Summary:

The tale of two newlyweds facing the ultimate obstacle: a child from a past relationship with special needs. Will they be able to join forces and care for her? Some angst, OLITZ all the way. NO cheating. HEA.

A/N:

Music has always been a source of inspiration for my stories. This chapter is based on the songs: " Sometimes Love Aint' Enough" by Patti Smyth and Don Henley & Fire to the Rain by Adele.

On a side note, I'm taking creative license in attributing some of Elon Musk's achievements in the Electric vehicle industry to Fitz.

THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN REVAMPED TODAY, 10/17/2024

Chapter One: Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

Fitz POV

It was dark, and it was over. He lay there thinking, the remnants of their lovemaking still lingering. He was madly in love with this incredible woman. And it killed him knowing this was their last time together as carefree newlyweds. There was no one else he could blame but himself. Every single one of his actions up until this point had been a disaster, a futile effort to avoid disclosing his secret. Much to his chagrin, secrets have a way of snowballing, and his marriage was the unfortunate casualty. He'd set fire to the rain and had carelessly thrown himself and his Livvie into the flames.

Olivia had fallen into blissful sleep right after lovemaking while Fitz tossed and turned. It had been a long, tortured night, waking every hour, his mind racing.

Upon waking, he pulled out his FPM Milano travel bag, stuffing it with more clothing than he needed for his upcoming week-long business trip to Japan. Remembering his passport and digital devices, he trailed to his study. Darn, he cursed under his breath. He needed to make more room. So, he took out everything he'd packed and stuffed it in the broom closet. Retracing his steps back to the master bedroom, he quickly repacked, leaving his side of the closet nearly empty.

Before leaving, he'd kissed her forehead, and she stirred a little in her sleep. He smiled ruefully. The standing joke between them was she was such a heavy sleeper the entire fire department could come crashing at their door, and she would sleep through it.

His smile quickly faded.

He truly had lost his way. It was as simple and complicated as that. Never again would he look into her eyes and see her love and devotion mirrored back.

His Milano bag plummetted forward, its wheels stuck in the Persian rug underneath the entry table, which showcased photographs from their wedding four months ago. Their untroubled smiles tumbled as the frames slammed into One another. He seized them just before they hit the floor and rearranged them the best he could, but the smiles never looked the same.

The drive to the preschool felt like a prison sentence.

Outside the sky was grey, a light rain spattering the pavement. It was rush hour, the traffic crawling past, pedestrians scurrying, and umbrellas bobbing. And found himself wishing he was one of them, hurrying to a shop or office, somewhere safe and easy, somewhere where his toughest decision of the day would be whether to have a cheese or tuna sandwich for lunch.

Getting out of the vehicle, Fitz was so distracted he'd barely acknowledged his driver, Sawyer. He didn't like Sawyer that much anyway. Taylor was the

one he trusted the most as his personal bodyguard. But in light of the recent school shootings, he had decided that Olivia would be safer under Taylor's protection. And so this morning, Taylor was driving her to the elementary school where she taught second grade.

Even after all the security measures he'd taken, he still worried. He tried persuading her to resign. She certainly didn't need the income. What about the novel you've been working on? She shrugged in response. He then suggested opening up a learning center where she could teach in a nicely controlled environment and end her days feeling like she'd made her contribution to the world.

Unfortunately, Olivia had been stubborn, insisting that her students needed her.

As he strolled to the principal's office, he pictured Olivia's reaction to the news of his secret child, her voice screaming like thunder. How could he do this to them now? It was all coming back to him now, their agreement to remain childless haunting him, mocking him.

Suddenly, his phone rang in his pocket.

A glance at the caller ID told him it was his wife.

Olivia. For one delicious moment, he wished he was still beside her in their bed where he used to lay.

He let the call go to voicemail.

He wasn't prepared to tell her about Grace.

He needed time to think.

Was his love for her enough to overcome the hurdles ahead?

Pocketing his phone, his other hand reached for the door handle and lingered.

Janine Warding.

Principal

"Welcome, Mr. Grant," the woman sitting behind a large desk said, motioning for him to sit across from him.

They shook hands.

"Ms. Williams mentioned you would be picking up Grace today."

Fitz narrowed his eyes at the salt-and-pepper-haired woman across from him.

"Your name sounds familiar," She studied him curiously, "you wouldn't have anything to do with Tesla motors, would you?"

Fitz shook his head and let out a small chuckle. "I get that all the time."

"You're not listed in the emergency contacts. Are you a friend of the family...or are you related to Grace?"

"Close friend," he replied in a way that suggested there was more to the story, leaving the older woman hungry for more information.

She cocked her head and stated her point in two short sentences while handing over his daughter's vaccination records.

"I'm sorry, but we cannot care for children like Grace. I have names of other schools where they can conduct an extensive evaluation."

What?

There was absolutely nothing wrong with his daughter!

Janine Warding cleared her throat.

"Mr. Grant, you're upset, and that's understandable," she replied smoothly.

Fitz hated her condescending tone. This woman clearly had no idea who she was dealing with. He was Fitzgerald Grant, CEO, product architect, and chairman of Tesla Motors. His life was an open book to the media, hence his need to disguise his appearance whenever he wanted freedom from prying eyes. Otherwise, the world would know he had fathered a daughter with his first wife.

"You have no right to tell me how to feel," he spat.

The matronly woman opened her mouth to speak again. But then quickly changed her mind. When she spoke again, her tone lacked any semblance of pacifying.

"I sincerely hope you find another school that is a better fit, Mr. Grant."

Fitz snorted and headed for the classroom to meet Grace. His secret child. The idea of him being a father sounded foreign still, preposterous.

He scanned the room for the toddler. His spitting image. She played in a corner, lining up toy blocks. He crouched down to smooth her long curls.

Grace looked up briefly, and he was struck by the beauty in her gray-blue eyes, a mirror of his own. There was no way he could abandon this child.

Her attention swiftly returned to her play.

"Grace... Grace... Gracie?

This time, the child refused to meet his gaze as if he were invisible.

His phone suddenly buzzed.

Shit.

Seeing it was Olivia again, he quickly put the call on decline.