Chapter Five: Someone Like You

NOTE: A song can have different meanings according to the individual, as we all interpret things differently. I've compiled my playlist through keyword searches and not by music style. I've played with the lyrics, tweaked them, and incorporated them into the narrative to suit the story.

Today's lyrics are: Someone Like You by Adele and Try by Pink.

Six Months Later

Since parting ways at the elevator, Olivia wondered how he was doing. She never said a word to Abby, however. And if Abby ever brought up the subject of Fitzgerald Grant, she shut her down fast.

Her heart had been deceiving more than a couple of times.

Why do we fall in love so easy?

Even when it's not right?

Sometimes, it was better not to ask why.

"Olivia, you'll never believe this!" Abby said, bursting with energy. "Their divorce is final."

Olivia blinked. Her first thought was celebrity news. Abby's obsession with celebrities was legendary.

"Let me guess...Angelina and Brad?" She clucked her tongue. "Oh, that's right...they're divorced already."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Don't you give me that innocent look?! You know who."

Fitzgerald Grant's divorce had been in the tabloids and social media outlets for the past few months. Still, part of her believed it was all media hype.

...

Olivia and Abby were in the kitchen together when suddenly, they heard a knock on the door.

Wiping her hands on her apron, Olivia went to answer the door.

It was a shock to see he didn't look like she remembered. He looked thinner, and his eyes had lost their sparkle.

"Fitz? What are you doing here?"

Fitz blinked sheepishly, offering her a bouquet of white roses.

I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited.

But I couldn't stay away; I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded

That, for me, isn't over.

"Olivia...I know I have no right to show up here asking for a second chance. But I haven't stopped thinking about you since that day at the coffee shop. "

"I agree with you that. You have no right."

"These are for you," he said after an awkward silence.

Olivia accepted the flowers and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned a few seconds later with a scowling Abby.

"Hello, Abby."

"Well, if it isn't Mr. Fitzgerald Grant, Tesla's great CEO..."

"You can call me Fitz."

Abby pursed her lips, giving Fitz a disapproving look.

"Abby, it's okay. Can you give us a few minutes?" Olivia said.

Abby reluctantly agreed. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

Olivia motioned for Fitz to sit with her in the living room. A half wall separated the living room from the kitchen and gave them limited privacy.

"Well, it's been a long time."

"Six months," Fitz said.

"It sure seems longer than that."

Fitz nodded.

"How you've been? Are you seeing someone?"

Olivia didn't feel like answering. She'd gone on a couple of dates, but nothing serious.

Never mind, I WILL find someone like you.

"I'm happy teaching second grade in a private school."

"I'm sure you're doing an excellent job. Teaching is one of the hardest jobs in the world….and so grossly underpaid. Your folks must be proud."

Funny that he would mention them. No, they weren't proud. They were both disappointed she had chosen to become a teacher rather than take a more lofty career in law or medicine.

She was still mulling over this when he circled back to the question she'd dodged earlier.

"Are you seeing someone, Olivia?"

This time, the intonation in his question was much softer than the first time.

"I'm not," she answered. Listen, I'm flattered by your interest in my personal life. However, I think you should tell me why you're here."

"I like that about you, Olivia...your directness."

Olivia didn't respond, her awaiting expression prompting him to continue.

"I've tried forgetting you, but the harder I try, the more present you become. Time has not been kind to me, Olivia."

In the silence that followed, Olivia was struck by how he derived pleasure from repeating her name every two seconds. And the worst part was that she was enjoying the sound of her name on his lips.

"But the thing I keep coming back to is...what kind of a coward was I to marry her and LET YOU GO?"

"You've said that before..."

"I know, and I meant it one hundred percent. I thought I was in love with Liliana. I believed my love for her could move mountains. We've known each other our entire life, and our families ran in the same circles. And then I realized she was emotionally blackmailing me to stay. It was toxic, I know, but every time I tried breaking up with her, she would do something insane. Once, she threw herself in front of a car. But she would only do these things if I was there to rescue her," he sighed heavily. "It was all for attention."

"And yet, you married her."

" I suppose I believed I could do some damage control. I thought she'd finally be happy." Fitz exhaled deeply. "But I no longer believe in moving mountains."

I tried making her happy, I really did," he paused heavily. "This is not making any sense to you...is it?"

"Frankly, no. Unless you got a savior complex."

Fitz pursed his lips as if to agree.

"What can I say? I thought I could save her from herself. But I don't believe that anymore. I broke up with her the day I saw you at the clinic... and I haven't seen her since."

"Where is Liliana now?"

"She's at the mental health facility."

Olivia's jaw dropped. "She's been there all this time?"

Fitz nodded. "Enough about her. Olivia, I want you to know you are the one; you are the woman I think about day and night."

Olivia hesitated. It would be all too easy to fall into his arms and let him slide his hand down her back and along her neck. But she mustn't forget.

"How do I know it's over between you and her?"

"My divorce is final," he said, placing a large manila envelope on the coffee table. "You're welcome to look them over."

Olivia hesitated. This was awkward and a little bit weird.

At last, curiosity got the best of her, and she slid the document from the envelope and started reading.

"I don't know whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you," she said, sweeping the papers across the table.

Fitz pressed his lips together, and they shared a long look.

"I made a mistake. I married a person who didn't exist."
Olivia could certainly relate to that. The same thing had happened to her.

At that moment, they heard a loud noise in the kitchen, banging pots and pans.

"Abby," Olivia smiled.

"She doesn't like me very much, does she?"

"She's a great friend, looking out for me."

Suddenly, Abby poked her head through the door.

"Thanks, Liv, but that's what friends are for," she then turned to Fitz. "Olivia just came out of a horrible divorce, so I'm watching out for her. If you so much hurt her, I will march to your office the next morning and make a scene,"

Fitz and Olivia exchanged a small smile. Abby was about to return to the kitchen when Fitz called her name.

"Yes?"

"I promise you, I only have the best of intentions."

"You better," Abby shot back in a sassy manner. "Or I will bribe that bodyguard parked outside our building and hunt you down. I bet he won't be able to resist my world-famous lemon cake," she concluded with a straight face.

Fitz's smile widened.

"His name is Jason Taylor, by the way. I usually refer to him by his last name." He paused meaningfully. "And he's single."

Abby's expression changed, feigning disinterest in the bodyguard. Olivia found it amusing. She knew her friend well enough to know she had checked out Taylor from their kitchen window and found him attractive.

Once Abby returned to the kitchen, Fitz rose from his seat and moved next to Olivia on the couch.

"Olivia," he said her name softly like a caress, "Can we start over..can we try again? Can we pretend tonight is our first time together?"

She looked away. Her gut instinct told her to be cautious. He'd given her many warming signs. She shouldn't forget what he'd said about not wanting to be a parent. Too much baggage. And to top it off, he had a crazy ex.

"We can take it slow," he suggested. "We can take it as slow as you want."

"I don't know if this is a good idea."

Her inner goddess flipped, all too happy to remind her she would never find another man like him.

He cocked his head and scooted closer to her so that their thighs were now touching.

Once again, she broke eye contact. Rational thinking was becoming more difficult now that all her senses had suddenly awakened to his scent.

She stood up suddenly, navigating the waters of indecision, fearing that she could never let him go if she took him back now.

A/N:
Thank you for sticking with the story so far. If you're on the fence, please wait until the next chapter. Things will become more clear. Also, I promise there is NO cheating. I will try my best to update as soon as I can.