge."
His breath becomes ragged. "I still don't know what you are talking about."
Jerry laughs before moving to sit in a chair at the conference room "I give Olivia credit, she is much harder to read but you…you are a love sick puppy who barks every time she tells you too. I thought you two had broken up but when I found out that she was at the hospital when Helen died and that she was threatening to sue me and Daniel, I knew Olivia Pope was there to rescue her sweet lover boy, and right there I had you once again."
Fitz stares ahead refusing to look Jerry into his eyes. "What do you want Jerry?"
Jerry fixes his tie as he makes himself comfortable in the chair. "Your Presidency is calling, but before you become President we have to make you appear worthy of such title. Pack your bags, we are going home."
"I am home."
Jerry shakes his head in disagreement .
"I'm not going anywhere."
Jerry sighs "I will blackmail Olivia, frame her for a crime that she didn't commit. You realize that I have the commissioner in my back pocket, and that's not even counting the prosecutors and judges that lie in my arsenal."
"Tell the world about us." Fitz dares
"You don't want that. Because what happens is that Olivia Pope goes down as being the white man's whore." Fitz rushes towards Jerry punching him forcefully that he falls out of the chair.
"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" Fitz hisses "Our lives are not a joke! Her life matters!" Fitz yells as he paces in circles.
"Her life does not matter. Not to me." Jerry counters ignoring Fitz's already enraged stance
Jerry stumbles getting up but eventually shakes it off. "Olivia's reputation will be no more. I will have one of my cops plant incriminating evidence on her and because she is black and a women her charges will be three times the severity of someone of our stature. And watch how little the world will care about her injustice. See how little her life does matter"
"You son of a bitch!" Fitz charges towards him again
"Enough, Fitzgerald." Jerry stands moving to sit down in the chair, throwing his hand up to stop Fitz "I am giving you the choice."
"That's blackmail."
Jerry bites his lip "No. blackmail is when my son and his girlfriend try to bring me down!" Jerry yells standing up from the chair, slamming his hand on the table "you underestimate your opponent's Fitzgerald! I am powerful because I keep my enemies close, so close that the penthouse that you and Olivia went to meet Charles was bugged."
Fitz's eyes grow larger in diameter. He feels sick to his stomach nauseated by each word that falls from Jerry's lips. How did he fail so miserably at beating him, why did he assume he was going to be victiorious.
"This is how I keep my enemies close, son. My hotels are filled with cameras that catches their every action that they have no choice but to succumb to my will."
"The Commissioner. Charles…"
"One of the many."
Fitz stares at Jerry with new found fear.
"You are a monster."
"I am." Jerry agrees "but the problem Fitz, is that you don't know how to leave things alone. "
"You killed Faith." Fitz rushes out
Jerry's eyebrow rise in curiosity not expecting Fitz to throw out her name, and not entirely knowing how he knows about her.
"You know her?"
"You are a monster." Fitz ignores Jerry's question.
"I had to kill her and her baby." Jerry brings up simply
"Why, would you kill your own son?"
His brow furrows with confusion "my son?"
"You killed the baby, why? Because you didn't want the world to find out just how despicable you are?"
Jerry laughs "that's not my child, but he was my grandson."
Fitz freezes at Jerry's confession "Daniel…"
"Faith wasn't the right hue for me, now Daniel…"
Fitz gives Jerry a menacing look, his blue eyes cutting into him.
"Daniel was cheating on Olivia with her, but Daniel stopped seeing her out of fear that Olivia would catch him…When word got out that Faith had a baby, Daniel asked for me to have them taken care of."
"Why would he do that?"
Jerry shakes his head at Fitz in disbelief "Olivia. haven't you seen? Olivia holds all the keys. Daniel couldn't risk Olivia finding out that he fathered a child with someone else so he wanted them both killed and they are. Thank you, for reporting them missing by the way."
With his jaw clenched he refuses to speak anymore.
"Now. You have pissed me off and had you been anyone else you would have been dead long ago. But I need you. And you still have work that needs to be done."
"I'm not going anywhere Jerry."
Jerry shakes his head frustrated "your brother doesn't know about you and Olivia, but he will if you do not obey. I will tell him. I will tell the world, and the women you love will be no more. There are many ways to destroy a life, death isn't always the answer, but in Olivia's case death would be kind if you don't heed to my warning. I will ruin her. " Jerry promises
Jerry pulls a file "fortunately, Amber has been telling me all about you and Olivia, but Amber noticed that your profile was viewing quite a bit of our contracts with our high profile clients."
"You are prostituting young girls, sex trafficking. That firm was nothing but a coverup for your bigger activities." Fitz hisses
"It was. But thanks to you, thats all in the past." Jerry stands up walking around the spacious room "You did some good after all, son." His hands fall into his pants pockets. " I have to make sure that nothing touches your political future. So my personal business is closed, and it's all thanks to you." Jerry says sarcastically "You did what you said you would do, but it came at a price." He stands across from Fitz who's emotions aren't describable "You are a big part of the big sun, boy."
" You forced an innocent person into your game. " His voice dangerously low
"No one is innocent."
"She is." He growls moving ever so slowly towards his father
"and Daniel made sure to connect Olivia to our family business since she was going to be his wife, but…somehow Olivia's involvement was reduced. Fortunately, Amber made sure to print out Olivia's contracts and her own percentage for being a loyal worker at the firm….you see son, if you think about taking me down, she will fall with me."
Standing in front of his father, he acknowledges his looming figure but also his own "You stay away from her."
"I will. Under one condition."
"What do you want?"
"You are going to break up with Olivia."
Fitz falls into the chair across from Jerry, his body gives out. Jerry has managed to knock the wind out of him without lifting a hand.
"No" Fitz yells "I will do anything but that." He warns
"You don't have a choice. Perhaps if you weren't always trying to ruin me then maybe I would be merciful but you haven't been kind to me."
"I'm sorry." Fitz pleads
"It's too late. The damage is done."
"No." Fitz shakes his head "we are starting a family. We are going to be happy."
"Maybe in another life and another reality, but not this one."
Fitz turns to Jerry. "I will do whatever you ask of me, but please don't touch her." Fitz begs
"We can bargain." Jerry agrees
"Ok." Fitz wipes a quick tear.
"You breakup with her, make no mention of what happened here and she gets to live, freely."
"I have to tell her the truth. She deserves to know."
"You lost that right when you came after me. I would have allowed her to be your mistress but you just can't seem to learn."
His eyes glare at Jerry "Olivia, needs the truth."
"Tell her and I will end her. I will know if you are talking to her, if you tell her…I will know."
"I have to be with her."
"You can't."
"Jerry…please. I love her." Fitz confesses.
"Then you give for what you love."
"End it, or I will end her."
/
When he returns to Olivia's apartment, he finds Olivia sitting on the couch nursing a glass of red wine. She looks up at him for a moment, a soft smile etching on her face as she turns back to watching the news.
"What's wrong?" Olivia asked turning off the tv.
His mouth opens but the words fail to come out.
She looks back at him, noticing that he's frozen in place. Something is not right. "What's wrong?"
"I can't do this." He whispers
"Can't do what?"
"This." He points between the two of them
Olivia smiles softy, chuckles "very funny."
"I'm not laughing."
Her eyes grow twice in size, her arms become folded, her lips pursed.
"What is this about?"
Fitz swallows looking down at his feet "I thought I could do this, but I was wrong."
Olivia shakes her head in disbelief "what did Jerry do?" Her voice shakes but she doesn't move from the couch
"Nothing. This is me. "
"I don't believe you." She whispers out "this makes no sense."
"I'm no good for you, and it's time I stop pretending to be."
"What?" she can't believe she is hearing this.
Fitz walks away towards the small bar, reaching for his scotch. He downs the bottle before a hand stops him, it's her hand.
"What did Jerry do?" Olivia ask once again, her voice calm as ever
"Olivia, I'm done." He turns to her struggling to keep his own feelings in check. "this is me, breaking up with you."
There are tears welling in her eyes, but she won't let them fall. She can't let them fall, she won't "I won't accept that." Olivia answers
"You don't have a choice."
She pushes him against the wall "Tell me the truth." Olivia pleads "he got to you and I need to know what he has over you. I need the truth."
"This is the truth."
"No, it's not."
He blows out the air he had been holding in, his hands rub his head "the truth is that you aren't good enough for me." He looks down at her, watching her bright eyes dim under his words "I need someone who wants what I want, someone who isn't damaged…You are too broken for me."
Olivia shakes her head, her anger welling inside, she slaps him. Her tears are begging to fall down but she still manages to keep them in.
He walks past Olivia, only to be blocked from leaving "you aren't going anywhere." Olivia says coldly
He's desperate to leave. "Olivia. We are done."
"Why?"
Tears fall down his cheek as he looks up at the ceiling "because I don't love you."
Her lips tremble, a single tear falls down her cheek, but she wipes it quickly. "I don't believe you. I know he got to you, and I know you are trying to protect me but…I want to be with you, and you want to be with me and we can find some way to be together, but you have to tell me so I can fix it." She cradles his face in her hands so tenderly, he manages to kiss the palms of her hands subtly.
"You can't fix this, just like you couldn't fix me."
Fitz, sees that glimmer of hope falling down the irrevocable vortex of desolate. She's breaking and he's falling with her.
"I don't love you, and I'm sorry for putting you through this but I can't do this anymore."
"Fitz…" she whimpers holding onto Fitz for dear life, and without thought his arms engulf her, desperate to protect her. "you said you would never leave me." Olivia's lips tremble until her breath gave out and she sobbed into the crook of his neck.
He brushes her hair back, as he cries silently. "I could change for you." Olivia offers
"You are perfect. It's me." His voice cracking.
"Then why can't you stay?"
He licks his dried lips, his own words failing him "because I have to go…"
"Where?"
"Away from here. Away from you. I have to get myself together and I can't do that taking care of you." He's hitting her blow the belt, desperate to make her hate him.
Olivia lifts her head to stare at Fitz, this isn't him yet his words cut her more than any glass could ever penetrate her skin. "I won't beg you to stay with me, to love me. That is your choice, but if you leave here without telling me why then I will never forgive you, and you will lose me forever." her voice is falling but she manages to express Fitz's choices to him
"Hate me."
She stares at him in disbelief. She unravels her arms from around him, as he subtly clings to her before she creates distance between them.
"I do hate you." Olivia promises, her tears have stopped. Her lips are firm, rigged, her anger palpable.
"I know you can't forgive me." Fitz murmurs
"You're right. I can't. and I won't."
Tears sting at his eyes, and he blinks rapidly to push them away.
"You are a coward and you are not the man I thought you were."
His head falls, he reaches to touch her cheek but she slaps his hand away pushing him away roughly into the wall.
Her breathing is uneven, her breath ragged.
"You can hate me, but I did this for you."
"You still haven't given me an answer."
"I told you, why!" Fitz yells
"I don't love you, is not acceptable." Olivia retorts her arms folded.
"It's the truth." Fitz says stoically. The soft spoken man she fell in love with is gone. What she sees of him is a hollow shell of the man he once was.
Olivia glances away from him, burned by his rejection. "I wish I never laid eyes on you."
Fitz swallowed and nodded his head "I know…"
"And what about the baby? What do we do with Abaraham?" Olivia ask
He wipes the moisture from his face, removing his tears "get rid of him."
His voice so cold and remote that Olivia stares at him in shock at who he is and what he has become. "you don't mean that." She whispers to him but she feels it's more for herself.
"Get rid of him." Fitz repeats himself "send him back where he belongs."
Olivia nods her head, walking to the door she opens it for him without so much as a word. She's done. If he wants an exit, Olivia will guide him to it.
He follows her footsteps but stops at the doorway where she refuses to look at him.
He waits a few seconds for Olivia to acknowledge him, but she doesn't.
"Goodbye, Olivia." He whispers
Coldly she turns to face him "Goodbye, Fitzgerald." And closes the door behind her.
She's gone. Their relationship irretrievably ruined.
He stays at her doorstep, frozen in time. He waits for her, the soles of his shoes planted firmly in the wood floors, bound to the spot she left him at. He can't find the courage to walk away.
He grabs the door knob, turning the knob to his right as he pushes the door open, only to find the door locked, with the deadbolt.
She's gone.
/
She's banging at the door. Furiously, angrily, she won't give up. She can't.
"Olivia?"
"What did you do to him?" her anger is cold and unforgetting that even Amber shrills at the ferocity.
"I don't know what you are talking about?"
"Fitz. What did you do to him?"
"I did nothing."
Olivia shakes her head, her hands are fisted, she's struggling to keep her emotions in check but she can't lose him that easily, her heart wont let her, not until she has exhausted every possible alternative.
"I dated him once…and he made it seem like he loved me but he doesn't." Her voice trails off "he likes the idea of being in love but not the responsibility that comes with it." Amber looks to Olivia so humanly that Olivia finds herself believing her for a second, but only a second.
"You blackmailed him, and I am going to find out how you did it."
Amber opens the door for Olivia and Olivia walks in.
"He's not a good guy." Amber says softly, dressed in blue jeans and a green t-shirt, Amber doesn't look anything like the women she is at work. She looks human. Normal.
"He's the best guy." Olivia corrects her.
Amber gives one look at Olivia before walking away and handing her phone.
"Press play." She says softly and Olivia eyes her for a second on whether she should, but curiosity kills the cat and she presses play.
There he was, fucking Amber. Her Fitz, she knows the video is new, she sees the ring she gave him falling out of his shirt. She remembers this day. It was the night of the party, Fitz came home drunk and disheveled. He was broken that night, they made love that night. All night.
"You were with Daniel…" Olivia mentions to Amber refusing to act on her emotions, she recalls that night vividly, remembering what Fitz told her about what had happened.
"I am with which ever Grant man that wants me." Amber confesses
Olivia stares at Amber with tears welling in her eyes. This can't be true. The visceral pain she feels can't be fathomed. "I don't believe you." She stares at the tape in disgust, in horror. His back is facing the camera and while she knows his body better than her own, the method of his movement feels foreign. It's clearly him, fully dressed with even his jacket on yet the way he is sleeping with her is unlike anything he has ever done with her. Its as if she was watching a stranger and perhaps she is.
"He sleeps with me when he's angry…" Amber whispers out
"Why did you record this?" She holds the phone hostage, her eyes unmoving as she quizzes Amber.
"To show you the truth."
Olivia shakes her head, Fitz would have told her this, he wouldn't keep this from her yet he was there doing it.
"He wouldn't do this."
"But he did. I was a victim of Jerry's and Fitz slept with me…He likes being needed but when the need exceeds his ability he flees…"
Her brown doe eyes water recalling Amber's words mirroring Fitz's own words to her. She hands Amber her phone back, suddenly feeling exhausted.
"I am going to give you the honest truth, Olivia. You should stay away from the Grant men at all cost. Being with them or near them will only lead to you getting hurt or stuck like me. Take this as a second chance."
They stare at one another, while Amber's once shimmering eyes filled with mischief dimmer and for the first time Olivia receives Amber's words .Olivia doesn't say anything but looks toward the window. An escape. Maybe Fitz gave her an exit, but what happens to him?
/
The stewardess talks on the intercom that they will be taking off.
"You ready boy?"
Fitz turns to Jerry. "You will leave her alone?"
"I'll keep my promise."
Fitz nods his head "Then I'm ready."
This by far the hardest chapter I have ever written for a story thus far. To add some clarification. Yes, Olivia and Fitz are broken up and yes this has been the plan from the beginning. If you recall from chapter 23 I believe, Fitz was leaving the party but Jerry handed him a drink...yes, Fitz was drugged and he does not recall anything that happened after that incident. It's sad that Fitz and Olivia have been working towards this goal but end up losing everything in return. And Jerry, does not know about Abraham he believes the baby is dead with Faith... Fitz made sure to protect both Olivia and Abraham.
While this is the last chapter for this book, this is only the beginning for this . I am writing a sequel. The sequel will be titled "For Better or Worse."I know some of you will not be happy with my creative choice, but this is my story. I understand those who do not wish to follow, but for those who do, you will not be let down. The sequel is the real story. And I wrote many easter eggs as to what the sequel may be about.
I will be be in hiding for a while, out of necessity, out of fear and caution.
See you all very soon,
Muse