Hey everybody, ya'll all right? I'm back! And I'm well rested, and in need of a vacation from my vacation. Did I miss anything? It was great to just completely unplug and be in the moment with my friends. I didn't realize how much I needed it. I hope all of you are able to take a break of some kind soon, and just be. After the last 16 months, we all need a mental health break.
So, I started this chapter before I left, and finished it today. Poor Fitz, he's making progress with Olivia, and also practicing patience. As an athlete, and a trust fund baby, he's never had to work at getting a woman to say yes to him. Everything comes easy because of who and what he is. I'm reminded of this quote, "The lightweight material will always float to the top for an easy pick. The material of substance will remain hidden below, and you're going to have to learn to dig for it."
Hang in there, Fitz!
Your reviews are what keeps me going and the PMs, what can I say? I've had fellow FF writers send such kind and heartfelt messages about my writing, letting me know how much they appreciate and enjoy my stories. It has not gone unnoticed. Thank you all so very much.
In the previous chapter, Fitz seemed to make some progress with Olivia, let's hope it continues. Happy reading, and enjoy.
TBOT
P.S. See if you can spot the 'Clair Huxtable' reference.
Three days later...
"So let me get this straight," Joey said, after Olivia gave her the details of her non-date with Fitz. It was Thursday, three days after her impromptu visit to Great Falls to give him a piece of her mind. They were sitting at the island in Joey's kitchen having dinner. A dinner that Joey had insisted they have. She'd threatened Olivia's life for making her wait three whole days before giving her the play-by-play of what happened.
Olivia had left her office early, for once, gone home to shower, changed clothes and then showed up at Joey's with a bottle of wine. She could hardly wait to fill her best friend in on the evening she'd spent with Fitz.
"You went to his house to tell him to leave you, your family and your friends, alone, and ended up on his couch making out like two horny teenagers?"
Olivia nodded. "I don't know what came over me, Jo, but seeing Fitz again wasn't so bad after all. I know it's hard to believe, but I'm wondering how far I would have gone if he didn't stop."
"I'm wondering too," Joey said with a wicked grin on her face.
"Nothing like sleeping with a professional athlete the first night you're alone with him, to separate yourself from the groupies," Olivia said dryly.
As the thought of what she'd done became clearer, Olivia began to panic.
"Jo, after all of that talk about being different, not wanting to be just like every other woman, and how do I prove it? By feeling the man up the first chance I get," she whined, dramatically.
"Girl, calm down," Joey said, seeing the panic on Olivia's face. "I'm sure if there's one thing Fitzgerald Grant has learned about you, it is that you are not a woman looking for the thrill of being with a celebrity."
"But he's still a celebrity athlete..."
"Who just happens to like a little chocolate in his milk," Joey said, grinning. "I'm also convinced you really like him, and want to get to know him better, and I'm sure he feels the same way."
Olivia smiled. "Thank you for the vote of confidence. I needed to hear that."
Joey nodded. "I can tell you really like him."
"Yeah, and I don't think I've been able to say that about a man in a long time."
Joey reached over and took Olivia's hand. "I'm so happy for you, Liv."
"And to think, I didn't even want to give him the time of day. But everything changed in one evening."
"It was stubbornness on your part from the beginning," Joey said. "Admit it. You were determined not to give that man a chance at all."
Olivia took a sip of wine as she listened to her best friend. "Remember, Jo, you're the one who leaps before looking, not me," she said, not ashamed of the traits that had served her well over the years.
"You almost gave up on a prize catch, Liv, simply because you hate being wrong about anything, and you were definitely wrong about Fitzgerald Grant."
Olivia chuckled. "We're not engaged or anything, Jo, just going out on a date."
"I know," Joey said, squeezing Olivia's hand, "but who knows where that will lead?"
The women sat contemplating Joey's question.
"So you're really going for it, huh?" Joey asked as she gave Olivia a serious look.
Olivia nodded and Joey continued.
"Do you realize what you're in for with a man like him?"
Olivia set down her wine glass and looked at her friend, puzzled by the turn the conversation was taking. "Wait a minute, I thought you wanted me to go out with Fitz, with anybody for that matter."
"Oh, I do," Joey said.
"Then what's the big deal?"
"I just want to make sure that you're up to dating someone like him. There's a lot of extra stuff to deal with, Liv."
"I'm quite aware of what comes along with dating a professional athlete, but Fitz is nothing like that."
"So you do realize just how famous and popular he is?"
"What I realize is that I can hold my own with any man, no matter how famous or popular he is," Olivia said, reaching for her glass of wine again.
"Well, then, you understand the need to be cautious."
Olivia frowned. "A month ago you were practically trying to marry me off to the man, but now I need to be cautious?"
Joey chuckled. "I'm talking about all of the THOTs, Liv. Real, live THOTs who can smell a money prospect before they can see him. They're looking to get houses and hedge funds, and will do anything to get their hands around a rich baller's…"
"Jo, stop it!" Olivia laughed as she waved her hand to dismiss the idea. "It's not like that with me and Fitz. I'm only interested in learning who he is first…and slowly, I might add."
At the sight of Joey's devilish grin, she added, "and so is he. So don't even try to go there."
Joey squealed in delight. It was a natural reaction to the unexpected disclosure from the usually reserved Olivia, who never discussed matters of the heart. Joey now looked at her in a different light.
"Well, you're obviously hot for him, and he is for you, and if you-know-what isn't on your mind, I'm sure it's on his. That's all men think about."
"And obviously you too," Olivia retorted.
"Well, are you going to sleep with him?"
"What?! That is none of your business, Jo."
"You should be thinking about it because you know it's going to come up and…"
A ringing phone cut off whatever else Joey was going to say. It was coming from Olivia's purse. She reached into the purse sitting on the chair next to her and dug it out. It was Fitz. She sucked in a deep breath, surprised at how her heart jumped in anticipation, and her face spread into a huge grin. Glancing at Joey, who'd figured out who the caller was by the look on Olivia's face, she answered with a bright hello.
"Hello, Olivia, it's me." Fitz's deep voice came through the phone.
"Did you get the flowers?"
Olivia chuckled. "Yes, and you're getting ridiculous."
He'd sent her a daily bouquet the past three days.
"They're beyond gorgeous, Fitz, but you don't have to do that."
"Maybe not, but sending you flowers is why you finally called me after almost a month, I won't forget that."
"I tried to call you earlier to thank you, but my calls went to voicemail. So I sent a text."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I was in meetings all day at the team facility in Ashburn."
"Well thank you for the flowers…again."
Fitz chuckled. "So, are we still on for Saturday?"
"You've asked me this question every day, and my answer remains the same."
"I know. I just want to make sure you haven't changed your mind."
"No need to worry about that," she replied.
"So, are we?"
"Yes, but, why are you being so secretive about what we're going to do?"
"Because I want it to be special and I want to impress you."
"Okay," Olivia said with a sigh. She knew she wasn't going to get anymore out of him.
Joey stood. "I'm going to give you a little privacy," she teased.
Olivia shook her head vigorously.
"Fitz, I'm having dinner with Jo right now. May I call you later?"
"Of course. Tell Joey hello for me."
"I will."
"Don't forget to call, Olivia."
"I won't. Goodbye Fitz."
"Bye, Olivia."
When the call ended, Olivia held her phone in her hand, smiling, before finally looking at Joey who had a huge grin on her face.
"What?"
"Nothing," Joey answered with a shrug.
Olivia took a sip of wine to settle her nerves.
"So where's Fitz taking you on Saturday?"
"I've tried to get it out of him, but he wants it to be surprise. He won't tell me where we're going or what we'll be doing. He's picking me up on Saturday morning and we're spending the day together."
"Someone like Fitz?" Joey said, thinking about the number of invites he probably received weekly. "It may be some big team event."
Olivia shuddered at the mere thought. "I hope not. The last thing I want to do is attend something with politicians, athletes and a few celebrities. That's not my style."
"That's going to be hard to do considering who he is," Joey reminded her. "It comes with the territory, Liv."
"Well it won't be hard for me," Olivia assured her friend. "He can go wherever he wants. That doesn't mean I have to go with him."
"You really are going to fight him every step of the way, aren't you?"
Olivia heard the disapproval in Joey's voice, and shrugged. "I can't change who I am."
"Well all I'll say is that you shouldn't doubt his sincere interest in you. I mean, who else would put up with everything you're putting him through? Especially considering that he's someone who wouldn't have any problem moving on to another willing woman."
"I'm not that bad, Jo."
Joey looked at Olivia and shook her head. "You gave that man the cold shoulder at his pool party, you left him high and dry when we returned the next day, you dressed him down when he came to your office after his sister was arrested, and then you accused him of trying to buy you. You need to cut that man some slack, Liv."
"I think I cut him some slack when I had my tongue down his throat." Olivia gave Joey a pointed look, before taking a sip of wine.
"Good point," Joey said.
"Seriously, Jo, I'm not trying to give Fitz a hard time. I'm just very wary of people, especially men in positions of power. Our personalities just clash."
"So you've met and analyzed all the men in D.C., and come to your own conclusions. That must have been very exhausting."
"Ha, ha," Olivia said. "You know what I mean."
"Do me, and Fitz, a favor. Give him the benefit of the doubt Saturday. Take him at face value, and don't read too deeply into everything he says or does."
Olivia nodded but didn't respond. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
"What about you? What are your plans this weekend?"
Joey reached for her glass of wine. Not looking at Olivia, she shrugged. "Nothing much. "I'm booked with clients until two o' clock. After that, I'm going to rest and relax, take it easy. Business is great and I've been working non-stop, long hours. I'm planning to do absolutely nothing."
"No date huh?" Olivia said with a chuckle. It was amazing how many ways they could make being alone sound fun.
"Yeah, well," Joey said, still not looking at her. "It's no big deal."
Olivia sat back in her chair, and out of habit, pushed her hair behind her ear. "What about that guy you met at the pool party? What was his name?"
"Kellan Wilson. But he doesn't live here," Joey said.
"Still might be worth giving him a call."
"Maybe," Joey said, shrugging and still avoiding a straight answer.
Olivia picked a cucumber slice from her salad, and bit into it. "You could always call J.P.," she said, watching Joey's reaction closely.
Joey smirked at Olivia. "I said I wanted rest and relaxation, not pain and suffering."
Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "The two of you are too funny."
"Close," Joey said. "I'm funny, he's annoying."
She stared at Joey, still chewing on cucumber. "Sometimes the arguing is cover for a deep attraction."
Joey smiled at her bestie. "One night on the couch, getting hot and heavy with Fitz and now you're a relationship expert?"
Olivia ignored Joey's question. "My best friend and my brother," she said smiling and nodding. "I like the thought of that."
Joey sipped her wine, not offering a response.
X
Two days later…
Saturday morning, Olivia sat in her living room waiting for Fitz to arrive. He said he'd pick her up at ten and he had five minutes. She'd taken his advice to dress casual and had decided on a pair of high-waist white linen trousers, a white silk tee and tan leather sandals. The white on white looked crisp, clean and modern. Her diamond studs and gold Red Label Movado watch were her only jewelry. She'd applied concealer, sheer foundation, blush, powder and a berry brown lip shine. It was definitely more make-up than she wore daily, but it still looked natural. Not sure of what Fitz had planned, she'd pulled her hair into a neat ponytail and tied on a colorful scarf.
She'd been awake since five o' clock that morning, and couldn't believe the jitters she had in her stomach. It felt as if she was a teenager going on her first date. Lying in bed, she tried not to let the nervous excitement get the best of her. She contemplated making breakfast but the thought of eating anything only made the jitters worse. In all her years of dating, there had never been a man to affect her this way. If she wasn't careful, she was going to make herself sick from lack of sleep, and lack of food.
Olivia lay on her back staring at the ceiling. She'd tried so hard not to be affected by him, but how could she not? The man was the object of millions of women's fantasies, but he only had eyes for her. She'd be kidding herself if she thought she was immune, because Fitzgerald Grant was a force she could no longer resist.
Even if he turned out to be a pretentious jerk, which he wasn't, she would've still been physically attracted to him. All week, during their daily phone conversations, she'd discovered another reason why Fitz was the complete opposite of what she'd assumed and believed him to be.
Sighing, she glanced at the alarm clock. It was five-twenty. Fitz would be there in four hours and forty minutes. She could sleep until eight. She turned over and covered her head with a pillow, but sleep eluded her.
"Oh, never mind," she grumbled. There was no way she was falling back to sleep so she threw back the covers and stood from the bed.
"May as well get a few laps in," she thought as she walked into her bathroom to begin her day.
X
An hour and a half later, Olivia was walking through the door of her condo when her phone rang. Pulling the device from her pocket, her heart instantly began to beat faster and her face broke into a huge smile, when she saw the caller.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hello, Olivia, did I wake you?" asked the low and sexy voice on the other end of the line.
"It is seven o' clock in the morning, Mr. Grant," Olivia responded as her mind raced with visions of how Fitz looked. What did he sleep in: pajamas or just boxers? She wouldn't allow her mind to imagine him in nothing at all.
She pulled the phone away from her ear so she could let out a quick breath.
"I'm sorry," she heard him saying when she returned the device to her ear. "I couldn't sleep so I took a chance that you'd be awake too."
"And if I wasn't? Olivia asked teasingly.
"Then I would've apologized and hung up so you could go back to sleep."
Listening to him, she decided to come clean. "I've been awake since five. I couldn't sleep either. I literally just walked in from swimming a few laps. You know, releasing those endorphins."
Fitz chuckled. This was the first time she'd mentioned swimming. "Do you like to swim?"
Olivia walked into her kitchen and filled her kettle with water for tea.
"Yes. I was on the swim team in high school."
"You're full of surprises, Miss Pope."
She leaned back against the island, still smiling. "I lettered all four years of high school, and I was the team captain my Junior and Senior years. I was pretty fast, almost unbeatable."
They laughed.
"I still enjoy the pool. It's where I do most of my thinking."
"So were you thinking about me while you were swimming?"
She didn't know why, but she couldn't lie. "Yes."
"And what were you thinking about, Olivia?" he asked in that voice.
A tingle traveled down her spine at the sound of him saying her name. It was as soft as cotton, and as smooth as silk, and Olivia could all too easily imagine that voice whispering in her ear in the early morning while he lay next to her.
"I was just thinking about how much I enjoyed talking to you the last four days. And how much I'm looking forward to whatever you have planned for us today?" She tried to bait him again.
Fitz laughed, low and sexy, and shaking his head. "Not gonna happen, Miss Pope. I'm still not telling you what I have planned."
"Please, Fitz" she whined.
"Nope," he said, not relenting.
She sighed. "Well since you won't give me any clues, I'm going to shower and wash my hair, and then prepare for...whatever, I guess."
The line was quiet.
"Fitz?"
"Ye…yes, I'm here," he said. His mind had wandered to thoughts of Olivia naked and wet. The image flashed in his head, and his body reacted as if he was twenty-years old again.
"I said I'm going to shower, and I'll see you at ten o' clock sharp."
"Oh, yeah. Right," he said. "I'll be there on time."
"And, Fitz?"
"Yes, Olivia?"
"You're really not going to tell me where we're going or what we're doing?"
He laughed and then answered. "No, I'm really not," and then ended the call.'
Olivia stood looking at the phone, not believing he'd actually hung up. Smiling and shaking her head, she grabbed her mug of tea and headed to her bedroom to prepare for her date with Fitzgerald Grant.
X
Fitz sat in his car in the circular driveway of Olivia's condo building in Northwest D.C.
He'd lived in the District the first three years of his career, and had purchased his condo because it was in the most secure Grant property in D.C. The elevator to the penthouse only stopped at certain floors, because like him, those tenants wanted to remain anonymous to everyone but security. He'd decided to move after a woman, wearing nothing but a G-string, managed to evade security and showed up in his living room demanding he marry her. He still owned the property and used it sometimes if he was in the city and was too tired to drive back to Great Falls. T.C. asked at least once a month if she could live in it and his answer was always an emphatic, NO!
Fitz glanced at his watch. He had five minutes before he needed to get upstairs. Why was he nervous? He had been on hundreds of first dates in his life. He'd romanced some of the most beautiful women in the world. On several occasions, he had been the envy of every man on the planet when they got a look at the woman on his arm. So why did he feel like an inexperienced teenager who'd finally gotten a date with the captain of the cheerleading squad?
If Dre and some of his teammates could see him now, they would never let him hear the end of it. The famous Fitzgerald Grant, sitting outside a woman's building, too nervous to go inside. Taking a deep breath, he exited his vehicle.
X
Olivia heard her intercom ring and knew that it was Kenny the security guard from downstairs.
"Good morning, Kenny," she said into the intercom.
"Good morning, Miss Pope. There's a Mr. Grant here who wants to come up."
She chuckled at Kenny's attempt to appear nonchalant with the Fitzgerald Grant waiting in the lobby. But she also appreciated how professional he was when it came to his job.
"That's fine, Kenny. Let him up." She released the button and figured she had a minute before he got to her door. She checked her hair and outfit one last time before the doorbell rang. Olivia released a nervous breath. If dating made someone this nervous, then maybe it was a good idea not to do it too often, she thought. When she reached the door, she counted to five to regain her composure before she opened it.
Fitz wasn't there. Puzzled, she poked her head outside and saw that he'd stepped to the window in the hallway that looked out over the city.
"Fitz?"
When he turned away from the window, his appreciative eyes took her in from the leather sandals to the sleek ponytail. Olivia saw the admiration on his face, and returned it. From the custom, pristine white oxford button down shirt, the perfectly fit dark denim jeans, chocolate brown leather driving loafers and Ferragamo belt to match, he looked like a Ralph Lauren model, and nothing like the NFL superstar quarterback he was. Fitzgerald Grant was definitely his own man.
"That window offers a nice view from here, the window and you," he said, giving her that lopsided grin.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes." Olivia was enjoying the way he looked at her and wasn't quite ready to turn away just yet. "I just have to get my purse. Would you like to come in?"
Fitz shook his head. "Don't have time." That was true, but it wasn't the only reason. If he walked into her condo and picked up where they'd left off on Monday night, they would never make it to their destination.
"We need to get going if we're going to arrive on time."
Once her purse was retrieved, the alarm was set and the door was closed and locked, Fitz took Olivia's hand and they walked to the elevator.
"You're punctual," Olivia said, smiling up at him. "I like that."
"And you're beautiful," Fitz said, returning her smile. "I like that."
X
When the couple stepped off the elevator into the lobby, a small crowd had gathered. Fitz felt Olivia tense next to him, and gave her hand a gentle and reassuring squeeze. Sometimes situations called for traveling with security, but he didn't want to overwhelm her, so he came alone. She'd allowed him to pick her up from her home which meant she trusted him. No way was he getting off on the wrong foot with her after all he'd gone through to even get a first date. This was their time, and he wasn't sharing it with strangers.
He respectfully declined all requests for selfies and autographs, while Kenny and another security guard kept everyone away. Fitz waved and hurriedly led Olivia outside to his waiting vehicle. The doorman opened the passenger door of the silver Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and Fitz assisted her onto the supple leather seat. He then jogged around to driver's side and eased behind the wheel.
"So where are we headed, Mr. Grant?" Olivia asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Miss Pope?"
"Yes I would, Fitz," she said, folding her arms over her chest and pretending to pout.
"Do you know that you're really cute when you pout?" he whispered as he stared at her.
For several seconds she had no comeback. "I never pout."
"Yes, you do," Fitz insisted. "You push out your lips and roll your eyes upward.
"Pouting is sucking teeth, closing your eyes, while rolling your neck. Like this," Olivia said while demonstrating the motions.
Throwing back his head, Fitz's laughter filled the car as he pulled away from the building. As expected, Olivia started asking a barrage of questions in order to try and pinpoint their destination, but Fitz wouldn't budge, saying it would spoil his surprise.
"You'll just have to wait and see, beautiful. But I want you to promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Promise me that today you will relax, and have a good time."
Olivia smiled. "I can do that."
X
They drove through the city in silence for a short time before heading north on Interstate 95.
"Jo told me that I should cut you some slack," she said, breaking the silence and remembering her promise to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Joey's a smart woman." Fitz had been correct in his initial assessment of Joey. He had an ally in Olivia's best friend.
"I'm glad you think so," Olivia said.
"You have to give her credit. Starting and running a successful business for the past six years takes smarts and guts."
Olivia turned to look at him. "How do you know so much about her business?" she asked.
"I've been checking up on you," he said, keeping his eyes on the road.
She didn't know if she liked the sound of that.
"After the situation with T.C., I was impressed with your passion and dedication to your work, and your integrity about the law. I took advantage of your being a public figure and looked you up."
"What did you find out?"
Fitz glanced at her. "You're very good at what you do, well respected."
"And?"
"And you had the opportunity to make large amounts of money working in your father's firm, but instead you've committed your career to public service."
His last words caught her off guard, and her stomach flip-flopped as she realized she'd been correct in her earlier opinion of him.
"I find it hard to believe that that information was in the public record. And I know Jo's business information wasn't there either."
"Actually," he confessed, "I sought out a few other sources during my research."
She glared at him. "How dare you?"
"What?" he asked, confused by her sudden change in demeanor.
"You heard me. How dare you?"
"What is your problem?" he asked.
"I don't appreciate, nor do I condone, your underhanded tactics at getting information about me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Olivia."
"You had me investigated?" she asked, her voice rising in anger and disbelief.
Her question made it clear what she thought he'd done, and he started to laugh. "
"There you go again, making assumptions. So much for giving me the benefit of the doubt."
"That does not answer my question."
Fitz released a deep sigh before answering. "After T.C. was arrested, David figured you were going to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. To prepare, he wanted to know who he was up against. He found out about your record and your reputation in the AUSA's office. He also found out a little about your family. Your father is highly respected in the legal community, as is your brother."
"And Jo?"
"I had to check her out before I referred people to her."
"Fair enough," she said, recalling that she had done some research of her own.
"Is there a reason you didn't join your father and your brother in the family firm?"
"Corporate law bores me. Most of your time is spent in the office researching and drafting contracts. Half the lawyers in that firm have never been to trial. I like the action in the courtroom."
"Sounds good to me."
"You're not my parents. Well, Maya Pope anyway."
Sitting back in her seat, she stared out of the window at the passing scenery. Fitz could sense a change and the last thing he wanted was to dampen her mood.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Not really."
"Then let's change the subject."
Turning to face him again, she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"I'm getting used to it," he said playfully, grinning at her. "It's cute and fun…proving you wrong over and over and over and over…"
"Okay, okay," she said interrupting him. "I get your point."
Fitz chuckled at her response. "I thought you would."
X
After a few more miles of riding in silence, Olivia decided to come clean.
"Since you've been so honest with me, I have a confession to make."
"Really?" he said, glancing at her. "I can't wait to hear this."
"I, too, did a little investigating."
"Are you telling me that you used your position to get information on me?"
"Of course not," she said indignantly.
"I didn't think you would," he said honestly. "So what did you do?"
Olivia's attention went back to the passing scenery to stall for time. A few minutes ago, this conversation seemed like a good idea. Now she wasn't so sure. How embarrassing to vehemently deny that she was not interested in him, but had consumed every bit of information she could find on him.
"Well?"
"I purchased the Football Team's souvenir book with you on the cover," she admitted, barely above a whisper.
"I see," he said, noticing how uncomfortable she was. "That's nothing, really. No big deal."
"I also Googled you and read many, many articles and looked at a lot of pictures of you…and others," she continued, this time a little louder.
Fitz, as with any other celebrity, had a love/hate relationship with the media. Some journalists were great reporters, while others allowed their personal feelings and beliefs to skew their objectivity. Some publications loved him, others weren't so kind. Depending on which ones she'd read, her opinion of him could improve or worsen.
"Is that it?"
She nodded.
"Well, you've been a busy woman," he said, wondering what had been posted online about him lately. Aside from publications posting articles, any fan, or those who weren't fans, could say just about anything they wanted on blogs, podcast, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media platform. Of course it was hard to ignore any of that stuff, but he was getting much better at it. His friends and family, those who knew him best, always kept him informed to all the good things that were being said about him, and the bad things that they felt he needed to know.
"I'm sure that had to be interesting."
Olivia smiled, but it looked more like a grimace. She had come this far, she might as well put it all out there.
When she remained silent, he glanced at her again. "Anything else?"
"I was in the grocery store a week ago and saw a small blurb about you on the cover of a tabloid. The photo was from your pool party, and you were surrounded by several women. The caption asked which one of those 'lucky' women would become the wife of 'The Golden Arm.'"
He could tell that she was becoming agitated by this entire conversation. Olivia Pope was used to being in control and she was admitting something that she obviously didn't like.
Fitz tried to lighten the mood. "Boy, for someone who wasn't interested in me, you sure did spend quite a bit of time researching and reading about me."
"I guess I was just curious," she said, shrugging, and also regaining some of her confidence now that the truth was out.
"All you had to do was come to the source," he said. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know."
"Anything?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
He nodded. "Anything."
"Okay," she said, thinking about all of the articles she'd read. "Is it true that you and your teammates started a fight in a club in Chicago and trashed the place?" She remembered that the D.A. chose not to file charges.
"Is that story still out there?" He was surprised that she was still able to find information about something that happened six years ago, but then he remembered that the internet was forever.
Olivia nodded. "It's still out there, and inquiring minds want to know what really happened."
"Oh, I'm sure they do."
"Well?"
"That story isn't exactly accurate," he explained. "We went to the club and a fight ensued, but we didn't start it, and we certainly didn't intentionally trash the place."
Fitz saw the expectant look on Olivia's face and continued.
"We were in Chicago to play the Bears, obviously, and a few of us decided to go out to a bar downtown. We were approached by several women trying to come on to us. We turned them all down of course, but that didn't stop some guy from sucker punching one of my teammates, claiming he'd disrespected his girlfriend. Then all hell broke loose. A receiver was jumped by two guys and when it was all over, the other guys were unconscious with broken jaws and busted ribs. A bouncer led us out through an emergency exit and by the time the police arrived we were nowhere in sight. Of course witnesses knew who we were and saw what happened, but none came forward. That was the last time I went to a club."
Olivia frowned. "Fitz, please don't tell me you got into the melee."
"Did you actually think I was going to let someone punch one of my teammates without retaliating? There were only two hits: one when I clocked the idiot and the other when he hit the floor. We hauled ass because a few of us had certainly violated the personal conduct clause in our contracts."
"Were any of you flirting?"
"No. At least not that night. One of the women got pissed when she was told that no one was interested, and then told her boyfriend that we'd disrespected her. We were all young and immature. I would never fight anyone now…unless it was absolutely necessary," he said, looking at Olivia.
"Okay, here's a question about something that happened more recently."
"Ask me."
Olivia hesitated a second because she wasn't sure if she really wanted to know the answer.
"Did you really break off a relationship with your girlfriend at a party and then leave with another woman?"
"I see you've invested in reading more than one tabloid hit piece."
"For your information, I also read articles from Sports Illustrated, ESPN Magazine, Sporting News, Vogue, Men's Health, GQ, the Washington Post and several other publications.
Fitz smiled at her defense. All this time he'd thought she had no interest in him, when in fact, she was devouring every piece of information she could find.
"So you've taken on quite a bit of reading lately."
"Stop stalling." The last thing Olivia wanted to discuss was how much time over the last month she'd devoted to Fitzgerald Grant. "Answer the question, Mr. Grant."
"The answer to your question, Miss Pope, is yes. I left my date at a party, and walked out with another woman."
"I see," she said. His answer sucked all of the playfulness out of their conversation. That article was over a year old. He wasn't young and immature then. This could only mean that he'd treated his friend that way on purpose.
"I don't think you do, because by the look on your face, you've got all kinds of negative thoughts running through your mind about me."
"Well you did just admit to being rude, inconsiderate and kind of a jerk."
"What I admitted to, Miss Jump to Conclusions, is that that incident did indeed happen, but what I haven't told you is why."
"Okay, why?" she asked, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Stephanie and I weren't in a serious relationship, we were still getting to know one another, and she wasn't my girlfriend. Not long after being introduced, she'd started hinting about moving in together. I'd told her on a number of occasions that we were nowhere near even discussing something major like living together, and that the only woman who would live in my home would be my wife."
He glanced at Olivia again before continuing.
"That night, she tried to force my hand in front of her friends, asking me again to let her move in. When I said no, she was shocked, embarrassed and upset, and she refused to leave with me. That was the end of us getting to know each other. What I learned about her that night, I didn't like."
Olivia felt some relief at his explanation, but that still only answered half her question.
As if reading her mind, Fitz went on. "The other woman in question works in the Football Team's marketing office, and we did not leave together. I walked her to her car, before leaving and going home, alone. End of story."
That was the last question Olivia decided to ask. She looked out of the window again. "Where are we going? We've been riding for almost an hour."
Fitz glanced at her and grinned. "Don't worry that pretty little head of yours," he said raising the volume on the music.
"We're almost there."
X
Ten minutes later, Olivia had read enough road signs to figure out where they were headed. "Baltimore? We're going all the way to Baltimore? Seriously, Fitz?"
"Well, I knew that you'd probably scrutinize anything I planned, and would accuse me of using my money, celebrity or my name to receive special treatment, or to try and buy you. In Baltimore, it's all about the Ravens, not the Football Team. Besides, there's something special here I want to share with you. Hopefully, you'll be impressed…again." Pleased with himself, he gave her a smug little smile.
Olivia was actually quite happy with Fitz's choice for the day. There was a lot to do but most importantly, it was a way for them to spend some time together, and really get to know one another away from the prying eyes of the people, in what many referred to as 'his city'.
"Where do we start? The Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, the museums?" she asked while he maneuvered the streets as if this was his hometown.
"Do you come here often?" Olivia asked, amazed by his familiarity with the city.
"Often enough," he responded vaguely.
A few minutes later, he turned onto South President Street. Then he made a right. Into the Four Seasons…a hotel.
Fitz stopped, placed the vehicle in 'park' and unbuckled his seatbelt. Olivia didn't move.
"Is there a problem?" he asked, as he gave a subtle head shake to valet who was about to open her door.
She stared directly ahead, and her nostrils flared indicating she was trying hard to control her temper. That she didn't scream and jump out of the car, was saying a lot.
"Did you think that bringing me to a hotel on our first date would impress me? Just because I allowed myself to get caught up in the moment in your home does not mean I'm going to jump into bed with you. Did you bring me here so you wouldn't be spotted around D.C.? Is this where you bring all of your first dates when you're trying to impress them? Do you think that I…"
Her next words were swallowed…by Fitz's lips.
If their first kiss was powerful and filled with passion, then this one was earth shattering. It deepened quickly, a slide of lips, a touch of tongue. She parted her lips and let him in, and then he changed the angle of the kiss, taking it even deeper and she followed. The tap on the window from the valet pulled him out of his trance.
"Get out of the car," he said before exiting and walking around to the passenger side.
Still in shock by Fitz's brazen behavior, Olivia didn't move.
"Get out of the car, Olivia," he said with a little more force.
Without saying a word, she unbuckled her seatbelt, took Fitz's outstretched hand, and stepped out of the vehicle. He squeezed her hand gently as he led her to the hotel's entrance.
Fitz took in her stunned expression, and whispered so only she could hear."When it comes to me and your assumptions, you don't have the best track record. Why don't you just go with the odds and assume you're wrong…again."
He didn't let go of her hand as they walked through the door that was held open by a doorman. Once they entered the lobby, he bypassed the registration desk and headed towards the bank of elevators. An attendant stood waiting to take them to the twenty-ninth floor, and the Bygone restaurant. They stood, still holding hands, as the car lifted and the attendant trashed talked, good-naturedly, about the Football Team.
When they reached their floor, they stepped off and walked up to the hostess podium.
"Good morning, Mr. Grant. Right this way."
"So much for this being the Raven's town," Olivia said sarcastically, no longer in a daze and finally getting her voice back. "The hostess seemed to recognize you right away."
"Olivia?" Fitz said, stepping in front of a table with an incredible view of the city and the Inner Harbor.
"Yes," she answered, half-annoyed."
"Since I'm still chasing, and you're obviously still running, I called in reinforcements. I'd like you to meet my parents, Constance and JR Grant."
Leaning down close to her ear, Fitz couldn't contain the smile that spread across his face.
"I see that you're speechless, but what I really want to know is…are you impressed?"
TBC