CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Fitz would have been lying to himself if he didn't admit that his first reaction to the unexpected sight of Olivia hadn't sent a rush of pleasure through him. It was only after the memories of the past night came back to him, did his concern and then his worry return, especially when he saw Elizabeth walk up to her.

"Excuse me for a moment, ladies." He said to Colleen and Susan. He was already turning away when Susan spoke up. Something in Susan's voice halted him in his tracks.

"Sir, are you sure about that? Wouldn't you rather have some company right about now?"

Like it or not, her words made sense; Fitz needed something or someone to ground his sudden surge of anger.

Having gotten his attention, Susan stepped closer before she continued. "Elizabeth tends to bring out the worst in people, sir - she knows it - meaning that sometimes she uses that as a weapon."

She was right, Fitz remembered. He'd been blinded by his concern for Olivia; any other time, it wouldn't have been a concern, but the events of the night before last had clearly colored his thoughts.

He nodded at Susan to show his gratitude before looking at Colleen. "Would you care to join us?"

"Knowing what I do about both ladies' reputations, I think I wouldn't miss this for the world."

The look on Colleen's face helped ground Fitz and made him realize that his concern had briefly overridden his common sense. He knew better than to rush to Olivia's side - just as he knew she'd be the first to chastise him if he did - and as he began to cross the room, the added benefit of being in the two women's company was that since he appeared to be in conversation, no one quite dared to interrupt him as they crossed the floor.

From where they'd been standing, Fitz and his companions were behind Elizabeth, so for a few minutes, she had no idea that they were even there. But as he drew closer, he heard what Elizabeth was saying - and he didn't like it. The irritation the woman seemed to ignite in him returned full force and the fact that she was directing her words at Olivia ramped it up even higher than before. He paused so that he could hear everything she had to say.

As much as Elizabeth was trying to hide her attitude, she was practically purring in satisfaction. "It's not that you aren't welcome - but I'm sure you agree that it would set a bad precedent to allow you entry when the other members of the press weren't."

Elizabeth's attempt to dismiss Olivia poured fuel on his irritation, and the fact that she was trying to do it in front of an audience made Fitz see red; damn the political games - his first concern was Olivia. After the emotional storm that she'd just endured, the last thing she needed was this level of pettiness.

Aware of his current company, he tried to not be obvious about it, but Fitz couldn't help it - his concern for Olivia's welfare was too close to overriding his common sense. He studied Olivia before he took the last few steps to join them.

At least she looked rested, Fitz noted, even as a wave made up of half-concern and half-exasperation washed over him. Plus there was a particular way she held herself - stubborn little woman - he couldn't help the thought - that he was very much familiar with. It was part subtle and part sexy without even trying - he couldn't help that thought either - and part don't bullshit me, and a take-no-prisoners gleam in her eye. His heart jolted a little as he realized that he recognized the dress that she was wearing. White with a black lace inset that called attention to the curve from her tiny waist to the sweet curve of her hips, it was the dress she wore the night of the inauguration balls.

With that choice, Olivia was telling him without words, that she was very much okay.

Elizabeth is not going to know what hit her. Whatever else that was going on in Olivia's head, Fitz could tell that she was enjoying this.

Fitz was right - Olivia hadn't come here for a fight - in fact, Elizabeth was the last thing on her mind - but if the other woman wanted to try her in public, she was more than welcome to take her shot.

Olivia smiled at her. "I understand your confusion."

Elizabeth looked at her, obviously puzzled. "Confusion?"

"Yes." Olivia said. "It's an understandable mistake in confusing my position with the media outlets' journalists. They work for commercial enterprises, so they have certain restrictions in their reporting because they have to report to more than one boss. I - as we both know - have no one to report to, no hidden agendas, no orders to follow except for those coming from the president."

Olivia smiled again. "If there are any restrictions to be put in place, he allows me the leeway to decide what those restrictions are."

Not you. The words went unspoken but most definitely understood.

"And those are very few and far between." Fitz stepped up, enjoying the satisfaction he felt when Elizabeth spun around. It was clear from her expression that she hadn't been aware of him having come up behind her and now she was staring at him wondering just how much he'd heard.

As Elizabeth stared at him, Olivia took the moment to meet his gaze. She was careful not to let her gaze linger - the both of them had more than enough experience in being careful. That thought curved her lips in a tiny but brief smile.

Fitz caught the warmth she was sending his way - and was that a spark of mischief he saw in her eyes? "Good evening, Olivia. I wasn't expecting to see you here this evening - I thought that when we spoke earlier, you'd had previous plans?"

"Good evening, sir." Catching the question in his voice - what are you doing here? - Olivia answered him with a straight face. "I did have previous obligations - I only stopped by in hopes of catching your speech -"

"It's not exactly a speech." Elizabeth tried to re-direct the conversation to include herself in it. "It was more like a few simple remarks to a few members of the Party."

"In either case, whenever the president speaks in public, I like to catch the audience's reaction and review it with the president at a later date." Olivia neatly took control of the conversation out of Elizabeth's hands.

Since a personal review with the president had been a part of Elizabeth's plan, she was not pleased at all to hear Olivia usurping it. "That's not necessary. It's my venue after all, and I'm quite capable of providing President Grant with any information he might need."

She turned back to Fitz. "My apologies, Mr. President, but it had been my intention was to offer my services to do exactly that before the evening was over."

He shrugged off her offer. "Well, it's a very kind offer - but since Olivia is here to do the work, I'm sure it won't be necessary. It's something she's been doing for me for quite awhile now, so it's a matter of if it's not broke, don't fix it."

He fixed Elizabeth with a look that made it clear that he expected her to back down. "You do understand, don't you Elizabeth?"

"Of course, Mr. President." Elizabeth had no choice except to swallow the suddenly sour taste in her mouth and agree.

"I'm glad that's settled." Olivia enjoyed dismissing Elizabeth more than should have, but there was something inside her that really didn't care - not after she'd read the desire in the other woman's face. It wasn't all political, and that wouldn't do at all.

She turned her attention to Fitz and smiled, allowing just a hint of laughter enter her voice. "I'll have those notes for you the next time we meet, Mr. President - and I promise that they will be very thorough."

"I always appreciate your attention to detail so I expect nothing less." Fitz said. "I'll be looking forward to going over them in depth with you."

The exchange lightened Fitz's heart considerably; just knowing that Olivia was in a place where she could make a joke - a very private joke - sent a tendril of relief unfolding throughout his body. Even her explanation of having just "stopped by" was an explanation and a reassurance all at once that he found himself grateful for.

"As always, I've always trusted your judgment and I look forward to meeting with you at your earliest convenience." Fitz said, grinning inside.

"I serve at the pleasure of the president." There was a matching twinkle in her eye as Olivia answered him. "First, last and always."

"I'm always reassured to hear that." He locked his eyes onto hers and in that moment did not care who was looking. "You know how much I value your opinions and I've never taken them - or you - for granted."

"That's all very well and good, Mr. President." Elizabeth's mind was racing as she tried to find a way to keep herself relevant. She had thought she'd found a way to get closer to closer to Fitzgerald Grant. How did she get thwarted at the last minute? "Perhaps I could sit in on the meeting with you and Olivia - there's always something to be learned about protecting and promoting the president's image."

Olivia took charge. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that's a very good idea. I mean, I'd be happy to tutor you once we had the time - but the president's schedule at present is pretty much booked up and there's no time to try and start moving things around to cover your mistakes."

"My mistakes? You'd like to - tutor me?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing but she was very much aware of what Olivia was telling her.

"Only if I had the time - and I really don't. And as for President's image - that's always been my responsibility since his first campaign - as he just pointed out a few minutes ago. And about your mistake - actually, that was your first mistake when you made the mistake of not consulting with me - the head of his media representation - before putting any of this together checking with me - about this entire event."

"First mistake?" Did Olivia think that there was more? "This was for the Party - not just for the president -" Her gut burned with the sudden need to defend herself from the unspoken charge of incompetence that Olivia was leveling against her without actually saying the word.

Elizabeth took a deep breath in order to steady both her temper and herself. "Fundraisers for the Party is something that has always been left to me - this being my area of expertise - to run as I see fit."

Olivia overrode her excuses. "I'm sure that no one doubts that you're capable enough to run events for the Party, Elizabeth, but the president is the face of this party - and he's my area of expertise - and as such, the care and management of his image is my personal business." Olivia paused for just a second. "To run as I see fit."

Elizabeth's lips parted but no words came out.

Olivia decided to dish out a little of what Elizabeth had tried to serve her, a little condescension with a side of guess who's in charge. Guess what, Elizabeth? It isn't you.

"I understand some of your concerns, but next year we move into serious re-election mode and you've already made a potentially problematic mis-step that I'm going to have to spin into something a little more acceptable to the media."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Elizabeth said through her teeth. Her jaw was clenched and her cheeks were aching from the effort of trying to keep a smile on her face. Colleen Cassidy was staring at her with a bright curiosity, but even worse, Susan was looking at her with what looked too close to pity - and the day Susan Ross of all people was looking at her with pity… Elizabeth's entire body went stiff with fury, and yet she was forced to stand here and get schooled in front of the president and his personal guest. It left her nearly speechless with rage.

Olivia wasn't speechless at all. In fact, she was smiling as she looked directly into Elizabeth's eyes. "If you don't quite understand, I'd be happy to explain it to you."

Along with a few other things, if it becomes necessary.