"How did this happen?" Olivia was pacing while speaking to Harrison on the phone. Fitz had taken Abbey to the pool on the grounds of his house and didn't even know about the bomb that was about to explode on them.
"We missed it Liv! We were so busy looking for Mellie that we didn't even think about Jake."
"Do we know what is going to be said? Do we have any idea what the talking points are going to be?"
"Quinn is trying to find out but sports is really outside of our wheel house, Liv." Harrison explained.
"What do we know, Harrison?"
"All we know is Jake Ballard is doing a live interview with Bob Costas on Dateline tonight and that he is unreachable. Every way we know to reach him is out of service or we are blocked."
"Yeah, me too."
"What do you want to do?"
Olivia sighed. "There is nothing we can do, Harrison. We wait and see what he says and go from there. I will call you after the interview. Fitz is on his way back in from the pool with Abbey. I need to fill him in." She watched as Fitz came up the walkway to the sliding glass doors from the pool with their wet baby.
"Okay. I'm sorry, we missed this Liv. I really am."
"It's okay, Harrison. It isn't your fault. I am paying for my mistakes. It's karma. I will talk to you soon." Olivia hung up her phone.
"Well that sounded cryptic. What's going on?" Fitz asked.
'Um….I need to talk to you about something but we need to get her dried off, changed, fed, and down for the night." Olivia said.
"All right." Fitz could tell she was worried but didn't want to push. She was right. Abbey's needs come first.
About thirty minutes later Fitz returned to the living room to find Olivia sitting on the sofa staring off. "She's out. Want to tell me what is going on?"
Olivia looked up at him with an expression he could only describe as terror and said "Jake is doing an interview. Tonight."
"Excuse me?"
"The team was so focused on Mellie that no one thought to watch Jake. He's sitting down with Dateline tonight.'
"Dateline? What would they care about some has-been hockey player that mattered to his sport for about fifteen minutes?" Fitz spat.
"Fitz. You know why. Besides, Bob Costas is doing the interview not Lester Holt or Tamar Hall. This means that whatever Jake has agreed to disclose is big."
Fitz ran his hands over his face. "Okay. What are we looking at? Secrets? Bedroom talk? What?"
"I honestly don't know. NBC has completely shut Quinn down. No one can get any information. He doesn't really know more than what we have already leaked but that won't stop him from lying. You know what kind of person he is, Fitz. You know better than anyone."
Fitz did know the kind of person Jake was. He was the kind of man that would stab his best friend in the back to get what he wanted. He was the kind of man that would use women and throw them away. He was unscrupulous and arrogant and had no boundaries. Jake was the kind of man that would destroy them and not feel a thing if it meant he came out smelling like a rose. Jake was a viper. "What time is the interview?"
"Nine."
"Well, I guess we will have our answers in an hour."
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bob Costas: Over the last several days the news has been buzzing about the leaked birth certificate of the daughter of crisi management specialist, Olivia Pope. The birth certificate lists Hollywood director and heavyweight Fitzgerald Grant as the child's father. Tonight I sit down with the other man in this saga, Olivia Pope's husband and former NHL player, Jake Ballard. Jake, thank you for being with us.
Jake: Thank you for the opportunity to tell my side, Bob.
Bob: Let's begin three days ago when VIP ran the birth certificate. Were you shocked or were you aware that young Abbey was Fitz Grant's biological child?
Jake: Bob, I was stunned, surprised, and devastated. I signed a birth certificate a couple of days after Abigail was born. It had my name on it. I had no idea that a second birth certificate was out there.
Bob: Jake brought in the birth certificate with his name on it to the studio. It exists and we can verify that is has his signature and he is listed as the father. Additionally Abigail's name is listed as Abigail Marie Ballard and not Abigail Faith Grant as the VIP birth certificate states. Now Jake, do you have any idea which one of these is legitimate? Are you Abigail's father or is Fitz Grant?
Jake: I have no idea. I believed she was my daughter up until three days again.
Bob: To your knowledge, is it possible that Fitz Grant is her father? Could your wife have cheated on you?
Jake: Olivia was pregnant when we got married. I knew that. I assumed the child was mine since Olivia and I had been dating for well over a year. However I like you and everyone else am very aware of the rumors about Olivia and Fitz. Could she have been cheating? Sure. I was away a lot. She worked very closely with him. It's possible. Which is heartbreaking to admit but if I am being totally honest than I have to admit it. I also have to admit that my wife is possibly not the woman I thought she was.
Bob: What's next, Jake?
Jake: Well you know me, Bob. You have known me a very long time and I do not go down without a fight. So step one will be to file for divorce from Olivia, which I did this morning in the Dominican Republic.
Bob: The Dominion Republic?
Jake: It's where I can get it done the fastest. I want out of this marriage immediately. Then I will file for custody of Abigail.
Bob: Won't you need to establish paternity?
Jake: No. Regardless of paternity, I am listed as Abigail's father. I have raised her. She is my daughter and I will not allow Olivia or Fitz Grant to raise my child.
Bob: Fitz Grant isn't exactly an average Joe, Jake. He isn't going to be easy to defeat. The Grant name carries a lot of weight and influence.
Jake: I realize that, Bob. But nothing will stop me from getting what is mine and what I deserve. Fitz Grant can come at me with all of his money and all of his power but he will not deny me what I deserve.
Bob: Okay. Well thank you, Jake. I wish you the best of luck in getting this sorted out.
"That lying son of a bitch! How dare he! We aren't married. There is no birth certificate! Marie? I never even concentered anything other than 'Faith'. EVER! Every fucking word out of his mouth is goddamn lie. I am going to kill him!" Olivia shouted.
"Olivia, you need to calm down. You are going to wake Abbey."
"Fitz, he knew from day one what this was. He knew it was an arrangement. He knew Abbey was your daughter. He knew I love you. I did not trick him. I did not lie to him. He just lied on national television. He made me out to be a slut, a liar, a trickster. And now he is threating to file for custody regardless of paternity? How? He isn't stupid. Whatever piece of paper he showed Costas was faked! Any court in the nation would laugh him out the door!"
"Livvie, you missed the point. Jake isn't coming for Abbey. He is coming for us. He just declared war on both of us. His next step will be the talk show circuit to play the victim. He is going to try to tear the both of us down and turn public opinion in his direction." Fitz knew Jake's game. This was a power play. He wanted something and now all they could do is wait and see what that something would turn out to be.
"How can you be so calm?" Olivia asked.
"Because I know the truth. I know that angel asleep in the other room is mine. I know that there is nothing that Jake Ballard can do to change that. He can try whatever he wants but he cannot change her paternity. She is mine. Her mother is mine and if a war is what he wants, a war is what he will get. There is absolutely nothing his pansy ass can do against the Grant name. Let him come, Livvie. Let him come. He will not win." Olivia realized that Fitz's calmness was really him preparing for battle.
"Baby…." Olivia started but was interrupted by her phone ringing. "Harrison?"
"Liv, a lawyer just dropped off papers. Jake has a restraining order against you and Fitz. He has also filed for full custody of Abbey."
Hi all! I know this a short chapter but it's the best I can do. I hope you like the update. Sorry about the cliffhanger but I'm really not. I have a plan. Please review!