Part 2

Olivia was buzzing from head to toe- what a week!

Working at NOW was everything she has anticipated it to be and so much more. It had been fast paced from the moment she stepped through the doors- just as she liked it. Fitz had chaired a meeting with the founders on her first day; formally introducing her and explaining what her new role would be within their organisation, before going on to address various protocols and new cases. It was a lot to take in, but she managed to keep up remarkably well for a newbie. The founders, who had welcomed her with opened arms and seemed keen to get her started, where three of the most extraordinary black women she had ever met. All of them amazing in their own rights; strong, intelligent and completely driven to make a stand for American Women- blacks and whites alike. In short they were the epitome of inspirational; their collective visions were a breath of fresh air, and more importantly they were inclusive. Which in Olivia's eyes was essential to the organisations future success and longevity. It made perfect sense, otherwise how could America even begin to move forward on issues of race and equality, if organisations like NOW only catered to black women? No, NOW has chosen to break the proverbial mold, and that gave them an advantage.

After months of tirelessly searching for work, she had finally found something she could sink her teeth into and hopefully get the chance to make a difference. She felt privileged to be part of such a worthy cause, but above all extremely grateful to her father and Fitz for providing her with this opportunity. Hence part of the reason as to why she stopped off at the grocery store; with her first pay check in hand, in search of a small gift for Fitz and a fresh cut of prime beef steak for her father's dinner. It was the least she could do.

"Liv, is that you?" Her father calls out to her from the living room.

"Hey daddy," she replies cheerfully, hanging up her coat and heading in the direction of his voice. "Guess what I've got for dinner…" She announces, but then trails off once she realises they have company. "Oh Edison… Hi, I wasn't expecting you to be here?" She looks at him questioningly, however it's Eli that responds instead. "I invited him over for dinner Liv, I hope you don't mind, I just thought it would be nice for the pair of you to catch up; that way you could tell him all about the new job", he suggests with a wink.

She responds with a tight smile.

Her father's intentions couldn't be more obvious if he tried. Since the day she introduced Edison to her father as her friend, he had been pushing for them to become more. Edison came from a good, well-educated family, and Eli only wanted the best for his little girl, and in his mind Edison was it. Unfortunately she was not interested in anything other than friendship, which she had made clear to her father, and Edison for that matter- very early on in their relationship when it became obvious to her that he was holding out for more. Not that she didn't find him attractive, because she did; but Edison was far too traditional for her, especially when it came to gender roles. They had many fiery debates on what they believed the role of a wife should play- and no part of what he had to say on the topic made her feel inclined to entertain delusions of romance and marriage with this man. Simply, what she wanted from a man was something that Edison could not provide.

"Actually Daddy, I was planning on cooking you a nice meal to celebrate, but I'm afraid it won't be enough to share between three…so…" She turns to Edison, apologetically, "I'm sorry Edison, maybe we can hang out another night?"

"Nonsense," Eli interrupts, "I'll head out and grab something else to eat, that way Edison can have my half - problem solved".

"Mr Pope, it's fine, I can see Olivia another night…" Edison tries to protest, but Eli won't hear another word. He stands up and reaches for his hat… "Nope, nope, nope… You stay, I insist." He walks over to Olivia and kisses her on the forehead. "I'll see you later pumpkin; you two kids have fun now you hear."

"Bye dad." She replies dryly.

Highly amused, Edison smiles at her as Eli walks out the door.

Coast clear. "So… what's for dinner hunni?"

She picks up a cushion from the sofa and throws it at his head… "Don't even go there Davis…"

He breaks out into laughter, unable to contain himself for any longer.

"Haha, very funny." She hands him the groceries… "Here, make yourself useful, get this steak on the grill- while I go and freshen up".

He peers inside the bag, and spots a small flask of whiskey- "Oooh fancy, is this for us too?"

"Forget it, it's not for you, or me - it's for Fitz".

"And who's he exactly?"

She can't help but detect a tinge of jealous in his tone. "Fitz is my boss," she clarifies.

"Olivia Pope!" He berates her mockingly, or so it appears … "Well who'd have thought it, you're more scandalous then what you've led me to believe little lady."

"You wish, and it's not like that at all- If you must know it's a thank you present – Fitz has been extremely kind and generous to me this week; firstly by offering me the job and then by helping me to settle in- I owe him a lot."

A thought suddenly strikes him, "Is he white?"

She's a bit taken back by that. "And what difference does that make exactly?"

"Well, is he?"

"Yes he's white, and he also happens to be a friend of my dad's; they've worked on various political campaigns together."

He snorts. "A friend!? Liv come on, don't be so ridiculous. In this world we live in, your dad and Fitz could never be anything more than colleges and you know it."

"Uugh, you are so prejudice sometimes it's unbelievable…"

"Look, I'm just being real. I care about you Liv, and it worries me that you're out here buying gifts for some white man, you barely know, just because you think you owe him something…" He moves closer to her, as he adds warningly… "You best make sure that he doesn't start getting ideas into that big head of his, thinking that you owe him more than what you're willing to give up".

"Wow, not all white men are like that Edison!"

"And you'd be naïve to think otherwise Liv."

Incensed, she backs away and heads to the front door. "You know what, I think maybe you should go before I say something I might regret."

"Fine, I'll leave… but know this; as your friend I'm only trying to look out for you, and by doing so that sometimes involves me telling you how it is, even when you're too pig headed to hear it".

She refuses to respond, because she's just about holding a lid on her temper- How dare he underestimate her, and presume that she is incapable of making sound judgements about those around her.

Wisely he takes her silence as his cue to depart, which he does so, giving her a chaste peck on the cheek before heading through the door… "Just be careful Liv, that's all I ask."

Angrily, she slams the door shut behind him. "What does he know anyway..." she mumbles to herself… He didn't know him, Fitz could never be that guy, if anything he was unlike any other man she had met.