Chapter 2
Olivia zipped up her black pencil skirt, she buttoned her white blouse and pushed her arms through her red blazer. She fluffed her long black curls in the mirror and slid a smooth mauve lip gloss across her full plump lips. Her hands shook as she grabbed her purse and walked out her apartment. Horns and sirens blared. The impatience of the New York city residents was in full swing. The humid air tightened her curls and Olivia huffed at the thought of looking like a poodle when she arrived at her new job.
"You must be Olivia." A voice stated catching her attention.
She turned quickly, gasping at the man standing next to her. He was tall with broad shoulders, and muscular. He was dressed in a black suit and a pair of black sunglasses covered his eyes. A cigarette hung from his mouth.
"How do you know my name?" Olivia shouted, stepping away from him.
The man laughed and pointed at a picture he was holding. "I'm Turner, one of Gregory's bodyguards. I'm here to escort you to work."
Olivia calmed her breathing with a few quick breaths. "Oh, right."
"This way." He pointed, flicking a few ashes from his cigarette on the ground.
Olivia groaned and started walking. Her heels clicked loudly, expressing her anger.
"I'll meet you every morning to escort you to and from work." Turner stated, puffing on his cigarette.
"Is there a way I can convince my uncle I don't need a babysitter." She turned, pausing her steps.
He chuckled. "I'm not your babysitter, I'm on an assignment. Your uncle is a very important judge in the city. He has enemies. If you feel you can make it on your own, we can call Gregory and let him know."
"I…just wanted to move to New York and have a little freedom." Olivia dropped her hands in defeat.
"I'm not here to disrupt whatever plans you have. I'm here for your protection." Turner stated, tossing the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it. "We're here. Hand me your phone."
"Why?"
He held out his hand and Olivia placed her phone in his palm, annoyed. "I just added my number to your contact list. If you need me before I pick you up…call. I always have my phone with me. I'll have a black Escalade when you get off. I hate walking."
Olivia nodded and pushed through the glass doors. She flashed her ID at Morris and headed to the elevator. A group of women circled the elevators, gleefully chatting and sipping on their hot beverages. The elevator doors opened and they hurried on, packing the small space like a bunch of sardines. The elevator ascended and stopped at several floors allowing the women to exit. The doors opened at the next floor. Her brown doe eyes connected with a pair of cerulean blue orbs. He flashed a gorgeous, crooked smile and stepped on. Heat stirred through her body, sending a storm of tingling sensations through her veins. His navy pinstripe suit was strapped to his body outlining every muscle. His silver tie laid perfectly against his crisp white shirt. Walking sex in a suit. He's a god, Olivia was convinced. She's never seen a man more gorgeous. Not on tv. Not in her hometown. Or in her dreams. He stood mere inches behind her. His breathing was even sexy. Soft and faint. His scent surrounded the elevator. Her focus fizzled and she tried her hardest not to turn and look at him. Instead she glanced at the rising elevator numbers.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered. "We meet again."
Olivia took a deep breath and turned to face him. A chill shot up her spine. Her clit throbbed with the beat of her heart. Finding her voice, she responded with a slight chuckle, "apparently, meeting on the elevator is our thing." Her laugh was a sound he could get used to hearing. "First day jitters?" He asked, licking his lips.
"A little." Olivia sucked in her bottom lip, chewing it.
He took a few steps, until he stood next to her, brushing his pinky against hers. "I'm sure you'll do fine. They're lucky to have you." He reached around her waist and pressed the button to the 50th floor. The top floor. Her breathing hitched from his sudden movement. The doors opened to her floor and she hurried off, turning slightly to get a glimpse of him before the elevator doors closed. His back was straight, his stance dominant. Confidence eluded from his posture as if to say, I'm yours, come and get it. He smiled as the doors closed, sending Olivia's body into over drive.
X
"Hi Olivia." The receptionist greeted her with a soft smile. "I'm Abigail…you can call me Abby for short. Welcome to Destiny."
Olivia rested her elbows on the large black desk, grabbing a mint from the glass bowl. Her body still hissed from the encounter she just had with the mystery man in the elevator.
"Let me show you around." Abby pulled on her hand, leading her through the office.
Abby stopped in front of a set of cubicles. "This is where you'll sit. Decorate it however you want. Nothing explicit. Pictures of family, friends, dogs, cats…boyfriends are perfectly fine."
"I don't have one." Olivia interrupted.
"Don't have a what?"
"A boyfriend."
"Girlfriend?" Abby glanced at her, chewing on the top of her pen.
"I'm not in a relationship."
A chair from the other cubicle rolled across the carpet. "Does that mean you're single?"
"Meet Josh…the office serial dater. He sleeps with anything with a skirt. Stay far away from him." Abby laughed.
Olivia chuckled. Her nervousness quickly dissipating. She liked Abby already. Abby's fire engine red curls matched her bubbly personality.
"Abby, this is her first day. Chill on giving her the scope of my personal life." Josh stood and extended his hand. "Josh Atwater." His platinum blonde hair was combed over to the left, giving him the boy next door look. The white shirt he wore was tucked neatly inside his black slacks. His green eyes sparkled when he smiled. Charming, but devilish. Josh could get whatever he wanted from a woman. "I'm a great tour guide of the city. I know it very well."
Olivia extended her hand with a smile. "Nice to meet you Josh. I have family in town, but thanks for the offer."
"Around the corner is Mona. She's heavy into that anime shit." Abby peeked her head over the cubicle.
"Hi, newbie." Mona popped her head up, cheerfully squealing. Her two jet black ponytails bounced as she stood.
"Beware! She drinks five cups of coffee before nine. She's like this all day." Abby explained.
Mona squealed, walking from her cubicle. "I remember my first day starting here. I was a basket case. My stomach was in knots. Abby is the best. She made me feel so comfortable. You'll like it here, Olivia. Welcome."
"See what I mean. Mona lay off the coffee." Abby smiled and pointed to the empty black rolling chair. "Start setting up your space, newbie. First day at a new job can be a bit overwhelming but we like to have fun. Brian is cool but expects hard work. If you need anything, let me know. I do all of the ordering. Brian's office is toward the back."
Olivia settled at her cubicle, pulling a few pictures from her black Kate Spade backpack. A gift from her aunt Monica on her 21st birthday. Her aunt sent lavish gifts for her birthday and on holidays. Maya kept the gifts hidden in a closet. One day, Olivia found them and questioned her mother. Maya refused to respond about the gifts and tossed them in the garbage, forbidding Olivia to touch them. It was one of the biggest fights she had with her mother. Despite her mother's warning, she took some of the gifts out of the garbage and kept them. Olivia sat a wooden framed picture of her parents on the desk and stuck her favorite picture of Callie front and center on the cubicle wall. Blinking back her tears, Olivia stared at the picture of her sister.
X
Her stomach churned as she walked to Brian's office. She knocked softly on the door and pushed it open. Smiling, she walked to his desk. "Hi Brian. I'm Olivia."
"Yes…yes. Gregory's niece." He was older with salt and pepper colored hair. A resemblance of an older Sean Connery. He ran his hand through his hair, flashing his teeth with a smile. "Welcome."
"Thank you." Olivia nodded.
"Excuse the mess. Everything is a little chaotic right now." He shuffled folders around on his desk. A few papers fell to the floor and Olivia scurried to pick them up.
"Leave em." He waved her off. "Have a seat."
Olivia sat in the chair across from his desk. "Is there something specific you had in mind for me today?"
"Do you like vodka, Olivia?" He asked, opening a folder on his desk.
"Excuse me?" Olivia questioned. It was nine in the morning, he can't possibly be asking her to have a drink.
He chuckled and walked in front of his desk, crossing his feet at his ankles, leaning against the dark colored wood. "I'm not offering you a drink. The new account I'm hoping to obtain is for a new vodka line." He handed her the folder.
"Oh." Olivia opened the folder.
"Grant industries is looking for an advertising agency for their new premium vodka. I've been trying to work with Mr. Grant for years. I've been shot down on two occasions. Maybe some fresh eyes will help. Take a look at what I've prepared and let me know what you think."
Olivia sat back in the chair, scrunching up her nose. "Oh, I thought I would be getting you coffee or something?"
He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Abby gets my coffee. Gregory told me you have a degree in advertising."
"I do, but my experience is limited. My parents own a bed and breakfast so I've spent most of my time helping them out."
"Well now is the time to make your experience a little more than limited, don't you think?"
"I guess." Olivia stated, biting the inside of her cheek.
"Have a little faith in yourself, Olivia." Brian said, returning to his desk.
"How much time do I have?" Olivia stood.
Brian flicked his wrist, showcasing his expensive Rolex. "In an hour, let's discuss your ideas."
Olivia walked to the door, opening it. "Thank you."
Sitting at her desk, she thumbed through the documents. She had very little experience with advertising proposals. Thank God for Google and YouTube University. Her heart raced as she strolled back to Brian's office, clutching the folder close to her chest. She eased down in the chair, handing Brian the folder and a USB. He flipped the folder open and laid the papers out on his desk. He rubbed his hand up and down his silver colored beard. "What's this for?" He held up the USB.
"All of the designs are saved in a folder on the USB. You can leave it with Mr. Grant."
He cleared his throat, glancing at Olivia. "Very clever. I like your ideas."
"But?" There was hesitancy in his voice.
He stuffed the papers back inside the folder. "What happened to my ideas?"
"They were a little outdated." Olivia held her breath, answering honestly.
"I like fresh ideas, but I also don't like getting my ass handed to me either."
"I wasn't trying to…" Olivia wiped her sweaty palms up and down her skirt.
He swiped his hand in front of his face, silencing her. "You'll present it to Mr. Grant."
"Wait…what! I don't think that is a good idea."
Brian grinned. "Time to sink or swim, Olivia."
X
Olivia stared at the dull green wall of her cubicle trying to calm her nerves. She didn't have the slightest idea about making a presentation to a company. "Shit!" She huffed, dropping her head into her hands. Standing, she paced back and forth in front of her cubicle. Pacing allowed her thoughts to run freely.
"You look like a deer in headlights. What happened?" Mona popped her head up from the cubicle.
"I'm presenting the new vodka ad to Grant Industries."
"Really?" Mona said, taking a sip from her large black travel mug.
"Brian insists. I don't know anything about making a formal presentation to a company. This is my first day." Olivia slouched in the chair, opening and closing the folder.
"Brian does dumb shit like this all the time. Get used to it. He likes to test people. See if they are worth his time. You should see the shit he pulls on the interns." Mona snickered. "The advertising world is cut throat, Olivia. Mr. Grant is no different. He isn't an easy sell. You know the saying three strikes and you're out? If we don't get the account this time, it'll be our third strike with Grant Industries."
"Just great! Way to bring on the pressure, Mona." Olivia huffed.
"Go in with a lot of confidence. Mr. Grant hates people who don't offer their opinion and agree with his every word. If you fail…"
Josh rolled his chair to Olivia's cubicle. "You're fired."
"He's kidding, Olivia. Josh your pathetic. Brian will give you shitty work to do…just ask Josh." Mona laughed.
"Whatever!" Josh rolled his chair back to his cubicle. "My presentation to his company was stellar. He's just an asshole with a lot of money."
Mona grinned. "You've been salty since Brian put you on the diaper ad."
"I don't even like babies. Fuck off, Mona." Josh groaned.
She needed to look up Grant Industries before she left for the presentation. Brian rounded the corner before she could type the name in Google. Olivia quickly stood and gathered her yellow note pad in her arms, following him out of the office. She was surprised when they stepped on the elevator and Brian pressed the 50th floor. "The office is located in this building?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, top floor." His body language had changed. He was guarded. His sentences became short and clipped.
Walking off the elevator, Olivia remembered Mona's advice. Confidence. She lifted her head and stood tall, taking long strides behind Brian. The receptionist directed them to the conference room. Olivia entered after Brian, taking a seat next to him. She rubbed her hands over the folder, dropped her head, and whispered a small prayer.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." A low baritone voice filled the room. Her head quickly turned in the direction of the smooth voice. Her mouth hung open. It was him. She swallowed hard, trying to ease the lump in her throat. Fitz stood still at the door. He sucked in a long breath. It was her. Olivia Pope. How was he going to get through this meeting?