A parallel universe

Chapter Four

When Liv got up that morning Elliot was already up, sitting on the edge of his bed, watching the TV quietly.
"Morning" Liv mumbled as she pulled herself up in bed.
"Morning partner" El smiled over his shoulder at her.
"You didn't wake me, shouldn't we get going?"
"No, I just got my girlfriend back, they expect me to be late"
"Even though we're meeting the boss?"
"Yeah. Trust me, we're good"
"Okay. I'm going to take a shower anyway" He nodded as she climbed out of bed and grabbed some stuff out of her bag.
"We have about an hour until we have to leave" She nodded before she slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Elliot was exhausted. After what happened early this morning how could he? Olivia was invading his mind, taking up any space that he had left to think. He was going mad, but he couldn't push her too far or else he might lose her forever.

Liv left the bathroom, her hair and makeup looking perfect, her jeans and t-shirt fitting her nicely.
"Will this do?" El's eyes raked over her, making her heart speed up.
"Yeah, you look great" He nodded, earning a smile back.
"Thanks" She grabbed her phone off of the bedside table and tucked it into her back pocket.
"We should get going soon" Elliot announced, switching off the TV and grabbing his own phone.
"Are we good?" She asked, waiting for him to meet her eyes. He did, and smiled.
"Yeah Liv. We're good"
"Okay then, let's go meet the boss"
"Let's meet the boss" El repeated, moving to the front door he opened it and let Liv leave first before he followed after her, closing the door behind him.

El entered the diner first with Liv right behind him. From the second they climbed out of the car he'd taken her hand in his, hoping that it would calm both their nerves, and it did somewhat.
"Here they are, the love birds" Kurt joked as El moved up to the bar and pulled out a chair for Liv to sit in, making sure to block her ass from their view. El took the seat next to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Where's Dwight? You said he wanted to meet us today" El grumbled.
"He changed his mind" Kurt shrugged.
"You mean I could've stayed in bed? What the hell did I get up for?" Liv shot back over her shoulder.
"Breakfast, Gracie. We had a very busy night" El told her with a smirk "Pick whatever you want off that menu baby"
"Pancakes and coffee. Lots of coffee" Liv smiled up at him.
"Okay then" he smiled before his eyes moved to the waitress "Two orders of pancakes and lots of coffee please" the waitress nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.
"So, did the two of you enjoy your night?" Joe smirked.
"Ellison is very talented" Liv smirked.
"You put her on her knees? Make use of that mouth on her?" Kurt smirked and El felt Liv tense under him.
"I made use of mine" El shot back, picking up the coffee cup the waitress had just placed in front of him, he took a sip.
"Damn, I wouldn't" Kurt laughed.
"That's why he gets laid and you don't" Liv shot back before she smiled at the waitress who had placed their food in front of them.
"Girls got some fight in her" Joe laughed.
"I'm a woman, not a little girl" Olivia reminded him before she dug into her breakfast.
"She always this moody?" Sam asked.
"Only when I pull her out of bed to meet an asshole that doesn't show up" El grumbled, digging in to his breakfast.
"Why are you so grumpy? She not do it right" Kurt smirked, making the others laugh.
"I do just fine" Liv grumbled back, turning her stool to face them "You all should mind your own before El and I take our business elsewhere, to assholes that respect our business" Liv turned her stool back, feeling El's arm wrap back around her.
"Ooo" Kurt teased "Let's leave these lovebirds to their breakfast" The men smirked to eachother as they left the diner. As Liv heard the bell above the door ring and the door close she let out a deep breath.
"You good partner?"
"I'm good. Just feeling like an imposter is all" she sighed.
"Just take it easy Liv. It's almost over" he assured her.
"Yeah, it's almost over" she sighed before she continued eating her breakfast, she noticed that El didn't drop his arm from her shoulders.

Elliot sat on one of the chairs in the corner of the room, subtly watching as Liv did her makeup in the mirror. The door to their room flew open and Kurt and the others strolled in.
"Hey lovebirds, are we ready to go?" He smirked, checking out Olivia's ass in her dress.
"You ready baby?" El asked her.
"Yeah, just about El" She moved towards the door but El grabbed her, her knee landing between his legs, narrowly missing his crotch. His hands were at her hips, if he outstretched his pinkies he would be touching her ass. He leant up and kissed her fiercely, pulling away just as she started to kiss back.
"Now we're ready" El told them as Liv reached up and wiped away some of her lipstick that had collected beside his mouth.
"Now we're ready" she agreed, taking Elliot's hand she led him outside and into the waiting car.
The car ride was spent in silence. El had made Liv get in the car first so she wouldn't have to sit next to one of them and he had wrapped his arm around her shoulders, hoping that it would help comfort her. It did, but her heart was still racing in her chest. They pulled up outside a warehouse and El and Liv followed the others inside. El held on tightly to Liv's hand as they entered the darkened building. They stood in the middle of the warehouse with the others behind them and waited for the boss to make his appearance. El could feel Liv getting more nervous with each passing second and began rubbing his thumb in tight circles on her hand.
"So this is Ellison and Gracie" A voice spoke from the darkness, Liv felt Elliot wince at the use of her fake nickname "How nice it is to meet you" Dwight emerged from the darkness with a wide smile "Damn, how is a woman like that with a guy like you?" He smirked.
"He's great on his knees" Liv bit. Dwight laughed lightly.
"She's funny. Tell me sweetheart, why should I do my business with the two of you?"
"You want your business handled right? We'll do that. You want it screwed up? Let your henchmen take care of it"
"That's it?"
"Yeah, that's it. I've been knocked around and scared more times than I can count. You don't want my business, I'll take it elsewhere" Silence filled the warehouse once again.
"You have scars?"
"You pick them up occasionally" he chuckled lightly, looking around his men before his eyes went back to Liv.
"Show me"
"What?" Liv laughed uncomfortably, hoping that he didn't mean what she thought he meant.
"Show me" he repeated "Strip" Liv didn't move "You heard me, Gracie. Kurt, help her out"
"El can help me" Liv said quickly, waking him up from the anger induced trance, he moved to her "I trust you" she whispered before he moved behind her. She felt his hands on her back, against the zip of her dress.
"I'm sorry" he whispered before he started pulling the zip down. When it reached the bottom El took a small step back, trying and failing to cover her from as many eyes as he could. Liv reached up for the top of the dress and pulled it down, letting it drop and pool around her heel clad feet. Liv stood before him in nothing more than her black heels and black lace underwear.
"Keys on your thigh. Cigarettes on your breast. Those aren't easy to just pick up"
"They are if you're me" She bit.
"Turn" he commanded, moving his finger in a circle shape in the air. Liv took in a deep breath before she held her head up high and turned. She avoided Elliot's eyes as continued until her back was to him again and she was facing Dwight again.
"Delightful" he smiled at her before his eyes moved to Elliot "Do you share?"
"Not a chance in hell" Liv bit.
"What she said" El grumbled.
"Tomorrow. I look forward to doing business with you both" he smiled, making a motion with his head, Kurt and the others followed after him as Dwight left. Liv started reaching for her dress but Elliot grabbed it before she could and handed it to her. He turned away as she pulled it on in silence.
"Can you zip me up?" Liv muttered. El nodded and moved behind her, zipping her up quickly before he dropped her hands from her.
"I'm sorry Liv" he muttered. Liv turned and buried her face in Elliot's chest.
"I'm okay. I'm okay" She muttered, feeling his arms wrap around her back, holding her tightly to him "I'll be okay"