A/N- Hello all. As I am writing my ending to A Secret Service, I am starting a new story. This was originally going to be a one shot. Please let me know if I should continue, if this is interesting enough for you. I value all feedback. I can end this after two chapters or I can make this into an Olitz endgame with many obstacles in between. So, please be honest. Thank you.
Chapter 1- Change of Scenery
Olivia Carolyn Pope was brand new to the town of Rutland, Vermont. Don't ask her the reasons for packing up her never-ending hours of a job in New York City to find herself in this quaint little town in the middle of nowhere. She had so many of them and wouldn't know where to begin.
It could start with the overprotective man, Edison Davis, she so foolishly let into her life. He was manipulative, verbally abusive, and now mad as hell. He loved her, or so he said. She felt nothing towards him. She was even sorry she had sex with him at all.
She woke up in bed next to him and felt so empty. She couldn't be with him anymore. He was successful, owning many stocks and offices in the banking business. But Olivia didn't care about success or money. She had her own, and plenty of it. She was successful herself.
When she was leaving, she told Edison this would be the last he would see of her. As she walked towards the door, he grabbed her arm, painfully digging his fingers into her flesh. "You think you can walk away that easily, but you can't. I will find you, and you will see the mistake you are making."
Liv forcefully pulled away from him. "The only mistake I made was letting you in my bed, for that I will never forgive myself.
"It's not like you ever let me in truly, I never have seen you fully naked. Is there something wrong with showing me, the guy you're having sex with, your whole body?"
"Goodbye Edison." Olivia turned to leave, hoping to never again see Edison.
He was right. She never fully undressed for him. When Olivia was 12, her father died in a car accident. She was with him in the car. The airbag saved her life, but unfortunately, her father was not wearing a seat belt and he was not so lucky, despite the airbag.
As luck would have it, the day of the car accident, Olivia was holding a vase of flowers. It was gift from her dad to her mom. When the airbag deployed, the vase shattered and shards of glass were in the skin of Liv's hands, chest area, breasts, and her stomach. Blood was everywhere. She was in a medically induced coma for a month.
With several surgeries, each shard was finally removed but she had significant scarring on her chest and stomach. If you looked closely enough, you could still see scars on her hands, but no one has ever gotten that close.
The scars are a reminder of her father. She was spared for a reason. Her mother had a hard time adjusting but always made the best for Olivia. She got her proper counseling, but no amount of counseling can take away the sound of the impact and the sight of her dead father. As much as her mother tried, Liv lived with demons that were hard to go away.
Her mother, seeing Olivia so successful in her job moved away. She was now living in France, enjoying her life. Olivia spoke to her every week. Olivia loved her mother very much and held no feelings of resentment towards her. Her mother was living her dream and she thought Olivia was also.
Liv has had nightmare after nightmare since that accident, each one worse than the other. She never let anyone in her world. She was afraid to love, and she was afraid to be loved. She drowned in her work and it was getting hard to live day by day like this.
Once outside she rubbed her arm. That would bruise, but she had no one to impress. Who was he to love her anyway? She didn't want to be loved by him. She wanted to be free of him. Edison was right, she never fully gave herself to him and she never would. She wanted to leave, and she was doing that in the morning. She just never told Edison that she was leaving.
It could be she had enough of being her own boss. She was a successful CEO of a multimillion-dollar corporate firm. She was appointed CEO three years ago. She was hesitant to take the position, but she would be the first female black CEO of such a company. She couldn't say no. She needed other girls wishing to enter the corporate world to see it could be done. The need for not only more girls to join her line of work, but for young girls of color and first-generation Americans to see they could be successful.
After the first year and a half the job started to take its toll on her. She was exhausted every night. She would begin her day on the subway at 6 a.m. and enter the high in the sky year old building on Wall Street. Usually, she wouldn't get home until 10pm, if she was lucky, to her high-rise condo on the upper east side.
By year two, she was doubting her choice to stay in the position, never mind ever accepting it. She was never one to quit, but this job was not making her happy. The seven-figure salary didn't matter, the cutthroat reputation she had amongst her employees didn't matter, and all the perks that came with the position didn't matter.
In Olivia's world what mattered was slowing down and enjoying life. She wanted to find her soul mate. She wanted to run a bake sale at her child's elementary school in Ohio, she wanted to make lunches and kiss her husband and kid (maybe kids) as they left for school each morning. She just had to find a husband and have kids. She wouldn't do it living a life like this.
Year three came around and her body and her mental health couldn't take it anymore. She was so lonely. She lived in a city of over 8 million people, and she was just so alone. She saw the same people on the subway every day, she saw the same people going into her work building, and she saw the same people in her office every day. Although she saw them every day, she didn't know them. Aside from whom she worked closely with in the office, she couldn't tell you one name of any of the other zombies she saw each day.
She had one true friend, Huck. Huck was the tech guy at the office and Olivia's trusted confidant. They talked for hours sometimes. He had computer skills like no other person she knew. When she knew she was leaving it would be Huck she would miss the most, but would always keep in daily contact with, calling him every day. Huck had arranged her new cell phone and had erased records of her move. Huck always kept her safe.
Then, there was Harold. Harold was the owner of the small bakery she found on the corner of the street where her $1.2 million condo was located. A tiny Shoppe that survived the gentrification of the neighborhood. Harold was loved by everyone. Every night, when she made it before it closed Harold had her favorite boysenberry Danish set aside for her. She knew he had three kids, one in college and two in high school. She loved talking to Harold even if it was sporadic and short. It gave her a feeling of a life she could have, maybe her husband would be a baker?
Finally, there was Betty. Betty was the sweet aging woman who tailored Olivia's suits for corporate America. She was another small business owner that Olivia adored. When ever Olivia entered her cleaners to pick up her items for the week (usually on a Saturday), Betty always gave her two casserole dishes filled with her homemade meals. Betty was a widow but on occasion would cook for her son, his wife, and their twin 6-year-old daughters. Olivia wanted to pull up a rocking chair and hear all Betty's stories. They originated in Italy and she immigrated to America. An orphaned girl who taught herself how to sew and tailor and eventually open the shop Olivia stepped in every Saturday. She had been owner for 40 years. In Olivia's eyes, that's success.
Where did she go wrong? Could she learn to sew? Could she learn to bake or cook? Maybe she could learn how to make jam and open a small shop on Main Street in Small-town, USA.
Yes, Olivia was envious of the lives Harold and Betty got to live each day. Betty always praised how successful Olivia was and that was her dream for her twin granddaughters, but Olivia didn't tell her it wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. There were no stop signs, no red lights, just full speed ahead and Olivia was driving right into a head on collision if she didn't slow down. Yes, somewhere out there is a life she wants, and she was determined to find it.
When she called the principal owner of the company and put in her two weeks' notice, he was devastated. "Olivia, you run that place better than my own daughter, what am I going to do? Where are you going? Did my competitor offer you better? I will double it."
"No, Mr. Harris, no one offered me anything. I need something new in life, I am leaving the industry all together. I cannot thank you enough for believing in me, but I have to move on. I need happiness more than success. Thank you for your understanding. She gave him three names of whom she felt would best replace her and he could have his pick from there.
The night before she left, while she dined and stayed with Edison, a moving company had picked up the items she was taking to Vermont. She would leave the condo vacant for three months. If she liked where she was, she would sell it. She could afford it; it would be a back up in case it didn't work out.
So, as she left Edison, she already knew she was leaving the city, leaving no forwarding address and no trace of where she was going. Only she, and Huck, knew she had found the perfect little place in a small town in Vermont.
Once the morning light showed through her hotel window, she signaled for a cab that took her to a lot where she rented a car and drove up to Vermont. Her rental car would be picked up by the end of the week while her small, compact Ford Fusion would be delivered to her new place. Olivia hadn't driven a car in years, but it was time to begin. She was always so hesitant since the accident, but if she wanted a new life, driving had to be a part of it.
There she stood on a brisk cool sunsetting day in front of her two-bedroom ranch style home in Vermont. Her surroundings were trees, bushes, a driveway, and a spectacular view of a never-ending meadow with gorgeous green mountains in the background.
If you looked hard enough, you could see the house of the closest neighbor about a half mile up the road. Olivia stepped into her new home, smiling, no laughing. Her new home could fit twice into her condo she left behind. She dropped her overnight bag, air mattress, and pillow. She was just taking in the smell of pine and old smoke from a non-used fireplace.
The place had been owned by a Mrs. Jennings. Mrs. Jennings raised her three children there, single, her husband having died in the Vietnam War. Mrs. Jennings oldest daughter came around three months ago and packed up her 50 years in the home and took her to live with her in Wisconsin.
Liv's real estate agent called her the next day to tell her about the house becoming available and Liv jumped on the opportunity. It was hers already, having enough to pay for it in full. Now, looking around and hearing the echoes of the children that once ran around the place, Olivia felt a sense of peace. Yes, she was already falling in love with the house she would call home. Maybe she could become a Mrs. Jennings and raise a family there also. She was anticipating the arrival of her furniture tomorrow.
The barking of a dog caught her attention. The barking came closer, until she heard scratching at her front door. Olivia walked to the door, still having a screen on it, and looked out. Looking up at her was a beautiful coated golden retriever.
The dog was well groomed with a collar and a tag. When the dog saw Olivia, it jumped up wagging its tail happily. Olivia swung the door open carefully and the dog immediately jumped on her licking her and almost knocking her over.
"Woah there buddy, take it easy, let's try to read this tag." Olivia was laughing.
Olivia heard a whistle, then a voice. "Daisy, here girl." Another whistle. "Daisy, where did you go? Here girl."
"Are you Daisy?" Olivia looked at the pooch thinking she would answer her. Daisy turned towards the voice but ignored it and stayed by Olivia. Olivia rubbed Daisy's head and said, "I think someone is looking for you."
One more time, this time the voice came closer and sounded a bit more alarmed, Olivia listened a bit closely, yes, more alarmed and sexier. It was terrible for her to think that, but it did, the voice sounded sexy. "Daisy, come on now, you never go this far, where are you?"
Olivia stepped out onto the porch she just crossed over to go inside a few minutes ago. She figured if she moved, Daisy would move with her, and Daisy did.
"Ummm, over here, Mister, I mean sir, I think your dog Daisy is over here." Olivia tried to project her voice, but she wasn't used to doing it, and she didn't know if sexy voice heard her. She never had to yell like this in the city.
Fitzgerald Grant the Third did hear the voice. It was the sweetest voice he has heard. He turned towards the Jennings place. He was a bit confused. No one has been there for months, and Daisy never made her way this far. What had her go over there and who did this sweet voice belong to? Fitz walked over towards the house following the sound of the voice.
Fitzgerald, known at Fitz, moved to Rutland five years ago. He is a native Californian and he had to get used to the harsh weather of the Northeastern United States. He came to Vermont as a layover, wanting to make his way to New York City. He came across Rutland on his drive down from Maine. He was visiting some Navy buddies there and had just finished a weekend reunion.
He had to stop for gas and the exit he pulled off was that of Rutland Vermont. One look at the place and he wouldn't go any further. Rutland was a place that needed him as much as he needed it. Small businesses were starting to go under because of the lacking economy, and Fitz seemed summoned there to rescue it.
Fitz was a businessman at heart. He knew how to make a buck and how to stretch a buck. That day he pulled off the highway, his first stop was Sophie's Grocery. He needed some snacks for the road and stepped into the small, yet stocked grocery store. He wound up making a quick stop turn into a two hour talk with Sophie and her 19-year-old, daughter Abby.
Sophie's was going under and she feared the town would have no where to go for groceries. If it did get a place, it would be a big chain supermarket bringing in all out-of-town work and leave Rutland scrambling for jobs. Fitz talked to Sophie who liked his plans and asked if he would stick around to talk to the town council the next day.
Fitz did just that. The town council loved his ideas, and his morals. He talked to the mayor, who was retiring soon. The mayor, as did the town council asked if he would like to be mayor. Fitz declined in the nicest of ways. Politics ran in his family, but it stopped with him, that's why he left the west coast in the first place.
He did promise to stick around for at least a year, just to see things through. That plan backfired when a well-known developer came looking for land to build condos and big commercial space on. Rutland was in jeopardy of losing everything, not just Sophie's. Fitz stepped up to the plate and bought land and businesses himself. He single handedly waved away the developers and knew he owned half the town. He changed nothing. He let the business owners keep their businesses and he let them run it how they ran it for centuries. The only deal, he had to stick around.
Fitz found the house next to Mrs. Jennings. It had been vacant for many years. He bought the land and he started renovating the house. It was a way to keep him away from the main strip of town. He didn't like interacting with people too much, and he was very much loved in the town already.
Fitz had been a Navy pilot and was deployed many times to Iraq. One year, his plane was shot down and he was captured and kept as a POW. During his capture, Fitz endured much torture. His captors were relentless in their treatment of Fitz. Fitz was never able to see the world as he once had before his capture. Now he found his home in Rutland, helping the people of the town in good faith.
He was just happy he could do something good with his father's corrupt money. He was never happier to leave a place then he was to leave California. His father was vile and having learned his son was a Prisoner of War for two years while over in Iraq, it made the man angrier.
When Fitz returned home, damaged, abused, and desperately in need of counseling, his father turned a blind eye. He wanted nothing to do with his son. In his eyes, he was an embarrassment, having been taking a POW when his plane was shot down over the Iraqi desert.
His father had just ended his many years as Senator and the news of Fitz's capture was kept quiet out of respect for the Senator. Instead, the Senate worked with the Pentagon for two years to locate and rescue Fitz.
When Fitz was returned safely home, he had been beaten and malnourished. The staff at the Santa Barbara mansion took care of his physical needs, but the damage had been done mentally and they tried to help him, but he was just too damaged.
His father wanted him to put it behind him and make a run for Governor to become the third Grant to hold the position. Fitz had no interest, having nightmares every night and being unable to sleep, the last thing he wanted was to be a politician and become a person that had to send soldiers into war. His father was so angry with him, he didn't speak to him at all.
Fitz did get the help he needed mentally, but his physical scars were there. Once his father saw Fitz was able to cope mentally, he again pressed him to make a run for Governor. Fitz again rejected the offer. His father then flew in the Sinclair's. The Sinclair's were a family from North Carolina. They were wealthy and Mr. Sinclair was a childhood friend of his fathers. They had a daughter, Melody, and Fitz's father thought it was just as well he would hit it off with Melody (Mellie).
After three dates, Mellie was all over Fitz. Fitz couldn't take her. He was doing his father a favor by taking her out two too many times. He should've stopped after the first date, but he didn't and the second date, Mellie was throwing herself at him. It was his mistake that he slept with her and he felt nothing but regret for doing so. When he ended it, having told Mellie there was nothing between them, she ran to her daddy, who in turn, ran to Fitz's daddy.
Having accepted Fitz wanted nothing to do with this life, Fitz's father reluctantly accepted his wishes. He handed Fitz his trust fund and bid him farewell. That's when Fitz bought his jeep and headed across country. He originally thought he would go to Wall Street and become a successful stockholder and own many high-rise buildings, but his layover in Rutland changed that thought.
Before he left Santa Barbara, he had one more encounter with Mellie. She refused to let him go without a fight. She demanded she know where he was going, having let him sleep with her, she felt hurt and betrayed. She also didn't want him having any power without her.
"Fitz, you slept with me, I gave myself to you, and now you're just leaving alone to wherever. Don't you have any plans for your life?"
"Mellie, I have plenty of plans and they don't include you, wherever life takes me, you are not a part of it. I didn't take advantage of you, but I am sorry I slept with you and led you on. That wasn't my intention. One day I hope to find true love, but it isn't going to be with you."
"Why? Why didn't you even take your shirt off when we were having sex? Was I that deplorable?", now she started to bring on the tears and the dramatics, and Fitz really didn't have the patience for it.
"Mellie, it wasn't you, it was me. Like I said, I shouldn't have done that. Please can we just move on?"
Mellie took a breath. "Will you at least let me know where you end up, in case I need a friend to turn to away from here, away from North Carolina?"
"Yes, Mellie, I can do that." He opened his arms, and she walked to him for an embrace. She knew she didn't love him either, but he had a certain security about him, and she didn't want to lose his friendship.
He got into his packed-up jeep and drove away. The reason he didn't take his shirt off for Mellie, or for anyone, was because of his scars. His back was full of them and he thanked God everyday they didn't damage his chest. He worked hard his whole life for a nice body, but the lashes they gave his back were brutal. He was lucky to have only the few welts on his back that he did. There wasn't a day that went by that he wasn't aware of the pain he suffered as a POW. It was something he only spoke of to his therapist and was now able to cope. It was when he saw the scars it all came back to him. Thick red welts, five of them, down the middle of his back. They made him cringe, and he could only imagine what they would do to anyone he let see them. They were his scars, and he wouldn't let anyone near them, ever.
When he finally realized, he was going to settle in Vermont, he called his father and he called Mellie. He gave both his contact information. Mellie has visited three times in five years. She stays for about a week, cannot take the rural life and leaves. Each time hoping Fitz would leave to build a life with her. She isn't well liked by the small-town residents, but Fitz tolerates her. He has a soft spot in his heart for her, even if it would never be love.
His father calls once a month. That's it. His father is still bitter at Fitz for not running for office and continuing the legacy, but Fitz is happy in Vermont and his father will never understand happiness. So today, at the age of 35, Fitz is a bachelor living in the woods of Vermont. He holds years of damage, both physical and mental inside, but he is content, gracious, and has a heart of gold.
Ask anyone in the town of Rutland about Fitzgerald Grant and they will defend him as one of their own. He found happiness in every sense of having a family, one that he missed so much of growing up. Now, if he could just find a soulmate, he would call his life complete.
As he walked toward the voice saying she had Daisy, Fitz felt his heart beat a bit faster. There was something in the tone of her voice that drove him to her.
As Olivia waited to see if the man heard her Daisy made herself at home and laid herself down right at Olivia's feet. Liv looked down and laughed. This dog had personality and she took a liking to her.
"Yes, Daisy, make yourself comfortable. Is your human as sexy as his voice sounds? If he is, maybe we will be seeing more of each other." Daisy suddenly jumped up and gave a bark.
Liv looked down the long driveway and her heart skipped a beat. She put her hand to her chest as she took a deep breath. "Oh my", she said, but only Daisy could hear it. Walking up her driveway was the most beautiful man she had seen. Even his walk was sexy, just not as sexy as the voice, but sexy enough.
When Fitz was close enough, he caught sight of the woman calling to him that she had Daisy. Daisy was seated now right next to her, as if this woman was the one who rescued the dog and took care of her for three years. Fitz let out a small chuckle, then stopped when his eyes focused on Olivia.
He stopped his fast-paced walk for a moment and said "wow" as he swallowed and continued. God she was beautiful, and just looking at her he could tell there was a mystery to be solved. He finally got close enough to the porch but paused just before the two steps that would lead him to stand with her on the porch.
Daisy's tail wagged at rapid pace and she looked at Olivia for permission. Olivia smiled at Daisy. "Is that your human Daisy? Go ahead girl, go."
Daisy gave a slight jump and landed right at Fitz's feet, jumping up on him. Fitz petted her giving her some kisses and said "Since when do you stroll out this far? Oh, and you forgot something." Fitz held up the tennis ball she was supposed to fetch before she ran to Olivia's property.
When Daisy finally settled down and sat next to Fitz, Olivia and he met with their eyes. Fitz had a perfect little smirk that curved his lips and although he wanted to, he didn't let his eyes leave Olivia's. If he did, she would see him staring at her beautiful body.
Olivia couldn't look away either. His eyes pulled her to him, and if she moved, she felt she would run into his arms. Instead, she just met his stare, until he finally broke the silence.
"Hi." He said.
"Hi." She said. Those two letters forming to make the sexist word Olivia ever heard. It's not like she never heard the word hi before, it's just coming from him made it so much more enticing.
"Welcome to Vermont." Fitz said as he took a step closer and up towards the porch.