Olivia's POV
Damn, these boxes are heavy! I finally managed to set down the last one in my new home. It may be a two-bedroom apartment, but it's mine, free from the chaos and drama of my ex-husband Edison and my father Eli; plus, it gives me space to do what I have always loved: painting.
With a sigh of relief, I plop down on the couch, taking a moment to admire my surroundings. I can't help but feel a surge of excitement for the possibilities my new life holds. As I take in the peacefulness of my new space, I know it won't last forever. Life has a way of throwing curveballs when I least expect it. But for now, I'm determined to savor every second of this peace.
Jake will be here any minute now. I promised him my all-time favorite chicken salad for lunch. The kitchen was the first thing I set up, but I still needed to unpack the entire place. Maybe it would be better to just go out for lunch instead. I really don't want to sit amongst boxes. Just as that thought crosses my mind, the doorbell rings. My heart skips a beat as I eagerly make my way to the door. This will mark the first visitor to my new place.
"Olivia!"
"Jake" We embrace, holding each other tightly and rocking back and forth.
"I can't believe you actually did it. You actually left that asshole and moved here. I'm sorry it took me a week to get over here. I've been tied up with a case I'm working on, but welcome back to New York!"
"Thank you. It's been a long time, but you know how much I love it here."
"You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait. I'm going to take you to all the amazing spots around town that we didn't have time to visit while at Columbia."
"Yeah, we missed out on so much during college. All we did was study."
"Well, that's not all we did." He says with a sly grin on his face.
"Jake."
"I'm just saying."
I shake my head, "Yeah."
Jake and I were inseparable while studying law at Columbia. He was the epitome of perfection, the kind of guy every girl dreams about, and I was no exception. Standing at an impressive 6'1", he towered over me, creating a sense of safety I had never experienced before. With sandy brown hair that perfectly framed his captivating green eyes, Jake was a sight to behold. His well-toned athletic build spoke volumes about his commitment to fitness, and he always managed to exude confidence, even in his college years, with his impeccably tailored suits. It helped that he came from money, being Judge Ballard's son. Jake had this larger-than-life personality that drew people in, including me. I couldn't help but be completely captivated by him.
For a while, I considered myself lucky to be his girlfriend. But that all came crashing down when I discovered his betrayal. It wasn't just the fact that he cheated on me, but it was with my supposed best friend in the very same dorm room that had once been our sanctuary. The pain of the breakup shattered my heart into a million pieces. We didn't speak after that, and I swore off relationships for the longest time.
However, time has a way of healing even the deepest wounds. After graduating, I returned to North Carolina and met Edison, a lawyer and aspiring politician. We fell in love and got married. We practiced law at separate law firms, and things seemed okay for a while. I was getting recognition for the cases I won and so was her, but it wasn't fulfilling at all to me.
After a few years, Edison won a congressional seat, and the shit hit the fan. He became so full of himself. He was verbally and emotionally abusive, pressuring me to have kids to help complete his image, and sleeping with random women that I knew and didn't know. Out life became all about him. It was all too much, and I felt trapped. My father, the only person I had in my life, loved Edison and encouraged me to deal with his bullshit instead of being the father I needed him to be, and I did.
Jake and I reconnected on social media about a year and a half ago. Gradually, we began sharing bits and pieces of our lives, and I shared with him what I was going through. With his help, I decided to divorce Edison, drop the law career I was no longer interested in, and follow my first love, being an artist. For as long as I can remember, I have had some kind of drawing tool in my hand. Being an only child with a strict father, I didn't have many friends, so I spent a lot of time alone drawing pictures of far-away places, people, landscapes, and anything else that came to mind. Throughout my youth and college years, I tried to enter my artwork in any competitions I could and won several awards. I was always told I had a natural talent, so I decided to give being a professional artist a real shot. With Jake's connections in the art world, I made my way back to New York, the city that never sleeps, ready to embrace my new life.
"I know I said I would make you chicken salad, but if you look around..."
"Get changed and grab your coat; I'm taking you to lunch. Then you can show me your new art studio."
We arrive at La Rock restaurant, and of course, Jake gets special treatment. It's obvious he eats here regularly. It's also apparent by the way the women around this place are trying to get his attention; he's quite a rockstar here.
We're seated in a private area. "Olivia, I must say you look gorgeous."
"Thank you. I certainly don't feel like it; I feel like a mess. Like I'm just a waste of space right now."
"You are not a mess or a waste of space. You're trying something completely new, and that's scary and challenging, but if anyone can do it. It's you. You're brilliant, passionate, loving, fearless, gorgeous, and hilarious, and you are also a beast in the courtroom. Stop talking about yourself as if you're a nobody. I won't accept that.", he says with a very serious look on his face as he opens the menu.
"I appreciate you saying that."
"Look, Olivia, I wanted to talk about the elephant in the room."
"What do you mean?"
He takes a deep breath and says, "The way I broke your heart when we were together. I still feel like shit about it. It was the worst mistake of my life."
"Jake, it was a long time ago, and we've both grown since then, and you got a beautiful daughter out of it."
"That you are correct on. She is everything to me. I wish I could raise her without dealing with her mother, but that's neither here nor there."
"I'm thankful Edison and I didn't have kids. That would have been a nightmare. It was hard enough just divorcing him, and I know he's not going to leave me alone. He actually said he was willing to give me a few weeks of breathing room to return to my senses. I'm like, Hello! We're divorced, you moron." I need a drink. Just the thought of him pisses me off.
"Well, if Congressman Davis knows what's best for him, he'll stay his ass in North Carolina and away from you."
"Yeah, I doubt that."
Just then, our waitress came over and took our drinks. She couldn't take her eyes off Jake, and it was becoming apparent that they must have had some kind of intimate relationship because of the evil eye she was giving me.
"Hi, Jake.", she says, batting her eyes. This shit is hilarious to me.
"Hi, Casey." He says, looking uneasy.
"You're looking great."
"Thank you. Can you take our order please."
She looks over at me one more time and cuts her eyes. "Yeah, I can do that. What would you like Jake?"
"I'll take a scotch on the rocks."
"Okay. You?" She says in a condensing voice.
This bitch has got some nerve, but I got something for her. "I'll have a glass of your Cabernet Franc. Oh, by the way, after I fuck Jake's brain out tonight, you'll just be a fleeting memory, so I would stop your pathetic gravel for attention and go get my fucking drink."
Jake spits out the water he was drinking onto Casey. She let out a slight screech and stood back, staring at me with her mouth dropped open. I couldn't help but take one more dig at her. "You're dismissed now." She let out a deep exhale and turned away quickly.
"Holy shit Olivia."
A sinister grin came on my face. "I'm sorry. She was being a bitch to me." Jake was speechless, and a grin appeared on his face. "Fierce and confident. That's the Olivia I know."
Guilt starts to creep in. I don't know why I did that. I guess I'm just tired of being run over by women who think they're better than me. "Jake, I shouldn't have said that. I will apologize to her."
"No, you won't. I only wish it was true. One night with you would make any woman I've slept with a fleeting memory." He placed his hand on the table on top of mine, and I pulled away slowly, looking everywhere but at him. He says, "I'm going to speak to the manager and get us a new waitress."
Once he returned, his mood turned serious. "Liv, I really want to talk more in-depth about what happened at Columbia."
"Jake, I just said that's not necessary."
"I know, you say that every time I bring it up, but I want to be completely transparent with you, Olivia. I'm not the same guy I was back in college. As hard as it may be for me to admit, I was an asshole then, and I missed out on having one of the most amazing women in my life by cheating on you."
"Jake, as I said, it was a long time ago. We've both made many mistakes in our lives and suffered the consequences for them. We just have to move forward." I can tell by the look on his face that it wasn't quite the response he was looking for, but I'm not going backward in my life. Jake caused me a lot of pain, and a relationship with him is out of the question.
"Well, you're right about that. There are consequences for our actions." He looks down, and a glimpse of sadness comes over his face. "Anyway, now that we got that out of the way. I wanted to invite you to the house for dinner to meet Lily."
"I would be honored to meet Lily. She sounds like a wonderful girl and adorable in those pictures you sent me."
"Yeah, she is. She's so smart and funny. She gives me life." We ordered our food when our new waitress arrived and continued talking about Lily and some of the incredible places he wanted to take me and her in New York.
After lunch, we arrive at my new art studio. I put in an offer for the place and got approved a couple of days before moving here. It needs a lot of work, but I'm over the moon and ready for the challenge.
I can't believe I have my own art studio. In high school and college, I took first place in several competitions and even sold a few of my creations. But my dreams of becoming an artist were crushed under the weight of my father's expectations.
Eli, my father, was relentless in his pursuit to steer me away from the canvas. He believed that art was a frivolous pursuit, incapable of providing a respectable living. Instead, he pushed me into law school's cold, sterile halls, promising that a legal career would bring me wealth, prestige, and a life of fulfillment. It was an appealing offer, and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Yet, as I dove headfirst into the world of law, I discovered that the glittering picture my father had painted for me was nothing but an illusion. Heartache, stress, and unhappiness became my constant companions, the price I paid for denying my true calling.
But now, finally free from the clutches of Edison and my father's suffocating grip physically, emotionally, and mentally, I stand here on my own, financially independent due to a substantial inheritance left to me by my beloved grandmother. It's how I made this move and paid the rent on this place. I now have an opportunity to pursue what truly brings me joy. And so, with a renewed sense of purpose, I am ready to take a leap of faith in myself.
As we pull up the art studio, Jake is taken back by the high-rent district I will be in. He said, "How the hell did you afford to rent a place like this?"
"Luck and a lot of prayers." We get out and head to the door. Unlocking the door, it's a grand space. Not only can I paint here, but I could also offer classes and host events. I'm over the moon about the whole thing. Jake walks around checking out the space and is impressed.
"Congratulations Olivia. I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you Jake. I'm thrilled too. There's a lot to do, but it will be wonderful.
After leaving the art studio, Jake drove me back to my apartment. "Hey, I'm sorry I can't come out with you guys tonight. It's me and Lily's movie and popcorn day?"
"Jake, I am so proud of you and the father you are. It's wonderful to see the softer side of you."
"Having a kid changes you. Well, it changed me, and I love being a dad."
"You guys have fun, and I'll catch up with you next week."
"Okay dear." I get out of the car. He waits till I'm in my building before driving off. I wish this Jake were around when we were dating, but oh well.
I arrive at the Skybar to meet Quinn Perkins later that evening, my old friend from law school. I haven't seen her since I left New York years ago, but we were connected at the hip. She and Jake remained friends and even go head to head with each other in court occasionally.
"Oh my God. It's fucking Olivia Pope! Come here girl." We run up to each other, screaming and jumping up and down. I forgot how flamboyant she actually is. I love her.
"Quinn, you still look amazing."
"Shut up. I do not. I've gained 25 lbs since college, a career that makes my hair fall out, three rugrats at home, and a husband who drives me up the fucking wall. I know damn well I don't look or feel the same as I did in college. But you, oh, Jake, told me about the divorce. I'm sorry about that, hun."
"I'm not. I'm glad to be free and doing something I love."
"Well, welcome to New York. Let's get fucking drunk." She put her arm around me and walked to the table where four other people were. She introduced me to a circle of friends who were primarily lawyers. They radiated warmth, friendliness, and an inviting energy that instantly put me at ease.
As the evening unfolded, I found myself engrossed in conversations and laughing my ass off at stories they all told about each other, fun stories, and courtroom drama. It was great. I felt like I was in college again. With each passing moment, the atmosphere grew livelier, and the drinks flowed freely, igniting endless waves of laughter. It was a moment of pure bliss.
As the night was winding down, I excused myself from the table to go to the bathroom. I was pretty tipsy at this point, needing to hold the wall to guide myself slightly. As I made my way back to the table, my eyes unexpectedly landed on a solitary figure. He sat alone, his eyes filled with both beauty and profound sadness. My curiosity sparked, I felt an irresistible pull towards him as if our paths were meant to cross.
