Eventually of course, Grace and Drake became the best of friends. Especially as Drake witnessed the commitment Grace had to Mr. Warbucks and to her work.
Neither Drake nor Grace left the house often, owing to how busy they were at the mansion, but when they did, they often went out together. Neither of them had family around and that was one thing which bonded them.
Drake showed Grace many New York sights, the museums, the monuments, and all his favorite dance halls and eating places. Grace was very grateful to have his friendship. Of course, she also had the opportunity to go out and have many new experiences with Mr. Warbucks as his secretary too. Even though it was for work, she enjoyed both of the men's company equally. Being on Mr. Warbucks' arm was quite a different experience than going out for an evening with Drake of course. The places were usually a lot ritzier and the company a lot more pretentious and filled with an air of finery. Despite the luxuriousness of it all, Grace always valued the more low-key outings with Drake, and she never forgot the way her colleague and friend had helped her to feel at home in New York City.
Drake and Mrs. Pugh became almost like surrogate parents to Grace. They advised her on a lot of things and often expressed concern about her over-working, Mrs. Pugh worried about her not eating enough and could often be found trying to entice Grace to eat with delicious sandwiches or sumptuous hot meals. Despite the fact that Grace was a grown woman and was quite keen to have her own independence, she was extremely grateful to both of them for the care they showed her. It wasn't something she'd had in her life for a very long time.
Despite never having any proper formal education, Grace was determined to learn as much as she possibly could, to do her job well - for Mr. Warbucks of course, but also for her own accomplishment.
She learned dictation and shorthand from a private tutor whom Mr. Warbucks had hired especially for her benefit. Mr. Warbucks himself taught her all that he could about business. Grace knew she was learning from the absolute best and she soaked up every minute of it. She would sit with him in his office late into the night, listening intently and taking notes. Perhaps she felt she had something to prove to people, but more than that, she wanted to make herself, and Mr. Warbucks proud. She was desperate to show him that by going to all the trouble he'd gone to for her - bringing her to America, giving her a job she was not yet qualified for, taking a chance on a poor girl from Hawaii, that he had not made the wrong decision.
But Oliver had no qualms about Grace at all. As far as he was concerned, she was completely competent. She excelled at all her studies and in her work and just eight weeks after her arrival in New York, he appointed her as his personal secretary without the slightest reservation.
She lightened his load exponentially as his assistant. He hadn't realized how much he'd been in need of help, and the work ethic Grace had made her an exemplary employee. She worked tirelessly for him and even though he hoped she knew she had proven herself fully already, he was extremely grateful for all the work she put in.
As his company grew, Oliver's workforce within his own home continued to expand as well. Grace became influential in the hiring process. She had good instincts about people - instincts that Oliver trusted and eventually he asked for her help in conducting interviews for all the new staff who joined them.
Although she was senior to many of her fellow employees, she showed them a great deal of respect, and that made them respect her in turn. Many of the staff came to count on her and embraced her as if she were part of their family. When Mrs. Greer joined the household, she and Grace became as close as sisters.
Grace was as fulfilled in her life as she had ever been before. She knew that she had truly found her place in the world and there was one man she had to thank for getting her there - Oliver Warbucks. She had become sort of like his "right hand man". The two of them worked together as a well oiled machine. She picked up on every one of his instincts. Oliver was amazed by how intuitive she was to his needs and thoughts. It was as if she knew him on a deeper level. Then again, Oliver supposed - she sort of did.
Even as they sat together in his office, discussing the most mundane and tedious things, there was always a little spark between the two of them, a stirring in each of their stomachs when someone would lean a little close, a silent acknowledgement of the intimate night they had shared - a memory kept sacred between only them.
One such evening, like many before and after, found them both standing in front of his desk. Oliver was staring down at plans for his new factory as he spoke to Grace. "Would you prepare those documents this evening before you retire, please? I need them ready for my meeting with Mr. Schwab tomorrow morning." He turned to face her and stopped breathing for a moment when he realized how close she was to him. Her focus was on her notebook but when she raised her eyes to look at him, her breath caught in her throat as well. "Yes, sir", she answered him, then gave him a secretive little smile. "Will Mr. Schwab be staying for lunch?"
"I hope not. There's a reason Thomas Edison called him the "master hustler". Anyway, he's only really coming to brag about winning the Bessemmer gold medal", he rolled his eyes and Grace giggled.
"Shall I um…interrupt your meeting tomorrow with a very important, not- able-to-be-put-off phone call?" She suggested with a sly sideways look.
Oliver grinned conspiringly along with her. "Now this is why I keep you around."
Grace scoffed at him, followed by a laugh, and he held up his hand apologetically. "And for many, many other reasons, of course."
She gave him a bright smile and he took her hand in his. "You are truly a gift to me Grace."
She raised her eyebrows at him in surprise, her heart swelling at his sweet words. "Thank you, sir."
He released her hands and took a step back from her. Grace wondered if he did it deliberately to stop himself from doing something else more foolish. She couldn't say she hadn't had her own impulses to do or say something more, but for the sake of professionalism, and out of duty and respect, she'd always held back.
She was unable to pinpoint exactly how and when her feelings about the man had developed but the two of them had certainly come a long way together. Her change in view of him started reluctantly in Hawaii but the more she learned about him, the more her respect for him grew. Then, she began to really trust him and suddenly strange little feelings of fondness filled up her mind and heart.
The more time that went by, the more she battled with her increasing emotions for him. They had worked together for so long and had become such a strong team. He knew he could depend on her to be there for him in a certain capacity. Grace didn't want to upset that balance or break that trust by going back on the promise they had made one another to keep their relationship professional.
Some of the other members of the household whom Grace was particularly friendly with, began to pick up on the closeness between her and Mr. Warbucks. Some developed suspicions that there may have been more between the pair.
"Mr. Warbucks has always had a real fondness for Grace. He's gentler with her somehow", Mrs. Pugh observed as she, Grace and Mrs. Greer sat at the kitchen table drinking coffee one morning. Mr. Warbucks was out of town that particular day.
"Really, Mrs. Pugh", Grace shook her head denyingly.
"Mm, I think he's more than fond of you, girlie. I think he's a little sweet, and don't tell me you wouldn't like at least a little of that sugar", Mrs. Greer raised an eyebrow at Grace who blushed and became quite flustered.
"Have you been consulting a clairvoyant by any chance, Mrs. Greer? Because I do believe you're starting to see things that aren't there."
Mrs. Pugh cackled at Grace's response and Mrs. Greer just stared back at her perceptively.
Once the depression arrived, there was simply no time for matters of the heart. Life for everyone at the mansion became incredibly stressful and strained.
Oliver struggled immensely, being the one to notify many of his employees that they could no longer keep their jobs. Grace started to offer him her help and it was at that point that he decided to make her new role official by naming her his Chief of Staff.
Grace refused to take a pay rise along with the new position, knowing how much the company was already losing and being aware of the millions of people who needed that money more than she.
Grace was comfortable - very comfortable. She couldn't ask for anything more really. Despite rejecting Oliver's offer of a raise, she did notice that he took a lot more opportunities to pay for things that she needed, as well as a few things simply for her own pleasure. She tried to refuse it, but he became rather sly when it came to paying for her things.
It wasn't as if he was going to go broke tomorrow, but Grace still felt reluctant to let him spoil her. He was generous to a fault and really did look after the people who looked after him.
That's why, when people began to accuse him of selfishness and greed, of having so much money while so many were going without, it affected Grace on such a personal level and really made her very upset.
Oliver started to get angry and ill-tempered and began lashing out at the nastiest reporters who would hound him and badger him all day long about his extortionate wealth.
Grace became increasingly worried for him. Not just because of how his outbursts were affecting his image, but because of how disheartened she knew the claims were making him feel. Oliver Warbucks had built himself a successful life, but he had also helped many, many people gain their own success along the way - herself included and it just wasn't fair that he was being targeted and attacked by the press and the public.
One late night, after a day of warding off reporters on top of more grueling financial meetings and the impending closure of his factories, Grace found Oliver hunched over his desk, his head buried in his hands.
He had been so strong for so long. He'd been a rock - for her and so many others, and now, the rock was beginning to crumble.
It absolutely broke Grace's heart to see him so defeated. He looked so fragile, like he was right on the edge of breaking down. The low light of his desk lamp cast a glow on the top of his head, making him appear almost angelic. She stood and watched him, praying for that weary head of his to be able to find some rest, at least for a little while.
After the crash and with the stress of the depression, the losses he suffered and the devastating closures of his factories, Oliver had become weathered by age, and began losing his hair. In Grace's eyes though, he never became any less attractive.
Even if their impassioned encounter on the first night they'd met had been unwanted on Grace's part - she never could deny that her bedmate was inarguably a very handsome man, and that opinion had never waned.
She approached him cautiously, not knowing if she was likely to be the victim of one of his verbal attacks - it had been happening more and more lately, but she knew he was more angry at the situation than at her. She stepped up to his desk, gazing down at him, wishing she could do something to alleviate at least some of his stress.
"Mr. Warbucks, I think it's time you consider the suggestion I made the other day to help improve your image. The orphanage…"
"Why should I have to do anything to change people's perspective about me? Why do I have to be responsible for changing their minds?" He asked wearily.
"I know it seems unfair, but I think it could do more than just change other people's perspectives. Perhaps a bit of youthful joy is something we could all benefit from", she smiled gently, trying to be convincing and encouraging.
Oliver raised his head tiredly to look at her. "I'm sorry Grace. I brought you over here to America with the promise of a lifetime of security and contentment, but now I'm afraid I might fail to keep that promise."
"Nothing you have ever done or will ever do is a failure to me", she told him seriously. "You couldn't have helped any of this any more than I could."
He bowed his head again and Grace looked down at him despondently. Seeing him like this was so hard for her. She just didn't know what to do for him. She had enjoyed being the one he turned to when he was in need of help, she liked feeling useful and was proud that he knew he could rely on her. But this was a different story - he was in dire need of help yet he wasn't letting her in anymore.
She thought back to when they first met. How he'd asked for her help and guidance on Oahu. She'd felt so empowered to be leading and advising such an important man, and to have the opportunity to share her culture with him.
The two of them had developed a very strong connection in Hawaii. A connection she couldn't help but feel was slipping away at this point.
He had become so important to her and he was the only person she knew who had experienced any part of where she came from. To lose that special bond she had with him, to have that connection through him to her homeland disappear - it scared her greatly. She felt that by losing him to his own depression, he was taking part of her with him.
A strong feeling stirred inside of her, a need to remind him of that connection they shared, in an effort to try and pull him out of his dark hole as well as to express how much she still needed him.
She gingerly crouched down beside him and gently turned him by his shoulders to face her. He blinked in surprise and confusion, unsure what she was doing and thinking.
Her purpose was quite clear though. She leaned forward and softly pressed her nose to his, bringing their foreheads together. She drew in a deep, fortifying breath, hoping he would understand her intent to share with him her breath, her life force.
Oliver was instantly taken back to Hawaii, where he was first introduced to the honi inu. He hadn't realized the sacredness of the custom then but now he felt it deeply. He drew in air through his nostrils, sharing his breath with Grace in turn. The rather intimate gesture was unexpected but somehow filled him with a renewed sense of peace and hope.
Grace pulled away from him and didn't even look him in the eyes as she swiftly walked away. Oliver stared after her as she left. Sort of frozen to the spot in astonishment.
He had picked up on all that she had tried to convey to him, as well as some things she probably hadn't intended to share. He knew she was trying to make him feel connected to something, to help him feel like he wasn't so lost. But he could also feel her own desperate need for connection. This was a woman he had been physically intimate with one time many years before and had shared many intimate moments with since. Whether it was sitting together giving and taking notes, drinking a cup of coffee in silence opposite each other, attending parties with her on his arm, walking through the streets of New York side by side, these were all acts of intimacy and the sensations he still felt, even after all these years with her, were incredibly strong, no matter how innocent their interactions were.
Doing what she had just done, Oliver got the sense that Grace was asking him not to shut himself off to her, as if she were trying to express how much she needed that connection with him - mind, body and soul.
He sincerely hoped he hadn't misinterpreted her.
…
Grace was troubled by thoughts of insecurity as she stood in her room, readying herself for bed. Had she done the wrong thing with Mr. Warbucks? Was the gesture so intimate that she had revealed too much to him through it? Had she broken the very fine tightrope they had been walking for so many years between their professional outward appearances and their secret intimate knowledge of one another?
She sighed heavily with worry as she removed her shirt and brassiere. Was it going to be incredibly awkward when the two of them next faced each other?
She didn't have to wait long for that question to be answered. Just as the troubling thought entered her mind, her bedroom door was opened with force, causing her to jump in shock. She snatched her nightgown off the bed, covering herself hastily with it.
Her shock was elevated when she looked up to see Mr. Warbucks quickly closing the door behind him. The two of them looked at each other wide-eyed. It seemed Oliver was as surprised by his own actions as Grace was. He'd been so careful to remain professional with her for all these years. She didn't think he'd even set foot in her bedroom the entire time she'd lived there.
Each of them stood still, knowing that whatever they did next, things between them would be forever changed. They stared into each other's eyes, silently trying to communicate to one another that it was OK to take the next step. They and their relationship had grown so much over the past nine years. They had matured and developed a huge amount of respect for one another. Anything that happened between them now would happen only with that complete respect for each other at the forefront.
She hadn't asked him to leave - she hadn't said anything in fact, and that made Oliver both encouraged and nervous all at once.
After several agonizing moments, she slowly lowered the nightgown she was holding in front of her chest, revealing herself to him. He stared at her in awe, just as transfixed as he'd been on the first night he'd seen her. Grace's arms fell limply at her sides, letting him know that she was ready to surrender to him.
This time, he knew the invitation was of her own free will and so it was without hesitation that he strolled up to her and took her in his arms, kissing her hard on the lips.
She mewed against his mouth, grabbing the back of his head instantly to apply more pressure to the kiss. Their hands grasped and clawed at one another, fueled by desire and desperation.
Grace's eyes filled with tears, to be touched by someone after so many years - to be touched by him. She didn't know how she'd been able to fight this for so long. In his arms she discovered heaven. He tended to her with just the right level of care and wantonness. Every kiss, every caress was exactly how she needed them to be.
Oliver was hungry - starving for her, in fact, but he was trying to be restrained. He did intend to take things slow with her this time. Unlike their first time, his mind was totally clear and he was determined to make sure that if they were really going to do this, that Grace felt safe and comfortable with everything they did.
What he didn't know though was that even during their first time all those years ago, he had made her feel so well tended to and so cherished. It was only the next morning that she began to feel ashamed over her ruined purity, believing that she would be discarded by him soon after.
Now though, Grace knew that this was the man she was to give her whole heart and the rest of her life to. She no longer felt any shame. She felt so enamored and full of desire for him.
She was so much more worldly now than she had been that first night they'd spent together. Not in terms of physical experience. But she knew much, much more now than she did then and she knew him as intimately as she knew herself.
Oliver was the first man she ever shared her bed with, and she knew in heart she wanted him to be the one and only.
Eventually their kisses slowed and what had started as a fiery display of passion became the conveyance of deep, profound love. They kissed each other longingly and lovingly, pouring such intense emotion into every tender renewal of their lips against one another's.
The two of them had a long and complicated history but at the end of it all, were immense feelings of gratitude and of love for each other.
Oliver had been smitten with Grace from the first moment he'd seen her. It was only his wish to make her feel protected and his fear of overstepping the boundaries he'd crossed once already that kept him from pursuing her, not knowing that all this time, she'd been wanting him as much as he wanted her.
Even as she guided him backwards toward her bed, Oliver had to ask her, "Are you sure?"
She nodded immediately and emphatically. This time she knew what she was doing, this time there wasn't a single doubt in her mind as they fell to the bed together.